[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28515-28516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13855]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-030-1990-00]
Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the finding of no significant impact
(FONSI) and proposed decision for the Shirley Mountain Planning Review
Travel Management Environmental Assessment (EA), Carbon County,
Wyoming, and amendment of the Great Divide Resource Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: The Shirley Mountain Planning Review Area contains
approximately 69,590 acres of intermingled public, private, and State
lands located approximately 40 miles northwest of the town of Medicine
Bow, all in Carbon County, Wyoming. The planning review was conducted
to determine the impacts to the BLM administered public lands, adjacent
non-Federal lands, and associated resource uses resulting from a
proposed amendment to the Great Divide Resource Management Plan (RMP).
The proposed RMP decision 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'' and includes
several requirements and stipulations for implementing the changed
decision.
DATES: A 30-day protest period for the proposed planning decision will
begin the day following the publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Protests must be addressed in writing to the Director (210),
Bureau of Land Management, Attention Brenda Williams, 1849 C Street NW,
Washington, D.C. 20240. Protests must be postmarked within 30 days
following the date that this notice of availability (NOA) of the
proposed decision is published in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested parties may direct
questions, concerns, or obtain further information by contacting Karla
Swanson, Great Divide Resource Area Manager, Sarah Crocker, Project
Leader, or John Spehar, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, at the
Bureau of Land Management Office, 1300 N. Third Street, Rawlins,
Wyoming 82301, or by telephone at 307-328-4200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The need for an ORV designation change
within the planning review area is based upon recommendations made by
the ad hoc Shirley Mountain Technical Committee and previously
completed studies and activity plans. In 1985, the BLM completed a
Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for Shirley Mountain. The HMP recommended
that several two-track trails be closed to motorized vehicle travel
because they were fragmenting wildlife habitat, were unnecessary for
adequate public access to public lands, and had associated erosion
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 to reduce road and trail proliferation. A change in ORV
designation for the Shirley Mountain Planning Review Area will allow
the BLM to implement a travel management plan in the future. Included
in the decision to change the ORV designation for the review area are
requirements and stipulations for implementing the ORV designation
decision. These include the development of a travel activity or
implementation plan. As provided in 43 Code of Federal Regulations,
Part 1610.5-2, any person who participated in the planning review
process and has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by
the approval or amendment of a resource management plan may protest
such approval or amendment. A protest may concern only those issues
which were raised and submitted for the record during the planning
review process and by only the party(ies) who raised the issue(s). All
parts of the proposed decision may be protested. Protests must be in
writing and must be postmarked within 30 days following the date this
notice of availability of the decision record is published in the
Federal Register. Protests must include (a) the name, mailing address,
telephone number, and interest of the person filing the protest; (b) a
statement of the issue or issues submitted during the planning process
by the protesting party; (c) a statement of the part, or parts, of the
proposed decision being protested; (d) a copy of all documents
addressing the issue or issues that were submitted during the planning
review process by the protesting party or an indication of the date the
issue or issues were
[[Page 28516]]
discussed for the record; and (e) a concise statement explaining why
the State Director's proposed decision is believed to be wrong.
If no protests are received, the proposed decision will become
final at the end of the 30-day protest period. If protests are
received, the decision will not become final until the protests are
resolved.
Dated: May 19, 1998.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-13855 Filed 5-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
