[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6311-6312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01971]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORW04000.L16100000.DR0000.LXSSH0930000.223L1109AF; 4500164887; 
HAG22-0024]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision and Approved 
Resource Management Plan for the San Juan Islands National Monument, 
Washington

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the approved Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) for the San Juan Islands National Monument (SJINM), located 
in San Juan County in Washington State. The BLM Oregon/Washington State 
Director signed the ROD on January 26, 2023, which constitutes the 
decision of the BLM and makes the approved RMP effective immediately.

DATES: The Oregon/Washington State Director signed the ROD on January 
26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The ROD/approved RMP is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xucJE. Printed copies of the ROD/approved RMP are available 
for public inspection at the following locations:
     BLM Lopez Island Office, 37 Washburn Place, Lopez Island, 
WA 98261;
     BLM Spokane District Office, 1103 North Fancher Road, 
Spokane Valley, WA 99212;
     BLM Oregon/Washington State Office, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, 
Portland, OR 97204.
    Printed copies can be provided upon request by contacting Kurt 
Pindel (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT below).
    A copy of the Protest Resolution Report is available at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kurt Pindel, Spokane District Manager, 
telephone (208) 769-5040; address BLM Spokane Office, 1103 North 
Fancher Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99212; email [email protected]. 
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting 
Mr. Pindel. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SJINM RMP provides long-term management 
for approximately 1,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands. The 
approved RMP describes the goals, objectives, and management actions 
for the objects of historic and scientific interest identified in 
Presidential Proclamation 8947, which designated the area as a National 
Monument in 2013.
    The approved RMP provides an effective approach to protecting the 
objects and values for which the SJINM was designated while still 
providing the public with opportunities to observe, study, and enjoy 
these public lands. The approved RMP is consistent with all applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies, including Presidential Proclamation 
8947 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The BLM expects 
implementation of the approved RMP to improve resource conditions and 
result in more consistent management of recreation and public access.
    In order to meet the purpose and need of the planning effort and 
the mandate of Presidential Proclamation 8947, the BLM has developed 
allowable and prohibited use decisions for public lands within the 
SJINM. As with all decisions in the approved RMP, the BLM has 
considered input from consulting Tribes, cooperating agencies, the 
Office of the Governor of Washington, the Monument Advisory Committee, 
and the public. Based on the consideration of this input, the BLM made 
two changes and one clarification to the allowable uses that were 
included in the proposed RMP; all three of these modifications were 
analyzed in the alternatives considered by the BLM in both the draft 
RMP/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the proposed RMP/final 
EIS. Specifically, the approved RMP prohibits dispersed camping and 
removed small BLM-administered rocks from inclusion in a recreation 
management area. Access to these rocks will be limited to authorized 
educational, spiritual, or scientific purposes. The approved RMP also 
includes clarified language related to the proposed RMP's prohibition 
of recreational target shooting to ensure that lawful hunting practices 
will continue to be allowed on these public lands. These changes do not 
constitute significant changes and therefore do not require that the 
BLM provide the public with further opportunity to comment, as 
discussed in 43 CFR 1610.2(f)(5) and 1610.5-1(b). The ROD summarizes 
all clarifications and modifications made between the publication of 
the proposed RMP and the approved RMP. There are no appealable 
decisions included in the ROD.
    The approved RMP includes allowable and prohibited use decisions 
that the BLM believes will protect the cultural and ecological values 
for which the SJINM was designated, while also maintaining the 
recreational activities that inspired the public to advocate for the 
designation of the SJINM. Recreational opportunities under the approved 
RMP include hiking, hunting, designated site camping, trail-based 
equestrian use, and road-based equestrian and bicycling use. Based on 
current visitor use patterns and input provided on the draft and 
proposed RMPs, the approved RMP's restrictions on dispersed camping, 
target shooting, and access to rocks are not expected to substantially 
impact any ongoing recreational activities taking place within the 
monument.
    The BLM developed the SJINM RMP with extensive stakeholder input 
throughout the planning process. The BLM regularly communicated with, 
and solicited input from, the public, non-governmental organizations, 
and Tribal, Federal, State, and local governments.
    The BLM provided the proposed RMP/final EIS on November 22, 2019, 
(84 FR 64557) for a 30-day public protest period and received 236 
protest letters, including 158 unique protest letters and 78 form 
letters. The BLM Director resolved all protests. Responses to protest 
issues were compiled and documented in a Protest Resolution Report (see 
ADDRESSES).
    The BLM provided the proposed RMP/final EIS to the Governor of 
Washington for a 60-day Governor's consistency review. On January 15, 
2020, the Office of the Governor of Washington identified some concerns 
and potential inconsistencies between the proposed RMP and State and 
local plans, policies, and programs. The BLM made all requested changes 
that were within the scope of the RMP. These changes were all related 
to recreation management under the RMP and were within the range of 
alternatives analyzed in the EIS. The changes recommended by the 
Governor were all

[[Page 6312]]

raised during the public participation process and therefore did not 
require the BLM to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on 
the recommendations, as provided for at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e).

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 43 CFR 1610.5-1)

Barry R. Bushue,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.
[FR Doc. 2023-01971 Filed 1-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P