[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 8901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2768]



[[Page 8901]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Sierra 
Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) regulations and policies, the BLM announces 
the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Sierra 
(California) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for public lands 
administered by the Folsom Field Office. The California State Director 
has signed the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and 
makes the RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Bureau of Land Management, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. 
The document is also available via the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/ca/folsom. To receive a copy of the document, contact the BLM via e-
mail at [email protected] or call (916) 978-4427.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra McGinnis, (916) 978-4427, 
Bureau of Land Management, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. You can 
also e-mail the Folsom Field Office at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area for the Sierra RMP 
encompasses portions of 15 counties in California: Yuba, Sutter, 
Colusa, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, San 
Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sacramento, Stanislaus, and Merced. A 
total of 230,000 acres of public lands and an additional 70,000 acres 
of subsurface mineral estate are administered by the BLM in the 
planning area. The Sierra RMP has been developed through collaborative 
planning. Although no agencies requested formal cooperating agency 
status, the BLM worked with Federal, State, and local agencies to 
better understand resource conditions and public expectations and to 
address concerns to the extent possible. Federally recognized Native 
American tribes were contacted at various times by phone, mail, and e-
mail throughout the planning process, informing them of comment 
opportunities and soliciting their input. The BLM consulted with the 
State Historic Preservation Office throughout the planning process.
    The RMP addresses issues such as recreation, wild and scenic river 
recommendations, sensitive natural and cultural resources, livestock 
grazing, wildland fire risk and fuel reduction, energy and mineral 
development, land ownership adjustments, and motorized vehicle route 
designations. The RMP includes two wild and scenic river suitability 
recommendations: South Fork American River (8.8 miles--recreational) 
and North Fork and Main Mokelumne River (13.7 miles--wild, scenic, 
recreational). The RMP includes eight new Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC): Pine Hill Preserve (3,236 acres), 
Cosumnes River Preserve (2,035 acres), Spivey Pond (54 acres), 
Deadman's Flat (796 acres), Dutch Flat/Indiana Hill Research Natural 
Area (320 acres), Bagby Serpentine (5,775 acres) and North Fork 
Cosumnes (1,129 acres). Additionally, the RMP expands three existing 
ACECs: Red Hills, Ione Manzanita, and Limestone Salamander ACECs. Use 
of public lands in these ACECs would vary depending on their individual 
resources and values but would likely include limitations on motorized 
use, mining, and other surface disturbing activities.
    The Draft RMP/EIS was made available to the public via a Federal 
Register notice on September 15, 2006. The publication of that notice 
initiated a 90-day public comment period, during which time the BLM 
hosted four public meetings throughout the planning area. Upon 
evaluation of the alternatives and anticipated impacts described in the 
Draft RMP/EIS and based on public and agency comments, the BLM prepared 
the Proposed RMP/Final EIS (PRMP/FEIS), which incorporated corrections 
and clarifying text as well as the proposal to establish a 1,129-acre 
ACEC along the North Fork Cosumnes River. The preferred alternative in 
the Draft RMP/EIS was carried forward as the Proposed RMP in the PRMP/
FEIS, which became available to the public via a Federal Register 
notice on June 8, 2007. Six protests were received on the PRMP/FEIS, 
which resulted in minor changes that provide further clarification of 
some of the decisions in the RMP.
    The Governor of the State of California, in his letter dated August 
17, 2007, stated: ``Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.3-2, and after consulting 
with affected State and local agencies, the Governor's Office of 
Planning and Research (OPR) has determined that the [BLM's Sierra] 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) contains some inconsistencies with local 
plans.'' Consistent with BLM policy and OPR's recommendations, the BLM 
will continue to work with counties, California Department of Fish and 
Game, and local fire agencies to reach solutions that serve local, 
State, and BLM land management needs regarding wild and scenic rivers, 
vegetation and habitat management, wildfire protection, and other 
issues of shared concern.
    Decisions identifying designated routes of travel for motorized 
vehicles are implementation decisions appealable under 43 CFR part 4. 
These decisions are described in Appendix A of the Approved RMP. Any 
party adversely affected by the BLM's decision(s) to identify, 
evaluate, define, delineate and/or select specific routes as available 
for motorized use within designated areas of travel in the Sierra 
Resource Management Plan may appeal within 30 days of publication of 
this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The 
appeal should state the specific route(s), as identified in Appendix A 
of the Approved RMP, on which the decision is being appealed. The 
appeal must be filed with the Folsom Field Manager at the above listed 
address. Please consult 43 CFR part 4 for further information on the 
IBLA appeals process.

William S. Haigh,
Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E8-2768 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]
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