[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33232-33234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13581]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 4500031290]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Documents and Proposed 
Plan Amendments for Off-Highway Vehicle Use Designations in the Kuna 
and Cascade Land Use Plans, Ada and Payette Counties, ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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[[Page 33233]]

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) Boise 
District Office, Four Rivers Field Office, Boise, Idaho, intends to 
prepare environmental assessments (EA) that will evaluate the effects 
of amending the 1983 Kuna Management Framework Plan (KMFP) and the 1988 
Cascade Resource Management Plan (CRMP) to address off-highway vehicle 
(OHV) use designations. 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 KMFP 
and CRMP amendments with associated EAs. The dates and locations of any 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local news media, mailings to interested individuals, and on the BLM 
Idaho Web site http://www.blm.gov/id. In order to be included in the 
analyses, all comments on issues may be submitted in writing until July 
5, 2012 or 30 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to 
the KMFP and CRMP amendments and associated EAs by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (208) 384-3326.
     Mail: BLM Boise District Office, 3948 Development Avenue, 
Boise, Idaho 83705, ATTN: Larry Ridenhour.
    Documents related to this proposal may be examined at the Boise 
District Office or online at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/four_rivers.html. All comments must contain the name and address of the 
submitter, regardless of delivery method, in order to be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Humphrey, Four Rivers Field 
Manager, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705 or phone 208-384-
3430. 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 (8:00 
a.m.-4:30 p.m.). FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or a question. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Four Rivers Field Office, Boise, 
Idaho, intends to prepare Land Use Plan amendments for the 1983 KMFP 
and 1988 CRMP and hereby announces the beginning of the scoping process 
and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria to be addressed 
in the EAs. The KMFP and CRMP planning areas are located in Ada and 
Payette counties, Idaho, and encompass approximately 1,416,000 acres of 
public land. The proposed actions, however, would affect no more than 
7,670 acres within these planning areas. 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 processes. Preliminary issues for the land use plan 
amendment areas have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, 
and local agencies; and other stakeholders. Known issues include 
special status species (i.e., slickspot peppergrass, Packard's 
milkvetch, and southern Idaho ground squirrel), vegetation communities, 
special area designations, cultural resources, soils, recreational 
uses, livestock grazing, and unauthorized OHV trespass. Preliminary 
planning criteria include:
    1. Compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies; and
    2. Program-specific guidance for decisions at the land use planning 
level in accordance with policies in the BLM Land Use Planning 
Handbook, H-1601-1 and Manual Section 1626, Travel and Transportation 
Management.

Public participation and collaboration will be an integral part of the 
planning process. The BLM will strive to make decisions in the plan 
amendments that are compatible with existing plans and policies of 
affected local, State, and Federal agencies and affected Native 
American tribes, as long as the decisions are also consistent with the 
purposes, policies, and programs of Federal law and regulations 
applicable to public lands. The planning process will provide for 
ongoing consultation with Native American tribes and strategies for 
protecting recognized traditional uses (e.g. gathering of traditionally 
used plant materials) and impacts on Indian trust assets. The plan 
amendments will incorporate, where appropriate, management decisions 
brought forward from existing planning documents. The BLM will work 
collaboratively with cooperating agencies and all other interested 
groups, agencies and individuals. Geographic Information System (GIS) 
and metadata information will meet Federal Geographic Data Committee 
standards, as required by Executive Order 12906. All other applicable 
BLM data standards will also be followed. The BLM will use an 
interdisciplinary approach to develop the analyses 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, outdoor recreation, botany, 
archaeology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, soils, 
sociology, and economics.
    The Big Willow Route Designation and the Blacks Creek Reservoir 
Area Designation will be considered in separate EAs, each of which 
could result in plan amendments. The 1988 CRMP addresses public land 
resources and resource use on 487,000 acres in southwestern Idaho, 
including the Big Willow area. The CRMP provides for OHV uses on public 
land by designating use levels (i.e., open; limited to designated or 
existing roads and trails; closed) in the planning area. The CRMP also 
provides for the protection of candidate and sensitive plants by 
excluding surface and subsurface rights-of-way in areas known to 
contain them.
    The KMFP addresses public land resources and resource use on 
929,000 acres in southwestern Idaho, including the Black Creek 
Reservoir area. The KMFP, like the CRMP, designates OHV use levels on 
public land. More information is provided below for each of the 
proposed actions and how they might affect current plan guidance.
    A. The Big Willow Route Designation would affect public lands 14 
miles northwest of Emmett, Idaho, in Payette County. The CRMP limits 
motorized travel in the area to designated or existing roads and 
trails. The OHV designations would be amended as a result of a route 
designation decision. Additionally, future travel management 
development, such as parking areas, trailheads, and trail construction 
corridors on public land, may also be considered in order to facilitate 
travel through public land and provide trail-based recreational 
opportunities. The BLM needs to be responsive to current and future 
demands for recreational opportunities for access to support livestock 
operations, utilities, and private in-holdings. These needs would be 
compatible with management actions that maintain and enhance habitat 
for Packard's milkvetch, a candidate species under the Endangered 
Species Act. The public lands affected by the Big Willow Route 
Designation are located in:

Boise Meridian, Payette County, Idaho

T. 8 N., R. 2 W.,

[[Page 33234]]

    Secs. 5 to 7, inclusive.
T. 9 N., R. 2 W.,
    Sec. 19, and secs. 27 to 34, inclusive.
T. 8 N., R. 3 W.,
    Secs. 1 to 4 inclusive, secs. 8 to 10, inclusive, and sec. 12.
T. 9 N., R. 3 W.,
    Secs. 25, 26, 34 and 35.

    The areas described contain approximately 7,415 acres.
    B. The Blacks Creek Reservoir Area Designation would affect public 
land 11 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho, in Ada County. The KMFP 
designates the area as open to OHV use. The OHV designation would be 
amended as a result of a route designation decision. Additionally, 
visitor use development, such as parking areas, trailheads, and future 
trail construction corridors on public land, may also be considered in 
order to facilitate non-motorized recreational uses and administrative 
access.
    The public lands affected by the Blacks Creek Reservoir Area 
Designation are located in:

Boise Meridian, Ada County, Idaho

T. 1 N., R. 3 E.,
    Portion of secs. 5 and 6 lying north of East Kuna-Mora Road.
T. 2 N., R. 3 E.,
    Sec. 31.

    The areas described contain approximately 255 acres.

    The public is encouraged to help identify any management questions 
and concerns that should be addressed in the plan amendments. 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. Federal, State, and local agencies, along 
with other stakeholders who 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 requested 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 using one of the methods 
listed in the ADDRESSES section above. 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 any scoping meeting(s) will 
be available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to 
any participant who wishes to clarify the views s/he expressed. The BLM 
will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan amendments, 
and will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendments;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of the plan amendments.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Terry A. Humphrey,
Four Rivers Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2012-13581 Filed 6-4-12; 8:45 am]
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