[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 85 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 24086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9521]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-350-1610-DR]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Eagle Lake 
Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 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 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 Eagle Lake 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, Eagle Lake Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 
2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or via the internet at 
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/planning.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 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 Eagle Lake Field Office includes 
approximately 1,022,767 acres in northeastern California and northwest 
Nevada. The geographic area includes BLM-administered lands within the 
counties of Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra, California, and Washoe, Nevada. 
BLM's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of 
the public lands it manages for the use and enjoyment of present and 
future generations. The Eagle Lake RMP was developed in coordination 
with the Alturas and Surprise 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 Eagle 
Lake 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 Eagle Lake planning 
area were assembled 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, wild and scenic rivers, guidance for energy and mineral 
development, land tenure adjustments, and other planning issues raised 
during the scoping process.
    The Eagle Lake RMP designated seven Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern (ACECs): Eagle Lake Basin (34,320 acres); Susan River (2,495 
acres); Pines Dunes (2,887 acres); Willow Creek (2,130 acres); Lower 
Smoke Creek (894 acres); Buffalo Creek Canyons (36,515 acres); and 
North Dry Valley (10,156 acres). The following types of resource use 
limitations apply to these ACECs: (1) New rights-of-way avoidance 
areas; (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 Eagle Lake 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 Eagle Lake 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.
    Ten protest letters on the Eagle Lake 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 2.16.6 and shown on Map TRAVEL-2 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 Eagle Lake Resource Management Plan may appeal within 30 
days of publication of this Notice of Availability. The appeal must be 
filed with the Eagle Lake Field Manager at the above listed address. 
Please consult 43 CFR part 4 for further information on the IBLA appeal 
process.

Dayne Barron,
Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E8-9521 Filed 4-30-08; 8:45 am]
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