[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33341-33342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14086]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORE00000 L63500000.DO0000.LXSS021H0000.HAG11-0203]


Notice of Intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area in the State of Oregon 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) Eugene District 
Office, Eugene, Oregon, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues. The West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area comprises 
approximately 1,340 acres of acquired lands that do not have an 
existing RMP.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until July 8, 2011. 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 BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/eugene/index.php. In order to be included in the Draft 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. We 
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon 
publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the West Eugene Wetlands RMP/EIS by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/eugene/index.php.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 541-683-6981.
     Mail: P.O. Box 10226, Eugene, Oregon 97440-2226.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Eugene 
District Office, 3106 Pierce Parkway, Springfield, Oregon 97477.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Richard Hardt, Planning 
and Environmental Coordinator, telephone 541-683-6690; address P.O. Box 
10226, Eugene, Oregon 97440-2226; 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: This document provides notice that the BLM

[[Page 33342]]

District Office, Eugene, Oregon, intends to prepare an RMP with an 
associated EIS for the West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area, announces 
the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues 
and planning criteria. The planning area is located in Lane County, 
Oregon, and encompasses approximately 1,340 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: 
Threatened and endangered species management; ecosystem restoration; 
control of noxious weeds and invasive plants; recreation; tribal use 
including plant collection; evaluation of potential new Areas of 
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and reevaluation of the existing 
Long Tom ACEC; land tenure adjustments; and the costs of management. 
Preliminary planning criteria include:
    1. Lands addressed in the RMP will be public lands (including 
split-estate lands) managed by the BLM. There will be no decisions in 
the RMP for lands not managed by the BLM;
    2. 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;
    3. The BLM will use a collaborative and multi-jurisdictional 
approach, when practical, to determine the desired future condition of 
public lands;
    4. 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;
    5. Areas potentially suitable for ACECs and other special 
management designations will be identified and brought forward for 
analysis in the RMP. The existing Long Tom ACEC will be re-evaluated to 
determine if it should continue to be designated as an ACEC. Public 
nominations for areas potentially suitable for ACECs and other special 
management designations and public input on the re-evaluation of the 
existing Long Tom ACEC will be requested;
    6. Decisions of the RMP will be consistent with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service Recovery Plan for the Prairie Species of Western 
Oregon and Southwestern Washington.
    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 by the close of the 30-day 
scoping period or within 30 days after the last public meeting, 
whichever is later. Before including your address, phone number, email 
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. 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/Draft 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: Botany, Wildlife and 
Fisheries, Lands and Realty, Hydrology, Soils, Archeology, Recreation, 
Fire and Fuels Management, and Geographic Information Systems.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Virginia Grilley,
Eugene District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-14086 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]
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