[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51301-51302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20711]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAN03900 L17110000.DU0000.15X]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the
Headwaters Forest Reserve, California, and Prepare an Associated
Environmental Assessment
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 (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arcata Field
Office, Arcata, California, intends to prepare a Resource Management
Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA)
for the Headwaters Forest Reserve and by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues. As the Headwaters Forest Reserve is jointly managed by
the BLM and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
[[Page 51302]]
(CDFW), the BLM and CDFW intend to concurrently prepare a negative
declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in
writing until September 23, 2015. The date(s) and location(s) of any
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through
local news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/arcata/headwaters.html. In order to be included
in the analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of
the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public
participation as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Headwaters Forest Reserve Resource Management Plan
Amendment/EA by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Fax: 707-825-2301.
Mail: 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Arcata
Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin Blom, Headwaters Manager,
707-825-2300; 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521, [email protected].
Contact Mr. Blom to have your name added to our mailing list. Persons
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 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
Arcata Field Office, Arcata, California, intends to prepare an RMP
amendment with an associated EA for the Headwaters Forest Reserve,
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input
on issues and planning criteria. As the Headwaters Forest Reserve is
jointly managed by the BLM and the CDFW, the BLM and CDFW intend to
concurrently prepare an EA under NEPA and a negative declaration under
CEQA. The planning area is located in Humboldt County, California, and
encompasses approximately 7,500 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 plan amendment area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal,
State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include
forest ecology, fuels, and wildlife habitat. Preliminary planning
criteria are that: The plan amendment will focus exclusively on forest
restoration and related programs in the Headwaters Forest Reserve; the
plan amendment will be compatible with the existing plans and policies
of local, State, and Federal agencies with an interest in the
Headwaters Forest Reserve; the plan amendment will be consistent with
the State of California Ecological Reserve Regulations; and that all
proposed management actions and alternatives will consider current
scientific information, research and technology, and inventory and
monitoring information. 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 15 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
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 other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating are invited to participate
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be asked 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. 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 amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft Plan Amendment/EA
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
amendment 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: forest ecology,
wildlife biology, fire and fuels management, fish biology, geology,
botany, and hydrology.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-20711 Filed 8-21-15; 8:45 am]
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