[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9802-9803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03395]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[20X 1109AF LLUTP00000 L16100000.DR0000.LXSSJ0640000]
Notice of Availability of the Records of Decision and Approved
Resource Management Plans for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument and Kanab-Escalante Planning Area
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Paria River District
Office announces the availability of the Records of Decision (RODs) for
the Approved Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for the Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons units of the Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and the Federal lands excluded from
the GSENM by Proclamation 9682, now identified as the Kanab-Escalante
Planning Area (KEPA). The Department of the Interior (DOI) Acting
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, Casey Hammond,
signed the RODs on January 31, 2020, which constituted the final
decision of the DOI and made the Approved RMPs and two implementation-
level route designations in GSENM effective immediately. The GSENM RMPs
replace the GSENM Monument Management Plan (MMP) from 2000 for public
lands within the GSENM boundary. The KEPA RMP replaces the 2000 GSENM
MMP for public lands excluded from the monument boundary by
Proclamation 9682.
ADDRESSES: The RODs are available on the BLM ePlanning project website
at https://go.usa.gov/xVCGJ. Click the ``Documents & Reports'' link on
the left side of the screen to find the electronic versions of these
materials. Hard copies of the RODs are available for public inspection
at the Kanab Visitor Center, 74 East Highway 89, Kanab, Utah 84741.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Barber, Paria River District
Manager, 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, Utah 84741, phone (435) 644-1200 or
email
[[Page 9803]]
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the
deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to
leave a message or question for the above individual. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In conjunction with cooperating agencies,
and using input provided by the public, stakeholder groups, State and
local government entities, American Indian Tribes, and the Utah
Resource Advisory Council, the BLM developed the Approved RMPs for the
GSENM and the KEPA.
The GSENM includes three units: The 209,993-acre Grand Staircase
Unit, the 551,034-acre Kaiparowits Unit, and the 242,836-acre Escalante
Canyons Unit. The BLM's Approved RMPs for the Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons units of the GSENM identify goals,
objectives, and management actions necessary for the proper care and
management of the objects and values identified in Proclamation 6920,
as modified by Proclamation 9682, while allowing for other appropriate
uses, such as the ongoing management of recreation, grazing, and
scientific research.
The KEPA encompasses 861,974 acres of public lands. The Approved
RMP for the KEPA manages those lands for multiple use and sustained
yield, including resource protection, consistent with the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-579), as amended. This
plan allows for the future consideration of mineral leasing and
development, balances off-highway vehicle travel with other resource
uses, and makes public lands available for grazing while protecting
natural and heritage resources.
The BLM, along with cooperating agencies, prepared an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act for the GSENM and KEPA RMPs to analyze the direct, indirect,
and cumulative environmental impacts associated with the proposed
action and the alternatives.
In the future, the National Park Service (NPS), who cooperated with
the BLM on preparation of the NEPA analysis, may adopt the EIS and
prepare a separate decision related to livestock grazing for lands
within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area that are administered
by the NPS. The RODs and Approved RMPs do not change management for the
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The BLM consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
to meet the requirements of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
(ESA). The USFWS issued a Biological Opinion on November 1, 2019 that
determined that the Approved RMPs are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of the species consulted on and are not likely to
destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat.
The BLM also consulted with the Utah State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO) to meet the requirements of Section 106 consultation
under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The SHPO concurred
with BLM's finding of no adverse effect to cultural resources, as
outlined in a letter dated September 6, 2019.
The formal public scoping process for the RMPs and EIS began on
January 16, 2018, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the
Federal Register (83 FR 2181). The Notice of Availability (NOA) for the
Draft RMPs/EIS was published on August 17, 2018, and initiated a 90-day
public comment period. A revised document was released and a Notice of
Error was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2018. The
public comment period was extended for an additional 15 days and ended
on November 30, 2018.
On August 23, 2019, the BLM published a NOA for the Proposed RMPs/
Final EIS, initiating a 30-day protest period, a 60-day Governor's
consistency review, and 60-day public comment period for certain
recreational shooting closures under the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019. During the
initial protest period for the Proposed RMPs, the BLM became aware of a
portion of public comments submitted on the Draft EIS that were not
incorporated into the Proposed RMPs/Final EIS. The BLM updated the
Proposed RMPs/EIS and issued a notice of error in the Federal Register
on October 18, 2019, which re-opened public protest period for an
additional 30 days. In total, the BLM received 431 protest submissions.
All protests were resolved prior to the issuance of the RODs. For a
full description of the issues raised during the protest period and how
they were addressed, please refer to the BLM Protest Resolution Report,
which is available online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports. The Governor of
Utah reviewed the Proposed RMPs/Final EIS to identify inconsistencies
with State or local plans, policies, or programs; the BLM addressed the
Governor's input in the RODs/Approved RMPs. As a result of internal
review, the protest period, target shooting comment period, government-
to-government consultation, Section 106 (NHPA) and Section 7 (ESA)
consultation, and Governor's consistency review, the BLM made minor
modifications to the Approved RMPs to clarify management actions. All
changes are described in the Modifications and Clarifications (Sections
3.1.2) of the GSENM and KEPA RODs, respectively.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 40 CFR 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Casey Hammond,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2020-03395 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]
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