[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58117-58121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20115]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT0110-1610-029J]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Kanab Field Office in Kane 
and Garfield Counties, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) hereby gives notice that the Kanab Draft Resource 
Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) is 
available for a 90-day public review and comment period. This notice 
also meets requirements in 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b) concerning designation of 
proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ACECs) and 
specification of resource use limitations for each proposed ACEC.

DATES: To ensure that your written comments on the DRMP/DEIS will be 
considered, they should be submitted to the BLM within 90 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its 
notice of availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce 
public meetings and other public-involvement activities

[[Page 58118]]

at least 15 days in advance through public notices, news releases, 
direct mailings, and on the project Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. Public meetings will be held in Kanab, Panguitch, St. 
George, Escalante and Salt Lake City, Utah, and in other locations if 
warranted.

ADDRESSES: Address written comments to: RMP Comments, Kanab Field 
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 
84741. Comments may also be faxed to the Field Office at 435-644-4620, 
or submitted electronically by e-mail at: [email protected]. 
Comments and information submitted on the DRMP/EIS, including names, 
email addresses, and street addresses of respondents, will be available 
for public review and disclosure at the above address. The BLM will not 
accept anonymous comments. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to the Kanab RMP mailing list, visit the RMP Web site: 
http://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. You may also contact Keith Rigtrup, 
Land Use Planner, Kanab Field Office, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 
84741, phone 435-644-4600. The DRMP/DEIS may be viewed and downloaded 
in portable document format (PDF) at the project Web site: http://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. Copies of the DRMP/DEIS are also available 
at the BLM Kanab Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DRMP/DEIS addresses public lands and 
resources, including the Federal mineral estate, managed by the Kanab 
Field Office in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah. These lands and 
resources are currently managed under five land use plans: Cedar-
Beaver-Garfield-Antimony RMP (1986), Escalante Management Framework 
Plan (MFP) (1981), Paria MFP (1981), Vermilion MFP (1981), and Zion MFP 
(1981). The planning area includes approximately 550,000 acres of BLM-
administered surface lands and an additional 96,600 acres of Federally-
owned minerals under Federal, state, and private lands in the area. 
Decisions in the Kanab RMP will only apply to BLM-administered public 
lands and Federal mineral estate. The DRMP/DEIS proposes and analyzes 
four alternatives for future management of the public lands and 
resources in the planning area.
     Alternative A (No Action): Proposes to continue existing 
management, which is defined by five existing land use plans currently 
prescribing the management of public lands and the Federal mineral 
estate within the Kanab Field Office.
     Alternative B (BLM's Preferred Alternative): Proposes 
managing the public lands and Federal mineral estate for multiple uses 
and sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the lands for 
present and future generations, balancing resource protection with 
resource or commodity production and use.
     Alternative C: Proposes managing the lands and resources 
with an emphasis on resource protection, including managing for 
wilderness characteristics (naturalness, and outstanding opportunities 
for solitude and primitive recreation), ACECs, and Wild and Scenic 
Rivers.
     Alternative D: Proposes managing the lands and resources 
with an emphasis on encouraging commodity production and use.
    Examples of issues considered in the DRMP/DEIS include access and 
transportation, recreation and off-highway vehicle management, special 
designations (including ACECs and suitability findings for eligible 
wild and scenic rivers, among others), range management and livestock, 
oil and gas leasing, mining, special status species, and non-WSA lands 
with wilderness characteristics. As required by law, the DRMP/DEIS 
considers the designation and protection of ACECs. ACEC values and 
resource use limitations vary by ACEC, and the ACECs themselves vary by 
alternative. (Refer to the table below.) More detailed management 
prescriptions in these areas are provided in the DRMP/DEIS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Alt. A  (no           Alt. B
   Values and use limitations           action)           (preferred)           Alt. C              Alt. D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Water Canyon/South Fork Indian Canyon ACEC
 
Values: Scenery, recreational, botanical, and biological values.
 
Limitations: For alternatives where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
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Off Highway Vehicle (OHV)          220 acres   220 acres   220 acres  ACEC not
 Designations.                     would be limited    would be            would be            designated.
                                   to existing roads   designated and      designated and
                                   and trails; 0       managed as part     managed as part
                                   miles of open       of the Cottonwood   of the Cottonwood
                                   routes.             Canyon ACEC.        Canyon ACEC.
Oil and Gas Leasing.............   220 acres   220 acres   220 acres  ACEC not
                                   overlapping with    would be            would be            designated.
                                   a Wilderness        designated and      designated and
                                   Study Area (WSA)    managed as part     managed as part
                                   would be closed     of the Cottonwood   of the Cottonwood
                                   to leasing.         Canyon ACEC.        Canyon ACEC.
Mineral Entry...................   220 acres   220 acres   220 acres  ACEC not
                                   would be proposed   would be            would be            designated.
                                   for withdrawal.     designated and      designated and
                                                       managed as part     managed as part
                                                       of the Cottonwood   of the Cottonwood
                                                       Canyon ACEC.        Canyon ACEC.
Other...........................   Until an    220 acres   220 acres  ACEC not
                                   activity plan is    would be            would be            designated.
                                   developed, fire     designated and      designated and
                                   suppression would   managed as part     managed as part
                                   be determined on    of the Cottonwood   of the Cottonwood
                                   a case-by-case      Canyon ACEC.        Canyon ACEC.
                                   basis as an
                                   interim
                                   management tool.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Cottonwood Canyon potential ACEC
 
Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife, and natural processes.
 

[[Page 58119]]

 
Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
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Visual Resource Management (VRM)  ACEC not             2,400       3,700      ACEC not
                                   designated.         acres would be      acres would be      designated.
                                                       Class I where the   Class I, where
                                                       ACEC overlaps       the ACEC overlaps
                                                       with a WSA.         with a WSA,
                                                       1,400       suitable Wild and
                                                       acres would be      Scenic River
                                                       Class II.           segments, and
                                                                           lands with
                                                                           Wilderness
                                                                           Characteristics
                                                                           (WC)).
                                                                           100 acres
                                                                           would be Class II.
OHV Designations................  ACEC not             3,800       3,800      ACEC not
                                   designated.         acres would be      acres would be      designated.
                                                       limited to          closed.
                                                       designated
                                                       routes, and 4
                                                       miles of open
                                                       routes.
Livestock Grazing...............  ACEC not             Water       Water      ACEC not
                                   designated.         Canyon Allotment    Canyon Allotment    designated.
                                                       would be            would be
                                                       unavailable for     unavailable for
                                                       livestock grazing.  livestock grazing.
Rights Of Way (ROWs)............  ACEC not            ACEC not             3,800      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to new
                                                                           ROWs.
Oil and Gas Leasing.............  ACEC not             1,400       3,800      ACEC not
                                   designated.         acres would be      acres would be      designated.
                                                       open to leasing     closed to leasing.
                                                       with major
                                                       constraints (NSO).
                                                       2,400
                                                       acres where the
                                                       ACEC overlaps a
                                                       WSA would be
                                                       closed to leasing.
Mineral Entry...................  ACEC not             3,800       3,800      ACEC not
                                   designated.         acres would be      acres would be      designated.
                                                       proposed for        proposed for
                                                       withdrawal.         withdrawal.
Mineral Material Sales..........  ACEC not             3,800       3,800      ACEC not
                                   designated.         acres would be      acres would be      designated.
                                                       closed.             closed.
Other...........................  ACEC not             Retain      Retain     ACEC not
                                   designated.         all lands and       all lands and       designated.
                                                       interests in land   interests in land
                                                       in Federal          in Federal
                                                       ownership. Work     ownership. Work
                                                       with the School     with SITLA to
                                                       and Institutional   acquire state
                                                       Trust Lands         inholdings.
                                                       Administration
                                                       (SITLA) to
                                                       acquire state
                                                       inholdings.
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                                         Welsh's Milkweed potential ACEC
 
Values: Scenery, rare geologic feature, Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Welsh's Milkweed.
 
Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
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VRM.............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,250      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           Class I where the
                                                                           ACEC overlaps
                                                                           with a WSA.
                                                                           50 acres
                                                                           would be Class II.
OHV Designations................  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,300      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to OHV
                                                                           designations.
ROWs............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,300      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to new
                                                                           ROWs.
Oil and Gas Leasing.............  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,300      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to leasing.
Mineral Entry...................  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,300      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           proposed for
                                                                           withdrawal.
Mineral Material Sales..........  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,300      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed.
Forest Product Sales............  ACEC not            ACEC not             1,300      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to forest
                                                                           product sales
                                                                           (woodcutting,
                                                                           posts, Christmas
                                                                           trees).

[[Page 58120]]

 
Other...........................  ACEC not            ACEC not             Retain     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         all lands and       designated.
                                                                           interest in land
                                                                           in Federal
                                                                           ownership.
                                                                           Close to
                                                                           wilding
                                                                           collection
                                                                           without a permit.
                                                                           Prohibit
                                                                           motorized use in
                                                                           and through
                                                                           islands of
                                                                           vegetation in
                                                                           designated
                                                                           critical habitat
                                                                           for Welsh's
                                                                           Milkweed (790
                                                                           acres).
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                                         Vermilion Cliffs potential ACEC
 
Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife and natural process.
 
Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VRM.............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             11,100     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           designated as
                                                                           Class I where the
                                                                           ACEC overlaps
                                                                           with WC.
                                                                           12,300
                                                                           acres would be
                                                                           designated as
                                                                           Class II.
OHV Designations................  ACEC not            ACEC not             11,100     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed (WC).
                                                                           12,300
                                                                           acres would be
                                                                           limited to
                                                                           designated
                                                                           routes, and 49
                                                                           miles of open
                                                                           routes.
ROWs............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             23,400     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to new
                                                                           ROWs.
Oil and Gas Leasing.............  ACEC not            ACEC not             12,300     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           open to leasing
                                                                           with major
                                                                           constraints (No
                                                                           Surface Occupancy
                                                                           (NSO)).
                                                                           11,100
                                                                           acres would be
                                                                           closed to
                                                                           leasing: (WC).
Mineral Entry...................  ACEC not            ACEC not             23,400     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           proposed for
                                                                           withdrawal.
Other...........................  ACEC not            ACEC not             Restrict   ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         climbing within     designated.
                                                                           spatial and
                                                                           seasonal buffers
                                                                           surrounding
                                                                           raptor nests.
                                                                           Retain
                                                                           lands and
                                                                           interests in land
                                                                           in Federal
                                                                           ownership. Work
                                                                           with SITLA to
                                                                           acquire state
                                                                           inholdings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           White Cliffs potential ACEC
 
Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife and natural processes.
 
Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VRM.............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             26,000     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           designated as
                                                                           Class I because
                                                                           it overlaps with
                                                                           WC.
OHV Designations................  ACEC not            ACEC not             26,000     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed because it
                                                                           overlaps with WC.
ROWs............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             26,000     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to new
                                                                           ROWs.
Oil and Gas Leasing.............  ACEC not            ACEC not             26,000     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to leasing
                                                                           because it
                                                                           overlaps with WC.
Mineral Entry...................  ACEC not            ACEC not             26,000     ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           proposed for
                                                                           withdrawal.

[[Page 58121]]

 
Other...........................  ACEC not            ACEC not             Restrict   ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         climbing within     designated.
                                                                           spatial and
                                                                           seasonal buffers
                                                                           surrounding
                                                                           raptor nests.
                                                                           Retain
                                                                           lands and
                                                                           interests in land
                                                                           in Federal
                                                                           ownership. Work
                                                                           with SITLA to
                                                                           acquire state
                                                                           inholdings.
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                                        Parunuweep Canyon potential ACEC
 
Values: Scenery, cultural resources, and wildlife.
 
Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VRM.............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             6,100      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           designated as
                                                                           Class I because
                                                                           it overlaps with
                                                                           a WSA.
OHV Designations................  ACEC not            ACEC not             6,100      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed because it
                                                                           overlaps with a
                                                                           WSA.
ROWs............................  ACEC not            ACEC not             Avoid new  ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         ROWs in 6,100       designated.
                                                                           acres.
Oil and Gas Leasing.............  ACEC not            ACEC not             6,100      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           closed to leasing.
Mineral Entry...................  ACEC not            ACEC not             6,100      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         acres would be      designated.
                                                                           proposed for
                                                                           withdrawal.
Other...........................  ACEC not            ACEC not             Limit      ACEC not
                                   designated.         designated.         camping             designated.
                                                                           associated with
                                                                           Special
                                                                           Recreation
                                                                           Permits (SRPs) to
                                                                           areas/sites
                                                                           identified during
                                                                           permitting.
                                                                           Regulate
                                                                           rock climbing
                                                                           within 300 feet
                                                                           of cultural
                                                                           sites. Climbing
                                                                           routes that
                                                                           impact cultural
                                                                           resource sites
                                                                           would not be
                                                                           allowed, and
                                                                           climbing routes
                                                                           designed to
                                                                           access cultural
                                                                           resource sites
                                                                           would not be
                                                                           allowed unless
                                                                           under permit for
                                                                           scientific
                                                                           investigation.
                                                                           Preclude
                                                                           SRP tours or
                                                                           visitation of
                                                                           sites without
                                                                           prior
                                                                           consultation/
                                                                           clearance with
                                                                           BLM
                                                                           archaeologists
                                                                           and other
                                                                           specialists.
                                                                           Restrict
                                                                           climbing within
                                                                           spatial and
                                                                           seasonal buffers
                                                                           surrounding
                                                                           raptor nests.
                                                                           Retain
                                                                           all lands and
                                                                           interest in lands
                                                                           in Federal
                                                                           ownership.
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Acres Designated......  220 acres.........  3,800 acres.......  60,600 acres......  0
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    The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to the 
Alton, Kaiparowits, and Kolob Coal Fields is included in Appendix F of 
the DRMP/DEIS. As required by 43 CFR 3461.2-1(a)(2), the public is 
invited to comment on the results of the application of the criteria 
and the process used to derive these results. The criteria are listed 
under 43 CFR 3461.5. Additionally, any person who may be adversely 
affected by adoption of coal leasing decisions in the proposed plan may 
request a public hearing on coal leasing potential before the DRMP/DEIS 
is finalized.

Jeff Rawson,
Utah Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E7-20115 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P