[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 126 (Thursday, July 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39954-39955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14903]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-800-04-1310-PB-211P]


Notice of Meetings and Hearing, Subcommittee of the Southwest 
Resource Advisory Council (Colorado), Public Hearing, and Open Houses

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior, U.S. Forest Service, 
Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and hearing.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, a subcommittee of the 
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Southwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet three times as 
indicated below. In addition, one public hearing and three public open 
houses will be held. The public hearing, open houses, and RAC 
subcommittee meetings are for the purpose of obtaining public input on 
the Northern San Juan Basin Coal Bed Methane Environmental Impact 
Statement being prepared by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. 
Forest Service.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on July 14, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 
10 p.m. The hearing will be held in Bayfield, Colorado. Open houses 
will be held on July 19, 2004, in Durango, Colorado; July 20, 2004, in 
Pagosa Springs, Colorado; and July 21, 2004, in Bayfield, Colorado and 
July 28, 2004 in Ignacio, Colorado. Each of the four open houses will 
be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meetings of the subcommittee of the 
Southwest RAC will be held on August 11, 2004, in Bayfield, Colorado; 
August 17, 2004, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado; and August 19, 2004, in 
Durango, Colorado. Each of the RAC subcommittee meetings will be held 
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A total of six public meetings and one 
public hearing will be held in Southwestern Colorado to receive public 
input on the Northern San Juan Basin Coal Bed Methane Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) during the public comment period for the draft 
EIS. Three of these meetings are of a subcommittee of the Southwest 
RAC. This subcommittee was formed to assist the BLM in collecting and 
fully understanding public comment on the EIS being prepared for the 
proposed development of coal bed natural gas in the Northern San Juan 
Basin of Colorado. The subcommittee, upon collection of public comment, 
will report back to the Southwest RAC for the full council's 
consideration. The 15-member Southwest RAC advises the Secretary of the 
Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management 
issues associated with public land management in southwestern Colorado.
    While the format of the seven sessions will vary, all are open to 
the public. The public will be invited to raise questions and concerns 
regarding the draft EIS prepared for proposed coal bed natural gas 
development. Comments may be presented orally or in writing, however

[[Page 39955]]

time constraints may result in written comments presented to the RAC 
subcommittee being forwarded directly to BLM without subcommittee 
review. Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and time 
available, the time for individual oral comments may be limited. 
Persons interested in commenting on the EIS are encouraged to, but need 
not attend the hearing or six public meetings. The Bureau of Land 
Management and U.S. Forest Service will accept written comments on the 
draft EIS throughout the comment period as separately announced.
    Hearing and meeting locations, dates, and time are presented below:

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              Meeting type                        Location                            Date/time
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Public Hearing.........................  Bayfield High School        Wed., July 14, 6-10 p.m.
                                          Cafetorium, 800 CR 501,
                                          Bayfield, CO.
Open House.............................  San Juan Public Lands       Mon., July 19, 4-7 p.m.
                                          Center, 15 Burnett Ct.
                                          Durango, CO.
Open House.............................  Archuleta County            Tues., July 20, 4-7 p.m.
                                          Fairgrounds, Extension
                                          Building 344, Highway 84,
                                          Pagosa Springs, CO.
Open House.............................  Bayfield High School        Wed., July, 4-7 p.m.
                                          Cafetorium, 800 CR 501,
                                          Bayfield, CO.
Open House.............................  Able Atencio Community      Wed., July 28, 4-7 p.m.
                                          Room, Ignacio Municipal
                                          Complex, 570 Goddard
                                          Avenue, Ignacio, CO.
RAC Subcommittee.......................  Bayfield High School        Wed., Aug 11, 6-9 p.m.
                                          Cafetorium, 800 CR 501,
                                          Bayfield, CO.
RAC Subcommittee.......................  Archuleta County            Tues., Aug. 17, 6-9 p.m.
                                          Fairgrounds, Extension
                                          Building, 344 Highway 84,
                                          Pagosa Springs, CO.
RAC Subcommittee.......................  San Juan Public Lands       Thurs., Aug. 19, 6-9 p.m.
                                          Center, 15 Burnett Ct.,
                                          Durango, CO.
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    Summary minutes for the RAC subcommittee meetings will be provided 
to the full Southwest RAC and will be maintained, along with the 
records of the hearing and open houses, in the San Juan Public Lands 
Office, 15 Burnett Ct., Durango, CO 81301, and will be available for 
public inspection during regular business hours within thirty (30) days 
following the meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Bond, San Juan Public Lands 
Center, 15 Burnett Ct., Durango, CO 81301. Phone (970) 385-1219.

    Dated: June 24, 2004.
Mark W. Stiles,
San Juan Public Lands Center Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-14903 Filed 6-30-04; 8:45 am]
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