[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42766-42767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15604]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-110-6332-DC; HAG-03-0274]


Notice of Availability of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic 
River: Hellgate Recreation Area Management Plan and Record of Decision

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), Medford District Office, Grants Pass Resource Area has prepared 
and approved the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River: Hellgate 
Recreation Area Management Plan and Record of Decision (RAMP/ROD) for 
the 27-mile stretch of the recreation section of the Rogue National 
Wild and Scenic River located in southern Josephine County, Oregon. The 
Rogue River was one of eight rivers identified as part of the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System when the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was 
passed in 1968. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 established the 
wild and scenic rivers system (Pub. L. 90-542 and 99-590). The Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA) established a method for providing federal 
protection for certain remaining free-flowing rivers and preserving 
them and their immediate environments.
    The Proposed Action (Alternative E), as analyzed in the FEIS, with 
minor decision changes resulting from public comments, are selected as 
the Record of Decision (ROD). It responds to issues raised during 
scoping and to public comments. It is a composite of various elements 
of the five alternatives (A to E) considered and analyzed in the Final 
EIS. The RAMP does the following: (1) Provides protection and 
enhancement of the outstandingly remarkable values while concurrently 
attaining the widest range of neutral and beneficial uses of the 
environment without degradation, (2) maintains an environment that 
supports diverse recreational opportunities, (3) integrates resource 
protection with an appropriate range of visitor uses, (4) contributes 
economically to the local communities, and (5) provides multi-resource 
standards and direction found in other legislation, policies, or 
management

[[Page 42767]]

plans that are designed to comply with applicable State and Federal 
laws.
    The RAMP and ROD are signed by the District Manager and the Grants 
Pass Field Manager and will become effective upon publication of this 
notice. The RAMP and ROD have been prepared in accordance with section 
202 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and BLM 
management policies. The RAMP and ROD conforms with the management 
direction contained in the 1995 Medford District Record of Decision and 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) and does not amend that plan.

DATES: Effective date of this decision is the date of this publication 
notice.
    This decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land 
Appeals, Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations 
contained in 43 CFR Part 4. Any parties adversely affected by this 
decision have the right to appeal within 30 days of publication of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Abbie Jossie, Grants Pass Field Manager, or Chris Dent, 
Rogue River Manager, Grants Pass Resource Area, Bureau of Land 
Management, Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 
97504.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the RAMP and ROD are 
available at the Medford District Office or by contacting the Planning 
Team Leader, Cori Cooper, at (541) 618-2428 or [email protected]; 
or it is located on the District's Web site at: www.or.blm.gov/Medford. 
Copies of the document are available for inspection at the BLM Oregon 
State Office Public Room during regular business hours (333 SW 1st 
Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204, (503) 808-6001, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the RAMP and ROD is to: (1) 
Replace the 1978 Rogue National Wild and Scenic River Activity Plan for 
the Hellgate Recreation Section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic 
River; (2) provide management direction and guidance on the management 
of the Hellgate section pursuant to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 
1968 (Pub. L. 90-542, October 2, 1968); and (3) maintain and manage a 
mix of water-based visitor use activities and users common to the river 
since its designation in 1968 as a National Wild and Scenic River, 
while protecting and enhancing the environment and the outstandingly 
remarkable values: Natural scenic quality, fisheries, and recreation 
opportunities.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the planning process. 
A Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on October 1, 
1993 and the Draft EIS Notice of Availability was published in the 
Federal Register on November 24, 2000. Public comments were solicited 
during scoping and through a 90-day comment period for the Draft EIS. 
The Final EIS Notice of Availability was published in the Federal 
Register on March 21, 2003 and was available to the public for 30 days.

Timothy B. Reuwsaat,
District Manager, BLM Medford District Office.
[FR Doc. 04-15604 Filed 7-15-04; 8:45 am]
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