[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 2654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-730]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT080-1610-DH]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Resource Management Plan 
Revision and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Vernal Field 
Office Planning Area, in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties, Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(FLPMA), and regulatory requirements, a Draft RMP Revision/EIS has been 
prepared for the Vernal Field Office planning area and is available for 
a 90 day public review and comment period. The Draft RMP Revision/EIS 
may be viewed and downloaded in PDF format at the project Web site at 
http://www.vernalrmp.com. Copies of the Draft RMP Revision/EIS will 
also be available for distribution and review during the comment period 
at the BLM Vernal Field Office, at the address shown below.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft RMP Revision/EIS will be accepted 
for 90 days following publication of the EPA Notice of Availability. 
Future public meetings and any other public involvement activities will 
be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, local 
media news releases, mailings, and the project Web site at: http://www.vernalrmp.com.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Vernal Field Office RMP 
Comments--Attention Dave Moore, Vernal Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078. Comments may also 
be made electronically at: http://www.vernalrmp.com. Comments, 
including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for 
public review at the BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, 
Vernal, Utah during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except 
weekends and holidays). All submissions from organizations or 
businesses will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety. Individuals may request confidentiality with respect to their 
name, address, and phone number. If you wish to have your name or 
street address withheld from public review, or from disclosure under 
the Freedom of Information Act, the first line of the comment should 
start with the words ``CONFIDENTIALITY REQUESTED'' in uppercase letters 
in order for BLM to comply with your request. Such requests will be 
honored to the extent allowed by law. Comment contents will not be kept 
confidential.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to the planning project mailing list, visit the Web 
site shown above. You may also contact Dave Moore, Supervisory Planning 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South 
500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078, telephone: (435) 781-4400, or e-mail 
through the Web site: http://www.vernalrmp.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area includes all of the public 
land and federal mineral ownership managed by the Vernal Field Office 
in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties, in northeast Utah, and about 
3,000 acres in Grand County. The planning area encompasses public lands 
currently managed under the Book Cliffs and Diamond Mountain Resource 
Management Plans (RMP). This area includes approximately 1.8 million 
acres of BLM administered surface lands and 2.1 million acres of 
federal mineral lands under federal, state, private, and Ute Tribal 
surface in the three county areas.
    The Draft RMP Revision/EIS addresses alternatives, management 
guidance, monitoring, and impact analysis of the alternatives. The 
alternatives present differing management balances between the various 
resources and uses. This planning effort will revise the Book Cliffs 
(1985) and Diamond Mountain (1994) RMPs. Once approved, the Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the Vernal Field Office RMP Revision will supercede 
all existing management plans for the planning area. SWCA Environmental 
Consultants in Salt Lake City, Utah is assisting the BLM in the 
planning process and in the preparation of the document. In order to 
receive full consideration, comments should focus on specific 
management actions being considered and the adequacy of analysis. 
Responses to the comments will be published as part of the Final RMP 
Revision/EIS. The Draft RMP Revision/EIS contains four alternatives 
(including the No Action Alternative). Major issues considered are: 
management of oil and gas resources, special designation areas, 
wildlife, special status plants and animals, regional air quality, and 
recreation.

    Dated: November 3, 2004.
Gene R. Terland,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-730 Filed 1-13-05; 8:45 am]
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