[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35700-35701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15051]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-130-03-1220-DU]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Grand Junction Resource Management 
Plan for the North Fruita Desert Area

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to amend the Grand Junction Resource 
Management Plan for the North Fruita Desert Area.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 and section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction Field 
Office, is proposing to amend the Grand Junction Resource Management 
Plan (1987) to develop and design a travel system for the North Fruita 
Desert Area. The planning area includes 72,656 acres of public land 
located in Mesa County north of the town of Fruita, Colorado. The North 
Fruita Desert planning process was initiated in August 2000 and an ad 
hoc public committee was chartered under the Northwest Colorado 
Resource Advisory Committee to help provide feedback to BLM staff. It 
was originally thought that desired management actions identified in 
the planning process could be carried out on an activity-level plan 
within the existing guidance of the Grand Junction Resource Management 
Plan (RMP). However, it has since been determined that a plan amendment 
would be needed to consider the input of the ad hoc public committee 
and to alter RMP allocations.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. The public is 
invited to submit comments throughout the development of the Draft 
Amendment/EA. All future public meetings will be announced through the 
local news media, newsletters, and other media at least 15 days prior 
to the event. In addition to the ongoing public participation process, 
formal opportunities for public participation will be provided through 
comment upon the issuance of the BLM Draft Amendment/EA.

[[Page 35701]]


ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bureau of Land 
Management, Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, 
CO, 81506. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you 
wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests 
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Philip Gezon, Supervisory 
Outdoor Recreation Planner, Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, 
Grand Junction, CO 81506; (970) 244-3031; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Grand Junction Field Office has and will 
continue to consult, communicate and cooperate with local landowners, 
recreationists, the Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Committee, the 
ad hoc committee, the city of Fruita, and other affected interest 
groups and individuals to develop and design a travel system for the 
North Fruita Desert Area. BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to 
develop the plan amendment and environmental assessment in order to 
consider all identified resource issues and concerns. Disciplines 
involved in the planning process will include specialists with 
expertise in outdoor recreation, transportation planning, range 
conservation, wildlife, fisheries, law enforcement, oil and gas, 
geology, geology, soils and hazardous materials.

    Dated: May 6, 2003.
Catherine Robertson,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-15051 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P