[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8739-8740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3846]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOS05000 2009]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
Uncompahgre Field Office and Associated Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO), Montrose, Colorado intends to prepare a 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the UFO and by this notice is announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues. The RMP will replace the existing 1985 San Juan/San 
Miguel RMP and the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin RMP.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP and 
the associated EIS. Comments on issues and planning criteria may be 
submitted in writing until March 29, 2010
    Scoping meetings were held recently in the following locations:
Hotchkiss, CO, January 12, 2010.
Delta, CO, January 13, 2010.
Montrose, CO, January 14, 2010.
Ridgway, CO, January 19, 2010.
Norwood, CO, January 20, 2010.
Naturita, CO, January 21, 2010.
Telluride, CO, February 3, 2010.
The dates and locations of all scoping meetings were announced 15 days 
in advance through local media, a newsletter and the BLM Web site at: 
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/uncompahgre_rmp.html. Comments 
received during scoping meetings held in January and February, 2010 
will be incorporated in the record and considered by the BLM. In order 
to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to 
the close of the 30-day scoping period. The BLM will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria by 
any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/uncompahgre_rmp.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (970) 240-5367.
     Mail: BLM Uncompahgre Field Office, RMP Project Manager, 
2465 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, Colorado 81401.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the UFO during 
regular business hours (from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
except holidays).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Bruce Krickbaum, RMP 
Project Manager, telephone (970) 240-5300; address BLM Uncompahgre 
Field Office 2465 South Townsend Ave, Montrose, Colorado 81401; e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document: provides notice that the BLM 
UFO, Montrose, Colorado, intends to prepare an RMP with an associated 
EIS for the UFO; announces the beginning of the scoping process; and 
seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The planning area 
is located in Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel 
counties, Colorado, encompasses approximately 675,677 acres of public 
land, and excludes the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and 
the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, which are managed 
under separate RMPs.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the planning process. Preliminary 
issues for the planning area have been identified by BLM personnel, 
Federal, State, and local agencies, and other stakeholders. The issues 
include:
     Managing vegetative and water resources, terrestrial and 
aquatic habitat and special management areas, while sustaining 
biological diversity and native species populations;
     Managing mineral, renewable and nonrenewable energy 
resources;
     Managing increasing numbers and types of human activities 
and uses;
     Managing land tenure adjustments, withdrawals and utility/
energy corridors;
     Managing and protecting cultural, historical and 
paleontological resources and Native American religious concerns; and
     Managing public lands and resources, including authorized 
and permitted land uses, for a growing population and expanding urban 
interface, with consideration for community values and needs.
    Preliminary planning criteria include:
     Compliance with the FLPMA, the NEPA and other applicable 
laws and regulations.
     Incorporation of the Colorado BLM Standards for Public 
Land Health.
     Continued management of Wilderness Study Areas under the 
Interim Management Policy for Lands under Wilderness Review until 
Congress acts on a designation or releases lands from consideration.
     Decisions will be made that affect all BLM lands, 
including the subsurface mineral estate, within the planning area.
     Recognition of valid existing rights.

[[Page 8740]]

     Inclusion of adaptive management criteria to deal with 
future issues.

Public participation will be encouraged throughout the process. The BLM 
will collaborate and build relationships with tribes, State and local 
governments, Federal agencies, local stakeholders and others within the 
community of interest for the RMP.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the 
BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To 
be most helpful, you should submit comments within the 30-day scoping 
period. 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 you 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. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed 
in the plan and place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.

The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/EIS regarding why 
an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also 
encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that 
should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
the interested parties to identify the management decisions that are 
best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.

    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines 
will be involved in the planning process: Wildlife; Threatened and 
Endangered Species; Vegetation; Riparian and Wetlands; Soils; Invasive 
and Noxious Weeds; Rangeland Management; Fire Ecology and Management; 
Cultural Resources and Native American Concerns; Hydrology; Geology and 
Minerals; Lands and Realty; Recreation; Visual Resource Management; 
Public Safety; Law Enforcement; and Geographic Information Systems.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Dave Hunsaker,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-3846 Filed 2-24-10; 8:45 am]
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