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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41108-41111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17751]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[18X 1109AF LLUT930000 L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0640000]

Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National 
Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and 
Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded 
From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated 
Environmental Impact Statement

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, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have 
prepared Draft Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase, 
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and Federal lands excluded 
from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 and by this notice are 
announcing the opening of the public comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS within 90 days of the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The 
BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public 
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media releases and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS by 
either of the following methods:

 Website: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc Mail: 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 84741, Attn: Matt Betenson

    Copies of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS are available at the following 
locations:

 Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200 
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
 Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 West Main, 
Escalante, Utah
 Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah

The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS and accompanying background documents are 
available on the ePlanning website at: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Betenson, Associate Monument 
Manager, telephone (435) 644-1200; address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 
84741; email [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during 
normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a 
week, to leave a message or question for the above individual. You will 
receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump 
signed Presidential Proclamation 9682 modifying the boundaries of the 
GSENM as established by Proclamation 6920 to exclude from designation 
and reservation approximately 861,974 acres of land. Lands that remain 
part of the GSENM are included in three units, known as the Grand 
Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and are reserved 
for the care and management of the objects of historic and scientific 
interest described in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation 
9682. Lands that are excluded from the Monument boundaries are now 
referred to as the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (KEPA) and are managed 
in accordance with the BLM's multiple-use mandate.
    The planning area is located in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah, 
and encompasses approximately 1.86 million acres of public land. For 
the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units, 
this planning effort, is needed to identify goals, objectives, and 
management actions necessary for the conservation, protection, 
restoration, or enhancement of the resources, objects, and values 
identified in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation 9682. For 
lands excluded from the monument, this planning effort is needed to 
determine to identify goals, objectives, and management actions 
necessary to ensure that public lands and their various resource values 
are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and 
future needs of the American people.
    The entire planning area is currently managed by the BLM and under 
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan (BLM 
1999), as amended. This planning effort would replace the existing 
Monument Management Plan with four new RMPs.

[[Page 41109]]

    Within the Draft EIS, the BLM is also considering alternatives 
related to livestock Grazing on 318,000 acres of land within the Glen 
Canyon National Recreation Area, 65,500 acres in the Kanab Field Office 
and 2,300 acres in the Arizona Strip Field Office. The EIS includes 
information regarding the environmental consequences of implementing 
various livestock grazing management actions on resources in these 
areas. At the completion of this planning process, the National Park 
Service, who is cooperating with the BLM on preparation of the NEPA 
analysis, may adopt the EIS and prepare a separate decision related to 
livestock grazing for lands under NPS authority.
    The BLM reviewed public scoping comments to identify planning 
issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the 
scope of analysis in the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. Issues identified 
include management of recreation and access; paleontological and 
cultural resources; livestock grazing; mineral resources; and wildlife, 
water, vegetation, and soil resources. This planning effort also 
considers management of lands with wilderness characteristics and 
designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).
    The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS evaluate four alternatives in detail. 
Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is a continuation of 
existing decisions in the Monument Management Plan. Alternative B 
generally focuses on protection of resources (e.g., wildlife, 
vegetation, cultural, etc.) while providing for targeted resource use 
(e.g., rights-of-way, travel, mineral development). Alternative C 
generally represents a balance of resource protection and resource use. 
Alternative D generally focuses on maximizing resource use (e.g., 
rights-of-way, minerals development, livestock grazing) while still 
providing for resource protection as required by applicable 
regulations, laws, policies, plans, and guidance, including protection 
of Monument objects within the GSENM Units. The BLM has identified 
Alternative D as the preferred alternative for purposes of public 
comment and review. Identification of this alternative, however, does 
not represent final agency direction, and the Proposed RMPs/Final EIS 
may include management actions described in the other analyzed 
alternatives.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), the BLM is required to publish a 
notice in the Federal Register listing each ACEC proposed and 
specifying the resource use limitations which would occur if the ACEC 
were formally designated. This notice announces a concurrent public 
comment period for potential ACECs. There are no ACECs under 
Alternative A. There are 14 potential ACECs under Alternative B 
(totaling 308,044 acres), 5 potential ACECs under Alternative C 
(totaling 130,997 acres), and no potential ACECs under Alternative D. 
Pertinent information regarding ACECs, including proposed designation 
acreage and resource use limitations are included below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Relevant and
        Potential ACEC          Alternative B    Alternative C      important        Resource use limitations
                                   (acres)          (acres)           values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvey Wash...................          30,460  Not Designated..  Historic and      Prohibit exclusive
                                                                  Cultural         commercial mineral material
                                                                  Values.          sites.
                                                                                   Prohibit community
                                                                                   mineral material pits larger
                                                                                   than five acres in size.
                                                                                   Surface facilities
                                                                                   incident to underground
                                                                                   mining would be required to
                                                                                   avoid known and document
                                                                                   archaeological sites.
                                                                                   Stipulations would be
                                                                                   necessary to mitigate adverse
                                                                                   effects of subsidence.
                                                                                   NSO for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing.
                                                                                   No rock climbing
                                                                                   allowed within 100 meters of
                                                                                   archaeological structures.
                                                                                   No casual use
                                                                                   collection of fossils or
                                                                                   other paleontological
                                                                                   materials.
                                                                                   Require inventories
                                                                                   of all paleontological
                                                                                   resources prior to surface
                                                                                   disturbing activities to
                                                                                   document significant
                                                                                   invertebrate and
                                                                                   paleobotanical fossil sites,
                                                                                   not just vertebrates.
Bulldog Bench................             361  Not Designated..  Historic and      No casual use
                                                                  Cultural         collection of fossils or
                                                                  Values.          other paleontological
                                                                                   materials.
                                                                                   Require inventories
                                                                                   of all paleontological
                                                                                   resources prior to surface
                                                                                   disturbing activities to
                                                                                   document significant
                                                                                   invertebrate and
                                                                                   paleobotanical fossil sites,
                                                                                   not just vertebrates.
Butler Valley................          15,899  Not Designated..  Scenic and        Manage as VRM Class
                                                                  Natural          II.
                                                                  Process or       No collection of BLM
                                                                  System.          or State sensitive plants
                                                                                   without a research permit.
                                                                                   Prohibit vegetation
                                                                                   treatments that are likely to
                                                                                   harm, or will not benefit,
                                                                                   special status species plants
                                                                                   in known suitable habitat.
Circle Cliffs................          26,706  26,706..........  Historic and      Prohibit exclusive
                                                                  Cultural,        commercial mineral material
                                                                  Scenic, and      sites.
                                                                  Fish and         Prohibit community
                                                                  Wildlife         mineral material pits larger
                                                                  Resources.       than five acres in size.
                                                                                   NSO for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing.
                                                                                   No Casual Collection
                                                                                   of petrified Wood.
                                                                                   Avoid surface
                                                                                   disturbance and placement of
                                                                                   facilities near
                                                                                   concentrations of petrified
                                                                                   wood or in situ logs.
Cockscomb East...............          42,182  32,683..........  Fish and          No collection of BLM
                                                                  Wildlife         or State sensitive plants
                                                                  Resources,       without a research permit.
                                                                  Natural          Prohibit vegetation
                                                                  Process or       treatments that are likely to
                                                                  Systems,         harm, or will not benefit,
                                                                  Scenic, and      special status species plants
                                                                  Historic and     in known suitable habitat.
                                                                  Cultural Value.  Manage as VRM Class
                                                                                   II.
                                                                                   No casual use
                                                                                   collection of fossils or
                                                                                   other paleontological
                                                                                   materials.
                                                                                   Require inventories
                                                                                   of all paleontological
                                                                                   resources prior to surface
                                                                                   disturbing activities to
                                                                                   document significant
                                                                                   invertebrate and
                                                                                   paleobotanical fossil sites,
                                                                                   not just vertebrates.
                                                                                   Do not designate new
                                                                                   OHV routes. OHV use limited
                                                                                   to designated routes.

[[Page 41110]]

 
Cockscomb West...............          40,476  40,476..........  Natural Process   Prohibit exclusive
                                                                  or Systems,      commercial mineral material
                                                                  Scenic, and      sites.
                                                                  Historic and     Prohibit community
                                                                  Cultural         mineral material pits larger
                                                                  Values.          than five acres in size.
                                                                                   NSO for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing (Alternative B).
                                                                                   CSU for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing (Alternative C).
                                                                                   Avoid vegetation
                                                                                   treatments that disturb soils
                                                                                   in previously untreated areas
                                                                                   that are either Semidesert
                                                                                   Shallow Loam (Pinyon-Juniper)
                                                                                   or Semidesert Shallow Gypsum
                                                                                   (Mormontea) Ecological Sites;
                                                                                   Limit method to hand-thinning
                                                                                   (lop and scatter).
                                                                                   No collection of BLM
                                                                                   or State sensitive plants
                                                                                   without a research permit.
                                                                                   Manage as VRM Class
                                                                                   II.
Collet Top...................           9,218  Not Designated..  Historic and      Prohibit exclusive
                                                                  Cultural         commercial mineral material
                                                                  Values,          sites.
                                                                  Scenic, and      Prohibit community
                                                                  Natural          mineral material pits larger
                                                                  Process or       than five acres in size.
                                                                  Systems.         NSO for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing.
                                                                                   Surface facilities
                                                                                   incident to underground
                                                                                   mining would be required to
                                                                                   avoid known and document
                                                                                   archaeological sites.
                                                                                   Stipulations would be
                                                                                   necessary to mitigate adverse
                                                                                   effects of subsidence.
                                                                                   No rock climbing
                                                                                   allowed within 100 meters of
                                                                                   archaeological structures.
                                                                                   Manage as VRM Class
                                                                                   II.
                                                                                   No collection of BLM
                                                                                   or State sensitive plants
                                                                                   without a research permit.
Henderson/Pardner............          12,259  Not Designated..  Scenic and        Manage as VRM Class
                                                                  Historic and     II.
                                                                  Cultural         No casual use
                                                                  Values.          collection of fossils or
                                                                                   other paleontological
                                                                                   materials.
                                                                                   Require inventories
                                                                                   of all paleontological
                                                                                   resources prior to surface
                                                                                   disturbing activities to
                                                                                   document significant
                                                                                   invertebrate and
                                                                                   paleobotanical fossil sites,
                                                                                   not just vertebrates.
Hole in the Rock Trail.......          61,064  Not Designated..  Historic and      Manage all areas
                                                                  Cultural         outside WSAs VRM Class II.
                                                                  Values and       Prohibit exclusive
                                                                  Natural          commercial mineral material
                                                                  Process or       sites.
                                                                  System.          Prohibit community
                                                                                   mineral material pits larger
                                                                                   than 5 acres in size.
                                                                                   NSO for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing.
                                                                                   No collection of BLM
                                                                                   or State sensitive plants
                                                                                   without a research permit.
Paria River..................             180  Not Designated..  Scenic,           Manage all areas
                                                                  Historic and     outside WSAs VRM Class II.
                                                                  Cultural         Closed or limited to
                                                                  Values, Fish     designated routes.
                                                                  Wildlife,
                                                                  Natural
                                                                  Process or
                                                                  System.
Scorpion Flat/Dry Fork.......          30,691  Not Designated..  Scenic.........   Manage all areas
                                                                                   outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Straight Cliffs/Fifty Mile             21,357  12,270..........  Scenic and        Prohibit exclusive
 Bench.                                                           Historical and   commercial mineral material
                                                                  Cultural         sites.
                                                                  Values.          Prohibit community
                                                                                   mineral material pits larger
                                                                                   than five acres in size.
                                                                                   NSO for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing (Alternative B).
                                                                                   CSU for fluid mineral
                                                                                   leasing (Alternative C).
                                                                                   Surface facilities
                                                                                   incident to underground
                                                                                   mining would be required to
                                                                                   avoid known and document
                                                                                   archaeological sites.
                                                                                   Stipulations would be
                                                                                   necessary to mitigate adverse
                                                                                   effects of subsidence.
                                                                                   No rock climbing
                                                                                   allowed within 100 meters of
                                                                                   archaeological structures.
                                                                                   Manage as VRM Class
                                                                                   II.
Tibbet Head..................          19,079  19,079..........  Historical and    No collection of BLM
                                                                  Cultural         or State sensitive plants
                                                                  Values and       without a research permit. No
                                                                  Natural          casual use collection of
                                                                  process or       fossils or other
                                                                  System.          paleontological materials.
                                                                                   Require inventories
                                                                                   of all paleontological
                                                                                   resources prior to surface
                                                                                   disturbing activities to
                                                                                   document significant
                                                                                   invertebrate and
                                                                                   paleobotanical fossil sites,
                                                                                   not just vertebrates.
Wahweap Hoodoos..............             130  Not Designated..  Natural Systems   Recommend withdrawing
                                                                  or Process.      from mineral entry.
                                                                                   No rock climbing or
                                                                                   rappelling within 100 meters
                                                                                   of any hoodoo formation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to 
portions of the Southern Kaiparowits in the lands excluded from the 
monument is included in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. As required by 43 CFR 
3461.2-1(a)(2), the public is invited to comment on the results of the 
application of the criteria and the process used to derive these 
results.
    BLM Utah is soliciting comments on the entire Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. 
Please note that public comments and information submitted including 
names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit 
comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
addresses provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice during 
regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, 
except holidays.
    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 may 
request to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

[[Page 41111]]

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Edwin L. Roberson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-17751 Filed 8-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P
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