17570 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 1995 / Notices

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary Bloom, Team Leader, (406) 232–

7000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An ACEC

is an area within the public lands where

special management attention is

required to protect important historic,

cultural or scenic values, fish and

wildlife resources or other natural

systems, or to protect life and safety

from natural hazards.

In 1992, during the public

participation phase on BLM’s Draft

Miles City District Oil and Gas RMP/EIS

Amendment, the Sierra Club and The

Wilderness Society proposed six areas

for ACEC designation: Fossil Cycad,

Pryor Mountains, Pompeys Pillar,

Bridger Fossil-Red Dome, Finger Buttes,

and Deadhorse Badlands. When the

Record of Decision (1994) for the

document was issued, it was decided

that these areas and two additional areas

presented in the document: Meeteetse

Spires and Weatherman Draw, would be

analyzed in a separate Plan

Amendment.

The planning area for this Plan

Amendment consists of BLMadministered lands in proposed ACECs

within the Billings, Powder River and

South Dakota Resource Areas. The

purpose and need, analysis process and

request for nominations are included

below to solicit your participation in

this process.

The proposed action is to establish

areas that have special values and

require special management attention as

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern

and to protect and enhance these areas

to provide opportunities for scientific

research and recreation for the public.

The Federal Land Policy and

Management Act (FLPMA) requires that

priority be given to designation and

protection of ACECs. The ACEC

designation indicates to the public that

BLM recognizes the area as having

significant values and has established

special management measures to protect

those values. Designation also serves as

a reminder that significant values or

resources exist which must be

accommodated in future management

actions or land use proposals in or near

the ACEC.

The public is asked to assist BLM in

identification of ACECs. Nominations

must meet both the relevance and

importance criteria under the Code of

Federal Regulations: 43 CFR 1610.7–2(a)

to be considered as a potential ACEC.

The following are the nominations

already received by BLM and the

groups’ reasons for the nomination.

These areas have not yet been evaluated

by BLM for the areas’ relevance and

importance. The Pryor Mountains

(75,000 public surface acres, Billings

resource Area, Carbon County,

Montana) are proposed for ACEC

designation for the significant cultural

values, sensitive plants and animals,

exceptional scenic values, nationally

significant examples of natural

processes and nominated National

Natural Landmarks. The Red DomeBridger Fossil Area (3,528 public

surface acres, Billings Resource Area,

Carbon County, Montana) is proposed

for ACEC designation because of

paleontological phenomena, scenic

values, and landforms that exemplify a

natural system or process. A proposed

and a designated National Natural

Landmark located within the area

indicate national importance. Pompeys

Pillar (431 public surface acres, Billings

Resource Area, Yellowstone County,

Montana) is proposed for ACEC

designation because of significant

cultural values and national importance.

Deadhorse Badlands (40,000 public

surface acres, Powder River Resource

Area, Carter County, Montana) is

proposed for ACEC designation because

of scenic values, naturalness, fragile and

irreplaceable badlands features, and

size. Finger Buttes (3,800 public surface

acres, Powder River Resource Area,

Carter County, Montana) is proposed for

ACEC designation because of scenic

values and a rare plant species. The

Fossil Cycad Area (320 public surface

acres, South Dakota Resource Area, Fall

River County, South Dakota) was

formerly a national monument. It is

proposed for ACEC designation because

of the significant paleontological

resource and national importance.

The BLM previously nominated

Meeteetse Spires and Weatherman

Draw. Meeteetse Spires (960 public

surface acres, Billings Resource Area,

Carbon County, Montana) contains two

rare plants: Shoshonea pulvinata and

Townsendian spathulata. It is enjoyed

by the recreating public because of the

spectacular scenery. The BLM would

manage this scenic area to protect the

rare plants while allowing recreational

use by the public. Weatherman Draw

(2,250 public surface acres, Billings

Resource Area, Carbon County,

Montana) contains a unique cultural

resource important for scientific

research and of sacred value to Native

Americans. The BLM would manage the

area to preserve the site, and make it

available for scientific research and for

public interpretation.

The public is also requested to assist

the BLM in the identification of issues.

Examples of potential issues (problems,

concerns) are: mineral development,

recreational use and economics.

Alternatives will be developed to

present a range of feasible management

actions. The ‘‘No Action Alternative’’

will be included in accordance with 43

CFR 1502.14(d) and represent the

continuation of current management.

Meetings for the areas proposed for

ACEC designation are not yet

scheduled. If meetings are scheduled,

the public will be notified through local

news releases.

The documentation on BLM’s

evaluations of relevance and importance

will be made available at the BLM

Powder River, Billings and South

Dakota Resource Area offices.

Development of this document will

require involvement of professionals

from these disciplines: archaeology,

economics, forestry, geology, land use

planning, minerals, range management,

recreation, realty, soil science and

wildlife management. The public will

be provided the opportunity to review

and comment on issues and ACECs

developed by BLM and to identify new

issues and potential ACECs. A mailing

list is being developed and will be used

to communicate with and solicit

comments from local, state and federal

agencies, Native American tribes, the

Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society,

and the public at large which may be

affected by the plan. As the planning

process proceeds, these publics will be

encouraged to participate.

The BLM is seeking information from

individuals, organizations, and agencies

who may be interested or affected by the

proposals. Specifically, we request any

nominations, issues, concerns or

alternatives that should be addressed in

the plan.

This notice meets the requirements of

43 CFR 1610.7–2 for designation of

ACECs.

Darrel Pistorius,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 95–8489 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P

[CA–930–5410–00–B047; CACA 33365]

Conveyance of Mineral Interests in

California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of segregation.

SUMMARY: The private land described in

this notice, aggregating 40.00 acres, is

segregated and made unavailable for

filings under the general mining laws

and the mineral leasing laws to

determine its suitability for conveyance

of the reserved mineral interest

pursuant to section 209 of the Federal
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 66 / Thursday, April 6, 1995 / Notices 17571

Land Policy and Management Act of

October 21, 1976.

The mineral interests will be

conveyed in whole or in part upon

favorable mineral examination.

The purpose is to allow consolidation

of surface and subsurface of minerals

ownership where there are no known

mineral values or in those instances

where the reservation interferes with or

precludes appropriate nonmineral

development and such development is a

more beneficial use of the land than the

mineral development.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marcia Sieckman, California State

Office, Federal Office Building, 2800

Cottage Way, Room E–2845,

Sacramento, California 95825, (916)

979–2858. Serial No. CACA 33365.

T. 12 S., R. 3 W., San Bernardino Meridian,

Sec. 29, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4.

County—San Diego.

Minerals Reservation—All coal and other

minerals.

Upon publication of this Notice of

Segregation in the Federal Register as

provided in 43 CFR 2720.1–1(b), the

mineral interests owned by the United

States in the private lands covered by

the application shall be segregated to

the extent that they will not be subject

to appropriation under the mining and

mineral leasing laws. The segregative

effect of the application shall terminate

by publication of an opening order in

the Federal Register specifying the date

and time of opening; upon issuance of

a patent or other document of

conveyance to such mineral interest; or

two years from the date of publication

of this notice, whichever occurs first.

Dated: March 27, 1995.

David McIlnay,

Chief, Branch of Lands.

[FR Doc. 95–8417 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–P

[CO–932–4310–00; COC–55323]

Amendment to Proposed Withdrawal;

Opportunity for Public Meeting;

Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management proposes to amend their

withdrawal application for the Grand

Junction Archaeological Sites to include

an additional 360 acres for the Fruita

Paleontological site. This notice also

proposes to increase the term for the

entire withdrawal from 20 years to 50

years. This notice closes the land for up

to 2 years from surface entry and

mining. The land will remain open to

mineral leasing.

DATES: Comments on the proposed

withdrawal or request for public

meeting must be received on or before

July 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting

requests should be sent to the Colorado

State Director, Bureau of Land

Management, 2850 Youngfield Street,

Lakewood Colorado, 80215–7076.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doris E. Chelius, BLM Colorado State

Office, (303) 239–3706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March

21, 1995, the Secretary approved the

petition to allow the Bureau of Land

Management to file an application to

withdraw the following described

public land from settlement, sale,

location or entry under the general land

laws, including the mining laws, subject

to valid existing rights:

Grand Junction Archaeological Sites Ute

Principal Meridian Fruita Paleontological

Site

T. 1 N., R. 3 W.,

Sec. 13, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4 and S1⁄2SW1⁄4;

Sec. 24, W1⁄2NE1⁄4 and NW1⁄4.

The area described contains approximately

360 acres of public land in Mesa County.

The purpose of this withdrawal is to

protect sites containing archaeological,

paleontological, and cultural values.

Notice is hereby given that an

opportunity for a public meeting is

afforded in connection with this

withdrawal amendment. If the

authorized officer determines that a

meeting should be held, the meeting

will be scheduled in accordance with 43

CFR 2310.3–1(c)(2).

Any persons who desire to submit

comments, suggestions, or objections or

who desire a public meeting for the

purpose of being heard on this proposed

action must submit a written request to

the Colorado State Director within 90

days of the date of publication of this

notice.

This application will be processed in

accordance with the regulations set

forth in 43 CFR part 2300.

For a period of 2 years from the date

of publication of this notice in the

Federal Register, the land herein

described shall be segregated from

operation of the public land laws as

specified above, unless the application

is denied or cancelled or the withdrawal

is made prior to that date.

This land will continue to be

managed by the Bureau of Land

Management.

Jenny L. Saunders,

Chief, Branch of Realty.

[FR Doc. 95–8488 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P

Geological Survey

Federal Geographic Data Committee

(FGDC); Public Meeting of the FGDC

Coordination Group

AGENCY: Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice is to invite public

participation in a meeting of the FGDC

Coordination Group. Major topics for

the meeting include fostering

partnerships to promote the

development of the National Spatial

Data Infrastructure (NSDI), and devising

strategies to effectively involve the

broad geospatial data community in the

actions and decisions of the FGDC.

TIME AND PLACE: May 10, 1995, from 1:30

p.m. until 4 p.m. The meeting will be

held in Room Potomac 5, the Hyatt

Regency, Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson

Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Snyder, FGDC Secretariat, U.S.

Geological Survey, 590 National Center,

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston,

Virginia 22092; telephone (703) 648–

5514; facsimile (703) 648–5755; Internet

‘‘gdc@usgs.gov’’.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FGDC

is a committee of Federal agencies

engaged in geospatial data activities.

The FGDC Coordination Group oversees

the FGDC subcommittees and working

groups that address the establishment of

standards for data content, quality, and

transfer; encourages the exchange of

information and the transfer of data; and

organizes the collection of geographic

data to reduce duplication of effort. This

meeting of the FGDC Coordination

Group will follow the 1995 National

GeoData Forum being held at the same

location. A primary focus of the Forum

is to involve the entire geospatial data

community in building partnerships for

the development of the NSDI.

Dated: March 28, 1995.

James R. Plasker,

Associate Chief, National Mapping Division.

[FR Doc. 95–8416 Filed 4–5–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–31–M