[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51301-51302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20711]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAN03900 L17110000.DU0000.15X]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the 
Headwaters Forest Reserve, 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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arcata Field 
Office, Arcata, California, intends to prepare a Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for the Headwaters Forest Reserve and by this notice is announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues. As the Headwaters Forest Reserve is jointly managed by 
the BLM and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

[[Page 51302]]

(CDFW), the BLM and CDFW intend to concurrently prepare a negative 
declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until September 23, 2015. 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/arcata/headwaters.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 the Headwaters Forest Reserve Resource Management Plan 
Amendment/EA by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 707-825-2301.
     Mail: 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Arcata 
Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin Blom, Headwaters Manager, 
707-825-2300; 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521, [email protected]. 
Contact Mr. Blom 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 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 
Arcata Field Office, Arcata, California, intends to prepare an RMP 
amendment with an associated EA for the Headwaters Forest Reserve, 
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input 
on issues and planning criteria. As the Headwaters Forest Reserve is 
jointly managed by the BLM and the CDFW, the BLM and CDFW intend to 
concurrently prepare an EA under NEPA and a negative declaration under 
CEQA. The planning area is located in Humboldt County, California, and 
encompasses approximately 7,500 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 plan amendment area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, 
State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include 
forest ecology, fuels, and wildlife habitat. Preliminary planning 
criteria are that: The plan amendment will focus exclusively on forest 
restoration and related programs in the Headwaters Forest Reserve; the 
plan amendment will be compatible with the existing plans and policies 
of local, State, and Federal agencies with an interest in the 
Headwaters Forest Reserve; the plan amendment will be consistent with 
the State of California Ecological Reserve Regulations; and that all 
proposed management actions and alternatives will consider current 
scientific information, research and technology, and inventory and 
monitoring information. 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 15 days after the 
last public meeting, whichever is later.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 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.
    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 asked 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 Plan Amendment/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: forest ecology, 
wildlife biology, fire and fuels management, fish biology, geology, 
botany, and hydrology.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-20711 Filed 8-21-15; 8:45 am]
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