30016 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 105 /Tuesday, June 2, 1998 / Notices

project area for the creation of nesting

habitat for the California least tern; (5)

construct levees within the river’s

effective flow area in order to maintain

the existing sediment flows within the

river and to the beach; (6) identify

appropriate sites for dredge disposal; (7)

restore native habitat to non-tidal areas

surrounding the wetland restoration

project; and (8) create public access

trails and opportunities for

interpretation.

Alternatives

Over the past several years various

informal meetings have been held

involving local, state, and federal

agencies, as well as members of the

public, to discuss various alternatives

for achieving the overall project goal of

restoring the coastal wetlands at the San

Dieguioto Lagoon. As a result of that

effort, a number of alternatives have

been developed which include ‘‘No

Action,’’ Reduced Levee, Mixed Habitat,

Maximum Tidal Basin, and Maximum

Salt Marsh. The Mixed Habitat

Alternative is the SCE proposed

alternative. As a result of the scoping

process, it is possible that these

preliminary project alternatives will be

further refined and/or additional

alternatives considered. Once identified,

the final alternatives will be carried

forward into detailed analysis pursuant

to the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42

U.S.C. 432 et seq.) and the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of

1970, as amended (Public Resources

Code, Section 21000–21177).

Scoping Process

The Service and the JPA are preparing

a joint Environmental Impact

Statement/Report (EIS/R) to address

potential impacts associated with

implementing their respective

discretionary actions for the proposed

project. The Service is the Lead Federal

Agency for compliance with NEPA for

the Federal aspects of the project, and

the JPA is the Lead State Agency for

compliance with CEQA for the nonFederal aspects of the project. The Draft

EIS/R (DEIS/R) document will

incorporate public concerns in the

analysis of impacts associated with the

Proposed Action and associated project

alternatives. The DEIS/R will be sent out

for a minimum 45-day public review

period, during which time both written

and verbal comments will be solicited

on the adequacy of the document. The

Final EIS/R (FEIS/R) will address the

comments received on the DEIS/R

during public review, and will be

furnished to all who commented on the

DEIS/R, and made available to anyone

that requests a copy during a minimum

30-day period following publication of

the FEIS/R. The final step involves, for

the Federal EIS, preparing a Record of

Decision (ROD) and, for the State EIR,

certifying the EIR and adopting a

Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

Plan. The ROD is a concise summary of

the decisions made by the Service (in

cooperation with the Corps) from among

the alternatives presented in the FEIS/

R. A certified EIR indicates that the

environmental document has been

completed in compliance with CEQA,

that the decision-making body of the

lead agency reviewed and considered

the FEIR prior to approving the project;

and that the FEIR reflects the lead

agency’s independent judgment and

analysis.

A public scoping meeting to solicit

public comment on the proposed action

and alternatives will be held on

Monday, June 15, 1998 at 7:00 pm, in

the Solana Beach City Council

Chambers, 635 South Highway 101,

Solana Beach, California.

Dated: May 28, 1998.

Thomas Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 98–14661 Filed 6–1–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT–020–08–1310–00]

Notice of Intent To Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), Montana, Miles City Field

Office, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: An Environmental

Assessment and Resource Management

Plan Amendment is being prepared for

the proposed Makoshika Area of

Management Concern in Big Dry

Resource Area, Montana. The document

will amend the Big Dry Resource

Management Plan, approved April 22,

1996. It will be based on existing

statutory requirements and will meet

the requirements of the Federal Land

Policy and Management Act of 1976.

The document will guide future

management decisions for BLMadministered lands and minerals in

Makoshika State Park and is scheduled

for completion by August, 1998.

DATES: Any nominations, issues,

concerns, alternatives, or comments

should be submitted to BLM by July 2,

1998.

ADDRESSES: All submissions should be

sent to the following address: BLM,

Aden Seidlitz, Associate Field Office

Manager, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles

City, MT, 59301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Aden Seidlitz, (406) 233–2816.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Big

Dry Resource Management Plan and

Environmental Impact Statement

analyzed the impacts of managing the

Makoshika Area of Management

Concern under a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) between BLM

and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and

Parks. In the Record of the Decision for

the RMP, BLM approved Makoshika’s

management for surface and mineral

resources. The MOU expires in June,

1998. BLM would like to consider

applying more restrictions to oil and gas

in the area in a new MOU between

BLM, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks,

and the State of Montana. If approved,

these new restrictions would be an

amendment to the Big Dry Resource

Area Management Plan. A preliminary

environmental assessment and MOU is

being prepared and will be available for

public review.

The public is asked to assist BLM in

the identification of issues (problems,

concerns). Alternatives developed will

present a range of feasible management

actions. The ‘‘No Action’’ alternative

will be included in accordance with 43

CFR 1502.14(d) and will represent the

continuation of existing management.

Meetings for management of the area

are not yet scheduled. If meetings are

scheduled, the public will be notified

through the local media.

Development of this document will

require involvement from professionals

from these disciplines: archaeology,

economics, forestry, realty, geology,

petroleum engineering, recreation, soil

science and wildlife management. The

public will be provided an opportunity

to protest BLM’s proposed decision

when the Environmental Analysis and

RMP Amendment are issued.

Availability of this document will be

announced in local newspapers.

The BLM is seeking information and

comments from individuals,

organizations and agencies who may be

interested or affected by BLM’s

proposals. Specifically, we request any

issues, concerns or alternatives that

should be addressed in the plan.

This notice meets the requirements of

43 CFR 1610.2 and 43 CFR 1610.5–5.

Dated: May 22, 1998.

Aden Seidlitz,

Associate Field Office Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–14555 Filed 6–1–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P