[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 144 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45225-45226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16151]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOF02400.L16100000.DO0000.LXSSC0100000.20X]
Notice of Availability of the Records of Decision for the Browns
Canyon National Monument Resource Management Plan, Colorado
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest
Service (USFS) have prepared separate Records of Decision (ROD) for the
joint Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Browns Canyon
National Monument (BCNM) located in Chaffee County, Colorado.
DATES: The BLM Colorado State Director signed the BLM ROD on July 21,
2020, and the Approved RMP is effective immediately on monument lands
administered by the BLM. The Forest Supervisor of the Pike and San
Isabel National Forest Comanche Cimarron Grasslands (PSICC) also signed
the USFS ROD on July 21, 2020, and the Approved RMP will be effective
on monument lands administered by the USFS 30 days after publication of
this notice.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the BLM and USFS RODs and the Approved RMP are
available upon request from the Field Manager, Royal Gorge Field
Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM RGFO), 3028 E. Main St.,
Ca[ntilde]on City, CO 81212, and from the District Ranger, PSICC Salida
Ranger District, 5575 Cleora Road, Salida, CO 81201 or via the internet
at https://go.usa.gov/xn2eC. Copies of the RODs and Approved RMP are
available for public inspection by appointment at BLM RGFO, 3028 E.
Main St., Ca[ntilde]on City, CO 81212, and at the PSICC Salida Ranger
District, 5575 Cleora Road, Salida, CO 81201.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Vieira, Project Manager,
telephone 719-246-9966; address 5575 Cleora Road, Salida, CO 81201;
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 Mr. Vieira during normal business hours. The FRS is
available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, to leave a message or
question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM and USFS have worked cooperatively
with the public, stakeholders, interest
[[Page 45226]]
groups, cooperating agencies in State and local government, tribes, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
to develop an Approved RMP that provides for the long-term conservation
and protection of the monument resources, objects, and values (ROV)
identified in Presidential Proclamation 9232. These values include the
``landscape's canyons, rivers, and backcountry forests, . . . diversity
of plants and wildlife, including a significant herd of bighorn sheep,
. . . scientifically significant geological, ecological, riparian,
cultural, and historic resources.'' The Presidential Proclamation
states that the monument will ``preserve its prehistoric and historic
legacy and maintain its diverse array of scientific resources, ensuring
that the prehistoric, historic, and scientific values remain for the
benefit of all Americans,'' while recognizing its ``world class river
rafting and outdoor recreation opportunities, including hunting,
fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and horseback riding.'' The
Presidential Proclamation also provides that the monument shall be
subject to valid existing rights, and directs that laws, regulations,
and policies followed by the BLM or USFS in the administration of
grazing shall continue to apply, consistent with the care and
management of the monument ROVs.
Management decisions outlined in the Approved RMP apply only to
lands managed within the boundaries of the BCNM (approximately 21,600
acres). The Approved RMP represents a new management plan for 9,790
acres administered by the BLM under the National Landscape Conservation
System and amends the Pike and San Isabel National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan covering 11,810 acres administered by the
USFS. The Approved RMP also includes a portion of the Arkansas
Headwaters Recreation Area, a cooperatively managed area along the
Arkansas River administered by the USFS, the BLM, and Colorado Parks
and Wildlife (CPW). The Approved RMP establishes goals, objectives, BLM
management actions/USFS standards and allowable uses for monument
resources and lands including, but not limited to, the BLM wilderness
study area, eligible and suitable wild and scenic rivers, and lands
subject to USFS wilderness suitability determination. The Approved RMP
also balances recreation, livestock grazing, travel and transportation,
and realty use in a manner consistent with ROV conservation and
protection. The Approved RMP includes planning level decisions and land
and resource use allocations and allowances, but it does not include
decisions that implement components of the land use plan.
The BLM and USFS conducted pre-planning public involvement work
sessions and compiled best available scientific information from
October 2016 to April 2019. The agencies initiated a joint scoping
effort for the RMP in May 2019 and collected information and input via
public meetings and cooperating agency meetings with CPW, Chaffee
County, the City of Salida, and the Town of Buena Vista to develop the
Draft RMP/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released in October
2019. The BLM and USFS developed the Proposed Plan Alternative based
upon the Draft Preferred Alternative and public comments on the Draft
RMP/EIS. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS published in the Federal Register
on April 17, 2020 (84 FR 21454), which initiated a 30-day protest
period. The agencies received 10 protests on a variety of issues, which
were resolved by the BLM Director and the USFS Deputy Regional
Forester. In accordance with its regulations, the BLM also provided the
Governor an opportunity to review the Proposed RMP/Final EIS to promote
consistency with State government plans or policies. The Governor did
not identify any inconsistency with State government plans or policies.
Based on further internal review, the BLM and USFS made minor editorial
modifications to the Approved RMP to provide further clarification of
some of the decisions.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6)
Jamie E. Connell,
Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-16151 Filed 7-24-20; 8:45 am]
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