[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32367-32368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13000]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ES-020-1430-EU]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment 
for the Dune Allen II Tract

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (BLM-ES) Jackson 
Field Office, in Jackson, Mississippi, is initiating the preparation of 
a Resource Management Plan Amendment to consider the disposal of public 
land (Dune Allen II Tract) in Walton County, Florida. This action will 
require the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA).

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to BLM-ES, Jackson Field Office; 411 
Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson MS 39206.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Allison, Land Use Planner, 
(601) 977 4413

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RMP Amendment will consider the disposal 
(direct sale) of public land located in:

Tallahassee Meridian, Florida

T. 3 S., R. 10 W.
    Sec. 3, Lot 37

    Containing 0.58 acres, more or less.

    The land is identified as the Dune Allen II tract in the Florida 
Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (October 1994) and Florida Resource Management Plan and 
Record of Decision (September 1995). The Palms of Dune Allen Homeowners 
Association, a non-profit organization, has proposed to purchase, by 
direct sale, from the United States 0.58 of an acre of public land in 
Walton County, Florida. The Dune Allen II tract has a boardwalk 
crossing the dune area (October 1994 RMP). The continued, proposed use 
of the land, if it is sold, would essentially be limited to the 
maintenance and use of the boardwalk. The beachfront property lies on 
the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida panhandle. The coastal environment 
adjacent to the land has been substantially modified by construction of 
roads, beach houses and condominiums. The land is closed to off-highway 
vehicle (OHV) use (October 1994 RMP).

Preliminary Topic

    The preliminary topic, for this planning effort, has been 
identified by BLM personnel. The anticipated topic, that will be 
addressed in the RMP Amendment, is limited to the proposed transfer of 
land from government ownership to private ownership. If the tract were 
to be transferred to private ownership, protective covenants would be 
included with the transfer of title. These protective covenants would 
ensure the land is used for both the maintenance of the boardwalk and 
public access to the beach. This notice initiates the public scoping 
process.
    BLM staff will review additional concerns raised by the public. 
Determinations will be made as to whether they (1) will be addressed in 
the RMP Amendment or (2) are outside the scope of the RMP Amendment.

Planning Criteria

    Preliminary planning criteria have been developed to guide the 
preparation of this RMP Amendment and are listed below.
    1. Land use planning (RMP Amendment) and environmental analysis 
(EA) will be conducted in accordance with laws, regulations, executive 
orders and manuals. Planning will be conducted for the land under the 
administration of BLM.
    2. Land use policy, for either the continued retention or proposed 
disposal of this land, will determine for this BLM-administered land 
after the RMP Amendment is completed.
    3. Resource data, needed to evaluate the impacts of the proposed 
sale of this land, will be collected, as needed.
    4. BLM staff will work cooperatively with (a) county and local 
governments and agencies, (b) groups and organizations and (c) 
individuals. These

[[Page 32368]]

criteria are not final and may be refined by public input (comment).

Multiple Resource Considerations

    An interdisciplinary team approach will be used, as needed, to 
address resource issues in this RMP Amendment. The tentative resource 
programs that will be addressed include lands and realty, 
socioeconomics, soils, water, and wildlife.

Public Participation

    This notice initiates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
public scoping process (CFR, Title 43, part 1610, Section 2(c) and 
Title 40, part 1501, Section 7). The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decision that is best 
suited to local needs and concerns. The public is invited to 
participate in this planning process, beginning with the identification 
of issues and planning criteria for the RMP Amendment. Comments 
relating to the preliminary issues and planning criteria (listed above) 
can be submitted in writing to BLM-ES Jackson Field Office; 411 
Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson MS 39206.
    This planning process will emphasize localized one-to-one contacts 
and continual coordination and collaboration. Meetings may be held, if 
they are needed to (1) determine the scope of the RMP Amendment and (2) 
obtain input on issues and planning criteria. All public meetings will 
be announced through the local news media at least 15 days prior to the 
event.

Confidentiality

    Individuals who submit comments 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. BLM will not consider 
anonymous comments. All submissions from (1) organizations and 
businesses and (2) individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be 
available for public review in their entirety.
    Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of 
special characters and any form of encryption. The BLM also accepts 
comments and data on disks in WordPerfect 7 (and higher) and Word 97 
(and higher) file formats or the ASCII file format. Identify all 
comments and data in electronic form by the docket number [PP 4F4327/
R2253].

(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1711-1712, CFR Title 43, part 1610, Section 
2(c); 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., CFR Title 40, part 1507, Section 7.)

    Dated: April 22, 2004.
Michael D. Nedd,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 04-13000 Filed 6-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P