[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30878-30879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14670]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT-080-100-1150-00]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Book Cliffs Resource Management
Plan and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment (EA); Utah
SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is proposing to amend the Book Cliffs Resource
Management Plan (RMP) for the re-introduction of black-footed ferrets
into the Book Cliffs Resource Area (BCRA). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) is proposing to reintroduce black-footed ferrets as a
non-essential experimental population, into the Book Cliffs Resource
Area. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), in conjunction
with affected stakeholders, has prepared a reintroduction and
management plan to determine what measures would be necessary for the
reintroduction and what impacts and mitigation may result. As a part of
the amendment process, the BLM will determine if the management plan
will result in a change in the scope of the resource uses or a change
in the terms, conditions, or decisions of the Book Cliffs RMP. The BLM
is seeking public input on this RMP amendment.
EFFECTIVE DATES: The public scoping period is initiated with
publication of this notice of intent and ends June 27, 1997. Scoping
meetings will be held on Monday, June 9, 1997, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00
p.m., in the auditorium of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Building, 1594 West North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, and
Tuesday, June 10, 1997, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in Room 2 of the
Western Park Conference Center, 300 East 200 South, Vernal, Utah. The
purpose of the meetings are to (1) identify issues and concerns
regarding potential reintroduction of black-footed ferrets into Uintah
and Duchesne Counties and (2) to provide the general public an
opportunity to participate in the amendment process. Representatives
from the UDWR, BLM, and the Service will be available to answer
questions about the project and amendment. Written comments on the
scope of the amendment must be postmarked by June 27,1997.
The EA for the amendment is scheduled to be completed in the summer
of 1997, and made available for public review and comment. Notice of
availability of the EA will be published in local newspapers and
parties who have requested to be on the mailing list for this amendment
will be notified by mail.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Stroh, Wildlife Biologist, Bureau
of Land Management, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, 84078, or
telephone (801) 781-4481. Existing planning documents and information
are available for review at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BCRA comprises 1,455,880 acres in the
northeastern corner of Utah. It is roughly triangular in shape, bounded
by the Utah-Colorado state line on the east, the Book Cliffs Divide to
the south, and the Green River to the north and west.
Administratively, the BCRA includes public lands and mineral
resources that are within portions of Uintah and Grand Counties, Utah.
Of the total area, 73% or 1,062,669 acres, are public lands
administered by the BLM.
Of the remaining acreage, 15% is administered by the State of Utah,
8.5% is private, and 3.5% is public lands which are either within naval
oil shale or federal power site reserves.
The primary area proposed for black-footed ferret reintroduction is
located within Coyote Basin in east central Uintah County. The general
issues which will be addressed by the planning amendment include:
access to public lands, economic and social conditions, recreation
uses, sensitive species, rangeland uses, mineral exploration and
development, and public rights-of-way as they relate to
[[Page 30879]]
potential black-footed ferret re-introduction.
An interdisciplinary approach will be used to prepare the EA. The
following disciplines will be included: economics, minerals, realty,
vegetation, wildlife, range, cultural resources, and recreation.
The planning criteria for amending the Book Cliffs RMP is to
establish a management objective which provides for black-footed ferret
reintroduction with minimal impacts to other resources or uses. A range
of alternatives associated with the proposed reintroduction of black-
footed ferrets, including the No Action Alternative, will be
considered. Federal, State, and local agencies and other individuals or
organizations who may be interested in or affected by the BLM's
decision on the amendment to the Book Cliffs RMP are invited to
participate in the scoping process for the EA. To be most helpful,
comments should be as specific as possible.
The scoping process for the RMP amendment/EA will include: (1)
Identification of issues to be addressed; (2) identification of viable
alternatives; and (3) notification of interested groups, individuals,
and agencies so that information on these issues or other issues can be
addressed.
Dated: May 30, 1997.
G. William Lamb,
Utah State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-14670 Filed 6-4-97; 8:45 am]
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