[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 122 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32459-32460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15939]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[UT-080-96-1110-08]
Notice of Intent To Amend Book Cliffs Resource Management Plan,
Vernal District, Utah With Coordinated Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a coordinated resource management
plan/environmental assessment that will amend the Book Cliffs Resource
Management Plan to include management of the area covered by the Book
Cliffs Conservation Initiative, including recently acquired lands.
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SUMMARY: This notice is intended to inform the public of an intent to
prepare a coordinated resource management plan/environmental assessment
(CRMP/EA) that addresses future management of lands within the Book
Cliffs Initiative, including the lands acquired by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), 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/EA
and amendment development processes.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993 a partnership was formed between the
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), The Nature Conservancy
(TNC), the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), and the BLM. The
objective of such a partnership 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 partnership, entitled
the Book Cliffs Conservation Initiative, deals 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
Initiative area, were acquired by TNC and 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 BLM, future
management of these lands must be developed and incorporated into the
existing Book Cliffs RMP. The CRMP/EA/RMPA will be developed by the BLM
in concert with the UDWR, other State and Federal agencies, Uintah
County, local government entities, and the general public. At this time
general planning issues to be addressed include:
1. Maintain a sustained balance of forage between livestock and
wildlife.
2. Define and develop a future forage allocation process that will
achieve wildlife, watershed, and riparian goals using the existing
grazing authorizations as a starting point. Also address management of
wild horses.
[[Page 32460]]
3. Increase recreation opportunity through access management and
route designation.
4. Improve the vegetative communities in the canyon bottoms and on
critical big game winter range.
5. Develop desired standards for other vegetative communities
within the Initiative area.
6. Allow increased wildlife diversity.
7. Maintain a primitive development philosophy, particularly as it
relates to recreation.
The CRMP/EA/RMPA 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 Initiative
area.
Public participation is being actively sought at this time to
ensure the EA addresses all issues, problems, and concerns from those
interested in the management of the public lands within the Book Cliffs
Initiative Area, including the acquired lands. The development of the
CRMP/EA/RMPA is a public process and the public is invited and
encouraged to assist in the identification of issues and the scope of
the EA and planning amendment. Public meetings will be held to discuss
planning issues. The date, time and location of these scoping meetings
are: July 30, 1996, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the John Wesley Powell
Museum at Green River, Utah; July 31, 1996, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at
the Utah State University Extension Building, Room 207-B at Vernal,
Utah; and August 1, 1996, 7:00 p.m. at the Department of Natural
Resources Conference Room at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City,
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 CRMP/EA/RMPA and final CRMP/EA/RMPA in 1997. Notice of
availability of these documents will be published at the appropriate
times.
The CRMP/EA/RMPA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team
which includes specialists in rangeland 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: Paul Andrews, Assistant Field Office
Manager for Renewable Resources, Vernal 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.
Roger Zortman,
Acting State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 96-15939 Filed 6-21-96; 8:45 am]
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