[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22721-22723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9703]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYR0000.L16100000.DP0000.LXSS042K0000]


Notice of Availability of Draft Resource Management Plans and 
Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Bighorn Basin 
Resource Management Plan Revision Project, Cody and Worland Field 
Offices, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance 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) 
has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Cody Field 
Office, a Draft RMP for the Worland Field Office, and an associated 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The two Draft RMPs and the 
associated Draft EIS comprise the Bighorn Basin RMP Revision Project 
(Project). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the opening of a 90-
day comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments are considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMPs/EIS within 90 days following the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of the 
Draft RMPs/EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future 
meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at 
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or 
the Project Web site at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/RMPs/bighorn.html.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments related to the Project Draft 
RMPs/EIS by any of the following methods:
    Web site: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/RMPs/bighorn.html.
    E-mail: [email protected].
    Mail: Worland Field Office, Attn: RMP Project Manager, 101 South 
23rd Street, P.O. Box 119, Worland, Wyoming 82401.
    Copies of the Draft RMPs/EIS are available at the following 
locations:
     Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.
     Bureau of Land Management, Cody Field Office, 1002 
Blackburn Avenue, Cody, Wyoming 82414.
     Bureau of Land Management, Worland Field Office, 101 South 
23rd Street, Worland, Wyoming 82401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caleb Hiner, RMP Project Manager, 
telephone (307) 347-5171; address P.O. Box 119, 101 South 23rd Street, 
Worland, Wyoming 82401; e-mail [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Planning Area for the Project includes 
lands within the BLM Cody and Worland Field Offices' administrative 
boundaries, in of Big Horn, Park, Washakie Counties, and Hot Springs 
Counties in north-central Wyoming. The Planning Area includes all 
lands, regardless of jurisdiction, totaling 5.6 million acres; however, 
the BLM will only make decisions on lands that fall under the BLM's 
jurisdiction. Lands within the Planning Area under the BLM's 
jurisdiction make up the Decision Area. The Decision Area consists of 
BLM-administered surface, totaling 3.2 million acres, and the Federal 
mineral estate, totaling 4.2 million acres. The revised RMPs will 
replace the Washakie and Grass Creek RMPs in Worland, Wyoming, and the 
Cody RMP in Cody, Wyoming.
    The Draft RMPs/EIS includes a series of management actions, within 
four management alternatives, including the No Action Alternative, 
designed to address management challenges and issues raised during 
scoping, including, but not limited to: Recreation, Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC), wildlife habitats, livestock grazing, 
energy development, air quality and global climate change, and lands 
with wilderness characteristics and Wild Lands. The four alternatives 
are:
     Alternative A: Continue existing management practices (No 
Action Alternative);
     Alternative B: Foster conservation of natural and cultural 
resources while

[[Page 22722]]

providing for compatible development and use;
     Alternative C: Emphasize resource development and use; and
     Alternative D: Provide development opportunities while 
protecting sensitive resources (Preferred Alternative).
    The Preferred Alternative has been identified as described in 40 
CFR 1502.14(e). However, identification of a Preferred Alternative does 
not represent the final agency decision. The BLM encourages comments on 
all alternatives and management actions described in the Draft RMPs/EIS 
and will assess and consider public comments properly received.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent 
public comment period on proposed ACECs. A total of 18 ACECs are 
proposed in the Draft RMPs/EIS, 9 of which are existing ACECs. The 
proposed ACECs and the proposed resource use limitations that will 
occur for each proposed ACEC if formally designated are:
     Big Cedar Ridge (264 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Paleontological. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Right-of-way (ROW) 
exclusion area, a no-surface occupancy (NSO) restriction applied to 
fluid mineral leases, closed to geophysical exploration, closed to 
mineral material disposals and related exploration and development 
activities, motorized vehicle use limited to existing roads and trails, 
and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
     Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite (1,798 acres): Value(s) of 
Concern--Paleontological. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Closed to 
surface-disturbing activities except to enhance public education, heavy 
equipment restriction on fire suppression activities, motorized vehicle 
use limited to designated roads and trails, interpretive area closed to 
livestock grazing, an NSO restriction applied to fluid mineral leases, 
and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
     Sheep Mountain Anticline (11,528 acres): Value(s) of 
Concern--Geologic, Caves, Cultural and Scenic. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and 
trails, generally closed to surface-disturbing activities, unavailable 
for fluid mineral leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation 
under the mining laws.
     Spanish Point Karst (6,627 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Caves, Recreational, Sinking Stream Segments and Water Quality. 
Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, 
closed to geophysical exploration, closed to off highway vehicle use, 
ROW avoidance/mitigation area, and pursue a withdrawal from 
appropriation under the mining laws.
     Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area (5,517 acres with an expansion to 
15,246 acres): Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for 
fluid mineral leasing, ROW avoidance/mitigation area, and pursue a 
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
     Carter Mountain (10,867 acres with an expansion to 16,573 
acres): Value(s) of Concern--Vegetation, Wildlife, Cultural, 
Recreational, Special Status Species, Watershed and Soils. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Heavy equipment restriction on fire suppression 
activities, ROW avoidance/mitigation area, motorized vehicle use 
limited to designated roads and trails, closed to surface-disturbing 
activities on slopes greater than 7 percent, unavailable for fluid 
mineral leasing, closed to mineral material disposals, and pursue a 
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
     Five Springs Falls (163 acres with an expansion to 1,809 
acres): Value(s) of Concern--Recreational, Scenic, Special Status 
Species, Geologic and Public Safety. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Heavy 
equipment restriction on fire suppression activities, ROW avoidance/
mitigation area, climbing not allowed on the cliff that forms the 
falls, motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, 
and unavailable for fluid mineral leasing.
     Little Mountain (21,475 acres with an expansion to 69,110 
acres): Value(s) of Concern--Caves, Cultural, Paleontological, Scenic, 
Recreational, Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed 
Use Limitation(s)--Heavy equipment restriction for fire suppression 
activities, motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and 
trails, a ROW avoidance/mitigation area, unavailable for fluid mineral 
leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining 
laws.
     Upper Owl Creek Area (13,057 acres with an expansion to 
32,777): Value(s) of Concern--Cultural, Fish, Recreational, Scenic, 
Soils, Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and 
trails, closed to surface-disturbing activities, pursue a withdrawal 
from appropriation under the mining laws for 13,238 acres, ROW 
avoidance/mitigation area, and unavailable for fluid mineral leasing.
     Chapman Bench (23,976 acres): Value(s) of Concern--Special 
Status Species, Vegetation, and Wildlife. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--
Motorized vehicle use limited to existing roads and trails pursue a 
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws, closed to mineral 
material disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, closed to 
surface-disturbing activities, and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
     Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench West Paleontological Area 
(23,895 acres): Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological and Scenic. 
Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Closed to surface-disturbing activities, 
closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral 
leasing, pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws, 
motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, and 
renewable energy ROW exclusion area.
     Clarks Fork Canyon (12,259 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Geologic, Open Space, Recreational, Special Status Species, and 
Wildlife. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Close 1,211 acres to motorized 
vehicle use with the remainder limited to designated roads and trails, 
closed to surface-disturbing activities, closed to mineral material 
disposals, closed to geophysical exploration, unavailable for fluid 
mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the 
mining laws, renewable energy ROW exclusion area, and ROW avoidance/
mitigation area.
     Foster Gulch Paleontological Area (27,302 acres): Value(s) 
of Concern--Paleontological and Scenic. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--
Renewable energy ROW exclusion area, motorized vehicle use limited to 
designated roads and trails, closed to surface-disturbing activities, 
closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral 
leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining 
laws.
     McCullough Peaks South Paleontological Area (6,994 acres): 
Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological and Scenic. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, pursue a 
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws, closed to mineral 
material disposals, renewable energy ROW avoidance/mitigation area, 
motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, closed to 
surface-disturbing activities, and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
     Rainbow Canyon (1,433 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Geologic, Paleontological, and Scenic. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--
Unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal from 
appropriation under the mining laws, closed to mineral material

[[Page 22723]]

disposals, renewable energy ROW avoidance/mitigation area, motorized 
vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, closed to surface-
disturbing activities, and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
     Rattlesnake Mountain (19,119 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and 
trails, closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for fluid 
mineral leasing, closed to surface-disturbing activities, ROW exclusion 
area, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
     Sheep Mountain (25,153 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed Use 
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and 
trails, unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, closed to mineral 
material disposals, pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the 
mining laws, closed to surface-disturbing activities, and ROW 
avoidance/mitigation area.
     Paleocene and Eocene Thermal Maximum (14,906 acres): 
Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--NSO 
restriction applied to fluid mineral leases, and closed to mineral 
material disposals.
    Alternative A proposes to maintain the nine existing ACECs. 
Alternative B proposes to establish all of the ACECs listed above, with 
expansions, except Paleocene and Eocene Thermal Maximum. Alternative C 
proposes to maintain only Spanish Point Karst and Brown/Howe Dinosaur 
Area as ACECs. Alternative D, the Preferred Alternative, proposes ACEC 
designation for Big Cedar Ridge (264 acres); Red Gulch Dinosaur 
Tracksite (1,798 acres); Sheep Mountain Anticline (11,528 acres); 
Spanish Point Karst (6,627 acres); Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area (5,517 
acres); Carter Mountain (10,867 acres); Five Springs Falls (163 acres); 
Little Mountain (21,475 acres); Upper Owl Creek (13,057 acres); Clarks 
Fork Canyon (2,724 acres); Sheep Mountain (14,201 acres); and 
Paleocene, Eocene Thermal Maximum (14,906 acres) for a total of 103,087 
acres proposed to be managed as ACECs.
    The BLM initiated a Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) review of all BLM-
administered public lands along waterways within the Worland and Cody 
planning areas. The BLM requests the public to submit information 
regarding the suitability of eligible river segments for inclusion in 
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The BLM will use comments 
submitted during the announced comment period to gather additional data 
to determine suitability for inclusion into the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System. You may submit comments in writing to the BLM at 
any public meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the 
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. In order to reduce the 
use of paper and control costs, the BLM strongly encourages the public 
to submit comments electronically at the project Web site or via e-
mail. Only comments submitted using the methods described in the 
ADDRESSES section above will be accepted. Comments submitted must 
include the commenter's name and street address. Whenever possible, 
please include reference to either the page or section in the Draft 
RMPs/EIS to which the comment applies. Please note that public comments 
and information submitted--including names, street addresses and e-mail 
addresses of persons who submit comments--will be available for public 
review and disclosure at the above address during regular business 
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2, 1610.7-2 
and 8350.

Ruth Welch,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-9703 Filed 4-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P