[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55651-55652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24154]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-930-03-1610-DQ]


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
and the Proposed Snake River Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) and the Proposed Snake River Resource Management Plan 
(RMP), Wyoming.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the FEIS and the Proposed Snake River RMP.
    The FEIS describes and analyzes options for managing approximately 
981 acres of public land and 15,123 acres of Federal mineral estate in 
Teton County, northwestern Wyoming. The FEIS documents the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of six management 
alternatives for BLM-administered public lands near, or adjacent to, 
the Snake River. The completed RMP will fulfill the obligations set 
forth by the NEPA, Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and 
Federal regulations.

DATES: The Proposed Snake River RMP and FEIS will be available for 
review for 30 calendar days from the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) publishes its NOA in the Federal Register. Under the 
provisions of 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1610.5 protest of a 
proposed BLM RMP must be filed with the Director in accordance with the 
instructions described in the FEIS and included in the supplemental 
information section of this notice. Protest of the proposed Snake River 
RMP will be accepted no later than 30 calendar days from the date the 
EPA publishes its NOA in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the FEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State, 
local government agencies, and to interested parties. The document will 
be available electronically on the following Web site: http://www.wy.blm.gov/srrmp/index.htm. Copies of the FEIS will be available 
for public inspection at the following locations:
    [sbull] Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009
    [sbull] Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432 S. 
Mill St., Pinedale, Wyoming 82941

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Kellie Roadifer, Project 
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, 432 S. Mill Street, P.O. Box 768, 
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941, or electronically to pinedale [email protected] 
with ``Attention: Snake River RMP'' in the subject line. Ms. Roadifer 
may also be reached at (307) 367-5309.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM-administered public lands and 
mineral estate in the planning area currently do not have an approved 
land use plan. Upon approval, the Snake River RMP would establish 
management direction for the surface and mineral estates and associated 
resources administered by the BLM near Jackson, Wyoming. The public 
lands and Federal mineral resources analyzed are those administered by 
the BLM Pinedale Field Office.
    The FEIS describes the physical, biological, cultural, historic, 
and socioeconomic resources in and around the surrounding planning 
area. The focus for impact analysis was based on resource issues and 
concerns identified during scoping and public involvement activities 
and opportunities. Potential impacts of concern regarding possible 
management direction and planning decisions (not in priority order) 
are: multi-agency and interagency cooperative management; recreation 
opportunities along the Snake River;

[[Page 55652]]

availability and development of construction mineral materials; and 
land ownership (land tenure) pattern. The primary issues driving 
alternative development are: mineral development; visitor health and 
safety; recreation management; wildlife habitat; open space; land use 
authorizations; and land tenure adjustment.
    Six alternatives were analyzed in detail:
    1. Alternative A, Continuation of Existing Management Direction or 
the ``No Action'' Alternative;
    2. Alternative B, Reduced Land Use Restrictions with Higher Levels 
of Mineral Development and Recreation;
    3. Alternative C, Continuation of Existing Management Direction 
with Reduced Motor Vehicle Access, Increased Wildlife Habitat 
Protection and Solitude Opportunities, and Possible Consolidation of 
Public Land Parcels;
    4. Alternative D, Disposal of Lands Currently Administered by the 
BLM;
    5. Alternative E, Limited Disposal or Exchange of Lands Currently 
Administered by the BLM, and
    6. Proposed Plan, Transfer of Public Land Parcels To Another 
Federal Land Management Agency or Disposal of Public Land to Other 
Governmental Entities With Conveyance Contingent on Continuation of RMP 
Management Direction.
    Background information and maps used in developing the final RMP 
EIS are available for public viewing at the Pinedale Field Office.
    If adopted, this proposed RMP does not authorize any land uses or 
site-disturbing activities. Decisions regarding these site-specific 
implementation activities are subject to further NEPA analysis and 
appeal, as provided by applicable regulations.
    Protest Instructions: Publication of this EIS prepared for a RMP 
affords the public the opportunity to protest. Instructions for filing 
a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the State Director's 
proposed Snake River RMP may be found at 43 CFR 1610.5. Any person who 
participated in the planning process, has an interest, or may be 
adversely affected by the approval of the proposed RMP, may protest 
such approval. The protest must be in writing and must be filed with 
the Director. The protest must be filed within 30 days from the date 
the EPA publishes its NOA in the Federal Register. The protest must 
contain:
    i. The name, mailing address, telephone number, and interest of the 
person filing the protest;
    ii. A statement of the issue or issues being protested;
    iii. A statement of the part, or parts, of the plan or amendment 
being protested;
    iv. A copy of all documents addressing the issue, or issues, that 
were submitted during the planning process by the protesting party or 
an indication of the date the issue, or issues, were discussed for the 
record; and
    v. A concise statement explaining why the State Director's decision 
is believed to be wrong.
    E-mail and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests 
unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either 
regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest 
period. Under these conditions, BLM will consider the e-mail or faxed 
protest as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If 
you wish to provide BLM with such advance notification, please direct 
faxed protests to the attention of the BLM protest coordinator at 202-
452-5112, and e-mails to [email protected]
    The Director will respond to protests. The response will be in 
writing and will be sent to the protesting party by certified mail, 
return receipt requested. The decision of the Director will be the 
final decision for the Department of the Interior.
    Protest Filing Addresses: Protests submitted electronically will 
not be accepted. File written protests by Surface Mail: U.S. Department 
of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Director (210), Attn: Ms. 
Brenda Williams, Protest Coordinator, P.O. Box 66538, Washington DC 
20035 or overnight (WO-210), 1620 L Street, NW., Room 1075, Washington, 
DC 20036.

Alan Kesterke,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 03-24154 Filed 9-25-03; 8:45 am]
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