Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 1998 / Notices 2411

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO–100–08–1820–00]

Use of Science for Improving

Management of Public Lands and

Resources

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Announcement of public

meeting.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) will conduct a

public meeting on the use of science for

improving the management of the

Nation’s public lands and resources.

The public meeting will focus on

science in support of rangeland

ecosystem management. The purposes

of the public meeting are to discuss

BLM’s current use of available scientific

knowledge and information and to

obtain public views on current and

future research needs and on desirable

science initiatives. The public meeting

is part of an ongoing effort to base

decisions concerning the conservation

and use of our public lands and

resources on the best available science.

DATES: BLM will hold the public

meeting on January 26, 1998, from 9:00

a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time.

Submit written comments no later

than close of business January 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: BLM will hold the public

meeting in Room 7000–B of the

Department of the Interior Building,

1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC.

Send written comments to Bureau of

Land Management, WO–100, 1849 C

Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. See

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for

electronic access and filing address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bruce Van Haveren, (303) 236–0161, or

John Haugh, (202) 452–5071.

Individuals who use a

telecommunications device for the deaf

(TDD) may call the Federal Information

Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339

between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern

time, Monday through Friday, excluding

Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Meeting

In an effort to ensure that BLM bases

its resource management decisions on

the best available science, BLM is

conducting a public meeting on the use

of science for improving the

management of America’s public lands

and resources. BLM believes that a

public meeting will facilitate the

interactive exchange of ideas among the

attending interested parties and BLM.

The public meeting is not intended to

seek or obtain a consensus on any

particular issue. BLM expects the

parties to include representatives of

Federal, State, and local government

agencies; universities; private research

entities; and interested individuals.

The specific purposes of the public

meeting are to—

• Discuss BLM’s current use of

available scientific knowledge and

information, that is, what information is

BLM currently applying and how does

it enter into decision-making processes;

• Discuss current and future research

needs, including whether ongoing

research activities should be adjusted to

meet changing needs and how to

anticipate future research needs; and

• Discuss the need for additional

science initiatives.

The public meeting will be conducted

as follows: A BLM representative will

give a 15-minute summary that

describes current and planned research

activities. After the summary, the BLM

representative will lead an interactive

discussion. If time remains, participants

will have an opportunity to make

closing remarks. BLM will make a

transcript of the public meeting and will

make the transcript available to

interested parties who contact one of the

individuals listed under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. Public Comment Procedures

Participation in the public meeting is

not a prerequisite for submittal of

written comments. BLM invites written

comments from all interested parties.

Your written comments should be

specific and explain the reason for any

recommendation. BLM appreciates any

and all comments, but those most useful

and likely to influence decisions on

BLM’s use of science are those that are

either supported by quantitative

information or studies or those that

include citations to and analyses of

applicable laws and regulations. Except

for comments provided in electronic

format, commenters should submit two

copies of their written comments, where

practicable. BLM will not necessarily

consider comments received after the

time indicated under the DATES section

or at locations other than that listed in

the ADDRESSES section.

In the event there is a request under

the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

for a copy of your comments, we intend

to make them available in their entirety,

including your name and address (or

your e-mail address if you file

electronically). However, if you do not

want us to release your name and

address (or e-mail address) in response

to a FOIA request, you must state this

prominently at the beginning of your

comment. We will honor your wish 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, will be

released in their entirety, including

names and addresses (or e-mail

addresses).

Electronic Access and Filing Address:

Commenters may transmit comments

electronically via the Internet to:

bvanhave@blm.gov. Please submit

comments as an ASCII file and avoid the

use of special characters or encryption.

Please include the identifier ‘‘Science’’

in the subject of your message and your

name and address in the body of your

message.

Dated: January 9, 1998.

Tom Fry,

Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management.

[FR Doc. 98–1034 Filed 1–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID–010–5700–10; IDI–31768]

Notice of Realty Action; Recreation

and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act

Classification in Boise County, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Classification for recreation and

public purposes lease with option for

conveyance of public land in Boise

County.

SUMMARY: The following public lands

adjacent to the community of Idaho

City, Boise County, Idaho have been

examined and found suitable for lease

with an option for sale upon proper

development as a public park under the

provisions of the Recreation and Public

Purposes Act, as amended (43 U.S.C.

869 et seq.):

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 6 N., R. 5 E., section 26; Lots 10 and 14,

part of Lot 13, and NE1⁄4SE1⁄4.

Containing 56.93 acres more or less.

Upon publication of this notice in the

Federal Register, the lands will be

segregated from all forms of

appropriation under the public land

laws, including the general mining laws,

except for lease or conveyance under

the Recreation and Public Purposes Act

and leasing under the mineral leasing

laws. Any adverse comments will be
2412 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 1998 / Notices

reviewed by the District Manager. In the

absence of any adverse comments, the

classification will become effective and

the land leased to the City of Idaho City

for a public park.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The segregation is

effective January 15, 1998. The

classification will be effective March 16,

1998.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before March 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning the

classification, lease or conveyance

should be sent to: Area Manager,

Cascade Resource Area, 3948

Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Effie Schultsmeier, Cascade Area Realty

Specialist, (208) 384–3357.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

action is in response to an application

by the City of Idaho City for a public

park. The lands are not needed for

Federal purposes and are needed by the

City for a public park. Lease of the lands

will not be authorized until after the

classification becomes effective. Lease

of the lands for recreational or public

purpose use would be in the public

interest, and will be subject to the

following terms, conditions, and

reservations:

1. Provisions of the Recreation and

Public Purposes Act and to all

applicable regulations of the Secretary

of the Interior.

2. All valid existing rights

documented on the official public land

records at the time of lease/patent

issuance.

3. All minerals shall be reserved to

the United States, together with the

right to prospect for, mine, and remove

the minerals.

4. Any other reservations that the

authorized officer determines

appropriate to ensure public access and

proper management of Federal lands

and interests therein. Lease of the lands

will not be authorized until after the

classification becomes effective.

Steven W. Moore,

Acting Cascade Area Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–1012 Filed 1–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–GG–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Draft General Management Plan/

Environmental Impact Statement for

Oregon Caves National Monument,

Oregon

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft

Environmental Impact Statement.

SUMMARY: This notice announces the

availability of a draft general

management plan (GMP) and

environmental impact statement (EIS)

for Oregon Caves National Monument,

Oregon. This notice also announces

public open houses for the purpose of

receiving comments on the draft

document. All comments received will

become part of the public record and

copies of comments, including names,

addresses and telephone numbers

provided by respondents, may be

released for public inspection.

DATES: Comments on the draft GMP/EIS

should be received no later than March

13, 1998. Public meetings will be held

as follows:

February 9, 1998, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the

Illinois Valley Senior Center, 520 East

River Street, Cave Junction, OR; and

February 10, 1998, from 2:00 to 4:00

p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the

Grants Pass City Council Chambers,

101 NW ‘‘A’’ Street, Grants Pass, OR.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft

GMP/EIS should be sent to the

Superintendent, Oregon Caves National

Monument, 19000 Caves Highway, Cave

Junction, OR 97523. Public reading

copies of the draft GMP/EIS will be

available for review at the following

locations, as well as other local libraries

around the Oregon Caves National

Monument area: Office of Public Affairs,

National Park Service, Department of

the Interior, 18th and C Streets, NW,

Washington, DC 20240, telephone: (202)

208–6843; Columbia Cascades Support

Office, National Park Service, Room

650, 909 First Avenue, Seattle, WA

98104–1060, telephone: (206) 220–4154;

Oregon Caves National Monument,

19000 Caves Highway, Cave Junction,

OR 97523, telephone: (541) 592–2100;

Office of Public Affairs, National Park

Service, Pacific West Region, 600

Harrison Street, Suite 600, San

Francisco, CA 94107–1372, telephone:

(415) 427–1300; Technical Information

Center, National Park Service, Denver

Service Center, 12795 W. Alameda

Parkway, Denver, CO 80225–0287,

telephone: (303) 969–2534; Portland

Public Library, 801 SW. 10th Avenue,

Portland, OR 97205 , telephone: (503)

248–5123.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This draft

GMP/EIS describes and analyzes the

environmental consequences of four

alternative strategies for guiding future

management of the national monument.

The major subject areas are natural and

cultural resources, visitor services, and

park management and operations.

Alternative A is the ‘‘no action’’

alternative, which means a continuation

of the existing policies and programs.

Alternative B is the ‘‘minimum

requirements’’ alternative and describes

those minimum actions that are

required for the safe and effective

operation of the park. Included is a

3,310-acre protected area within

adjacent National Forest lands to protect

cave ecology and the public water

supply. Alternative C (the proposed

action and preferred alternative)

emphasizes enhanced protection of the

monument resources and visitor

experiences through park-led cave tours,

an on-site visitor center in an adaptively

reused historic building, establishment

of a caves reservation system, and

enhancement of non-motorized trails in

a protected forest setting. It also

provides for increased protection of the

cave hydrology, surface forest

environment, and public water supply

through a 3,310-acre addition to the

monument from adjacent National

Forest lands. Alternative D emphasizes

increased visitor services and recreation

opportunities combined with increased

watershed protection. A 2,373-acre

addition and a 937-acre protected area

are also part of the alternative. The draft

EIS evaluates the potential

environmental impacts associated with

the strategies comprising the four

alternatives. The official responsible for

a decision on the proposed action is the

Regional Director, Pacific West Region,

National Park Service.

Dated: January 8, 1998.

Charlotte A. Munson,

Acting Superintendent, Columbia Cascades

Support Office.

[FR Doc. 98–1018 Filed 1–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Glen Echo Park Management Plan/

Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of scoping meeting/open

house for the Glen Echo Park

Management Plan/Environmental

Assessment.

SUMMARY: This notice announces an

upcoming scoping meeting/open house

for the Glen Echo Park Management

Plan and the intent to publish an

environmental assessment in

association with the management plan.

DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, February 3,

1998, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Clara Barton Community

Center, 7425 MacArthur Boulevard,

Cabin John, Maryland.