[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 29750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11731]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-170]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Proposed Resource Management Plan 
Amendment and Associated Environmental Assessment for the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), Bishop Field Office, Located in Eastern 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the BLM intends to prepare 
a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and associated 
Environmental Assessment for the Bishop Field Office, located in 
eastern California. The Bishop Field Office manages approximately 
750,000 acres of public lands, with its headquarters located in Bishop, 
California. An amendment to the existing 1993 RMP is needed to update 
Land Use Plan decisions to comply with new national direction for the 
National Fire Plan/ Comprehensive Strategy and BLM directives.
    The Proposed RMP Amendment and EA would fulfill the needs and 
obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management 
policies. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to 
identify management decisions that best address local, regional, and 
national needs and concerns. The public scoping process will identify 
wildland fire and hazardous fuels management planning issues and 
develop planning criteria.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Public 
comments will be accepted throughout the entire planning process, but 
to be most beneficial comments on the preliminary issues and 
suggestions for potential planning criteria should be submitted in 
writing to the address listed below and will be accepted for 30 days 
following the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 
Public meetings will be held throughout the plan scoping and 
preparation period. In order to ensure local community participation 
and input, public meetings will be held in locations most closely 
affiliated with the public lands in the planning area. Probable 
locations include Bridgeport and Bishop, California. These public 
meetings are scheduled to be held the month of May 2004. Specific dates 
and meeting locations will be announced by BLM through news releases, 
direct mailings or other applicable means of public notification within 
15 days of the event.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments should be sent to Bill Dunkelberger, Field 
Office Manager, BLM--Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, 
Bishop, California 93514. Comments will also be received via Fax at 
(760) 872-5050 or e-mail at [email protected].
    The BLM will maintain a record of public documents related to the 
development of the RMP amendment at the Bishop Field Office at the 
address listed above. Comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents will be available for public review at the Bishop Field 
Office in Bishop, California during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays, and may be 
published as part of the EA. Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. Individuals who wish to withhold their name or street 
address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act must state this prominently at the beginning of their 
written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by 
law. BLM will not consider anonymous comments. 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: Dale Johnson, Fuels Specialist, BLM--
Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, California 
93514, (760) 872-5055 or via e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Preliminary issues and management concerns 
have been identified by BLM personnel in consultation with other 
agencies, individuals and organizations, and include: Management of 
special areas, health and resilience of wetland, riparian and upland 
ecosystems, management and protection of sensitive, rare, threatened or 
endangered species, community protection, firefighter safety, invasive 
plants, visual resources management, Native American traditions and 
practices, and protection of cultural resource sites.
    Disciplines involved in the planning process include specialists 
with expertise in wildlife and fisheries management, forestry, botany 
and vegetation community ecology, fire/fuels management and ecology, 
hydrology and watershed management, archeology, lands and realty, 
minerals and geology, grazing management and recreation management.

    Authority: 43 CFR 1610.5-5.

    Dated: April 2, 2004.
Bill Dunkelberger,
Field Office Manager, Bishop Field Office.
[FR Doc. 04-11731 Filed 5-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P