[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33341-33342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14086]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORE00000 L63500000.DO0000.LXSS021H0000.HAG11-0203]
Notice of Intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan for the
West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area in the State of Oregon and
Associated Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance 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) Eugene District
Office, Eugene, Oregon, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan
(RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues. The West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area comprises
approximately 1,340 acres of acquired lands that do not have an
existing RMP.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing
until July 8, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media,
newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/eugene/index.php. In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping
period or 30 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the West Eugene Wetlands RMP/EIS by any of the following
methods:
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/eugene/index.php.
E-mail: [email protected].
Fax: 541-683-6981.
Mail: P.O. Box 10226, Eugene, Oregon 97440-2226.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Eugene
District Office, 3106 Pierce Parkway, Springfield, Oregon 97477.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Richard Hardt, Planning
and Environmental Coordinator, telephone 541-683-6690; address P.O. Box
10226, Eugene, Oregon 97440-2226; e-mail [email protected].
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
[[Page 33342]]
District Office, Eugene, Oregon, intends to prepare an RMP with an
associated EIS for the West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area, announces
the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues
and planning criteria. The planning area is located in Lane County,
Oregon, and encompasses approximately 1,340 acres of public land. 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. Preliminary issues for
the planning area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal,
State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include:
Threatened and endangered species management; ecosystem restoration;
control of noxious weeds and invasive plants; recreation; tribal use
including plant collection; evaluation of potential new Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and reevaluation of the existing
Long Tom ACEC; land tenure adjustments; and the costs of management.
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. Lands addressed in the RMP will be public lands (including
split-estate lands) managed by the BLM. There will be no decisions in
the RMP for lands not managed by the BLM;
2. The BLM will protect resources in accordance with the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et
seq.), and other applicable laws and regulations;
3. The BLM will use a collaborative and multi-jurisdictional
approach, when practical, to determine the desired future condition of
public lands;
4. The BLM will strive to make land use plan decisions compatible
with existing plans and policies of adjacent local, State, Federal, and
tribal agencies, and consistent with other applicable laws and
regulations governing the administration of public land;
5. Areas potentially suitable for ACECs and other special
management designations will be identified and brought forward for
analysis in the RMP. The existing Long Tom ACEC will be re-evaluated to
determine if it should continue to be designated as an ACEC. Public
nominations for areas potentially suitable for ACECs and other special
management designations and public input on the re-evaluation of the
existing Long Tom ACEC will be requested;
6. Decisions of the RMP will be consistent with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Recovery Plan for the Prairie Species of Western
Oregon and Southwestern Washington.
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 above. To
be most helpful, you should submit comments by the close of the 30-day
scoping period or within 30 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. 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. The minutes and list of attendees for each
scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days
after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he
or she expressed. 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;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS as
to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also
encouraged to help identify any 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
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines
will be involved in the planning process: Botany, Wildlife and
Fisheries, Lands and Realty, Hydrology, Soils, Archeology, Recreation,
Fire and Fuels Management, and Geographic Information Systems.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.
Virginia Grilley,
Eugene District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-14086 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]
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