[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 204 (Wednesday, October 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60410-60411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26649]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-134-1610-DP-006C]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado Canyons National 
Conservation Area, Grand Junction Field Office in Mesa County

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) 
of 1976, the BLM has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/EIS) for the Colorado Canyons 
National Conservation Area (CCNCA) and is available for a 90-day public 
review and comment period. The planning area lies in Mesa County, 
Colorado and Grand County, Utah. The DRMP/EIS provides direction and 
guidance for the management of public lands and resources of the CCNCA, 
as well as monitoring and evaluation requirements, and impact analysis 
of the alternatives. The CCNCA RMP will amend the Grand Junction (CO) 
Resource Area Resource Management Plan (1987) and the Grand (UT) 
Resource Area Resource Management Plan (1985).

DATES: Written comments on the DRMP/EIS will be accepted for 90 days 
following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
this notice in the Federal Register. Future public meetings and any 
other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days 
in advance through public notices, local media news releases, the 
project Web site at http://www.co.blm.gov/cocanplan/, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Jane Ross, 2815 H Road, 
Grand Junction, Colorado 81506. Comments also may be sent by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Written comments, including names and addresses 
of respondents, will be available for public review at the offices of 
the BLM Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, 
Colorado 81506, during normal working hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
except holidays). Submissions from organizations or businesses will be 
made available for public inspection in their entirety. Individuals may 
request confidentiality with respect to their name, address, and phone 
number. If you wish to have your name or street address withheld from 
public review, or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. Comment contents 
will not be kept confidential. Responses to the comments will be 
published as part of the Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.
    The DRMP/EIS and other associated documents or background 
information may be viewed and downloaded in PDF format at the project 
Web site at http://www.co.blm.gov/cocanplan/. Copies of the DRMP/EIS 
are available at the BLM Grand Junction Office at the address above, 
and at the BLM Moab (UT) Field Office, 82 E. Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532. 
Copies are also available at the following Mesa County Public Library 
District locations during regular business hours:

Central Library, 530 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501;
Fruita Branch, 325 East Aspen Avenue, Fruita, CO 81521;
Palisade Branch, 711 Iowa Street, Palisade, CO 81526;
Clifton Branch, Peachtree Shopping Center, 3225 I-70 Business Loop A-1, 
Clifton, CO 81520;
Orchard Mesa Branch, 2736 Unaweep Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81503.

    The planning documents and direct supporting record for the 
analysis for the DRMP/EIS will be available for inspection at the BLM 
Grand Junction Field Office during normal working hours, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 
p.m.

[[Page 60411]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Jane Ross (970) 244-3027, 
Planning and Environmental Coordinator ([email protected]), or Greg 
Gnesios at (970) 244-3049 ([email protected]), Colorado 
Canyons NCA Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction Field 
Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RMP will amend the Grand Junction RMP 
(1987) and may amend the Grand Resource Area [UT] RMP for the affected 
lands in the planning area. Some decisions in the existing planning and 
management documents may be carried forward into the new CCNCA RMP. 
Once approved in a Record of Decision (ROD), the RMP for the CCNCA will 
supercede all existing management plans for the public lands within the 
CCNCA. The DRMP/EIS evaluates the Existing Management Alternative, the 
Agency Preferred Alternative, and two other management alternatives 
developed for the CCNCA.
    The CCNCA was officially designated on October 24, 2000, when the 
Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons 
Wilderness Act of 2000 was signed into public law by the President. The 
purpose of the Act is to conserve, protect, and enhance, for the 
benefit and enjoyment of both present and future generations, the 
nationally important values of the public lands making up the CCNCA, 
including the Black Ridge Canyons, Ruby Canyon, and Rabbit Valley. The 
CCNCA, located west of Grand Junction, includes 122,300 rugged acres of 
sandstone canyons, natural arches, spires, and alcoves carved into the 
Colorado Plateau along a 24-mile stretch of the Colorado River. 
Included in the CCNCA are 75,550 acres of wilderness designated as the 
Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness. At the western boundary of the CCNCA, 
5,200 acres stretch into eastern Utah.
    The DRMP/EIS analyzes four alternatives that are summarized below. 
Preliminary issues identified by the BLM and used for developing 
alternatives include: (1) Travel management; (2) recreation; (3) use 
authorizations such as rights-of-way and grazing; (4) management of 
natural resources; (5) wilderness management; (6) integration of the 
CCNCA Management Plan with other agency and community plans; and (7) 
consideration of private property in the planning area. Some of the 
issues that have been identified in the scoping process phase of the 
CCNCA planning process include: motorized and non-motorized vehicle 
use, allocation of commercial recreation use, water quality, land 
health, threatened and endangered and special status species and 
critical habitat protection, reintroduction of native species, and 
noxious weed control. Other factors considered include recreation and 
resource use, protection of scenic values, the level and intensity of 
dispersed and developed recreation management, cultural resource 
protection and interpretation, public access, transportation and 
utility corridors, and woodland product harvest.
    The public collaboration program implemented for this effort 
included the formation of a ten-member Advisory Council and four public 
collaboration working groups, three public open houses, the 
distribution of two newsletters, and also included workshops, training 
courses and field trips. During this process over 100 meetings were 
held with the public, during which 17 planning criteria were developed 
to help ensure consideration of issues important to the public. 
Planning criteria also include laws, regulations, policy, and other 
guidance. The complete list of the planning criteria can be found on 
the planning Web site at http://www.co.blm.gov/cocanplan/.
    Alternative 1 is the no-action, or ``continuation of existing 
management'' alternative, that leaves all management of the area in its 
current management situation as guided by the Colorado Canyons National 
Conservation Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000, the 
Ruby Canyon/Black Ridge Wilderness Integrated Management Plan, the 
Grand Junction Resource Area Resource Management Plan, The Interim 
Management Policy for BLM National Monuments and National Conservation 
Areas, and the Colorado State Director's Guidance for the CCNCA.
    Alternative 2, the Recreation Emphasis Alternative, maximizes 
multiple-use, recreation opportunities while conserving and protecting 
traditional uses and protecting natural resources to the maximum extent 
possible. Objectives for Alternative 2 include preserving and enhancing 
traditional recreation activities--hiking, camping, mountain biking, 
OHV use, horseback riding, hunting, boating, backpacking; maintaining 
current land health and improving priority areas of concern using a 
higher percentage of non-native species as necessary to stabilize 
soils; and concentrating activities in certain areas as a method to 
control use and resource impacts and minimize dispersed resource 
impacts.
    Alternative 3, the Adaptive Management and Agency Preferred 
Alternative, emphasizes maintaining the current level of enjoyment of 
the area's recreational opportunities and unique characteristics while 
recognizing that increased future use will trigger the need for 
increased levels of management. Monitoring for land health and 
visitors' beneficial experience will determine when increased levels of 
management are required. Objectives for this alternative include 
preserving the character of the area; preserving and enhancing 
traditional recreation activities--hiking, camping, mountain biking, 
OHV use, horseback riding, hunting, and boating; and maintaining land 
health and improving priority areas of concern.
    Alternative 4, the Conservation Emphasis Alternative, focuses on 
maximizing the conservation of natural resources in the CCNCA while 
still maintaining traditional uses and recreational opportunities to 
the greatest extent possible. Objectives for this alternative include 
improving land health in all areas of concern, preserving the character 
of the area, and expanding education and interpretation opportunities 
in all areas.

    Dated: August 22, 2003.
Gregory Gnesios,
Manager, Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area.
[FR Doc. 03-26649 Filed 10-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P