[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 230 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 61571-61572] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-29234] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [MT-925-06-1020-00] Notice of Intent To Modify Management Plans and To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) To Address Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management; Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota intends to modify existing management plans and to conduct appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to address standards for rangeland health and guidelines for grazing management, as required by BLM grazing regulations (43 CFR Part 4100). Public comment is sought on the issues and alternatives to be considered, and on suggested standards and guidelines. DATES: Comments will be accepted throughout the process of modifying plans and conducting NEPA analysis. However, comments received after January 19, 1996, may not be reflected in the alternatives considered in the draft EIS or other NEPA analysis. ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for additional information should be addressed to Dan Lechefsky, Planning Team Leader, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107, 406-255-2919. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM's new grazing administration regulations (43 CFR Part 4100), which became effective August 21, 1995, provide for the development of standards for rangeland health and guidelines for grazing management. These standards and guidelines are to be developed through BLM planning and NEPA processes. Incorporating standards and guidelines into existing plans will require some form of plan modification, ranging from simple plan maintenance to plan amendment. Management plans to be modified are: Big Dry, Billings, Dillon, Headwaters, Judith, North Dakota, Phillips, Powder River, South Dakota, Valley, and West HiLine. The Garnet Resource Management Plan will also be modified to incorporate standards and guidelines, [[Page 61572]] although through a separate process tied to an ongoing regional assessment and environmental analysis for the Upper Columbia River Basin being conducted jointly by the BLM and Forest Service. At this point in time, it is unclear what level of plan modification (maintenance or amendment) and NEPA analysis will be needed. Should further scoping and development of the proposed action and alternatives indicate that an EIS is not needed, NEPA analysis will be accomplished through preparation of an environmental assessment. Resource Advisory Councils in Montana and the Dakotas will be consulted during the development of proposed standards and guidelines. This notice invites additional public comment on the issues to be addressed and alternatives to be considered in the EIS or other NEPA analysis. Issues preliminarily identified include: the effect that adoption of standards will have on resource conditions, uses, and users of public land, and the effect that adoption of guidelines will have on grazing management and livestock operations. Three preliminary alternatives have been identified: the continuation of current management as provided for in existing management plans, the adoption of the fallback standards and guidelines contained in the regulations, and the adoption of standards and guidelines developed in consultation with Resource Advisory Councils for Montana and the Dakotas. Dated: November 24, 1995. Randy D. Heuscher, Acting Deputy State Director, Division of Resources. [FR Doc. 95-29234 Filed 11-29-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P