[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16570-16571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8781]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[OR-050-1610-00; GP8-0139]
Criterion/Tenmile Creek Resource Management Plan Amendment for
the Two Rivers Resource Management Plan, Wasco County, OR
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an amendment to the Two Rivers
Resource Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.2, the Deschutes Resource Area
of the Prineville District, announces that a proposed plan amendment
and associated environmental impact statement to address management
options for the Criterion Ranch area is being prepared. The proposed
management plan will provide long term direction, allocate resources
and provide a basis for authorizing, restricting or prohibiting land
use on approximately 15,000 acres of Bureau managed lands. Public
comments on the scope of the analysis, planning issues, alternatives to
be considered, analysis techniques and further public participation
activities and forums will be accepted for 60 days from the date of
this notice at the address shown below.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Description of the proposed planning action: To amend the 1986
Two Rivers Resource Management Plan (RMPA). The planning amendment will
be based on existing statutory requirements and policies, and will
carry out the requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA). The Criterion RMPA and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will provide a basis for modifying the Two Rivers RMP
to provide specific management direction for approximately 13,000 acres
of newly acquired land adjacent to or associated with the lower
Deschutes River. The actual plan amendment planning area will also
address management options on an additional 2,000 acres of public land
contiguous with the acquired tracts. The amendment will include
identification of closed vehicular areas; clarification of the type and
seasons of livestock use, if any; management for diverse and healthy
ecosystems; and identification for the types of recreational use that
will be authorized and restrictions of the same. In addition, portions
of the consolidated federal lands will be evaluated for potential
suitability as areas of special designation, such as Wilderness Study
[[Page 16571]]
Areas or Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.
2. Identification of the geographic area involved: The planning
area involved within the Two Rivers RMP amendment includes
approximately 13,000 acres of public lands near the Criterion Summit,
midway between Shaniko Junction (junction of Highways 197 and 97) and
the City of Maupin, and approximately 2,000 acres along Tenmile Creek,
just west of Shaniko Junction in southern Wasco and northern Jefferson
counties.
3. General types of issues anticipated: Issues expected to be
addressed in the plan amendment would include access, vegetation
management, and areas of special designation.
4. Disciplines to be represented and used to prepare the RMP
amendment will include: botany, cultural resources, range, fire
management, fisheries, recreation, noxious weeds, wildlife, hydrology,
economics, and land use planning.
5. The kind and extent of public opportunities provided: Several
public scoping meetings will be held in the spring of 1998 and will be
announced through news media and a mailed scoping document. Two field
tours of the acquisition are also planned for the spring of 1998 and
will be announced through the media. Public participation will be
carried out through document and public review periods to be announced
through the Federal Register and local newspapers. Interested parties
will receive a scoping mailer. Estimated mailing time is April 1998.
Additional copies will be available at: Prineville District Office,
3050 NE 3rd St., Prineville, Oregon 97754, phone 541-416-6700.
6. Times, dates and locations for anticipated public meetings and
field tours: When scheduled, pertinent information will be published in
local newspapers such as The Bend Bulletin, The Central Oregonian, The
Oregonian, The Redmond Spokesman, The Dalles Chronicle and others.
Public input through written comments and public workshops will be
emphasized.
7. Name, title, address and telephone number of the Bureau of Land
Management official who may be contacted for further information: J.C.
Hanf, Project Lead, 3050 NE 3rd St., P.O. Box 550, Prineville, Oregon
97754, phone 541-416-6700. The responsible line official is Jim Kenna,
Deschutes Resource Area Manager, who may be reached at the same address
and phone number.
8. Location and availability of documents relevant to the planning
process: Many, if not all, of the planning documents and supporting
records are expected to be available in both paper and an electronic
format, including a District Internet address (to be determined).
Additional copies of published documents and the supporting record will
be available at: Prineville District Office, 3050 NE 3rd St.,
Prineville, Oregon 97754, phone 541-416-6700 during normal working
hours. Published documents will also be available for public review in
the Public Room at the Oregon State Office, 1515 SW 5th Ave., Portland,
Oregon 97201, phone 503-952-6000. Public and interagency comments on
the plan amendment and associated analysis, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the
above address as part of the supporting record. Individual respondents
may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or
street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom
of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent
allowed by law. All submissions for organizations or businesses, and
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials
of organizations or business, will be made available for public
inspection in their entirety.
Date: March 26, 1998
James L. Hancock,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-8781 Filed 4-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M