[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42091-42092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14312]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-027-1110-JM-H2KO; HAG-05-0096]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Burns District, Andrews Resource 
Area, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the 
Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000 
(Steens Act), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is initiating 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze and 
undertake the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project (North Steens 
Project).

DATES: Scoping comments will be accepted for 15 days following 
publication of this notice. The North Steens Project was initially 
proposed for a smaller geographic area; however, initial scoping with 
private landowners and interested publics expanded the scope to its 
current landscape scale. Comments received during this scoping 
extension will be added to those received during previous scoping 
(January 5 to February 22, 2005). The results of all scoping will be 
used as BLM prepares the Draft EIS. Public notice will be provided when 
the Draft EIS becomes available later this year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact North Steens Project EIS 
Lead, Bureau of Land Management, Burns District Office, 28910, Highway 
20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738; (541) 573-4543; fax (541) 573-4411; or e-
mail ([email protected]). Documents pertinent to this project may be 
examined at the Burns District Office in Hines, Oregon, during regular 
business hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Steens Project is a landscape-
level project proposing to utilize a combination of western juniper 
treatments (mechanical and non-mechanical methods) and wildland 
(prescribed and natural) fire to treat fuels and to restore habitat. 
Implementation of the project would reduce the increased influence of 
western juniper in mountain big sagebrush, low sagebrush, quaking 
aspen, mountain mahogany, old growth juniper (over 120 years old), and 
riparian plant communities. The proposed project area lies within the 
Andrews Resource Area and the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management 
and Protection Area (CMPA), designated October 30, 2000 by Act of 
Congress. The project is located in Harney County, Oregon, and affects 
approximately 336,000 acres of public and private land.
    Section 113(c) of the Steens Act states: ``The Secretary shall 
emphasize the restoration of the historic fire regime in the 
Cooperative Management and Protection Area and the resulting native 
vegetation communities through active management of western juniper on 
a landscape level. Management measures shall include the use of natural 
and prescribed burning.''
    Management actions to be analyzed will include the following: 
Seeding of native species, reduction of western juniper (less than 120 
yrs old), fencing, and management of wildland fire. Preliminary issues 
and management concerns were identified by BLM personnel and through 
the results of initial public scoping. Major issues to be addressed in 
the EIS include management of woodlands, vegetation, the Steens 
Mountain Wilderness area, Wilderness Study Areas, Wild and Scenic 
Rivers, wildlife habitat, special status species, fire/fuels, 
recreation, cultural resources, noxious weeds, water quality/aquatic 
resources/fisheries, and social and economic values. The EIS will also 
consider American Indian traditional practices.
    An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the EIS in 
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Disciplines involved in the project will include (but not 
be limited to) those with expertise in management of the aforementioned 
resources.

Public Participation

    Cooperating agencies having specific expertise or interests in the 
project will be invited to participate. The public and interest groups 
will have every opportunity to participate during formal comment 
periods and Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) meetings. The SMAC 
is an advisory group for actions affecting the CMPA, including this 
project. Every SMAC meeting provides an opportunity for public 
comments. In addition, public meetings will be held during the public 
comment period for the Draft EIS. Public meetings will be held in 
Burns, Oregon, and at

[[Page 42092]]

other communities if the level of interest warrants. Early 
participation is encouraged and will help determine the future 
management of the North Steens Project area. Meetings and comment 
deadlines will be announced through the local news media and the Burns 
BLM Web site (http://www.or.blm.gov/Burns/). Written comments will be 
accepted throughout the planning process at the address above. 
Individual respondents 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. 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.

Background Information

    Prior to 1870, western juniper was limited generally to rocky 
ridgetops or shallow soil areas with sparse vegetation. Changes in the 
historic trends are readily apparent within the CMPA. Historically, 
virtually all plant communities in the Burns District were subjected to 
wildland fire occurring on a variety of frequencies. The resulting 
mosaic of plant communities enhanced the success and diversity of 
animal species and contributed to the ecological integrity of the 
entire region. In fire-dependent ecosystems, occasional fire is 
essential to the health and function of the natural system. The loss of 
natural disturbance events or at least the modification of those events 
in this area has greatly modified specific habitats affecting the 
sensitive species living within them.

    Dated: April 28, 2005.
Dana R. Shuford,
Burns District Manager.

    Editorial Note:
    This document was received in the Office of the Federal Register 
on July 15, 2005.
[FR Doc. 05-14312 Filed 7-20-05; 8:45 am]
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