[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8476-8477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02799]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[L1610000.PQ0000/LLCAC09000]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Clear 
Creek Management Area Resource Management Plan, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Resource Management Plan (RMP) for 
the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) located in portions of southern 
San Benito and western Fresno Counties, California. The California 
State Director signed the ROD on February 11, 2014, which constitutes 
the BLM's final decision and makes the CCMA RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and the CCMA RMP are available upon 
request from the Field Manager, Hollister Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA 95023 or via the Internet 
at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html. Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available for 
public inspection at the Hollister Field Office and the BLM California 
State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sky Murphy, Planning & Environmental 
Coordinator, telephone 831-630-5039; address 20 Hamilton Court, 
Hollister, CA 95023; email [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 with the above individual. You

[[Page 8477]]

will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hollister RMP, adopted in 1984, provides 
management guidance for the CCMA. The BLM-administered lands account 
for more than 84% of the 75,000-acre Clear Creek Management Area in 
southern San Benito and western Fresno Counties, California. The BLM 
also administers subsurface minerals on approximately 3,500 acres of 
``split estate'' lands where the surface is owned by a non-Federal 
entity. Within the CCMA is the 31,000-acre Serpentine Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC), which was designated based on the human 
health risk associated with the naturally occurring asbestos and the 
special status plant species endemic to the area.
    The BLM prepared a series of amendments to the Hollister RMP in 
1986, 1995, and 2007 to address new information and concerns regarding 
asbestos related health risks and rare plant species. The CCMA was not 
addressed in the 2007 Hollister RMP, however, because in 2004 the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -initiated asbestos exposure and 
human health risk assessment was not completed in time to be 
incorporated into the Hollister RMP. Upon completion of the EPA study, 
the BLM incorporated this new information into its CCMA planning 
process and associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    As a result of this new health and safety information, the CCMA 
ROD/Approved RMP designates the Serpentine ACEC as a ``Limited'' 
vehicle use area for highway-licensed vehicles authorized by permit 
only. The ROD also limits the number of annual visitor-use days to 
reduce human health risks associated with exposure to naturally 
occurring asbestos in the ACEC.
    Based on the public's concerns about impacts to off-highway vehicle 
recreation, adaptive management criteria were added to the RMP that 
would allow the BLM to reassess its decisions on access and vehicle 
travel in the Serpentine ACEC if significant new information becomes 
available on human health risks from exposure to airborne asbestos 
fibers.
    In addition to public health and safety and recreation and travel 
management, the CCMA ROD/Approved RMP also describes the BLM management 
actions and allowable uses that will meet desired resource conditions 
for natural and cultural resources. For example, approximately 5,070 
acres of public lands within the CCMA exhibit wilderness 
characteristics. Under the CCMA ROD and Approved RMP, these lands will 
be managed to emphasize primitive, non-motorized recreation 
opportunities.
    The CCMA ROD/Approved RMP reflects the BLM's ``preferred 
alternative'' described in the CCMA Proposed RMP and Final EIS released 
in March 2013. Following the release of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS, 
21 protest letters were received. The BLM Director responded to each 
protest issue. In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.5-2(b), all protests were 
resolved prior to approving the RMP. No inconsistencies with State or 
local plans, policies or programs were identified during the Governor's 
consistency review of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS.
    The CCMA ROD includes several decisions that are appealable. For 
example, the decisions designating routes of travel within designated 
areas for motorized vehicles are implementation decisions and are 
appealable under 43 CFR part 4. These decisions are contained in 
Appendix II of the CCMA ROD/Approved RMP. Any party adversely affected 
by the approved route designations may appeal within 30 days of 
publication of this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR part 4, 
subpart E. The appeal should state the specific route(s), as identified 
in Appendix II of the CCMA ROD/Approved RMP, on which the decision is 
being appealed. The appeal must be filed with the Hollister Field 
Manager at the above listed address. Please consult the appropriate 
regulations (43 CFR part 4, subpart E) for further appeal requirements.

     Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-02799 Filed 2-11-14; 8:45 am]
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