[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 85 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24086-24087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9513]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-190-07-1610]


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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[[Page 24087]]

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

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and RMP are available upon request from 
the Field Manager, Surprise Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 
602 Cressler Street Cedarville, California 96104, or via the internet 
at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/planning.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Jeff 
Fontana, Public Affairs Officer, Bureau of Land Management, 2950 
Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130, telephone (530) 257-0456, or e-
mail your request to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Surprise Field Office includes 
approximately 1,220,644 acres in northeastern California and northwest 
Nevada. The geographic area includes BLM-administered lands within the 
counties of Modoc and Lassen, California, and Humboldt and Washoe, 
Nevada. The Surprise RMP was developed in coordination with the Alturas 
and Eagle Lake Field Office RMPs to provide a consistent framework for 
managing public lands and resource uses in northeast California and 
northwest Nevada.
    BLM officially initiated the planning process for the Draft 
Surprise Resource Management Plan (RMP) with publication of a Notice of 
Intent in the Federal Register on July 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 
140). Issues related to resource management in the Surprise planning 
area were established during the scoping process consisting of public 
scoping meetings, field tours, socioeconomic workshops, and 
interactions with Federal, state, tribal, and county collaborators.
    The RMP describes management actions to meet desired resource 
conditions for vegetation communities, wildlife habitats, and cultural 
and visual resources. It also outlines actions for recreation, 
protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources, livestock 
grazing, guidance for energy and mineral development, land tenure 
adjustments, and other planning issues raised during the scoping 
process. The Surprise RMP designated three Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs): Massacre Rim ACEC (44,870 acres); Bitner 
ACEC (1,921 acres); and Rahilly-Gravelly ACEC/RNA (957 acres). The 
following types of resource use limitations apply to these ACECs: (1) 
New rights-of-way exclusion or avoidance; (2) Visual Resource 
Management Class II; (3) Certain restrictions to energy and mineral 
development; and (4) Motorized travel permitted only on designated open 
routes. The BLM's Draft Surprise RMP/Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) (April 2006) presented five alternatives to help the 
BLM and interested parties understand the various ways of addressing 
issues in the region. Upon evaluation of the alternatives and 
associated impacts described in the Draft RMP/EIS and based on public 
and agency comments on that document, the BLM prepared the Surprise 
Proposed RMP and Final EIS which was released on June 15, 2007. The 
Proposed RMP is comprised of the preferred alternative identified in 
the Draft RMP/EIS with small changes as a result of comments received. 
Six protest letters on the Surprise proposed RMP were received and 
resolved by the BLM Director. The BLM determined that the Proposed 
Action, as described in the Proposed RMP and Final EIS, best meets the 
purpose and need for the project. The Governor of the State of 
California in his letter September 17, 2007 stated, ``Pursuant to 43 
CFR 1603-2, and after consulting with affected State and Local 
agencies, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has not 
found any inconsistencies with any state or local plans, policies, or 
programs with regards to this [Proposed] Resource Management Plan.''
    The decisions identifying designated routes of travel for motorized 
vehicles are implementation decisions and are appealable to the 
Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) under 43 CFR Part 4. These 
decisions are contained in Chapter 2.14.4 and shown on Map TRAVEL-1 of 
the 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 as set 
forth in the Surprise Resource Management Plan may appeal within 30 
days of publication of this Notice of Availability. The appeal must be 
filed with the Surprise Field Manager at the above listed address. 
Please consult 43 CFR Part 4 for further information on the IBLA appeal 
process.

    Dated: December 10, 2007.
Shane Deforest,
Surprise Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. E8-9513 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
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