E9-26116. Notice of Proposed Withdrawal Extension and Opportunity for Public Meeting; Washington

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The United States Forest Service has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposing to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6833 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 6833 withdrew approximately 142.90 acres of National Forest System land from all mining activities in order to protect the unique natural and ecological research values at the Wolf Creek Research Natural Area. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 6833 will expire on March 20, 2011, unless extended. This notice gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

DATES:

Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by January 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Oregon/Washington State Director, BLM, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208-2965.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gregory B. Graham, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, (509)-664-9262, or Charles R. Roy, BLM Oregon/Washington State Office, (503)-808-6189.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The United States Forest Service has filed an application requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend PLO No. 6833 (56 FR 11940 (1991)), which withdrew certain lands in Okanogan County, Washington from all mining activities, for an additional 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. The area described contains approximately 142.90 acres in Okanogan County. PLO No. 6833 is incorporated herein by reference.

The purpose of the proposed withdrawal extension is to continue the protection of the unique natural and ecological research values at the Wolf Creek Research Natural Area.

The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative agreement would not provide adequate protection.

The Forest Service would not need to acquire water rights to fulfill the purpose of the requested withdrawal extension.

Records related to the application may be examined by contacting Charles R. Roy at the above address or phone number.

For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension may present their views in writing to the BLM State Director at the address indicated above.

Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the address indicated above during regular business hours.

Individual respondents may request confidentiality. However, before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. If you wish to withhold your name or address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organization or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

Notice is hereby given that an opportunity to request a public meeting is afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal extension. All interested parties who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the BLM State Director at the address indicated above by January 27, 2010. Upon determination by the authorized officer that a public meeting will be held, a notice of the time and place will be published in the Federal Register and in at least one local newspaper at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the meeting.

The application will be processed in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2310.4.

(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1)

Fred O'Ferrall,

Chief, Branch of Lands and Mineral Resources.