[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1551-1552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-85]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-200-1610-DO-081D]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
Jarbidge Field Office, Idaho and Associated Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Jarbidge Field Office, 
Twin Falls, Idaho intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Jarbidge Field Office and by this notice is announcing public scoping 
meetings. The RMP will replace the existing 1987 Jarbidge RMP.

DATES: The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify 
relevant issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web 
site http://www.blm.gov/rmp/id/jarbidge at least 15 days prior to the 
first meeting. We will provide formal opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/id/jarbidge (subject to 
change).
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (208) 736-2375 or (208) 735-2076.
     Mail: Project Manager, Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 
Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Jarbidge Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Rick Vandervoet, Acting 
Field Manager, Jarbidge Field Office, Telephone 208-735-2060; e-mail 
[email protected] or Howard Hedrick, District Manager, Twin 
Falls District, Telephone 208-735-2060; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Jarbidge Field Office, Twin Falls, Idaho, intends to prepare a RMP with 
an associated EIS for the Jarbidge Field Office and announces public 
scoping meetings.
    The planning area is located in Twin Falls, Owyhee and Elmore 
Counties, Idaho and Elko County, Nevada. This planning activity 
encompasses approximately 1,366,000 acres of public land. The plan will 
fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. Preparation of an RMP for the 
Jarbidge Field Office is necessary to respond to a Stipulated 
Settlement Agreement under the jurisdiction of the District Court, for 
the District of Idaho; respond to changing resource conditions; respond 
to new issues; and prepare a comprehensive framework for managing 
public lands administered by the field office into the future. The BLM 
will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the 
management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and 
national needs and concerns.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and 
EIS alternatives. These issues will also guide the planning process. 
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing to 
the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the 
BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. 
Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
withhold your name and/or address from public review or disclosure 
under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently 
at the beginning of your written comment. The BLM will honor such 
requests to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, are available for public inspection in their entirety.
    To be most helpful, scoping comments should be received within 60 
days following the publication of this notice in the Federal Register; 
however, coordination with the public will continue throughout the 
planning process.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by 
BLM personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and 
user groups. They represent the BLM's knowledge to date regarding the 
existing issues and concerns with current land

[[Page 1552]]

management. The major issues that will be addressed in this planning 
effort include: Tribal treaty rights and trust responsibilities; 
availability and management of public lands for commercial uses (e.g., 
livestock grazing, minerals development); vegetation management 
(including invasive species, noxious weeds, riparian areas and 
wetlands); fire and fuels management; management of habitat for 
wildlife and special status species; management of transportation, 
public access, and recreational opportunities; land tenure adjustments, 
rights of way including wind energy and utility corridors; wild horses; 
and management of areas with special values.
    After gathering public comments as to what issues the plan should 
address, they will be placed in one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the plan for placing an 
issue in either category two or three. In addition to these major 
issues, the plan will address a number of management questions and 
concerns. BLM encourages the public to help identify these questions 
and concerns during the scoping phase.
    Preliminary planning criteria include the following:
    1. The plan will comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and 
current policies. This includes local, state, Tribal, and Federal air 
quality standards; as well as water quality standards from the Idaho 
Non-Point Source Management Program Plans.
    2. The RMP planning effort will be collaborative in nature. The BLM 
will strive to ensure that its management decisions are complementary 
to other planning jurisdictions and adjoining properties, within the 
limits described by law and Federal Regulations.
    3. The BLM will continue to manage all previously established 
Wilderness Study Areas for wilderness values and character until 
Congress either designates them as wilderness areas or releases them 
for other types of multiple use management.
    4. The RMP will recognize all valid existing rights.
    5. As part of this RMP process, BLM will analyze areas for 
potential designation as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) 
in accordance with 43 CFR 1610.7-2, and river corridors for designation 
under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines 
will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland management, botany, 
noxious weeds, minerals and geology, fire use, outdoor recreation and 
wilderness, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands 
and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology and economics, public affairs, 
and geographic information.

    Dated: November 23, 2005.
K Lynn Bennett,
Idaho State Director, Bureau of Land Management.
 [FR Doc. E6-85 Filed 1-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P