[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 194 (Tuesday, October 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60494-60495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23889]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD05000, L10200000.EE000.14X]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Caliente Resource Management Plan 
for the Bakersfield Field Office, and the California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan, California and Prepare an 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, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Ridgecrest Field Office, Ridgecrest, California, and Bakersfield Field 
Office, Bakersfield, California intend to prepare Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) amendments with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for the Bakersfield Field Office and the Ridgecrest Field Office 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 Plan 
Amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until November 6, 2014. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ridgecrest.html. In order to be included in the 
analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-
day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever 
is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to Kelso Peak Plan Amendments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/ridgecrest.html.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (760)-384-5499.
     Mail: 300 S. Richmond Rd., Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Ridgecrest Field Office, Ridgecrest, California 93555.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Fitton, Natural Resource 
Specialist, telephone: (760) 384-5432; address: 300 S. Richmond Rd., 
Ridgecrest, CA 93555; email: [email protected]. Contact Mr. Fitton to 
have your name added to our mailing list. 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 
Field Office, Ridgecrest, CA, intends to prepare RMP amendments with an 
associated EA for the Bakersfield Field Office and the Ridgecrest Field 
Office. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process, and 
seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The purpose of the 
public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will 
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including 
alternatives development, and to guide the planning process. The Kelso 
Peak grazing allotment is located in Kern County, California and 
encompasses approximately 2,718 acres of public land. This allotment 
formerly consisted of three parcels administered by the BLM Bakersfield 
Field Office, of which the southern parcel is wholly within the Bright 
Star Wilderness area. Grazing on the allotment is subject to the 1997 
Caliente Resource Management Plan. In 2006, the Bakersfield Field 
Office divided the allotment, retaining the northern parcel and 
transferring the central and southern parcels, totaling 2718 acres, to 
the Ridgecrest Field Office because they are physically located within 
the Ridgecrest Resource Area and California Desert Conservation Area.
    The BLM is considering a plan amendment to determine the 
appropriate level of grazing, if any, on the Kelso Peak Allotment. If 
the BLM determines that the area should be available for grazing, it 
will consider issuing a grazing permit, which would include allotment-
specific grazing management practices and livestock forage amounts. 
Through this EA, the BLM will consider a range of alternatives for the 
management of the Kelso Peak Allotment, including maintaining current 
management, changing the season of use, altering the number of Animal 
Unit Months (AUMs), permitting grazing with resource protection 
measures, or making grazing unavailable.
    Preliminary issues for the Plan Amendment area have been identified 
by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other 
stakeholders. The issues include: Cultural resources; livestock 
grazing; Native American religious concerns; socioeconomics; soils, 
water quality; wetlands/riparian zones; wilderness; wildlife, including 
threatened or endangered species; and vegetation, including invasive 
species.
    Preliminary planning criteria include: Developing the Plan 
Amendment(s) in compliance with FLPMA and all other applicable laws, 
regulations, executive orders, and BLM supplemental program guidance; 
developing an EA in the planning process that will comply with NEPA 
standards; initiating government to government consultation, including 
tribal interests; incorporating by reference the Standards for 
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management into 
the Plan Amendment/EA; complying with

[[Page 60495]]

Appendix C of BLM's Planning Handbook (H-1601-1) in making resource 
specific determinations; and assuring that the Plan Amendment(s) is 
compatible, to the extent possible, with existing plans and policies of 
adjacent local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
    You may submit comments to the BLM 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. To be most helpful, 
you should submit comments by the close of the 30-day scoping period or 
within 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
    The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about 
historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by 
the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating 
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 
of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
as a cooperating agency. 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 amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft EA 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 
Amendment 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, wilderness management, wildlife habitat, vegetation and 
invasive species, cultural resources, and outdoor recreation.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

    Dated: July 18, 2014.
Jack L. Hamby,
Acting Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-23889 Filed 10-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P