[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68294-68295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32807]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[ID-040-1610-00]
Availability of the Challis Proposed Resource Management Plan
(RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Idaho.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976, section102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, and BLM Planning Regulations (43 CFR part 1600),
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Upper Columbia--Salmon Clearwater
Districts has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final
Environmental Impact Statement (Proposed RMP/Final EIS) for the Challis
Resource Area. The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS has been published
and is available for public review by requesting a copy from the
address indicated in the ADDRESSES section below.
The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes and analyzes the BLM's
proposed plan for managing approximately 792,657 acres of BLM public
lands in the Challis Resource Area, located in Custer and Lemhi
counties of east-central Idaho. When implemented, the Challis RMP would
replace the three Management Framework Plans currently used by the
Challis Resource Area. The Challis RMP would also amend the Little
Lost-Birch Creek Management Framework Plan (BLM 1981) by designating
the Donkey Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which
includes 4,714 acres managed by the Upper Snake River District--BLM in
Butte County, Idaho.
DATES: Written comments on the Final EIS for the Challis Proposed RMP
must be submitted or postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19,
1999. Written protests on the Challis Proposed RMP must also be
submitted or postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS may be obtained
upon request by contacting the Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box
610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-5400. Written comments on the
Final EIS should be addressed to Kathe Rhodes, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610,
Salmon, Idaho 83467. Protests of the Challis Proposed RMP must be filed
with the Director, Bureau of Land Management; Attention: Ms. Brenda
Williams, Protests Coordinator; WO-210/LS-1075; Department of the
Interior; Washington, DC 20240. A description of protest procedures may
be obtained from Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator,
Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone
(208) 756-5440.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land
Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-
5440. Documents relevant to the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS planning
process are available for public viewing at the Salmon BLM office on
Highway 93 South, Salmon, Idaho.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes
and analyzes the BLM's proposed plan for addressing the planning issues
and management concerns identified through public involvement and BLM
input. The Proposed RMP proposes resource condition objectives, land
use allocations, and management actions and direction to guide resource
management of the Challis Resource Area on a long term, sustainable
basis during the next 15 to 20 years.
The Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes changes from and corrections
to the Challis Draft RMP/EIS (BLM, May 1996), updates the discussion of
the affected environment, provides an analysis of environmental
consequences for the Proposed RMP, records public comments on the Draft
RMP/EIS, and documents the BLM's responses to those comments. The
Proposed RMP is based on the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2)
described in the Challis Draft RMP/EIS, as modified in response to
public and tribal comments and internal BLM recommendations. When
compared with the Preferred Alternative, the Proposed RMP increases the
level of protection to aquatic, riparian, and upland resources by
limiting off-highway vehicle use to exisitng roads, vehicle ways, and
trails thorughout the Resource Area. The Proposed RMP also clarifies
numerous decisions, and thereby improves the BLM's ability to implement
effective management in order to address resource concerns and improve
resource conditions. Finally, the Proposed RMP includes an emphasis on
integrated resource activity planning and watershed assessment, in
order to ensure that individual project proposals are considered within
the context of broader landscape issues.
The Proposed RMP includes decisions related to two types of
designations: (a) The Proposed RMP describes the BLM's Wild and Scenic
River suitability findings for rivers within the Challis Resource Area;
and (b) the Proposed RMP designates public lands as Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACECs). The Proposed RMP would continue to
designate approximately 13,968 acres within existing ACECs, in order to
highlight unique plant communities, paleontological resources, fragile
soils and a bighorn sheep population for management and protection;
these existing ACECs include 5,975 acres of existing Research Natural
Areas (RNAs). The Proposed RMP would expand one existing ACEC by 322
acres. The Proposed RMP would also designate approximately 73,916 acres
within seven additional ACECs, in order to highlight the following
resources for management and protection: unique plant communities;
fragile soils; a geologic area of interest; unique riparian habitats;
fisheries habitats; roadless primitive and scenic values; crucial
bighorn sheep and elk habitats; and unique cultural resources.
Approximately 3,871 acres of Research Natural Areas would be designated
within these seven additional ACECs.
Following a 30-day public review period, a concurrent 30-day
protest period, a concurrent 60-day Governor's review, and resolution
of written protests or concerns raised during these protest and review
periods, the BLM will prepare a Record of Decision for the approved
RMP. The public will be notified in the Federal Register when the
Record of Decision for the Challis RMP becomes available.
Comments on the protests of the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS,
including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be
[[Page 68295]]
available for public review at the Salmon BLM Office on Highway 93
South in Salmon, Idaho during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:15
p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents
may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or
street address from public review or disclosure under the Freedom of
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of
your written comment or protest. Such request 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 organizations or businesses, will be
made avaialble for public inspection in their entirety.
Dated: December 4, 1998.
Fritz U. Rennebaum,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-32807 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
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