[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2258-2259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-846]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-030-1990-00]
Environmental Statements; Availability Etc: Carbon County,
Wyoming
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for a
Planning Review of the Shirley Mountain Area, Carbon County, Wyoming,
and Proposed Changes to the Off Road Vehicle Designation Decisions for
the Area.
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SUMMARY: The Shirley Mountain planning review area contains
approximately 44,380 acres of public land administered by the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) and located approximately 40 miles northwest of
the town of Medicine Bow, all in Carbon County, Wyoming. The planning
review is being conducted to determine the advantages and impacts to
the public land, and resource management and uses resulting from a
proposed amendment to the Great Divide Resource Management Plan (RMP).
The proposed plan amendment would change the current Off Road Vehicle
(ORV) designation in the area from ``limited to existing roads and
trails'' to ``limited to designated roads and trails.'' Depending upon
resource management needs, the actual roads that would be open to
travel would be subsequently identified and, as necessary, periodically
modified by future management actions and needs.
DATES: The 30 day comment/review period for the environmental
assessment will begin the day following the publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed in writing to the Great Divide
Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Karla Swanson, Area
[[Page 2259]]
Manager, 1300 North Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming, 82301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested parties may direct
questions or concerns to and obtain further information from either
Sarah Crocker or John Spehar, who can be visited at the above address
or reached by telephone (307) 328-4200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The need for an ORV designation change
within the planning area is based upon recommendations made by the
Shirley Mountain Technical Committee and previously completed studies/
plans. In 1985, the BLM completed a Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for
the Shirley Mountains. The HMP recommends that several two-track trails
be closed to motorized vehicle travel because they are fragmenting
wildlife habitat, are unnecessary for adequate public access to public
lands, and/or had associated erosional problems. In 1994, the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department completed a habitat analysis for the Shirley
Mountain area identifying habitat problems impacting wildlife
populations and potential solutions. The study found that the majority
of hiding cover for large game animals was heavily dissected by a
system of roads and trails. Security areas for these animals during
hunting season were very limited. The study recommended that future BLM
management restrict the construction of new roads and that a plan be
developed to manage recreational road and trail use and reduce their
proliferation.
Included in the planning review is a Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR)
review of the planning area. The preliminary findings of the WSR
review, documented in the appendix of the subject environmental
assessment, are that one parcel of BLM administered public land meets
the WSR eligibility criteria; however, none of the public lands in the
planning review area have been found to meet any of the WSR suitability
factors. Therefore, none of the public lands in the planning review
area should be given further consideration for inclusion in the Wild
and Scenic Rivers System.
Dated: January 5, 1998.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-846 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
