[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55380-55381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26968]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT-934-95-1610-00]
Dixie Resource Area Draft Resource Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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ADDRESSES: Copies of the Dixie Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) may be obtained from the
following Bureau of Land Management (BLM) locations: BLM, Utah State
Office, 324 South State, Information Access Center (4th Floor), Salt
Lake City, Utah, telephone (801) 524-4110; Cedar City District Office,
176 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84720, telephone (801) 865-
3053; Dixie Resource Area Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George,
Utah 84770, telephone (801) 673-4654.
Comments must be received by the Dixie Resource Area Office at the
above address by Wednesday, January 31, 1996.
SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1970, section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 and 43 CFR part 1610, a draft resource
management plan/draft environmental impact statement for the Dixie
Resource Area, Cedar City District, Utah, has been prepared and is
available for review and comment. The DRMP/DEIS describes and analyzes
future options for managing 629,005 acres of public land and an
additional 49,130 acres of Federal mineral estate in Washington County,
Utah. The DRMP/DEIS also examines the potential for designations of
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and Wild and Scenic
Rivers. Decisions generated during this planning process will supersede
land use planning guidance presented in the Virgin River Management
Framework Plan and subsequent amendments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Everett, Team Leader, or Jim
Crisp, Area Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Dixie Resource Area
Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770, telephone
(801) 673-4654.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DRMP/DEIS analyzes four alternatives to
resolve the following three major issues: (1) What is the most
appropriate use of public lands where rapid urban development is
generating problems with the management of natural resources? (2) What
will the future management be for outdoor recreation on public lands?
(3) How will proposed water storage projects influence natural resource
management? Each alternative represents a complete management plan for
the area. The alternatives can be summarized as (A) no action or change
from current management, (B) emphasis on development and production,
(C) the preferred alternative, which is a balanced mix of management
choices, and (D) emphasis on preservation of biological systems and
scenic values.
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern Considered
Eleven potential ACECs were considered. The proposed acreage of
these units varies by alternative and is displayed on the following
table:
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Proposed acreage by alternative
Area name Critical concern -------------------------------------------
A B C D
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Red Bluff...................................... Endangered plant species (dwarf bear-poppy); saline soils.. 0 0 6,185 6,185
Warner Ridge-Fort Pearce....................... Endangered plant species (dwarf bear-poppy, siler cactus); 0 0 4,200 4,200
saline soils; riparian system; candidate animal species
(spotted bat, gila monster); waterfowl, raptors, and non-
game species.
Santa Clara River-Gunlock...................... Cultural resources; candidate fish (Virgin River 0 0 2,015 2,015
spinedace); riparian systems; wildlife habitat (including
southwestern willow flycatcher habitat).
Santa Clara River-Land Hill.................... Cultural resources; candidate fish (Virgin River 0 0 1,605 1,605
spinedace); riparian systems; wildlife habitat (including
southwestern willow flycatcher habitat).
Lower Virgin River............................. Riparian system; endangered fish (woundfin minnow and 0 0 1,825 1,825
Virgin River chub); cultural resources (Virgin River
Anasazi riverine sites); wildlife habitat.
Little Creek Mountain.......................... Cultural resources (Virgin Anasazi upland sites)........... 0 0 19,405 19,405
Canaan Mountain................................ High scenic values; cultural resources (Virgin Anasazi 0 0 31,395 31,395
sites).
Red Mountain................................... High scenic value.......................................... 0 0 4,960 4,960
Beaver Dam Slope............................... Threatened animal species (desert tortoise); National 0 0 27,440 25,240
Natural Landmark; scientific research; desert ecosystem.
[[Page 55381]]
City Creek..................................... Threatened animal species (desert tortoise); wildlife 0 0 2,605 22,790
habitat; scientific research; desert ecosystem.
Upper Beaver Dam Wash.......................... Watershed; riparian values................................. 0 0 33,125 33,125
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Management prescriptions for the proposed ACECs vary by alternative
and are described in the DRMP/DEIS.
Wild and Scenic Rivers
In Alternative A (No Action Alternative), BLM would not make a
determination as to the suitability of the eligible river segments. In
Alternative B, no eligible river segments would be recommended as
suitable for Congressional designation into the National Wild and
Scenic River System. In Alternative C (Preferred Alternative), six
segments, totalling 49.81 public land river miles, could be determined
suitable. In Alternative D, all of the eligible river segments could be
determined suitable. The following table outlines the river segments,
totalling 62.63 public land river miles, that were determined eligible
for Congressional designation. The table also identifies, by
alternative, which eligible river segments could be determined suitable
and recommended to Congress for designation into the NWSRS.
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Potential suitability by
Length in alternative
Eligible river segments Segment description public lands miles \1\ Tentative classification -----------------------------------
A B C D
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West Fork of Beaver Dam Wash.. Segment from the Nevada State 12.79 9.31 miles Wild................... N N Y Y
line to near Motoqua. 3.48 miles Recreational........... N N Y Y
La Verkin Creek/Smith Creek... La Verkin Creek from where the 13.98 12.98 miles Wild.................. N N Y Y
creek enters public lands to 1.00 mile Recreational............ N N Y Y
the north boundary of Zion
National Park; then from below
the Park boundary to near the
confluence with the Virgin
River. Smith Creek from Red
Butte to confluence with La
Verkin Creek.
Virgin River.................. Segment A Virgin River--public 10.07 10.07 miles Recreational.......... N N N Y
lands from the River's
beginning near Springdale, Utah
to the Washington Fields
Diversion.
Segment B Virgin River--near 7.67 211 miles Wild.................... N N Y Y
Atkinville south to the Arizona 4.46 miles Scenic................. N N Y Y
state line. 1.10 miles Recreational........... N N Y Y
Deep Creek/Crystal Creek...... Deep Creek from where the creek 11.69 11.69 miles Wild.................. N N Y Y
enters public lands to the
north boundary of Zion National
Park. Crystal Creek from where
the creek enters public lands
to the confluence with Deep
Creek.
Fort Pearce Wash.............. Fort Pearce Wash from near the 0.50 0.50 mile Scenic.................. N N N Y
historic site downstream to
where the free-flowing section
ends.
Moody Wash.................... Segment B of Moody Wash below 0.25 0.25 mile Recreational............ N N N Y
private lands and above its
confluence with the Santa Clara
River.
Santa Clara River............. Segment B of the Santa Clara 2.00 2.00 miles Recreational........... N N N Y
River south and east of the
Paiute Indian Reservation.
North Fork of the Virgin...... The North Fork of the Virgin 0.88 0.64 mile Wild north of Park...... N N Y Y
River from where it enters 0.24 mile Recreational south of N N Y Y
public lands in Washington Park.
County to the confluence of the
Virgin River.
Oak Creek/Kolob Creek......... River segments north of Zion 2.80 2.80 miles Wild................... N N Y Y
National Park.
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\1\ Lengths are approximate and include public land only.
Public meetings will be held on the following dates at the
following locations: December 12, 1995, St. George, Dunford Auditorium,
Val Browning Building, Dixie College, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; December
13, 1995, Hurricane, Senior Citizen Center, 95 North 300 West, 7:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; December 14, 1995, Salt Lake City, Main Branch Salt
Lake City Public Library Auditorium, 209 East 500 South, 6:30 p.m. to
8:30 p.m.
Dated: October 24, 1995.
G. William Lamb,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 95-26968 Filed 10-30-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P
