[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67344-67349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21331]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_CA_FRN_MO4500173171]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Redding and Arcata Field Offices 
and an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Northwest California Integrated Draft Resource Management 
Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) for the 
Redding Field Office and Arcata Field Office. By this notice, the BLM 
is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period 
on the Draft RMP/EIS and is announcing the comment period on the BLM's 
proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).

DATES: This notice announces the opening of a 90-day comment period for 
the Draft RMP/EIS beginning with the date following the Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA) publication of its Notice of Availability 
(NOA) in the Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on 
Fridays.
    To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the 
Proposed RMP/Final EIS, please ensure that the BLM receives your 
comments prior to the close of the 90-day public comment period or 15 
days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
    In addition, this notice also announces the opening of a concurrent 
60-day comment period for ACECs. The BLM must receive your ACEC-related 
comments by November 28, 2023.
    The BLM plans to hold at least one virtual and at least two in-
person public meetings, in Redding and Arcata, California during the 
90-day public comment period. The dates and locations of the meetings 
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, 
social media, newspaper, and the ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES 
section).

ADDRESSES: The Draft RMP/EIS is available for review on the BLM 
National NEPA Register project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510.

[[Page 67345]]

    Written comments related to the Northwest California Integrated 
Resource Management Plan (NCIP) may be submitted by any of the 
following methods:

<bullet> Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d89a9495879b99878abdbcbcb1b6bf8799aabbb9acb987969b918898bab4b5f6bfb7ae"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9fbf5f4e6faf8e6ebdcddddd0d7dee6f8cbdad8cdd8e6f7faf0e9f9dbd5d497ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>
<bullet> Mail: NCIP Comments, Bureau of Land Management, 1695 Heindon 
Road, Arcata, California 95521-4573

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510 or the 
Redding or Arcata field offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Callahan, Planning and 
Environmental Specialist, telephone: (707) 825-2315; address: Bureau of 
Land Management, Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, 
California 95521-4573; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fa8c89969b8f9d928e9f88ba989697d49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d1a7a2bdb0a4b6b9a5b4a391b3bdbcffb6bea7">[email protected]</span></a> or Chad Endicott, 
Planning and Environmental Specialist, telephone: (530) 224-2140; 
address: Bureau of Land Management, Redding Field Office, 6640 Lockheed 
Drive, Redding, CA 96002-9003; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7310161d171a101c070733111f1e5d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3457515a505d575b4040745658591a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting 
Ms. Callahan or Mr. Endicott. Individuals outside the United States 
should use the relay services offered within their country to make 
international calls to the point of contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
California State Director has prepared a Draft RMP/EIS, provides 
information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft 
RMP/EIS, and announces the comment period on the BLM's proposed ACECs. 
The planning area is in Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou, 
Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, and Butte counties, California, and 
encompasses approximately 382,200 acres of public land and 
approximately 295,100 subsurface acres of Federal mineral estate.
    Current Arcata Field Office and Redding Field Office management is 
identified in their respective 1992 and 1993 RMPs. All existing 
management as described in the Arcata Field Office and Redding Field 
Office approved RMPs remains in effect until and unless replaced or 
modified by the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management 
Plan Approved RMP and Record of Decision. Separate management plans 
guide BLM management for National Conservation Land units within the 
planning area.
    Other non-BLM-administered lands within the planning area include 
the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, Lassen, Plumas, and Mendocino 
National Forests; Lassen Volcanic and Redwoods National Parks; the 
Whiskeytown and Smith River National Recreation Areas; the Sacramento 
Castle Rock and Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuges; and Black Butte 
Lake (managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers). In addition, Tribal 
lands and reservations for 31 federally recognized Native American 
Tribes fall within the planning area, and the BLM-administered lands 
include sacred sites, gathering areas, and other places important to 
Tribes. The Bureau of Reclamation manages numerous land holdings and 
facilities within the planning area, including six hydroelectric dams 
and lands that are comanaged with the BLM under a memorandum of 
agreement with the Redding Field Office near the Shasta Dam and Keswick 
Reservoir. In addition to federally managed lands, there are an 
extensive number of State of California-managed beaches, parks, 
wildlife areas, and recreation areas in the planning area. The Arcata 
Field Office and Redding Field Office have taken these non-BLM-
administered lands into account in this planning effort.
    Public comments received during the public scoping period held 
between April 29, 2022, and June 28, 2022, were reviewed and taken into 
consideration in the development of the Draft RMP/EIS. Additionally, 
comments submitted by other government agencies, public organizations, 
State, and Tribal entities, and interested individuals were given 
careful consideration. Public scoping efforts enabled the BLM to 
identify and shape significant issues pertaining to recreational 
opportunities, special designations, land tenure, cultural resources, 
and other program areas. Cooperating agencies were provided the 
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed range of alternatives 
during the alternative's development process. A summary of the public 
involvement process and comments received can be viewed on the BLM 
National NEPA Register (see ADDRESSES).

Purpose and Need for the Planning Effort

    The purpose of and need for the plan identified in the sections 
below describes why the BLM is revising the existing RMPs and what 
outcomes the BLM intends the new RMP to achieve. The purpose and need 
incorporates information identified in past planning efforts and 
supporting analyses, including the 1992 Arcata RMP, 1993 Redding RMP, 
2002 Redding RMP plan evaluation, 2009 Arcata RMP plan evaluation, 2016 
initial RMP effort (including envisioning and scoping public meetings), 
pre-scoping public meetings held in early 2021, and public scoping held 
in 2022. The purpose and need helps to define the range of alternatives 
that are analyzed in the planning process because alternatives are only 
considered reasonable if they respond to the purpose of and need for 
action.
    Need for the Action: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, establishes the BLM's multiple-use and sustained-
yield mandate to serve present and future generations. To meet this 
overarching mandate, FLPMA requires the BLM to ``develop, maintain, 
and, when appropriate, revise land use plans'' (43 U.S.C. 1712 (a)). 
Consistent with the BLM's planning regulations, RMPs ``shall be revised 
as necessary based on monitoring and evaluation findings, new data, new 
or revised policy and changes in circumstances affecting the entire 
plan or major portions of the plan'' (43 CFR 1610.5-6).
    Many factors affecting daily management decisions faced by the 
Field Offices (FOs) have changed since the development of the existing 
Arcata and Redding RMPs. These factors include updated special status 
species lists, changes to endangered species recovery plans, population 
growth, changes in land tenure, shifting focus away from annual quotas 
for forestry and wildfire and fuels management programs, larger and 
higher-intensity wildland fires, increasing demand for fuels reduction 
projects, and increases in recreational use. Additionally, the 
accelerated pace of climate change and related climate impacts 
(including changes in temperature, precipitation, and water resources), 
and higher intensity wildland fires within the planning area are 
environmental drivers that have also caused management decisions to 
shift since the existing RMPs were finalized. Additional resource 
information, changing social perspectives, new technologies, and 
federal mandates have also generated important justifications for 
revising these preliminary RMPs.
    Arcata and Redding FO RMP Plan Evaluations: In 2009, the Redding FO 
and Arcata FO conducted RMP evaluations that, with the addition of new 
resource information, changing social perspectives, new technologies,

[[Page 67346]]

and federal mandates, highlighted the need for revising the RMPs. The 
NCIP would enable the BLM to guide management actions based on up-to-
date information reflecting current public input, changes in policy, 
resource conditions, and development trends. The planning issues and 
resources identified in the 2009 evaluations to be addressed in the 
NCIP include responding to changes in land tenure, changes in 
wilderness designations, new species listings, new forest pathogens, 
climate change, sea-level rise, fuels management, wildland fire 
suppression and management, human population growth, Tribal 
empowerment, and the need to reassess determinations regarding ACECs 
and Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs).
    Additional Considerations: The need for the RMP revisions has 
remained crucial given the recent cumulative changes to resource 
conditions, primarily due to catastrophic wildland fire within the 
planning area. Incorporating over three decades of scientific studies 
and new management approaches into a revised RMP would greatly benefit 
future decision-making and bring the FOs' planning guidance into 
compliance with legislative mandates, executive orders, current DOI 
policies, and current land management standards. The NCIP would also 
facilitate coordination of the Arcata and Redding FOs' land management 
with that of adjacent public lands managed by the US Department of 
Agriculture Forest Service, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Fish and 
Wildlife Service, other federal and state agencies, and Tribes.
    Purpose of the Action: The purpose of the NCIP is to make land use 
decisions to guide the management of BLM-managed lands within the 
planning area. Planning decisions would integrate current law and 
policies as well as current information to resolve primary issues 
identified in the planning area, specifically related to increasing 
human population and changing use patterns, wilderness management, 
climate change, special status species, and land tenure.
    Climate Change, Sea-Level Rise, and Ecosystem Resiliency: Climate 
change and sea-level rise will continue to affect the planning area. 
Impacts from rising sea levels will affect the management of coastal 
lands within the planning area. Coastal dunes that provide a buffer 
against sea-level rise and storm surges will change, and coastal 
lowlands will experience novel saltwater intrusion and resulting 
changes in vegetation. High-elevation areas in the planning area may 
become increasingly important refuge areas for species displaced from 
lower habitats. While projected changes in temperature, precipitation, 
and sea-level rise differ based on modeling assumptions, the magnitude 
of these changes is expected to increase during implementation of the 
NCIP.
    By accounting for anticipated climate change effects during the 
planning process, the BLM would make management decisions that reflect 
the anticipated impacts on vulnerable resources to assure that public 
lands and ecosystems are resilient to sea-level rise, increasing 
temperatures, and changing precipitation patterns. Management would 
maintain habitat connectivity and resiliency, promote carbon 
sequestration by providing for the long-term health and productivity of 
vegetation communities, and implement best management practices to 
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases for authorized activities in 
accordance with regional and state climate goals. Additionally, the 
NCIP would allow the BLM to coordinate forestry actions to develop 
treatments that achieve silvicultural objectives while considering 
impacts on carbon sequestration, acquire land to manage for coastal 
resiliency, reduce or eliminate uses that degrade natural systems that 
protect the human environment from climate change, and contribute to 
regional habitat and water quality monitoring efforts.
    Wildland Fire and Fuels Management: Managing for diverse, 
ecologically resilient landscapes and healthy forests will be central 
to adapting to a changing climate. Due to drought and abnormally warm 
temperatures, wildfires in California have increased in frequency, 
size, and severity, with 8 of the 20 largest fires in California's 
history occurring since 2017 and the area burned annually by wildfire 
in California increasing since 1950. Fire management in the Arcata and 
Redding RMPs does not include current guidance or best management 
practices for wildland fire management. During public outreach efforts, 
commenters expressed concern related to wildland fire risk and 
requested that fire response be considered in the proposed NCIP 
management actions. Public commenters highlighted how prescribed fire 
could be used to manage or improve landscape conditions, reduce the 
risk and damage from catastrophic wildfires, and improve the overall 
soil and ecosystem health of a region.
    The NCIP would emphasize forest and vegetation management 
strategies that account for the protection of adjacent human values, 
public use, and public safety, while enhancing or maintaining ecosystem 
function and productivity. Wildland fire management strategies that 
establish multiple resource-based objectives in addition to public, 
infrastructure, and first responder safety would improve wildfire 
outcomes as fire occurrence, size, and severity increase. Planned 
treatments, such as hazardous fuels reduction through mechanical, 
biological, chemical, or manual means, would be identified, especially 
in high-risk or fire-prone portions of the planning area. Prescribed 
burning within fire-dependent ecosystems would be established as a 
priority management strategy to maintain disturbance regimes. To guide 
management decisions, the BLM will use the most up-to-date fuels 
treatment, planning, and analysis tools, including interagency spatial 
fire planning platforms and decision support tools that drive wildfire 
and fuels management planning.
    Promote Recovery of Special Status Species: BLM-administered lands 
within the planning area have served as important habitat for listed 
and special status plants, fish, and animals. As climate change impacts 
increase and development of private lands intensifies, the importance 
of BLM-administered lands for the recovery of these species has 
continually increased and will continue to do so during the NCIP's 
implementation.
    The NCIP is intended to enhance, maintain, or protect habitat and 
migration corridors for a range of special status species, including 
species identified as threatened and endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act. 
The NCIP would bring management guidance in line with certain recovery 
plan recommendations for threatened and endangered species. Further, 
the NCIP will promote the recovery of special status populations and 
diminish or remove invasive, nonnative species through the management 
and restoration of habitats to promote long-term recovery of special 
status species.
    Wilderness Management: The NCIP decision area includes 
approximately 50,040 acres of designated wilderness (approximately 13 
percent of the decision area), including the Elkhorn Ridge (11,120 
acres), Yuki (17,150 acres), South Fork Eel River (13,020 acres), Yolla 
Bolly-Middle Eel (8,550 acres), and Ishi (200 acres) Wilderness Areas. 
Most wilderness areas are surrounded by private lands that are managed 
for a variety of uses, including industrial forestry, rural 
development, and cannabis production. Preserving

[[Page 67347]]

wilderness character is a key component of wilderness management. 
Conducting wilderness character baseline assessments is essential to 
determine whether this goal is met.
    The BLM will also manage wilderness study areas to preserve 
wilderness characteristics. The NCIP will provide the initial guidance 
for developing Wilderness Management Plans as funding becomes 
available.
    Develop Land Tenure Patterns and Access Strategy: Through 
implementation of the existing RMPs over the past three decades, the 
BLM has made substantial changes in landownership through land tenure 
adjustments, including exchanges, acquisitions, and disposals. This 
change in landownership has been effective at consolidating BLM-
administered lands and disposing of scattered parcels. Despite the 
success of these adjustments, many scattered parcels still exist in the 
planning area.
    The NCIP will weigh the current land tenure adjustment strategies 
against other land tenure adjustment options and the needs of other 
resources, resource uses, and Tribal interests. This would ensure land 
tenure adjustment actions are in line with current management 
direction, policy, and law. The NCIP will identify criteria for 
consideration of lands for retention, disposal, and acquisition, and 
specify those parcels that meet the disposal criteria. Further, the 
NCIP will consider areas where consolidating BLM administration of 
lands would enhance public values, such as conservation of important 
resources, recreation and public access, and integration with the needs 
of local communities.
    Provide for a Broad Array of Recreation Uses: Increasing human 
populations have also brought a large increase in recreation on BLM-
administered lands, especially those lands near population centers, 
such as Redding, Chico, Eureka, and Arcata. The public currently 
engages in a wide array of recreation uses, such as hunting, fishing, 
boating, target shooting, bird-watching, biking, off-highway vehicle 
riding, and car touring. Previous public outreach efforts have 
identified a great deal of public interest in maintaining existing 
recreational opportunities and a desire for more opportunities (for 
example, hiking, biking, equestrian, and off-highway vehicle trails). 
The BLM has also experienced an increase in requests for organized 
events, such as races.
    The BLM will manage recreation in the NCIP decision area by 
designating SRMAs and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs). 
The NCIP will provide specific goals for recreation outcomes in each 
recreation management area (RMA). The NCIP will develop a range of 
recreation management area scenarios in relation to other land use 
allocations and management objectives among the alternatives, while 
providing public access, promoting public health and safety, and 
minimizing conflicting uses.
    Respond to Increasing Population and Changing Use Patterns: Within 
the planning area, the human population has grown by 20 to 30 percent 
in some counties over the past three decades. With increasing 
population has come increased development near BLM-administered lands. 
Such development and attendant infrastructure have led to increased 
numbers of rights-of-way across BLM-administered lands.
    The BLM must balance the increasing need for ROWs with protection 
of natural and cultural resources. The NCIP would continue to provide 
for the use of BLM-managed lands in accordance with applicable laws and 
regulations, manage the public lands in support of the goals and 
objectives of other resource programs, and support the use and 
development of adjacent private lands, through the issuance of ROWs, 
leases, and permits, where appropriate. Land use allocations would 
define resource uses and land designations to help resolve conflicts 
between infrastructure and resource protection.

Alternatives Including the Preferred Alternative

    The BLM has analyzed four alternatives in detail, including the no 
action alternative. Three action alternatives (Alternatives B, C, and 
D) were identified based on perceived resource use and issues in the 
planning area. Alternative B emphasizes resource connectivity and 
resiliency and has been developed to manage for multiple use by 
maintaining corridors of relatively undeveloped area to provide for 
connectivity of wildlife and fisheries habitat and to serve as a 
resilient refuge from ongoing development and climate change. This, in 
turn, would provide a recreational and aesthetic resources for public 
enjoyment. Alternative C emphasizes community access and development. 
Alternative C also manages for multiple use and public enjoyment but 
emphasizes recreational opportunity and access, travel and utility 
opportunities, and social and economic benefits. Alternatives B and C 
would manage for multiple use and long-term sustainability and provide 
for public use and enjoyment of BLM-administered lands. Alternative D 
aims to create opportunities for resource uses, such as recreation, 
motorized and mechanized travel, and livestock grazing while 
maintaining ecological function and meeting land capability to protect 
habitat connectivity.
    These alternatives are to be analyzed against the No Action 
Alternative (current management, Alternative A) and can be refined or 
combined to provide the best mix to meet the public's needs while 
complying with the BLM's management responsibilities and regulatory 
requirements. The BLM further considered one additional alternative but 
dismissed this alternative from detailed analysis as explained in the 
Draft RMP/EIS.
    The State Director has identified Alternative D as the preferred 
alternative. Alternative D was found to best meet the State Director's 
planning guidance and, therefore, was selected as the preferred 
alternative because it attempts to strike a balance between the action 
alternatives to provide community access and development while ensuring 
connectivity and resilience by including components of all alternatives 
considered.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

    Consistent with land use planning regulations, 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), 
the BLM is announcing the opening of a 60-day comment period on the 
ACECs proposed for designation in the preferred alternative. Comments 
may be submitted using any of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES 
section earlier.
    The proposed ACECs included in the preferred alternative are:
    <bullet> Upper Burney Dry Lake and Baker Cypress, 210 acres, to 
protect the Rare Baker Cypress and mountain vernal pool habitat. Visual 
Resource Management (VRM) class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle limited (183 acres--Baker Cypress), off-highway vehicle 
closed (26 acres--Upper Burney Dry Lake), closed to mineral leasing, 
closed to mineral material development, not available for livestock 
grazing, and work cooperatively with surrounding landowners to prevent 
trespass, unauthorized grazing, and cross-county off-highway vehicle 
use.
    <bullet> Butte Creek, 2,250 acres, to protect old-growth reserves 
and the Northern Spotted Owl. VRM class II, right-of-way avoidance, 
off-highway vehicle limited, not available for livestock grazing, 
closed to mineral leasing.
    <bullet> Deer Creek, 570 acres, to protect the scenic qualities of 
the canyon, to ensure the long-term protection of the raptors in the 
area, conserve archaeological

[[Page 67348]]

resources, and protect ecologically intact habitat for wildlife. VRM 
class II, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle limited, closed 
to mineral leasing.
    <bullet> Forks of Butte Creek, 2,900 acres, to protect scenic 
values, cultural resources, and fisheries. VRM class II, right-of-way 
exclusion, off-highway vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing, 
withdrawn from mineral entry under Public Land Order 5329 (270 acres), 
closed to mineral material development, open to casual use gold 
panning, not available for livestock grazing, except for Helltown 
parcels which would be available, motor vehicle access to the day use 
area would be seasonally closed.
    <bullet> Gillham Butte, 9,330 acres, to protect old-growth 
reserves. VRM class III, rights of way avoidance, off-highway vehicle 
limited, except where closed by deed restriction on acquired lands, 
closed to discharge of firearms where prohibited by deed restriction on 
acquired lands, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material 
development, recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, not 
available for livestock grazing.
    <bullet> Hawes Corner, 40 acres, to protect communities of slender 
Orcutt grass (Orcuttia tenuis). VRM class III, off-highway vehicle 
closed, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material 
development, not available for livestock grazing, work cooperatively 
with surrounding landowners to prevent trespass, unauthorized grazing, 
and cross-country off-highway vehicle use.
    <bullet> Iaqua Butte, 1,100 acres, to protect old-growth reserves. 
VRM class II, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle limited, 
closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal from locatable 
mineral entry, closed to mineral material development, not available 
for livestock grazing.
    <bullet> Lacks Creek, 2,140 acres, to protect old-growth reserves. 
VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle closed, 
closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material development 
except for free use by other agencies, not available for livestock 
grazing, seasonal limitations on mountain biking would be considered as 
necessary to limit conflict and provide for public safety.
    <bullet> Ma-le'l Dunes, 206 acres, to protect sensitive plant and 
wetland habitat and cultural resources. VRM class II, right-of-way 
exclusion outside of existing rights-of -way, off-highway vehicle 
closed, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral material development, not 
available for livestock grazing, day use only, surface disturbing 
activities would only be allowed if they are consistent with relevance 
and importance values or in an existing right of way.
    <bullet> Sacramento Island, 90 acres, to protect rare riparian 
habitat and fisheries. VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle closed, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral 
material development, not available for livestock grazing, except for 
target grazing by goats for weed control on case-by-case basis, day use 
only, closed to campfires.
    <bullet> Sacramento River Bend, 20,420 acres, to protect cultural 
resources and rare habitats (vernal pools and wetlands that support 
slender Orcutt grass [Orcuttia tenuis]). VRM class II, right-of-way 
exclusion outside of existing rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle 
limited, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material 
development, day use only, not available for livestock grazing in 
riparian areas, limit special recreation permits and non-special 
recreation permits group uses to minimize resource impacts in spring 
and fall, limit target shooting to designated areas.
    <bullet> Shasta and Klamath River Canyon, 1,210 acres, to protect 
rare and sensitive riparian and fisheries habitat values. VRM class 
III, right-of-way avoidance outside of existing rights-of-way, off-
highway vehicle limited, not available for grazing, recommend for 
withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral leasing, and 
closed to mineral material development.
    <bullet> Swasey Drive, 470 acres, to protect cultural resources. 
VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, not available for livestock 
grazing, closed to mineral material development, closed to mineral 
leasing, existing trails would continue to be maintained within the 
ACEC.
    <bullet> Grass Valley, 19,560 acres, to protect fragile highly 
erosive soils, reduce sediment delivery to the Trinity River, and 
maintain the important stronghold to climate change and ecosystem 
resiliency and diversity. Right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle 
limited, VRM class III north of State Highway 299, VRM class II south 
of State Highway 299, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for 
withdrawal from mineral entry, closed to mineral material development, 
not available for livestock grazing, maintain existing roads to 
minimize erosion and sedimentation.
    <bullet> Upper and Lower Clear Creek, 4,560 acres, to protect and 
improve anadromous salmonid habitat and the scenic values of the Clear 
Creek canyon. VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway 
vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal 
from locatable entry, closed to mineral material development, with the 
exception of free use by other agencies, not available for livestock 
grazing, limited to day use only, prioritize riparian restoration and 
nonnative and invasive species management, special recreation permits 
for commercial guided fishing would not be issued.
    <bullet> Sheep Rock, 1,410 acres, to protect irreplaceable scenic, 
wildlife, historic, and cultural values. VRM class II, right-of-way 
exclusion, off-highway vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing, 
closed to mineral material development, unavailable for domestic sheep 
grazing or trailing (only if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
proposes bighorn sheep reintroduction in this area).
    <bullet> Black Mountain, 1,100 acres, to protect irreplaceable old-
growth coniferous forest habitat, unique geologic features, cultural 
resources, and wildlife. Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway vehicle 
limited, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral 
material development.
    <bullet> Upper Klamath Bench, 90 acres, to protect prehistoric and 
historic archaeological resources. Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway 
vehicle closed, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for 
withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral material 
development, not available for livestock grazing, cultural sites may be 
fenced, trespass livestock removed to protect the cultural setting.
    <bullet> Upper Mattole, 460 acres, to protect rare and sensitive 
riparian and fisheries habitat values. Right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle limited, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing, 
closed to livestock grazing.
    <bullet> Beegum Creek Gorge, 4,380 acres, to protect scenic 
fisheries, wildlife resources, ecological intactness, and rare and 
sensitive geological and lithological features that support rare and 
endemic serpentine plant species. Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway 
vehicle limited, VRM class II, closed to mineral leasing, not available 
for livestock grazing, recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry, closed to mineral material development, bulldozer use prohibited 
unless approved by an authorized officer.
    <bullet> North Fork Eel, 500 acres, to protect sensitive geological 
and lithological features, along with fisheries, and wildlife 
resources. Right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle closed, VRM 
class II (in Wild and Scenic River corridor), VRM class III (remaining 
acres), closed to mineral leasing, closed

[[Page 67349]]

to mineral material development, not available for livestock grazing.
    <bullet> Willis Ridge, 3,180 acres, to protect old-growth reserves, 
along with fisheries and wildlife resources. VRM class III, right-of-
way avoidance, off-highway vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing, 
and closed to mineral material development.
    <bullet> South Spit, 630 acres, to protect sensitive plant and 
wetland habitat and cultural resources. Right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle limited, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing, 
closed to mineral material development, day use only.
    <bullet> Corning Vernal Pools, 170 acres, to protect critical 
habitat that supports threatened and endangered species. Right-of-way 
exclusion, off-highway vehicle closed, VRM class III, closed to mineral 
leasing, open to locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral material 
development, available to livestock grazing if compatible with vernal 
pool ecology and relevant and important values.
    <bullet> North Table Mountain, 50 acres, to protect habitat that 
supports the rare Butte County Golden Clover (Trifolium jokerstii). 
Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway vehicle closed, VRM class III, 
closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal from locatable 
mineral entry, not available for livestock grazing, and closed to 
mineral material development.
    More information on management of ACECs under the BLM's preferred 
alternative is available in Chapter 2, Table 2-2 and Chapter 3.4.1 of 
the Draft RMP/EIS.
    The preferred alternative would not propose the following potential 
ACECs for designation: Swasey Drive Clear Creek Greenway and Eden 
Creek.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes, 
including a 30-day public protest period and a 60-day governor's 
consistency review on the Proposed RMP. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS is 
anticipated to be available for public protest in the late spring of 
2024 with an approved RMP and Record of Decision in late summer of 
2024.
    The BLM will hold at least one virtual and two in-person public 
meetings, in Redding and Arcata, California, on the Draft RMP/EIS 
during the 90-day public comment period. The specific date(s) and 
location(s) of these meetings will be announced at least 15 days in 
advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM National NEPA 
Register project page (see ADDRESSES).
    The BLM will continue to consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a 
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 
13175, BLM MS 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, 
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to 
cultural resources, will be given due consideration.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 
1610.7-2)

Karen E. Mouritsen,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-21331 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-15-P


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