[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29542-29543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13387]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAC09000/L16100000.DU0000/18XL1109AF/LXSSB0060000; (MO#4500132920)]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment
for the Cotoni-Coast Dairies Unit of the California Coastal National
Monument, and To Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment, Santa
Cruz County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance 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), Central Coast
Field Office, Marina, California, intends to prepare a Resource
Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the California Coastal National Monument RMP. This
RMP amendment will provide management direction for the Cotoni-Coast
Dairies Unit of the California Coastal National Monument. In
particular, management direction is needed to provide opportunities for
public access and recreation on the public lands. This notice announces
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
help identify issues and planning criteria.
DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until July 24,
2019, or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The
date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance via the BLM California website at https://go.usa.gov/xEJAw. In order to be included in the analysis, the BLM must
receive all comments prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period,
or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM
will provide additional opportunities for public participation as
appropriate.
[[Page 29543]]
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Cotoni-Coast Dairies RMP amendment and EA by any of the
following methods:
Website: https://go.usa.gov/xEJAw.
Email: [email protected].
Fax: (831) 582-2266.
Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Central Coast Field
Office, Attn: Cotoni-Coast Dairies RMPA/EA, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA
93933-6009.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM's
Central Coast Field Office, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA 93933-6009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sky Murphy, Planning and Environmental
Coordinator, Central Coast Field Office, telephone, (831) 582-2200;
address, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA 93933-6009; or by email [email protected].
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877-8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive
a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area is in Santa Cruz County,
California, and encompasses approximately 5,840 acres of public land,
donated to the BLM by the Trust for Public Land in 2014. Since 2014,
the property has been accessible to the public for guided tours only.
On January 12, 2017, Presidential Proclamation 9563 added the public
lands to the California Coastal National Monument. This proclamation
called for the Cotoni-Coast Dairies Unit to be available for public
access upon the BLM's completion of a management plan.
The current RMP for the California Coastal National Monument,
completed in 2005, provides management direction for thousands of rocks
and islands off the coast of California. The purpose of the RMP
amendment and associated EA is to establish land use decisions,
management actions, and allowable uses for the Cotoni-Coast Dairies
Unit of the California Coastal National Monument. The need for the RMP
amendment and associated EA is to provide opportunities for public
access and recreation at the Cotoni-Coast Dairies Unit, while ensuring
care for the objects and values identified in Presidential Proclamation
9563.
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. Federal, State
and local agencies, BLM personnel, and other stakeholders have
identified preliminary issues for the RMP mendment. These issues
include public access and recreation opportunities, management of
threatened and endangered species and their associated habitats, water
quality, livestock grazing, cultural and historic resources, fire and
fuels management, and public safety.
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. Recognize valid existing rights, including deed restrictions,
rights-of-way, and water rights;
2. Comply with existing law, executive orders, regulations, and BLM
policy and program guidance;
3. Ensure consistency with the January 12, 2017, Presidential
Proclamation that designated the property as the Cotoni-Coast Dairies
Unit of the California Coastal National Monument;
4. Comply with BLM Rangeland Health Standards and Livestock Grazing
Guidelines for Central California;
5. Consider adjoining non-public lands when making management
decisions to minimize land use conflicts; and
6. Consider cost effectiveness and feasibility of proposed actions
and alternatives.
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 earlier.
The BLM will use the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill the
public involvement process under section 106 of 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 under BLM evaluation, 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.
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 amendment as
to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also
encouraged to help identify 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 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, archaeology, biology (plants and wildlife), soils, geology
and hydrology, fire and fuels, and lands and realty.
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--could be made publicly available at any time. While you
can ask us in your comment that your personal identifying information
be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2)
Danielle Chi,
Deputy State Director, Resources and Fire.
[FR Doc. 2019-13387 Filed 6-21-19; 8:45 am]
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