[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44326-44327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18243]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19X 1109AF LLUT930000 Ll6100000.DQ0000.LXSSJ0640000]
Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and
Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That are Excluded
From the Boundaries Proposed Resource Management Plans and Final
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have
prepared the Proposed Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units, and Federal lands excluded
from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 (Kanab-Escalante Planning Area
(KEPA), and by this notice is announcing its availability and the
opening of a protest period concerning the Proposed RMPs. In accordance
with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation
Act of 2019, this notice also announces the opening of a 60-day public
comment period regarding the proposed closure of recreational target
shooting within at least 0.25 miles of residences, campgrounds, and
developed recreation facilities in GSENM and KEPA.
DATES: The BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's
Proposed RMPs and Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions and
files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of the date that
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register.
To ensure that comments on the proposed target shooting closure
will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments by October
22, 2019.
ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMPs and Final EIS is available on the BLM
ePlanning project website at https://go.usa.gov/xVCGJ. Click the
``Documents & Reports'' link on the left side of the screen to find the
electronic versions of these materials. Hard copies of the Proposed
RMPs and Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Kanab
Field Office.
Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM
regarding the Proposed RMPs may be found online at https://www.blm.gov/filing-a-plan-protest and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2.
You may submit comments on the proposed target shooting closure
using either of the following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Mail: BLM, Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, UT
84741, Attn: Harry Barber.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Barber, Monument Manager,
telephone (435) 644-1200; address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 84741;
email [email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 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 for the above individual. You will
receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump
signed Presidential Proclamation 9682 modifying the boundaries of the
GSENM to exclude from designation and reservation approximately 861,974
acres of land. Lands that remain part of the GSENM are included in
three units, known as the Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante
Canyons Units and are reserved for the care and management of the
objects of historic and scientific interest described in Proclamation
6920, as modified by Proclamation 9682. Lands that are excluded from
the Monument boundaries are now referred to as the Kanab-Escalante
Planning Area (KEPA) and are managed in accordance with the BLM's
multiple-use mandate.
The planning area is located in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah,
and encompasses approximately 1.87 million acres of public land. For
the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units,
this planning effort is needed to identify goals, objectives, and
management actions necessary for the proper care and management of the
objects and values identified in Proclamations 6920, as modified by
Proclamation 9682. For lands in the KEPA, this planning effort is
needed to identify goals, objectives, and management actions necessary
to ensure that public lands and their various resource values are
utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future
needs of the American people.
The entire planning area is currently managed by the BLM and under
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan (BLM
1999), as amended. This planning effort would replace the existing
Monument Management Plan with four new RMPs.
The BLM reviewed public-scoping comments to identify planning
issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the
scope of analysis in the Draft RMPs/EIS. Issues identified include
management of
[[Page 44327]]
recreation and access; paleontological and cultural resources;
livestock grazing; mineral resources; and wildlife, water, vegetation,
and soil resources. This planning effort also considers management of
lands with wilderness characteristics and designation of Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern.
The formal public scoping process for the RMPs and EIS began on
January 16, 2018, with publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register (83 FR 2179) and ended on April 11, 2018. The BLM held public
scoping meetings in Kanab and Escalante, Utah, in March 2018. The
Notice of Availability for the Draft RMPs/EIS was published on August
17, 2018 (83 FR 41108), followed by a Notice of Error, on August 31,
2019 (83 FR 44659), that extended the public comment period on the
Draft RMPs/EIS. The BLM accepted public comments on the range of
alternatives, effects analysis and Draft RMPs for 105 days, ending on
November 30, 2018. During the public comment period, public meetings
were held in Kanab and Escalante, Utah.
The Draft RMPs/EIS evaluated four alternatives in detail.
Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is a continuation of
existing decisions in the Monument Management Plan. Alternative B
generally focuses on protection of resources (e.g., wildlife,
vegetation, cultural, etc.) while providing for targeted resource use
(e.g., rights-of-way, travel, mineral development). Alternative C
generally represents a balance of resource protection and resource use.
Alternative D generally focuses on maximizing resource use (e.g.,
rights-of-way, minerals development, livestock grazing) while still
providing for resource protection as required by applicable
regulations, laws, policies, plans, and guidance, including protection
of Monument objects within the GSENM Units. Comments on the Draft RMPs/
EIS received from the public, the Utah Resource Advisory Council,
cooperating agencies and tribes, and internal BLM review were
considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMPs/Final
EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but
did not significantly change the range of alternatives considered.
Alternative E was developed in response to comments received on the
Draft RMPs/EIS and includes elements of Alternatives A, B, C, and D.
The BLM has identified Alternative E as the agency's Proposed RMPs.
Identification of this alternative, however, does not represent final
agency direction.
In the Proposed RMPs, the BLM proposes that recreational target
shooting shall not be allowed on certain lands managed by the BLM in
both GSENM and KEPA. As proposed, target shooting would generally be
allowed, but would be prohibited within at least 0.25 miles of
residences, campgrounds, and developed recreation facilities. The
proposed closure would provide for public safety near residences,
campgrounds and developed recreation facilities. The proposed closure
would also enhance the safety of the public visiting campgrounds and
developed recreation facilities in GSENM and KEPA, which would improve
their experience.
In accordance with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation,
Management, and Recreation Act of 2019, the BLM is announcing the
opening of a 60-day public comment period on the proposed target
shooting closure. As such, the BLM is only accepting comments on the
proposed target shooting closure. All comments must be received by the
date set forth in the DATES section above and must be submitted using
one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above.
All protests must be in writing and submitted, as set forth in the
DATES and ADDRESSES sections above.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 40 CFR 1506.10 43 CFR 1610.2 and 36
CFR 219.59.
Edwin L. Roberson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-18243 Filed 8-22-19; 8:45 am]
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