[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 26236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11265]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-170-00N1220-DA]


Notice of Intent To Amend the San Juan/San Miguel Resource 
Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Amend the San Juan/San Miguel Resource 
Management Plan, and prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the initiation 
of a Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for the Grandview Ridge 
Coordinated Resource Management Plan, affecting approximately 1,600 
acres of BLM administered public land. The proposed action has been 
reviewed for conformance with the San Juan Field Office Resource 
Management Plan (43 CFR 1610.5, BLM 1617.3). The proposed action would 
amend certain portions of the plan as follows: (1) Motorized use would 
be limited to access for oil/gas development and maintenance, use and 
maintenance of existing ROWs, wildlife habitat improvement projects, 
and administrative use, (2) Recreation emphasis would be added to the 
existing Wildlife and Mineral emphasis, and (3) the Mineral emphasis 
for sand and gravel development would be reduced from 400 to 160 acres.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the Proposed Plan Amendment/EA and 
Finding of No Significant Impact and for further information, contact 
Calvin N. Joyner, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) San Juan Public Lands 
Center, Durango, Colorado 81301; Telephone (970) 247-4874.

DATES: This notice initiates a 30 day public comment period on the 
proposed plan amendment and finding of no significant impact.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM conducted an open house on November 
5, 1998, and written comments were received until January 30, 1999, to 
identify issues to be evaluated and to determine if new issues and 
circumstances warranted amending the RMP. The Grandview Ridge 
Coordinated Resource Management Area includes the following public 
lands totaling approximately 1,600 acres: In New Mexico Principal 
Meridian: T.34N., R.9W., Section 3 SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\: Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 
10, 11, 12 & 13.; Section 4: Lots 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12; Section 
9: 1, 2 4 & 5; Section 10: NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\. T.34N., R.9W., Section 34. 
T.35N., R.9w., Section 26: SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, W\1/4\ 
SE\1/4\; Section 34: Lots 6, 9, 13, 14 & 15; Section 35: W\1/2\ NW\1/
4\.
    In accordance with Section 202 of FLPMA, the San Juan RMP will be 
reviewed and potentially amended. The first step in this process 
involved soliciting public input to identify issues to be evaluated in 
the process. Issue identification is integral to the EA and amendment 
process, and was utilized to focus on relevant environmental concerns, 
identify controversy over resource management activities and identify 
alternative management for the area. The issues addressed by this Plan 
Amendment/EA include safety, resource protection, cultural resources, 
wildlife habitat, mineral development, and recreational opportunities. 
Following completion of issue identification, the BLM identified 
alternatives to be analyzed and planning criteria to guide the plan 
amendment process. Additional public input was solicited at a later 
date to complete these steps in the process. Planning criteria are the 
standards, rules, and other factors used in formulating judgements 
about data collection, analysis, and decision making. These criteria 
establish parameters and help focus the amendment process. The proposed 
planning criteria include:
    1. All proposed actions and alternatives considered must comply 
with current laws and Federal Regulations.
    2. The resource allocations of proposed actions will be made in 
accordance with the principles of ``multiple use'' as defined in the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), Sec. 103(c).
    3. The Proposed Plan Amendment will consider the relatively 
scarcity of the values involved and the availability of alternative 
means and sites for realization of those values.
    4. This planning process provided for public involvement including 
early notice and frequent opportunity for citizens and interested 
groups and others to participate in and comment on the preparation of 
plans and related guidance.
    5. To the extent possible under Federal law, and within the 
framework of proper long-term management of the public lands, BLM will 
strive to ensure that its management prescriptions and planning actions 
take into consideration related programs, plans, or policies of other 
resource agencies. This will include the formal consistency review by 
the Governor of Colorado.
    6. BLM provided local, State and Federal agencies a copy of the 
Draft EA with a written request to comment. Agencies may identify in 
writing any inconsistencies with formally approved land use plans or 
related jurisdictions.
    7. Planning decisions will apply only to BLM administered public 
lands.
    8. All valid existing rights will continue to be recognized.

    Dated: April 24, 2000.
Calvin N. Joyner,
Field Manager, San Juan Field Office.
[FR Doc. 00-11265 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P