[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62819-62820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26183]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOF03000 L16100000.DU0000]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the 
San Luis Resource Area, Colorado, and Associated Environmental 
Assessment

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, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) San 
Luis Valley Public Lands Center, Monte Vista, Colorado, intends to 
prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment with an associated 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and by this notice 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 
amendment and associated EA. Comments on issues and planning criteria 
may be submitted in writing by November 10, 2011. The date(s) and 
location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days 
in advance through local media and newspapers. In order to be included 
in the RMP amendment and associated EA, 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 
RMP amendment and associated EA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed RMP 
amendment by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 719-852-6250
     Mail: BLM, La Jara Field Office, 15571, County Road T-5, 
La Jara, Colorado 81140-9579.
    Documents pertinent to this plan amendment and associated EA may be 
examined at the La Jara Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Jill Lucero, 
Interdisciplinary Team Lead, (719) 274-6327; see address above; 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 
La Jara Field Office La Jara, Colorado, intends to prepare an RMP 
amendment and associated EA for the San Luis Valley Public Lands 
Center, announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks 
public input on issues and planning criteria. The EA will analyze the 
BLM proposal to amend the San Luis Resource Area (SLRA) Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) of September 1991, to expand the Blanca Wetlands 
Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and to analyze the terms, 
along with the compatibility and suitability, of three grazing 
allotments--one allotment within the Blanca Wetlands ACEC (Blanca 
allotment) and two allotments adjacent to the current ACEC (Lakes and 
Dry Lakes allotments). 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 process 
for amending the RMP. The RMP amendment and associated EA will 
specifically address resources in the project area that may be 
affected. The BLM welcomes public comments concerning the RMP amendment 
and associated EA and on the following proposed planning criteria:
    1. The BLM intends to continue to manage the SLRA in accordance 
with FLPMA, (43 U.S.C. 1701. et seq.), other applicable laws and 
regulations, and all existing public land laws.
    2. The BLM intends to use a collaborative, multi-jurisdictional 
approach with local, state, tribal and Federal agencies to jointly 
determine the desired future condition of public lands and provide 
consistency with existing plans and policies to the extent that those 
plans and policies are consistent with Federal law governing the 
administration of public land.
    3. The BLM intends to limit its RMP amendment to enlarging the 
Blanca Wetlands ACEC and analyzing the three range allotments (Lakes, 
Dry Lakes and Blanca).
    4. The BLM intends to address the socioeconomic impacts of the 
alternatives.
    5. The amendment process will follow the NEPA planning process and 
will include an EA. If a Finding of No Significant Impact cannot be 
reached, an EIS will follow.
    At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues 
concerning the RMP amendment and associated EA. The BLM welcomes public 
comments on potential issues in addition to those identified here:
    1. Compatibility of grazing with wetland habitat and waterbird 
production;
    2. Need for restoration and connectivity of wetland habitat;
    3. Impacts to cultural resources;
    4. Impacts to mineral resource production;
    5. Potential for recreational development and conflicts in 
priorities between recreation and wildlife.

[[Page 62820]]

    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to help 
fulfill the public involvement process under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be 
conducted in accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given 
due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
state and local agencies, and tribes--along with other stakeholders 
that may be interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this 
project--are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if 
eligible, may request or be contacted by the BLM to participate as a 
cooperating agency. 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, 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 BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the RMP 
amendment in order to consider the resource issues and concerns 
identified during public scoping. The planning process will include 
specialists with expertise in rangeland management, minerals and 
geology, forestry, outdoor recreation, archaeology, botany, wildlife, 
fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, vegetation and fire.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

John Mehlhoff,
Acting Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-26183 Filed 10-7-11; 8:45 am]
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