99-2652. Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5674-5675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2652]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for the North Bank Habitat 
Management Area (NBHMA), Douglas County, Oregon; and Notice of Public 
Scoping period. The NBHMA is approximately five miles east of Wilbur, 
Oregon on County Road 200 (North Bank Road).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, and 40 CFR 1501.7 the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), Roseburg District, will prepare an EIS/HMP that will evaluate 
the environmental impacts of management on the 6,580 acre North Bank 
Habitat Management Area. This plan is necessary to form a basis for the 
management of habitat for the Columbian white-tailed deer (a federally 
listed ``endangered'' species), as well as rare plants and other 
sensitive species of wildlife. The EIS/HMP will also identify 
recreational opportunities and habitat restoration projects. The effect 
of this action would be to meet criteria in the Recovery Plan required 
for delisting the Columbian white-tailed deer (CWTD).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until March 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should he sent to the District Manager, Roseburg 
District, Bureau of Land Management, 777 NW Garden Valley Blvd., 
Roseburg, Oregon 97470; Attention NBHMA Project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Klein [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS/HMP will be written in cooperation 
with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service. This agency previously developed an Environmental 
Analysis (EA) and HMP in 1998. These documents are available for public 
review at the Roseburg District Office during business hours. When the 
EA was written the public was provided an opportunity to provide 
scoping comments through four ``open house'' meetings, a news release 
and the Roseburg District Project Planning Update which is mailed out 
on a quarterly basis to inform the public of upcoming projects and 
comment opportunities. Previous comments that have been submitted will 
be considered in the development of the EIS. The following issues were 
identified in the EA:
    1. Impacts to the CWTD and other special status species.
    2. Degree of facility development and use.
    3. Affect on adjacent landowners.
    4. Affect on water quality.
    The draft EIS is expected to be completed by June 1999, at which 
time the document will be made available for a 60 day public review and 
comment

[[Page 5675]]

period. If there is sufficient public interest, an open house meeting 
may be scheduled during the public comment period.

    Dated: January 28, 1999.
Cary Osterhaus,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-2652 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]
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