[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 10238] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-5293] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AZ-010-01-1210-04] Notice of Intent To Amend the Arizona Strip Resource Management Plan, Arizona AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The proposed decision is to implement the Proposed Action as described in Environmental Assessment AZ-010-95-01, with additional terms and conditions from USFWS biological opinion 2-21-96-F-132. The Proposed Action is designed to address tortoise recovery goals and objectives while reducing impacts on local communities and human activities that occur in the Mojave Desert. BLM is proposing to designate three Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) encompassing 169,300 acres (264.5 sq. miles) to be managed primarily for recovery of desert tortoises, and modify the prescriptions for the Virgin River ACEC (8,100 acres). Beaver Dam Slope ACEC: This would expand the existing ACEC to include tortoise habitat on public lands in Arizona north of I-15 and the Virgin River but outside the Beaver Dam Wilderness Area, as categorized in the RMP. This area would complement management in Nevada and Utah and contain approximately 51,400 acres (80.3 sq. miles) in Arizona. Virgin Slope ACEC: This area would include most tortoise habitat on public lands in Arizona between the Virgin River (or I-15) and the Virgin Mountains, as categorized in the RMP. A small portion of the Mesquite Community Allotment in Nevada would be managed consistent with the ACEC. This ACEC would contain approximately 41,375 acres (64.6 sq. miles) in Arizona. Pakoon ACEC: This would include tortoise habitat on public lands in the Pakoon Basin. This area would contain approximately 76,525 acres (119.6 sq. miles). Activities administered by the Arizona Strip on Lake Mead NRA and on public lands in Nevada would be managed in accordance with ACEC prescriptions. Virgin River ACEC: There would be no change in the boundary of this ACEC (8,100 ac), although prescriptions would be modified to be consistent with the tortoise ACECs. BLM proposes to manage the following resources to reduce impacts on listed species and their habitats: mineral exploration and development, fire suppression, livestock grazing, vegetation harvest, lands and realty, transportation and access, off-highway vehicles, recreation, wild, free-roaming burros, wildlife management, and other surface-disturbing activities (such as military maneuvers and airports). Outside of the four ACECs there would be no change to decisions in the RMP, except that grazing would be managed in accordance with the grazing decisions issued August 11, 1995. SUMMARY: The above decisions apply only to areas within the Arizona Strip that are either: within desert tortoise habitat as categorized by the Bureau; within critical habitat as designated by USFWS; within one of the four ACECs; pastures of livestock grazing allotments containing tortoise habitat (including portions of Nevada and Lake Mead NRA that are administered by the Arizona Strip BLM). DATES: BLM proposes to implement the proposed action on April 2, 1998. Closure of the Pakoon ACEC would occur following a two-year notification period. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Protest procedures described in 43 CFR 1610.5-2 give the public an opportunity to initiate administrative review of perceived oversights or inadequacies in a proposed plan. Any proposed decision in a resource management plan amendment may be protested. The protest may only raise issues that were submitted for the record while the plan amendment was being prepared. Any party who has participated in the planning process may file a letter of protest. For proposed decisions in an EA-level plan amendment, a letter of protest to the Director must be filed within 30 days of this Notice of Availability. Letters of protest must be complete and respond to the content requirements established in 43 CFR 1610.5-2(a)(2). The protest may cover only those issues and concerns raised during the planning process. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Duck, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, BLM Arizona Strip, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790, (435) 688-3200. Roger G. Taylor, Field Manager. [FR Doc. 98-5293 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-32-P