[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45650-45652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19060]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCON06000 L16100000.DO]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon 
Wilderness, Colorado 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 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act 
of 2009 (Omnibus Act), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand 
Junction and Uncompahgre Field Offices, Grand Junction and Montrose, 
Colorado intend to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an 
associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dominguez-
Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA) and Dominguez Canyon 
Wilderness. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
with associated EIS. Comments on issues and planning criteria may be 
submitted in writing until September 2, 2010. The date(s) and 
location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days 
in advance through local media, newspapers, and the Colorado BLM Web 
site at: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/denca_rmp.html. In 
order to be considered in the development of the Draft RMP/EIS, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30 day scoping 
period or 30 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 
The BLM 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 Dominguez-Escalante NCA and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness 
RMP/EIS at any public scoping meeting or by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/denca_rmp.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 970-244-3083.
     Mail: Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand 
Junction, Colorado 81506.

[[Page 45651]]

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Grand 
Junction Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information and/or to have 
you name added to our mailing list, contact Katie A. Stevens, Interim 
NCA Manager, telephone (970) 244-3049; address 2815 H Road, Grand 
Junction, Colorado 81506; or by e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RMP will replace portions of the 
existing 1987 Grand Junction Resource Area RMP and the 1989 Uncompahgre 
Basin RMP. This new planning process will allow the BLM to focus 
specifically on developing management to conserve, protect and enhance 
the resources and values of the NCA and the wilderness area as set 
forth in Section 2402(b) of the Omnibus Act, including the geological, 
cultural, archaeological, paleontological, natural, scientific, 
recreational, wilderness, wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, 
and scenic resources of the public land; and the water resources of 
area streams, based on seasonally available flows, that are necessary 
to support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial species and communities. 
In developing new management for the NCA and Wilderness Area, the BLM 
will comply with the direction set forth in the Omnibus Act, which 
allows certain uses (including grazing, measures to control fire, 
insects and disease) to continue in accordance with current laws and 
regulations. The Omnibus Act also withdraws the NCA and the Wilderness 
Area from certain other uses, including all forms of entry, 
appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, 
and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, 
mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid 
existing rights. Congress' withdrawal of the area to these uses may 
foreclose certain alternatives. However, the withdrawal in and of 
itself does not necessarily preclude consideration of these uses in the 
RMP.
    The planning area is located in Mesa, Delta, and Montrose Counties, 
Colorado and encompasses approximately 209,610 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:
     Is special management needed to restore, maintain, or 
enhance priority species (including special status species) and their 
habitats?
     How should uses, including recreational, grazing, and 
motorized and mechanized vehicle use be managed to provide for wildlife 
(including special status species) habitat needs?
     What goals, objectives, and management actions, including 
desired future conditions and land restoration actions, are necessary 
to continue progress toward achieving land health standards?
     What goals, objectives and management actions, including 
desired future conditions and riparian and aquatic restoration actions, 
are necessary to ensure that these water resources are of sufficient 
quality and quantity to support aquatic, riparian, and terrestrial 
species and communities?
     How should the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness be managed to 
protect wilderness values and provide outstanding opportunities for 
solitude and/or primitive and unconfined recreation?
     Is special management still warranted for the relevant and 
important values recognized in the two existing Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC) nominations, and should additional lands 
be considered for ACEC status?
     What stream segments are suitable for designation as Wild, 
Scenic, or Recreational under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act?
     What Visual Resource Management classes will be necessary 
outside the wilderness to provide adequate protection for the scenic 
resources and visual quality of the NCA?
     How should the cultural resources and archaeological 
values (prehistoric and historic) of the area be protected and 
preserved, while still allowing for appropriate information/education 
efforts?
     What recreational experiences and outcomes should be used 
to focus future recreation management in the NCA?
    Preliminary planning criteria include:
     Completing the RMP in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, the 
Omnibus Act, and all other applicable laws, rules, regulations, 
policies, and guidelines (including environmental laws and Executive 
Orders listed as supplemental authorities in Appendix 1 of the NEPA 
Handbook H-1790-1);
     Ensuring that proposed management within the wilderness is 
consistent with the Wilderness Act of 1964 and develop a Wilderness 
Management Plan during the RMP process;
     Initiating broad-based public participation as an integral 
part of the planning and EIS development process;
     Working with the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation 
Area Advisory Council consistent with their established charter;
     Inviting cooperating agency and local government input;
     Consulting with Native American Tribes and other 
governments at required intervals;
     Developing adaptive management criteria and protocols and 
also clearly identify the criteria that would trigger re-evaluation of 
management;
     Developing a comprehensive travel management plan during 
the RMP process to identify all travel needs for the public, as well as 
administrative and resource management activities such as research and 
monitoring, permitting, or emergency or fire access;
     Designating all public lands within the planning area as 
open, limited, or closed to off-road vehicle use, mechanized use, and/
or non-motorized use;
     Incorporating Standards for Public Land Health and 
Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management into the planning process; 
and
     Responding to the Omnibus Act by developing management to 
``conserve and protect for the benefit and enjoyment of present and 
future generations [those resources and values identified as purposes 
in the legislation, including the] geological, cultural, archeological, 
paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, wilderness, 
wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, and scenic resources of 
the public land; and the water resources of area streams, based on 
seasonally available flows, that are necessary to support aquatic, 
riparian, and terrestrial species and communities.''
    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 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 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.

[[Page 45652]]

    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. A public comment that 
suggests developing management for one of the resource uses from which 
the area was withdrawn by the legislation would likely fall within this 
category.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/EIS as to 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 
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: rangeland management, 
minerals and geology, forestry, outdoor recreation, wilderness, 
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, 
hydrology, soils, sociology and economics.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.

Lynn E. Rust,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-19060 Filed 8-2-10; 8:45 am]
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