[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 69 (Monday, April 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18547-18548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAC06900.L17100000.DR0000]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Carrizo 
Plain National Monument Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
for the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM), located in San Luis 
Obispo and Kern counties in Central California. The California State 
Director signed the ROD on April 10, 2010, which constitutes the final 
decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Field Manager, Bakersfield Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308 or via the 
Internet at http://www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield. Copies of the ROD/
Approved RMP are available for public inspection at the above location 
and at the BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, 
CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Johna 
Hurl, CPNM Manager, telephone (661) 391-6093; address Bakersfield Field 
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 
93308; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CPNM encompasses 206,635 acres of BLM-
administered public lands. This Approved RMP provides for the 
protection of the significant natural and cultural resources identified 
in the Presidential Proclamation establishing the CPNM. The decisions 
promulgated in the RMP only apply to the BLM-administered public lands 
and mineral estate within the Approved RMP's planning area. The RMP was 
developed in cooperation with the BLM's managing partners (The Nature 
Conservancy and California Department of Fish and Game), the CPNM 
Advisory Committee, and the public. The RMP process considered four 
alternatives including a no-action alternative. The primary issues 
addressed include but are not limited to recreation, protection of 
sensitive natural and cultural resources, livestock grazing, energy and 
mineral development, and motorized vehicle routes.
    The Preferred Alternative in the Draft RMP/Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS), published January 23, 2009, was revised to 
address comments received during the 90-day public comment period. The 
resultant alternative became the Proposed Plan in the Proposed RMP/
Final EIS, published on November 13, 2009, and has been carried forward 
as the Approved RMP. Changes made from the Draft RMP to the Final RMP 
in response to public comments include: An additional 13,181 acres to 
be managed for wilderness characteristics, in addition to the 54,464 
acres proposed in the Draft RMP preferred alternative; a requirement 
that only street-legal vehicles, no off-highway vehicles, be allowed on 
designated routes; and provisions to provide access for vehicles 
operated by people with physical handicaps. Finally, language was 
clarified regarding grazing and mineral rights.
    Three protests were received during the 30-day protest period 
following the release of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, each of which was 
dismissed or denied by the BLM Director. Minor clarifications and 
changes to the text were made between the Proposed RMP/Final EIS and 
the ROD/Approved RMP, including clarifications to the protection of the 
CPNM's vernal pool and sag pond habitats, and the application of the 
mitigation measures listed in Appendices O and P, as appropriate (to be 
performed in subsequent site-specific NEPA processes).
    The California Governor's Office did not identify any 
inconsistencies between the Proposed RMP/Final EIS and State or local 
plans, policies, and programs following the 60-day Governor's 
Consistency Review (initiated November 13, 2009) in accordance with 
planning regulations at 43 CFR, Part 1610.3-2(e).
    The BLM has determined that this ROD/Approved RMP provides for 
long-term protection of the CPNM's values, while allowing for 
authorized uses, recreation activities, scientific studies, and 
interpretive facilities.
    The ROD/Approved RMP contains decisions that identify initial 
management treatments in particular habitats and vegetative 
communities, identify wildland fire objectives and appropriate response 
levels, limit use on routes located in areas managed for wilderness 
characteristics, require permits for aerial sports (e.g., hang gliding, 
skydiving, hobby aircraft), provide for guided tours at Painted Rock, 
and define the priority,

[[Page 18548]]

framework, and evaluation/approval process for research projects within 
the CPNM. These decisions, which are contained in Attachment C of the 
ROD/Approved RMP, are implementation decisions and are appealable under 
43 CFR part 4.
    Any party adversely affected by an implementation decision may 
appeal within 30 days of publication of this Notice of Availability 
pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The appeal must be filed with 
the Bakersfield Field Manager at the above listed address. Please 
consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR, part 4, subpart E) for 
further appeal requirements.

Timothy Z. Smith,
Field Manager, Bakersfield Field Office.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
[FR Doc. 2010-8434 Filed 4-8-10; 4:15 pm]
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