[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 172 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51250-51251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17599]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-190-07-1610]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
Clear Creek Management Area, California, 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) Field Office, Hollister, 
California, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an 
associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Clear Creek 
Management Area (CCMA); and by this notice announces public scoping 
meetings. The RMP will replace the existing planning decisions for the 
CCMA contained in the 1984 Hollister RMP and the associated CCMA RMP 
Amendments (1986, 1995, 2006).

DATES: Written comments and resource information should be submitted 
within 30 calendar days of the last scheduled public scoping meeting. 
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/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/CCMA_RMP.html at least 15 
days prior to the first meeting. The BLM will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
RMP/EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written scoping comments by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (831) 630-5055.
     Mail: Hollister Field Office, 20 Hamilton Court, 
Hollister, CA 95023.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Hollister Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further information and/or to have your 
name added to our mailing list, contact Sky Murphy, Telephone (831) 
630-5039; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Field Office, Hollister, California intends to prepare a RMP with an 
associated EIS for the Clear Creek Management Area and announces public 
scoping meetings.
    The planning area is located in southern San Benito and western 
Fresno counties. This planning activity encompasses approximately 
63,000 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. 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 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. To be most 
helpful, you should submit formal scoping comments within 30 days after 
the last public meeting. The minutes and list of attendees for each 
scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days 
after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he 
or she expressed.
    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 management. The major 
issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include: impacts 
to public safety and human health from naturally-occurring asbestos and 
past mining activities; designation and management of special 
management areas; ecosystem management and desired conditions; wildland 
and prescribed fire management; livestock grazing; motorized and non-
motorized recreation management; lands available for disposal or of 
interest for acquisition; and potential for energy development.
    Issues identified through public scoping 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 EIS as to why we placed an 
issue in category two or three. In addition to these major issues, a 
number of management questions and concerns will be addressed in the 
RMP. The public is encouraged to help identify these questions and 
concerns during the 90-day scoping period.

[[Page 51251]]

    Preliminary planning criteria include:
    1. The RMP will be developed in compliance with FLPMA, all other 
applicable laws, regulations, executive orders, and BLM supplemental 
program guidance.
    2. The planning process will include an EIS that will comply with 
NEPA standards.
    3. Economic and social baselines and consequences will be developed 
in coordination with local and county governments.
    4. Initiate government to government consultation, including Tribal 
interests.
    5. Consider the extent to which the revised plan reduces airborne 
asbestos emissions and minimizes asbestos exposure and addresses public 
health impact of the Hazardous Asbestos Area. (Ref; Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site Record of 
Decision (ROD), February 1991, Appendix 2, pg. 14).
    6. Consider the extent to which the revised plan reduces 
accelerated erosion and offsite transport of asbestos fibers on 
vehicles and clothes due to off-highway vehicle use. (Ref; EPA Atlas 
Superfund Site ROD, Appendix 2, pg. 14).
    7. All new data collected will have information about the data 
(metadata) stored in a data base. All metadata will meet the Federal 
Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) standards.
    8. The RMP/EIS will incorporate by reference the Standards for 
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management.
    9. The RMP will result in determinations as required by special 
program and resource specific guidance detailed in Appendix C of the 
BLM's Planning Handbook (H-1601-1).
    10. Decisions in the RMP will strive to be compatible with the 
existing plans and policies of adjacent local, State, Tribal, and 
Federal agencies as long as the decisions are in conformance with legal 
mandates on management of public lands.
    11. Resource allocations must be reasonable and achievable within 
available technological and budgetary constraints.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the RMP 
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, 
minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, botany, wildlife 
and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, and sociology and 
economics.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: August 27, 2007.
Rick Cooper,
Hollister Field Office Manager.
 [FR Doc. E7-17599 Filed 9-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P