[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3520-3521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1603]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[UTO80-07-1610-00]
Resource Management Plan for the Book Cliffs Conservation
Initiative Area, UT
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Coordinated Resource Management
Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Intent to amend the
Book Cliffs Resource Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: This notice is intended to inform the public of an intent to
prepare a Coordinated Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement (CRMP/EIS) that addresses future management of lands within
the Book Cliffs planning area, including the lands acquired by the
Bureau of Land Management, within the Book Cliffs area of the Vernal
District for the purpose of amending the Book Cliffs Resource
Management Plan (RMP). Public comment will be actively solicited
throughout the CRMP/EIS and amendment development processes.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993, a cooperative effort was undertaken
by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), The Nature
Conservancy (TNC), the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), and the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The objective of this cooperative
effort was to take advantage of existing opportunities to create a
balanced approach to the management of unique natural resources within
the upper portion of the East Tavaputs Plateau, in southeastern Uintah
County, Utah. The cooperative effort dealt with that portion of the
Book Cliffs within the area between the Uintah-Ouray Indian Reservation
trust lands to the west and the Utah-Colorado state line to the east,
an area encompassing roughly 455,000 acres.
In 1993 and 1994, two private ranches then on the market within the
area, were acquired by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) with the intent of vesting the title to
either the State of Utah or the United States. In 1994, the BLM was
vested with title to 5,129 acres, about 53%, of these acquired lands.
As public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, future
management of these lands must be developed and incorporated into the
existing Book Cliffs RMP. The Coordinated Resource Management Plan
(CRMP) will developed by the BLM in concert with the UDWR, other State
and Federal agencies, stakeholders, key interest groups, local
government entities, and the general public.
At this time general planning issues to be addressed and certain
assumptions to be presented include:
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Assumptions Concerns
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There will be a continued How should forage be allocated
demand and competition for between livestock, wildlife, and
available forage by livestock, wild horses while achieving
wildlife, and in some areas, wild watershed and riparian goals?
horses.
Recreational use will What mix and level of recreational
continue to increase. use can occur while maintaining the
area's ``Frontier Mystique''?
There is a need to What will be the cumulative impact
improve the overall health of the of resource uses (grazing, energy,
land. and mineral development,
recreation, related vehicle access,
etc.) on desired condition of
vegetative communities in critical
habitats such as canyon bottoms,
riparian areas, and crucial/
critical big game ranges?
Health, diverse wildlife What are the impacts upon current
populations desired. land uses such as livestock and
mineral development as
consideration is given for
establishment of other native
species such as Rocky Mountain
bighorn sheep, moose, bison,
sharptail grouse, wild turkey, and
Colorado River Cutthroat Trout, and
other fisheries?
[[Page 3521]]
Development and How best can mineral development
extraction of energy and mineral continue, with the least amount of
resources will continue, perhaps restrictions while restoring and
at an increased rate, depending maintaining fully functioning
on demand. health ecosystems?
The area is economically How will future management
important to surrounding prescriptions enhance or restrict
communities and the State of economic development?
Utah.
There will continue to be What kind of public access should be
a need for various degrees of provided to and on the area (Off
access to accommodate public Highway Vehicle travel, established
needs and demands. roads, etc.)?
Planning efforts will be How will Governor's Open Space
consistent with the Governor's Policy influence the planning
Open Space Policy. process?
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The CRMP, EIS and the RMP amendment will be prepared under 43 CFR
part 1610 to meet the requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act, and section 102 of the National
Environmental Policy Act. This revision is necessary to update and
expand the decisions in the existing land use plan. Decisions generated
during this planning process will supersede affected land use planning
decisions presented in the 1985 Book Cliffs RMP that affect lands
within the CRMP area.
Public participation is being actively sought at this time to
ensure the EIS addresses all issues, problems and concerns from those
interested in the management of the public lands within the Book Cliffs
area, including acquired lands. The development of the CRMP, EIS, and
the RMP amendment is a public process and the public is invited and
encouraged to assist in the identification of issues and the scope of
the EIS and planning amendment. Public meetings will be held to discuss
planning issues. The date, time, and location of these scoping meetings
are: March 17, 1997, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in the John Wesley Powell
Museum in Green River, Utah; March 18, 1997, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in
the Department of Natural Resources Auditorium, Room 1040-1060, at 1594
West North Temple, Salt lake City, Utah; and March 26, 1997, 7:00 p.m.
to 9:00 p.m. in the Western Park Conference Center 302 East 200 South
in Vernal, Utah. These meetings also will be announced in local
newspapers and through other local media.
Formal public participation will be requested for review of the
preliminary and final CRMP, EIS, and RMP amendment during 1997. Notice
of availability of these documents will be published at the appropriate
times.
The documents will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team which
includes specialists in rangeland, minerals, vegetation, riparian
values, cultural resources, recreation, wildlife/fisheries habitats,
realty, and special status animal and plant species. Other disciplines
may be represented as necessary.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Evans, Resource Advisor, Vernal
District Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078. Business hours
are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal
holidays, telephone (801) 789-1362 or 781-4470, fax (801) 781-4410.
Dated: January 16, 1997.
G. William Lamb,
State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 97-1603 Filed 1-22-97; 8:45 am]
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