[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24970-24971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11852]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT-080-07-1990-00]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Diamond Mountain Resource
Management Plan
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI.
ACTION: Notice of intent to amend the Diamond Mountain Resource
Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend the
Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan (DMRMP) to define the
appropriate level of management prescriptions for the BLM administered
acreage located to the west of the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in
Uintah County, Utah. An environmental assessment would be prepared to
address the potential impacts that activities allowed under the current
RMP decisions may have on the adjoining wildlife refuge. The EA would
be prepared by an interdisciplinary team and would address issues
including but not limited to, land use, mineral development, wildlife,
cultural resources, and special status plant and animal species. The EA
and accompanying plan amendment would provide the basis for redefining
the management prescriptions determined necessary to maintain viable
use and management of the public lands by the BLM and to avoid creating
an impediment to the management objectives of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) in managing the wildlife refuge.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed plan amendment will commence
with the date of publication of this notice. All comments must be
submitted on or before June 6, 1997.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM administers approximately 4,907.05
acres of land located west of the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge,
including approximately 815 acres which are submerged under Pelican
Lake. The Ouray National Wildlife Refuge encompasses an area of
approximately 11,827 acres and is managed by the USFWS for the purposes
of producing waterfowl and providing habitat for migratory birds.
Management objectives of the refuge have been impaired by high levels
of selenium which accrue in the ponds within the refuge. Studies
conducted by the USFWS assert that the high selenium levels result from
water seepage through shale formations which underlie the surrounding
area and that various types of land uses on the BLM administered
acreage west of and upgradient to the refuge induce increases in
selenium levels. The EA would address those activities currently
allowed under the decisions of the DMRMP which could contribute to
increased selenium and the plan amendment would serve to redefine which
uses may continue to be authorized and which actions may continue to
occur on the public land acreage. The decisions being reviewed pertain
only to the following described public lands:
T. 7 S., R. 20 E., SLM, Utah
Sec. 19, lots 3, 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 20, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\;
Sec. 21, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 26, E\1/2\;
Sec. 28, N\1/2\N\1/2\;
[[Page 24971]]
Sec. 29, N\1/2\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 30, lots 1-4, NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 31, lots 1-4, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
Sec. 33, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 35, lots 1-4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/4\.
T. 8 S., R. 20 E., SLM, Utah
Sec. 3, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\;
Sec. 4, lot 1, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
Sec. 5, lots 3-7, SE\1/2\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
Sec. 8, lots 1-4, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 9, S\1/2\;
Sec. 10, N\1/2\;
Sec. 17, lots 1, 2.
Public participation will be actively sought to ensure that the EA
addresses all issues, problems, and concerns from those interested in
the management of the public lands described above. The development of
the EA is a public process and the public is invited and encouraged to
assist in the identification of issues. Formal public participation
will be requested upon the completion of the EA and the publishing of
the notice of availability in both the Federal Register and local
newspapers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David E. Howell, District Manager,
Vernal District Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078;
telephone (801) 781-4400. Existing planning documents and information
are available for review at the above address. Comments on the proposed
plan amendment should be sent to the above address.
Dated: April 30, 1997.
G. William Lamb,
State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 97-11852 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P
