[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63815-63816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28081]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-014-2810-DU]


Notice of Availability of the Elko/Wells Resource Management 
Plans Proposed Fire Management Amendment, Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact and Initiation of a 30-day Public 
Protest Period

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and initiation of public protest period 
for the Elko/Wells Resource Management Plans Proposed Fire Management 
Amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko Field Office, gives 
notice of the availability of a Proposed Fire Management Amendment 
(Amendment) to the Elko/Wells Resource Management Plans (RMPs). The 
document, which includes an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) 
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), is subject to a 30-day 
public protest period to the Nevada State Director by participants in 
the planning process. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for filing and 
content requirements of a letter of protest.
    The Proposed Amendment/EA/FONSI has been prepared to address 
current issues and provide long-term direction for fire management on 
lands administered by the BLM's Elko Field Office. The Elko District is 
located in northeastern Nevada, and includes Elko County and portions 
of Eureka and Lander counties.

[[Page 63816]]


DATES: Protests must be filed on or before December 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The Proposed Amendment/EA/FONSI may be obtained from the 
Elko Field Office at 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801. A protest 
letter must be addressed to the State Director, and be mailed to P.O. 
Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520-0006. For hand deliveries, the address of 
BLM's Nevada State Office is 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502-7147.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Planning and analysis for the Proposed Elko/
Wells RMPs Fire Management Amendment and associated EA/FONSI follow 
regulations at 43 CFR part 1610 for the Federal Land Management and 
Policy Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1610), and at 40 CFR part 1500-1508 for 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (Pub. L. 91-
90, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Public scoping for preparation of the 
Amendment/EA was conducted in March 2000 (66 FR 20830-20831, April 25, 
2001).
    Amendment of the RMPs is needed due to recent above-normal wildfire 
seasons; concerns about critical habitat for wild horses; wildlife, and 
domestic livestock; implementation of the National Fire Plan; and 
increased interest from local publics, cooperators and interest groups. 
The major emphasis of the amendment is to provide a framework to:

    a. Improve effectiveness of initial attack on fires that should be 
suppressed;
    b. Increase options for vegetation management in advance of 
wildfires to reduce the scale, cost, and adverse impacts of large 
fires;
    c. Minimize damage to other resources through coordinated planning 
in advance on suppression strategy and tactics based on each discipline 
involved; and
    d. Lessen the impact of wildfire in habitat and public land-based 
sectors of the local economy (recreation, hunting, grazing);

Four alternatives for the amendment are described and analyzed in the 
EA. They were developed based on existing national, state, and local 
policy, as well as best available science and the desires of various 
affected interests:
    Limited Suppression or Fire Use--This alternative significantly 
reduces the suppression response and associated costs necessary for 
wildfires. It assumes that most fires result in acceptable impacts on 
the landscape.
    Full Suppression--This alternative would treat all wildfire as an 
undesirable event and assumes that effectiveness of initial attack is 
approximately 100 percent. Cost of this alternative would be highest of 
the considered alternatives.
    Existing Management--This ``no action'' alternative has several 
elements of the first two, but places less emphasis on vegetation 
treatment, potential for fire use, or emerging issues for impacts on 
the landscape.
    Proposed Action--BLM's ``preferred'' alternative includes a mix of 
management actions to increase preparedness for initial attack, treat 
fuels and use fire where appropriate to achieve resource benefits.
    A draft Amendment/EA was provided to participants in the planning 
process for review and comment; this comment period ended November 15, 
2002. The Proposed Amendment/EA/FONSI has been prepared based on input 
received.
    Protest procedures in 43 CFR 1610.5-2 allow the public an 
opportunity to review BLM's proposed land use plan decision. Any 
participant in the planning process who has an interest that is or may 
be adversely affected may file a protest. The protester may raise only 
issues submitted for the record during the planning process. A letter 
of protest must be filed within 30 days of publication of this notice. 
The protest must be in writing and fulfill content requirements 
established in 43 CFR 1610.5-2(a)(2). The State Director must receive a 
protest letter as specified in the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of this 
notice. No extension of time to file a protest is allowed. Any letters 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses will be available for public inspection 
in their entirety upon request.
    The Proposed Fire Management RMP Amendment, EA, and FONSI is 
available from the BLM Elko Field Office, 3900 E. Idaho St, Elko NV 
89801, telephone 775-753-0200. This document is being mailed to all 
interested parties who have provided comments or requested they be 
included the mailing list for this planning effort.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Fire Management: Joe Freeland, Fire Management Officer, 775-753-
0308.
    Planning: Lorrie West, 775-753-0266.

David Stout,
Associate Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-28081 Filed 11-7-03; 8:45 am]
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