[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23483-23484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10811]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-930-1920-ET-4064; CACA 43173]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service proposes to withdraw approximately 2,030 
acres in the Inyo National Forest to facilitate the establishment of 
the McAfee Research Natural Area. This notice closes the land for up to 
2 years from mining. The land will remain open to mineral leasing and 
the Materials Act of 1947.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by 
July 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, Inyo National Forest, 879 North Main 
Street, Bishop, California 93514.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vernon McLean, Inyo National Forest, 
760-873-2472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 13, 2001, the Inyo National Forest, 
Forest Service, filed an application to withdraw the following 
described National Forest System land from location and entry under the 
United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. ch. 2), subject to valid existing 
rights:

Mount Diablo Meridian

    All that portion of land within the Inyo National Forest, County of 
Inyo, State of California, described as follows: All those portions of 
sections 4, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 and 22, T. 4 S., R. 34 E., 
Mount Diablo Meridian, more particularly described as follows:

    Beginning at a 3\1/4\ inch capped aluminum monument, stamped 
``McAfee A'' which lies on a peak, 13,189 feet in elevation, (Point 
A, Exhibit A), which is in the NW\1/4\, section 9;
    Thence, southwesterly (mostly southerly), approximately 0.88 
miles to a 3\1/4\ inch capped aluminum monument, stamped ``McAfee 
B'' which lies on a peak, 12,970 feet in elevation, (Point B, 
Exhibit A), which is in the SE\1/4\, section 8;
    Thence, southerly, approximately 1.43 miles to a 3\1/4\ inch 
capped aluminum monument, stamped ``McAfee C'' which lies at the 
northeast corner of the Barcroft Observatory Site, (Point C, Exhibit 
A), which is in the NE\1/4\, section 20;
    Thence, southwesterly (mostly westerly), approximately 0.79 
miles to a 3\1/4\ inch capped aluminum monument, stamped ``McAfee 
D'' which lies on a peak, 12,205 feet in elevation, (Point D, 
Exhibit A), which is in the S\1/2\, section 21;
    Thence, easterly approximately 1.29 miles to a 3\1/4\ inch 
capped aluminum monument, stamped ``McAfee E'' which lies on a peak, 
11,783 feet in elevation, (Point E, Exhibit A), which is in the E\1/
2\, section 22;
    Thence, northerly approximately 0.80 miles to a 3\1/4\ inch 
capped aluminum monument, stamped ``McAfee F'' which lies on a peak, 
11,745 feet in elevation, (Point F, Exhibit A), which is in the 
SE\1/4\, section 15;
    Thence, northwesterly (mostly northerly) approximately 1.06 
miles to a 3\1/4\ inch capped aluminum monument, stamped ``McAfee 
G'' which lies on knoll at the easterly end of a plateau, at 
approximately 11,880 feet in elevation (Point G, Exhibit A), which 
is in the south \1/2\, section 10;
    Thence, westerly approximately 1.32 miles along the edge of the 
plateau to a 3\1/4\ inch capped aluminum monument, stamped 
``McAfee'', which is in the S\1/2\, section 9;
    Thence, northerly approximately 0.66 miles along the edge of the 
plateau, ascending to a 3\1/4\ inch capped aluminum monument, 
stamped ``McAfee H'' which lies on point, approximately 13,091 feet 
in elevation (Point H, Exhibit A), which is in the SW\1/4\, section 
4;
    Thence, southwesterly approximately 0.3 miles to the point of 
beginning.

The area described contains approximately 2,030 acres in Inyo County.
    The land proposed for withdrawal is to be designated the McAfee 
Research

[[Page 23484]]

Natural Area (MRNA). Establishment of the MRNA is valuable for 
maintaining the interrelationships of terrestrial and aquatic systems, 
and facilitates research, monitoring and protection. The withdrawal is 
needed to prevent potential surface disturbing activities from the 
location of mining claims within the MRNA. The requested duration of 
the withdrawal is 20 years.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their 
views in writing to the Forest Supervisor, Inyo National Forest. Since 
the Forest Service is requesting this withdrawal, it is responsible for 
preparing any studies, analyses, and reports that are required by 
applicable statutes for the processing of this application. Those 
studies, analyses, and reports will be used by the Secretary of the 
Interior to make a decision as to whether this withdrawal should be 
authorized.
    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the Forest 
Supervisor within 90 days from the date of publication of this notice. 
Upon determination by the authorized officer that a public meeting will 
be held, a notice of the time and place will be published in the 
Federal Register at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the 
meeting.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2300.
    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated as specified above 
unless the application is denied or canceled or the withdrawal is 
approved prior to that date. The temporary uses which may be permitted 
during this segregative period are those which are determined to be 
compatible with the use of the land by Forest Service.

Duane Marti,
Acting Chief, Branch of Lands (CA-931).
[FR Doc. 03-10811 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P