[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14483-14484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5368]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-670-08-1220-DO]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Amendment to the California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area in Imperial County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, USDI.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
(FLPMA) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California Desert District, El Centro 
Field Office, will prepare the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area 
(ISDRA) Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP). The management plan 
will amend the CDCA plan. The management plan is needed to replace the 
existing management plan (1987) which has become outdated as a result 
of the federal listing of and designation of critical habitat for 
Peirson's milk-vetch as a threatened species, designation of the North 
Algodones Dunes as wilderness, and substantial changes in visitor use. 
A 2006 Federal court order remanded a previous 2003 ISDRA RAMP to BLM 
for further consideration. The 2006 court order also vacated and 
remanded the previous U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) critical 
habitat designation for the federally threatened Peirson's milk-vetch. 
On February 14, 2008, the FWS published a final rule revising critical 
habitat for the Peirson's milk-vetch.

DATES: The public is invited to submit comments on the scope of the 
plan amendment and EIS. Written comments must be postmarked by May 31, 
2008. Three public meetings will be held in El Centro, California; San 
Diego, California; and Phoenix, Arizona. The time and place for these 
meetings will be published in the San Diego Union Tribune, Arizona 
Republic, Imperial Valley Press, and the Yuma Daily Sun at least 15 
days prior to the meetings. BLM intends to complete the management plan 
under an accelerated schedule by fall 2009. This schedule will allow 
BLM to replace the temporary administrative closures of five areas in 
the ISDRA (Federal Register: November 16, 2000--Volume 65, Number 222) 
with a long term management plan prior to the beginning of the peak 
recreation use period in 2009-2010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2000, the Center for Biological 
Diversity, and others (Center) filed for injunctive relief in U.S. 
District Court against BLM alleging that BLM was in violation of 
section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by failing to formally 
consult with the FWS on the effects of adoption of the CDCA Plan, as 
amended, upon threatened and endangered species. In 2006 the court 
vacated and remanded BLM's 2005 Record of Decision (ROD) approving the 
2003 ISDRA RAMP/Final EIS. The order and injunction: (1) Remanded the 
2003 RAMP for further consideration by BLM; (2) vacated and remanded to 
the FWS portions of the Biological Opinion (BO) for the 2003 RAMP; and 
(3) required that BLM maintain the temporary vehicle closure of five 
areas to protect the Peirson's milk-vetch until such time as a new 
RAMP, final EIS, ROD, and BO are completed and filed with the court.
    The ISDRA project area encompasses approximately 150,000 acres of 
public lands bounded to the west by the Old Coachella Canal, to the 
east by the Union Pacific Railroad, to the North by Mammoth Wash, and 
to the south by Interstate 8 and the California/Mexico border. The 
primary activities in the ISDRA include camping and off highway vehicle 
use. Issues addressed in the RAMP/EIS will include: wildlife and 
botany; cultural resources and paleontology; water resources; noise; 
land use; geology and soils; mineral resources; socioeconomics; 
hazardous materials and solid waste; public health; visual resources; 
and traffic and transportation.
    The following Planning Criteria will be utilized during production 
of this document:
     The plan will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, 
and all other relevant Federal law, Executive orders, and management 
policies of the BLM;
     The planning process will include an EIS that will comply 
with NEPA standards;
     The Plan will set forth a framework for managing 
recreational activities in order to maintain existing natural 
landscapes and to provide for the enjoyment and safety of the visiting 
public.
     Where existing planning decisions are still valid, those 
decisions may remain unchanged and be incorporated into the new RMP (or 
amendment);
     The plans will recognize valid existing rights; and
     Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy and Tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration. The planning process will include the consideration of 
any impacts on Indian trust assets.
     Consultation with the SHPO will be conducted throughout 
the plan.
     Consultation with USFWS will be conducted throughout the 
plan.
    The tentative project schedule is as follows:

--Draft plan amendment/draft EIS--February 2009.
--Proposed plan amendment/final EIS--July 2009.
--Record of Decision--October 2009.

    Public participation will be especially important at several points 
during the analysis and planning process. The scoping process (40 CFR 
1501.7) for this analysis will include identification of issues and 
viable alternatives as well as identification and notification of 
interested groups, individuals and agencies to determine level of 
participation and obtain additional information concerning issues to be 
addressed in the RAMP/EIS.
    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the El Centro Field Office during normal 
working hours (8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. except holidays), and may be 
published as part of the EIS or other related documents. 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. All 
submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their 
entirety. Relevant documents will be available for inspection at the El 
Centro Field Office during normal working hours. Some documents will 
also be posted on the BLM internet Web site.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Erin Dreyfuss, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, El Centro Field Office, California Desert 
District,

[[Page 14484]]

Bureau of Land Management, 1661 South 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243.
    For Further Information or to Submit Comments Contact: Erin 
Dreyfuss, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 South 4th Street, El Centro, 
CA 92243, (760) 337-4400.

Vicki L. Wood,
Field Manager, El Centro Field Office.
[FR Doc. E8-5368 Filed 3-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P