[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]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P