[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 41 (Friday, March 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9578-9579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-3640]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-169-07-1610-DO]


Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan 
and Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Carrizo Plain 
National Monument, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a revision of the April 24, 2002 Notice of 
Intent (Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79, pages 20152-20153). In 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, and the Code of 
Federal Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2), notice is hereby 
given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to initiate a 
new scoping process for a Resource Management Plan and Environmental 
Impact Statement (RMP/EIS). Previously, the BLM announced that an 
Environmental Assessment would be prepared in connection with the RMP 
for the Carrizo Plain National Monument. By this notice, the BLM is 
announcing public scoping meetings.

DATES: Specific dates and locations of public meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media and on 
BLM's Web site, http://www.ca.blm.gov. We will provide additional 
formal opportunities for public participation upon publication of the 
Draft RMP/EIS, expected to be ready for public review and comment 
sometime in 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to: Monument 
Manager, Carrizo Plain National Monument, Bakersfield Field Office, 
3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, Calif. 93308. Scoping comments 
previously submitted following publication of the 2002 Notice of Intent 
are still valid and will be considered together with comments received 
pursuant to this revised notice. Commentors do not need to resubmit 
comments but may provide additional comments or clarifications of those 
previously made.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monument Manager, Carrizo Plain 
National Monument, Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, 
Bakersfield, Calif. 93308 or telephone (661) 391-6000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the recent appointment of the new 
Carrizo Plain National Monument Advisory Committee, the BLM is resuming 
work with the public on developing a draft RMP to guide future 
management of the Monument.
    BLM has decided to prepare an EIS to support the plan, based on 
public requests and BLM's interest in expanding public involvement in 
the planning process. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to 
develop the RMP in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified during scoping.
    In cooperation with the Monument Advisory Committee, the BLM and 
its Monument managing partners, The Nature Conservancy and the 
California Department of Fish and Game, will be conducting additional 
public scoping meetings to gather input on issues to be addressed in 
the draft RMP and EIS. To be most helpful, you should submit formal 
scoping comments within 30 days after the last public meeting. The 
minutes and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be 
available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any 
participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. 
Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
withhold your name and/or address from public review or disclosure 
under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently 
at the beginning of your written comment. The BLM will honor such 
requests to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, are available for public inspection in their entirety.
    The Carrizo Plain, the largest undeveloped remnant of the once vast 
San Joaquin Valley ecosystem, was designated a national monument in 
2001 in recognition of its special resource values, including 
threatened and endangered species such as the San Joaquin kit fox, 
giant kangaroo rat, and blunt-nosed leopard lizard. It also contains 
nationally significant geological features, such as one of the best 
exposed examples of the 10-million year old San Andreas Fault, as well 
as one of the most significant cultural sites in California, at Painted 
Rock. In the spring, the Plain exhibits a lavish wildflower display of 
goldfields, purple

[[Page 9579]]

owls, lupine, and the rare California jewel flower.

    Dated: November 27, 2006.
Ron Huntsinger,
Field Manager, Bakersfield Field Office.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on February 26, 2007.
[FR Doc. E7-3640 Filed 3-1-07; 8:45 am]
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