[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29153-29156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09619]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_CA_FRN_MO4500168353]


Notice of Intent To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area 
Plan Associated With the Mojave Trails National Monument Management 
Plan and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
California State Director intends to prepare a management plan for the 
Mojave Trails National Monument (MTNM), through an amendment to the 
approved California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) land use plan, and 
an environmental assessment (EA). By this notice, the BLM is announcing 
the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and 
Identify issues, providing the planning criteria for public review, and 
issuing a call for nominations for areas of critical environmental 
concern (ACECs).

DATES: The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the 
scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of 
relevant information and studies, and ACEC nominations by June 20, 
2023. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider issues and ACEC 
nominations raised by commenters in the draft land use plan amendment/
EA, please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 
45-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, 
whichever is later. Scoping meetings are expected to occur in late May 
to early June 2023 in the cities of Needles, Barstow, and Twentynine 
Palms. There will be one virtual meeting and three meetings in person. 
All meetings will be announced though a new release.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the MTNM Management Plan and nominations of new ACECs by any 
of the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2022347/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 760-326-7099.
     Mail: 1303 S U.S. Hwy 95, Needles, CA 92363.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2022347/510 and at 
the Needles Field Office.
    Addresses of meeting locations are not yet determined but one each 
will be held in the:

 City of Twentynine Palms, CA
 City of Needles, CA
 City of Barstow, CA

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Noelle Glines-Bovio, Mojave Trails 
National Monument Manager, telephone (760) 903-8356; address: Mojave 
Trails National Monument--Monument Plan Comments, Bureau of Land 
Management, 1303 U.S.-95, Needles, California 95521-4373; email: 
[email protected]. Contact Noelle Glines-Bovio to have your 
name added to our mailing list. 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 Noelle Glines-Bovio. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM 
California State Director intends to prepare a management plan for the 
MTNM, through an amendment to the approved CDCA land use plan, which 
will include an EA; announces the beginning of the scoping process; 
seeks public input on issues and planning criteria; and invites the 
public to

[[Page 29154]]

nominate ACECs. The land use plan amendment would change the approved 
CDCA plan as amended. In particular, the BLM anticipates potential 
amendments to decisions associated with special designations, visual 
resources, lands and realty, cultural resources, and recreation. The 
planning area is located in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, 
California, and encompasses approximately 1.6 million acres of public 
land.

Purpose and Need

    The MTNM Management Plan and CDCA land use plan amendment responds 
to the following overarching requirements and guidance in determining 
the management framework necessary to protect the monument's resources, 
objects, and values.
    FLPMA provides the basic underpinnings for the BLM's management of 
public lands. Section 302 of FLPMA states that the BLM is to manage 
public lands under the principles of multiple-use and sustained yield 
``except that where a tract of such public land has been dedicated to 
specific uses according to other provisions of law, it shall be managed 
in accordance with such law.'' In section 601 of FLPMA, Congress 
designated the CDCA with the purpose of ``provid[ing] for the immediate 
and future protection and administration of the public lands in the 
California desert within the framework of a program of multiple use and 
sustained yield, and the maintenance of environmental quality.'' The 
MTNM is located within the boundaries of the CDCA.
    The MTNM is a part of the National Landscape Conservation System, 
which was established by section 2002 of the Omnibus Public Land 
Management Act of 2009 ``in order to conserve, protect, and restore 
nationally significant landscapes'' and specifically includes national 
monuments. This section also directs the BLM to manage the lands in the 
National Landscape Conservation System ``in a manner that protects the 
values for which the components of the system were designated.''
    In 2016, Presidential Proclamation 9395 established the MTNM. This 
proclamation identified the resources, objects, and values for 
protection. In addition, this proclamation required the BLM to prepare 
and maintain a management plan for the monument.
    The BLM needs to modify some of the existing CDCA land use plan 
decisions and make implementation-level decisions for the MTNM.
    The purpose of the MTNM Plan and CDCA land use plan amendment is to 
provide a management framework, including goals, objectives, and 
management direction to guide management of BLM administered lands in 
the MTNM consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policy.
    The purpose of this action is focused on the protection of the MTNM 
to preserve its cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy and maintain 
its diverse array of natural and scientific resources, ensuring that 
the prehistoric, historic, and scientific values of the area remain for 
the benefit of all Americans.
    Purpose and need statements serve to frame issue identification, 
alternative development, and effects analyses for the environmental 
document. The following additional purposes and desired outcomes are 
provided for in Proclamation 9395 or have been identified based on key 
present and/or historical MTNM management challenges. Associated 
challenges and opportunities that the monument management plan and land 
use plan amendments will address are also summarized.
    1. Manage the National Monument's scarce springs and riparian areas 
in a manner that provides refuge for a wide variety of plants and 
animals.
    Challenges and opportunities: There are over 30 springs within the 
MTNM that provide habitat for a variety of plant and wildlife 
populations. In addition, underlying groundwater resources support both 
springs and riparian areas. Groundwater pumping (as described in 
Proclamation 9395), the spread of invasive plants, and climate change 
all have the potential to impact springs and riparian areas. The BLM 
will establish management guidance to manage springs and riparian areas 
to meet the express provisions of law and the proclamation. 
Implementation-level decisions and modifications to existing land use 
plan-level decisions can help provide management direction for these 
springs and riparian areas.
    2. Emphasize the MTNM as a landscape for geological, 
paleontological, hydrological, and ecological research, including 
studies on the effects of climate change and land management practices 
on ecological communities and wildlife. The MTNM also provides 
opportunity for further research on ecological connectivity in the 
Mojave Desert region.
    Challenges and opportunities: The MTNM provides invaluable 
resources to scientists. The unique area contains a stunning diversity 
of lava flows, mountains, playas, sand dunes, bajadas, washes, and 
other features that have been extensively studied and provide insight 
for numerous disciplines. The monument also provides opportunity for 
further research on ecological connectivity in the Mojave Desert 
region, as it is among the most ecologically intact areas in Southern 
California. Scientific research plays a crucial role in further 
understanding the monument's resources, objects, and values and 
informing BLM management decisions. The BLM needs to establish 
implementation-level management guidance to allow research to take 
place while protecting the monument's resources, objects, and values, 
and establishes a process for the BLM to obtain research results and 
data collected on the monument.
    3. Properly care for and manage the outstanding paleontological 
resources for their protection.
    Challenges and opportunities: The fossil history in the MTNM has 
been used to understand the climate history of the Mojave Desert. 
Implementation-level decisions and modifications to existing land use 
plan-level decisions should be made to support protection of 
paleontological resources.
    4. Protect the specific habitat types found in the MTNM that 
support plant and wildlife species.
    Challenges and opportunities: Uses of the monument include 
increasing recreational activity, lands and realty activities such as 
rights-of-ways, and mineral use that can impact various plant and 
wildlife communities and habitats. Existing ACECs protect plants and 
wildlife and their associated habitat. Implementation-level decisions 
and modifications to existing land use plan-level decisions will allow 
the BLM to manage and maintain the MTNM's diverse array of natural 
resources.
    5. Protect the cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy of the 
MTNM.
    Challenges and opportunities: Recreational use, permitted 
activities, and climate change have the potential to impact the 
cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy of the Mojave Trails area. 
The BLM will establish management guidance to help inform the public 
and protect the cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy of the 
Mojave Trails area. Implementation-level decisions and modifications to 
existing land use plan-level decisions will provide management 
direction to protect and preserve the cultural, prehistoric, and 
historic legacy of the MTNM and ensure that the prehistoric, historic, 
and scientific values of this area remain available for the benefit of 
all Americans.
    6. Provide for use of these public lands while protecting and 
preserving the area's cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy, 
maintaining its diverse

[[Page 29155]]

array of natural and scientific resources, and ensuring that the 
prehistoric, historic, and scientific values of this area remain for 
the benefit of all Americans.
    Challenges and opportunities: Recreational activities in the area 
include hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, motorized sight-seeing, 
horseback riding, picnicking, mountain biking, hunting, target 
shooting, and off-highway vehicle use. In addition, uses of the 
monument also include rights-of-way and mineral activities associated 
with valid existing rights pre-dating designation of the monument. 
Recreational use accounts for the majority of visitation to the MTNM 
and is an important land use in the area. Implementation-level 
decisions and modifications to existing land use plan-level decisions 
will consider how to protect monument resources, objects, and values 
when considering other uses of monument lands.

Preliminary Alternatives

    The BLM will be analyzing alternatives that explore and evaluate 
different ways of achieving the purpose and need listed above through 
both implementation-level decisions in the new monument management plan 
and modifications to existing land use plan-level decisions. The 
alternatives will explore different management strategies during this 
planning effort to understand the trade-offs of different land 
management approaches. The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary 
alternatives as well as suggestions for additional alternatives.

Planning Criteria

    The planning criteria guide the planning effort and lay the 
groundwork for effects analysis by identifying the preliminary issues 
and their analytical frameworks. Preliminary issues for the planning 
area have been identified by BLM personnel and from early engagement 
conducted for this planning effort with Federal, State, and local 
agencies; Tribes; and stakeholders. The BLM has identified preliminary 
issues for this planning effort's analysis and will provide them for 
public review as part of the planning criteria within the timeframe 
identified in DATES above. The planning criteria are available for 
public review and comment at the ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES).

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period and public 
review of the planning criteria, which guide the development and 
analysis of the management plan, land use plan amendment, and EA.
    The BLM will hold four scoping meetings, one virtually, and three 
in person at the following locations: the cities of Needles, Barstow, 
and Twentynine Palms. The specific date(s) and location(s) of these 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local media, newspapers, ePlanning project page, the BLM website, and 
the BLM social media.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs)

    The following 15 ACECs are currently designated in the planning 
area: Afton Canyon (9,194 acres; rare vegetation and wildlife habitat 
relevant and important values), Amboy Crater (639 acres; rare 
vegetation and wildlife habitat relevant and important values), Bigelow 
Cholla Research Natural Area (5,801 acres; wildlife, cultural, and 
scenic relevant and important values), Bristol Mountains (229,397 
acres; scenic values, cultural, and wildlife relevant and important 
values), Cadiz Valley (171,791 acres; rare vegetation/wildlife habitat 
[old growth] relevant and important values), Cady Mountains (104,315 
acres; rare vegetation relevant and important values), Chemehuevi 
(471,323 acres; rare vegetation/wildlife habitat [old growth] relevant 
and important values), Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi Tortoise Linkage 
(34,777 acres; rare vegetation/wildlife habitat [old growth] relevant 
and important values), Marble Mountain (231 acres; natural values 
[active and stabilized sand dunes, wetlands and endangered and BLM 
sensitive plants] relevant and important values), Mesquite Hills-
Crucero (4,388 acres located within the MTNM and 616 acres located 
outside MTNM; slender Orcutt grass habitat, cultural resources and 
wildlife relevant and important values), Mojave fringe-toed lizard 
(11,127 acres located within MTNM and 1,278 acres located outside MTNM; 
rare habitats, vegetation, wildlife, and cultural resources relevant 
and important values), Patton Military Camps (14,064 acres located 
within MTNM and 107 acres located outside MTNM; cultural and historic 
resources relevant and important values), Pisgah Research Natural Area 
(20,990 acres; cultural resources and wildlife and plant assemblages 
relevant and important values), Piute-Fenner (4,706 acres located 
within MTNM and 151,004 acres located outside MTNM; desert tortoise 
habitat, vegetation and sensitive botanicals, cultural and historical 
resources relevant and important values), and Santos Manuel (800 acres 
located within MTNM and 26,750 acres located outside MTNM; desert 
tortoise habitat, culturally significant area relevant and important 
values). Information about each existing ACEC, including the size, 
relevant and important values, and other helpful information is 
available in the CDCA Plan as amended by the Desert Renewable Energy 
Conservation Plan online at on the project's website (see ADDRESSES). 
The BLM will reevaluate existing designated ACECs in the draft land use 
plan amendment to determine if relevant and important values still 
exist and if special management attention is still warranted and 
analyze additional areas for consideration of designation. No 
additional areas were identified for consideration as ACECs during 
preplanning and early engagement. This notice invites the public to 
nominate additional areas for ACEC consideration within the planning 
area. To assist the BLM in evaluating nominations for consideration in 
the draft land use plan amendment, please provide supporting 
descriptive materials, maps, and evidence of the relevance and 
importance of resources or hazards by the close of the public comment 
period to facilitate timely evaluation. The BLM has identified the 
anticipated issues related to the consideration of ACECs in the 
planning criteria.

Interdisciplinary Team

    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. 
Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines will be 
involved in this planning effort: rangeland management, minerals and 
geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and 
fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, fire and fuels, visual 
resources, sociology and economics, climate, and air.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed 
monument management plan and land use plan amendment, and all analyzed 
reasonable alternatives, and, in accordance with 40 CFR 1502.14(e), 
include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the 
proposed management plan and land use plan amendment, or alternatives. 
Mitigation may include avoidance, minimization, rectification, 
reduction or elimination over time, and compensation; it may be

[[Page 29156]]

considered at multiple scales, including the landscape scale.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA and land use planning 
processes for this planning effort to help support compliance with 
applicable procedural requirements under the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1536) and section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public 
involvement requirements of section 106. The information about historic 
and cultural resources and threatened and endangered species within the 
area potentially affected by the proposed monument management plan and 
land use plan amendment will assist the BLM in identifying and 
evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM MS 1780, 
and other Departmental 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 stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by 
the BLM's proposed MTNM Management Plan and CDCA land use plan 
amendment are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if 
eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in the 
development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency.
    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--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9 and 43 CFR 1610.2.)

Karen E. Mouritsen,
BLM California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-09619 Filed 5-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-15-P