[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22836-22837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9991]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORW00000 L16100000.DO0000; HAG10-0117]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
Eastern Washington and San Juan Planning Area in the State of 
Washington 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 of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District, 
Spokane Valley, Washington, intends to prepare a Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) with an associated

[[Page 22837]]

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Eastern Washington and San 
Juan Planning Area 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 Spokane RMP and expand the planning area 
to include the San Juan Islands, which do not have an RMP in place.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until June 25, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local 
media and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/ewsjrmp. In order to be included in the Draft RMP/EIS, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 
30 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will 
provide additional opportunities for public participation upon 
publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Eastern Washington and San Juan RMP/EIS by any of the 
following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/ewsjrmp.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM Spokane District, ATTN: RMP, 1103 N. Fancher 
Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99212.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Spokane 
District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Scott Pavey; Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator; telephone (509) 536-1252; address BLM 
Spokane District, ATTN: RMP, 1103 N. Fancher Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 
99212; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Spokane District Office, Spokane Valley, Washington, intends to prepare 
an RMP with an associated EIS for the Eastern Washington and San Juan 
Planning Area, announces the beginning of the scoping process, and 
seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The planning area 
is located in Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, 
Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend 
Oreille, San Juan, Skagit, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whatcom, 
Whitman, and Yakima Counties in Washington and encompasses 
approximately 445,000 acres of public land. 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:
    1. How will the shrub-steppe, and its associated riparian and 
wetland habitats, be managed to maintain, improve, or restore healthy 
plant and wildlife communities?
    2. How should the BLM manage public lands with consideration of 
uses of adjacent lands, given the mixed ownership pattern in the 
planning area?
    3. How should the BLM manage multiple uses and resources that have 
changed or that occur on lands that were either not administered by the 
BLM or were not within the planning area when the current RMP was 
developed? and
    4. How should the BLM facilitate energy development while allowing 
for multiple uses and appropriate protection of public lands and 
resources?
    Preliminary planning criteria include:
    1. The BLM will protect resources in accordance with the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.), and other applicable laws and regulations;
    2. The BLM will strive to make land use plan decisions compatible 
with existing plans and policies of adjacent local, State, Federal, and 
tribal agencies, and consistent with other applicable laws and 
regulations governing the administration of public land;
    3. The plan will recognize valid existing rights within the 
Planning Area;
    4. Land use plan decisions will apply to BLM lands and split-estate 
minerals administered by the BLM;
    5. The BLM will use a collaborative and multi-jurisdictional 
approach, when practical, to jointly determine the desired future 
conditions of public lands;
    6. The plan will recognize the state's authority to manage 
wildlife; and
    7. The plan will incorporate the BLM Oregon and Washington 
Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines.
    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 30 days after the 
last public meeting. 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 the BLM in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. The minutes and list of 
attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and 
open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to 
clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified 
issues to be addressed in the plan and will 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 as to why 
an issue was placed in category 2 or 3. 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 
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 and Native Plants, Riparian and 
Wetlands, Invasive and Noxious Weeds, Rangeland Management, Forest 
Management, Fire and Fuels Management, Cultural Resources and Native 
American Concerns, Geology and Minerals, Lands and Realty, Recreation, 
Visual Resource Management, Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers, 
sociology, and economics.

Edward W. Shepard,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

[FR Doc. 2010-9991 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P