[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30951-30952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5006]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-910-06-1220-PA]


Notice of Availability of the Sheep Complex, Big Springs and 
Owyhee Grazing Allotments Sensitive Bird Species Final Environmental 
Impact Statement and Proposed Grazing Decision, Elko County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Sheep Complex, Big Springs and 
Owyhee Grazing Allotments Sensitive Bird Species Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-
1508, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko Field Office, has 
prepared a Final EIS on the effects of three multiple use decisions on 
sensitive avian species in Elko County, Nevada.

DATES: In accordance with 43 CFR 4160.2, any applicant, permittee, 
lessee or other interested public may protest

[[Page 30952]]

the proposed grazing decision (s), attached to the Final EIS, in person 
or in writing to the BLM Elko Field Office, Helen Hankins, Field 
Manager, within 15 days after receipt of the document. Instructions for 
filing of protests will be mailed with the proposed decision. In 
accordance with 40 CFR 1506.10, a final decision will be issued via a 
Record of Decision following consideration of any protests received. 
The Record of Decision will be issued no earlier than 30 days after the 
Environmental Protection Agency has published their notice of filing of 
the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Protests must be addressed to the BLM Elko Field Office, 
Helen Hankins, Field Manager, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada 
89801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorrie West or Bryan Fuell EIS Team 
Co-Leads, at the Elko Field Office, 3900 E. Idaho Street, Elko, NV 
89801. Telephone: (775) 753-0200. E-mail: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared this EIS to comply with a 
minute order issued by the Honorable Howard D. McKibben, U.S. District 
Judge, District of Nevada, on August 18, 2004 (CV-N-03-197-HDM(VPC). 
The order followed a hearing on a complaint against three final 
multiple use decisions (Western Watersheds Project and Committee for 
the High Desert vs. Clinton R. Oke, Assistant Field Manager, Elko Field 
Office, et al.). The final decisions, which were left intact by the 
judge, are for the Sheep Allotment Complex, Big Springs Allotment and 
Owyhee Allotment. The Sheep Allotment Complex and Big Springs grazing 
allotments are located in the southeastern portion of Elko County, NV, 
and the Owyhee Allotment is in the northwest portion of Elko County.
    The order was to prepare the EIS with respect to burrowing owls, 
other BLM sensitive raptor species, and sage-grouse on the Sheep 
Complex and the Owyhee Allotment, and sage-grouse on the Big Springs 
Allotment. To the extent applicable, the EIS was to analyze the impacts 
of livestock grazing proposed by the multiple use decisions and 
alternatives to these sensitive bird species and considering springs, 
seeps, riparian areas and upland habitat. A range of alternatives 
(including the no-action alternative) was developed to address the 
issues outlined in the court order.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on December 17, 2004, and it initiated a 30-day public scoping 
period. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nevada 
Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the BLM Elko Field Office was signed 
establishing Cooperating Agency status for NDOW. A public scoping 
meeting was held January 6, 2005. A project briefing was given to the 
Elko County Public Land Use Advisory Commission on February 4, 2005 and 
to the Nevada Society of Range Management on January 25, 2005. The 
Draft EIS was filed with EPA and their Federal Register Notice was 
published on December 9, 2005. A public open house to discuss the Draft 
EIS was held on January 11, 2006, and the public comment period closed 
on January 24, 2006.
    Comments on the Draft EIS are included in the Final EIS, and 
resulted in the addition of mitigation measures and additional analyses 
to address concerns expressed with the Proposed Action alternative, 
which is to implement the Final Multiple Use Decisions.
    Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State 
and local Government agencies, Tribal governments, and to interested 
parties. Copies of the Final EIS are available for public inspection at 
the BLM Elko Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV. Interested 
persons may also review the Final EIS on the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/state_info/planning.htm.

Helen M. Hankins,
Field Manager, Elko Field Office, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 06-5006 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P