Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 12 / Tuesday, January 20, 1998 / Notices 2997

letters of comment, input recorded

during meetings). If requested under the

Freedom of Information Act by a private

citizen or organization, the Service may

provide copies of such information.

The environmental review of this

project will be conducted in accordance

with the requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), NEPA

Regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508), other

appropriate Federal laws and

regulations, Executive Order 12996, the

National Wildlife Refuge System

Improvement Act of 1997, and Service

policies and procedures for compliance

with those regulations.

We estimate that the draft

environmental documents will be

available for review in March 1999.

Dated: January 9, 1998.

Ralph O. Morgenweck,

Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 98–1204 Filed 1–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Technical/

Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the

Spruce-Fir Moss Spider for Review and

Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Document availability

and public comment period.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of the

technical/agency draft recovery plan for

the spruce-fir moss spider (Microhexura

montivaga). Historically, at least five

different mountain peaks in the

Southern Appalachian Mountains of

western North Carolina and eastern

Tennessee are known to have supported

populations of the spruce-fir moss

spider. Today, however, only two small

relict populations of the spider are

known to survive—one on Grandfather

Mountain in North Carolina and one on

Mount LeConte in Tennessee. The

typical habitat of the spruce-fir moss

spider is found in well-drained moss

mats growing on rocks and boulders in

well-shaded situations in mature highelevation conifer forests dominated by

Fraser fir (Abier fraseri) and scattered

red spruce (Picea rubens). These factors

are deteriorating rapidly, primarily due

to infestation and the resulting mortality

of the fir by the balsam woolly adelgid

(an exotic insect pest) and possibly air

population and other factors now yet

fully understood. The spider requires

situations of high and constant

humidity, and the loss of forest canopy,

leading to increased light and decreased

moisture on the forest floor (resulting in

desiccation of the moss mats), appears

to be the major threat to its continued

existence. Unless new populations are

found or reestablished and existing

population are maintained, this species

will remain in jeopardy of extinction for

the foreseeable future. The Service

solicits review and comments from the

public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on this technical/

agency draft recovery plan must be

received on or before March 23, 1998 to

receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the technical/agency draft recovery plan

may obtain a copy by contacting the

Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 160 Zillicoa Street,

Asheville, North Carolina 28801

(Telephone 704/258–3939). Written

comments and materials regarding the

plan should be addressed to the Field

Supervisor at the above address.

Comments and materials received are

available on request for public

inspection, by appointment, during

normal business hours at the above

address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

John Fridell, Fish and Wildlife

Biologist, at the address and telephone

number shown in the ADDRESSES section

(Ext. 225).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring endangered or threatened

animals and plants to the point where

they are again secure, self-sustaining

members of their ecosystems is a

primary goal of the Service’s

endangered species program. To help

guide the recovery effort, the Service is

working to prepare recovery plans for

most of the listed species native to the

United States. Recovery plans describe

actions considered necessary for the

conservation of the species, establish

criteria for recognizing the recovery

levels for downlisting or delisting them,

and estimate time and cost for

implementing the recovery measures

needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973,

as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

(Act), requires the development of

recovery plans for listed species unless

such a plan would not promote the

conservation of a particular species.

Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in

1988, requires that a public notice and

an opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery

plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented

during a public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised

recovery plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will also take these

comments into account in the course of

implementing approved recovery plans.

The primary species considered in

this draft recovery plan is the spruce-fir

moss spider (Microhexura montivaga).

The area of emphasis for recovery

actions includes the Southern

Appalachian Mountains of western

North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Habitat protection, reintroduction, and

the preservation of genetic material are

the major objectives of this recovery

plan.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments

on the recovery plan described. All

comments received by the date specified

above will be considered prior to

approval of the final plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is section 4(f)

of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C.

1533(f).

Dated: January 6, 1998.

Brian P. Cole,

State Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98–1232 Filed 1–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

Closure to Collection of Petrified Wood

Order Established; Folsom Field

Office, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Establishment of petrified wood

collecting closure order within public

lands managed by the Folsom Field

Office, California.

SUMMARY: Certain described public

lands administered by the Folsom Field

Office in the vicinity of the

communities of Dutch Flat and Gold

Run are hereby closed to the collection

of petrified wood. This closure will be

in effect on all the below described

public lands:

Mount Diablo Meridian, California

T. 15 N., R. 10 E.,

Section 3: Lots 4,5;

Section 4: Lot 19;

Section 9: SWSE; Lots 3,4,5,7,8,9; MS1483;

Section 16: N/2NE, SWNE.

Totalling 320.29 acres, more or less.
2998 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 12 / Tuesday, January 20, 1998 / Notices

The following persons are exempted

from the closure: Any person who is in

possession of a valid Paleontological

Collecting Permit issued by BLM for the

subject area, or who is acting as an

authorized agent of an institution

holding such a permit.

DATES: This order is in effect and will

remain in effect until amended or

canceled.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Deane Swickard, Manager, Folsom Field

Office, Bureau of Land Management, 63

Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630; (916)

985–4474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This order

is necessary for protection of

uncommon plant macrofossils having

significant scientific value, a local

resource that has been seriously

depleted by unregulated collecting.

Authority for Closure orders is

provided under 43 CFR 8364.1. Any

person who fails to comply with this

closure or restriction order shall be

subject to the penalties provided in 43

CFR 8360.0–7. Violations of this closure

or restriction order are punishable by a

fine not to exceed $100,000 and/or

imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.

Any petrified wood collected in

violation of this order, shall be subject

to seizure, forfeiture and disposal.

Dated: January 8, 1998.

D. K. Swickard,

Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–1188 Filed 1–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT–060–08–1610–00]

Notice of Intent to Initiate Plan

Amendments and Associated

Environmental Assessment for the

Grand Resource Management Plan

(RMP) and the San Juan RMP

SUMMARY: Since the completion of the

Grand and San Juan RMPs in

southeastern Utah, changes in the scope

of land uses, public expectations, and

new data has resulted in the need to reexamine certain current decisions in the

RMP that may no longer provide for

appropriate resource use or protection

in the Lockhart Basin area.

ADDRESSES: Moab Field Office, 82 East

Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the

completion of the Grand RMP in 1985

and the San Juan RMP in 1991,

extensive changes have occurred in the

Lockhart Basin. Increased public

awareness, sensitivity and expectations

regarding resource use and protection

has been evolving. The scope of

activities and interest in certain types of

resource use, such as recreation uses,

and oil and gas industry interest

including exploration and possible

production has exceeded considerations

and projections that were made in the

associated Environmental Impact

Statements of the above mentioned

RMPs. Therefore, in accordance with 43

CFR 1610.5–5-Amendments, the field

offices would like to request public

involvement in the possible amendment

of the subject RMPs. Currently, three

preliminary issues have been identified

that are proposed to be addressed

during the plan(s) amendment process.

Issue One is the need to review

current oil and gas categories to

determine if changes are necessary to

protect sensitive resources. Issue Two

includes the need to determine if

current management decisions can

continue to provide necessary

protection to important wildlife

populations also located in the Lockhart

Basin. Issue Three includes the need to

review current management decisions

regarding the protection of sensitive

visual resources in light of the increased

potential land uses also in the Lockhart

Basin Area.

No additional planning criteria

beyond those previously stated in the

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

for the above RMPs are planned at this

time.

A complete inter-disciplinary team

will be utilized for the completion of the

proposed amendments and associated

environmental assessment.

The Field Offices would like to take

this opportunity to invite the public to

comment on the above preliminary

issues or any others that may need to be

addressed for the Lockhart Basin Area.

Public comments should be submitted

by February 19, 1998 in order that they

may be appropriately considered in the

plan amendment process. All comments

or concerns should be sent to Daryl

Trotter, Environmental Protection

Specialist at the address listed below.

Additional opportunities to facilitate

public input will be offered by holding

open public meetings at the following

locations:

Moab Field Office; Moab, Utah on

February 4,1998 from 6:00 pm to 8:00

pm and;

Monticello Field Office, Monticello,

Utah on February 5, 1998 to 6:00 pm

to 8:00 pm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Daryl Trotter, Environmental Protection

Specialist for the Moab Field Office, 82

East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532 at the

following telephone number: (435) 259–

61111 or fax (435) 259–2100.

Dated: January 13, 1998.

G. William Lamb,

Utah State Director.

[FR Doc. 98–1200 Filed 1–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–08–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA–350–1020–00]

Notice of Resource Advisory Council

Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Northeast California Resource Advisory

Council, Susanville, California.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authorities in

the Federal Advisory Committees Act

(Pub. L. 92–463) and the Federal Land

Policy and Management Act (Public

Law 94–579), the U.S. Bureau of Land

Management’s Northeast California

Resource Advisory Council will meet

Friday, Feb. 20, beginning at 8 a.m. at

the Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle

Lake Field Office, 2950 Riverside Dr.,

Susanville, CA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Beginning

at 8:30 a.m., members will participate in

an interactive teleconference with

officials from the Department of the

Interior and the BLM. Members will

then discuss projects upcoming for the

BLM’s Eagle Lake, Alturas and Surprise

field offices and determine advisory

council involvement. Public comments

will be taken at 1 p.m.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact

Jeff Fontana, public affairs officer, at

(530) 257–5381.

John Bosworth,

Acting Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–1201 Filed 1–16–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT–020–1220–00]

Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), Montana, Miles City District,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The Miles City District

Resource Advisory Council will have a

meeting Wednesday, February 11, 1998