[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 122 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32459-32460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15939]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[UT-080-96-1110-08]


Notice of Intent To Amend Book Cliffs Resource Management Plan, 
Vernal District, Utah With Coordinated Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a coordinated resource management 
plan/environmental assessment that will amend the Book Cliffs Resource 
Management Plan to include management of the area covered by the Book 
Cliffs Conservation Initiative, including recently acquired lands.

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SUMMARY: This notice is intended to inform the public of an intent to 
prepare a coordinated resource management plan/environmental assessment 
(CRMP/EA) that addresses future management of lands within the Book 
Cliffs Initiative, including the lands acquired by the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), within the Book Cliffs area of the Vernal District 
for the purpose of amending the Book Cliffs Resource Management Plan 
(RMP). Public comment will be actively solicited throughout the CRMP/EA 
and amendment development processes.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993 a partnership was formed between the 
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), The Nature Conservancy 
(TNC), the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), and the BLM. The 
objective of such a partnership was to take advantage of existing 
opportunities to create a balanced approach to the management of unique 
natural resources within the upper portion of the East Tavaputs 
Plateau, in southeastern Uintah County, Utah. The partnership, entitled 
the Book Cliffs Conservation Initiative, deals with that portion of the 
Book Cliffs within the area between the Uintah-Ouray Indian Reservation 
trust lands to the west and the Utah-Colorado state line to the east, 
an area encompassing roughly 455,000 acres.
    In 1993 and 1994, two private ranches then on the market within the 
Initiative area, were acquired by TNC and RMEF with the intent of 
vesting the title to either the State of Utah or the United States. In 
1994, the BLM was vested with title to 5,129 acres, about 53%, of these 
acquired lands. As public lands administered by the BLM, future 
management of these lands must be developed and incorporated into the 
existing Book Cliffs RMP. The CRMP/EA/RMPA will be developed by the BLM 
in concert with the UDWR, other State and Federal agencies, Uintah 
County, local government entities, and the general public. At this time 
general planning issues to be addressed include:
    1. Maintain a sustained balance of forage between livestock and 
wildlife.
    2. Define and develop a future forage allocation process that will 
achieve wildlife, watershed, and riparian goals using the existing 
grazing authorizations as a starting point. Also address management of 
wild horses.

[[Page 32460]]

    3. Increase recreation opportunity through access management and 
route designation.
    4. Improve the vegetative communities in the canyon bottoms and on 
critical big game winter range.
    5. Develop desired standards for other vegetative communities 
within the Initiative area.
    6. Allow increased wildlife diversity.
    7. Maintain a primitive development philosophy, particularly as it 
relates to recreation.
    The CRMP/EA/RMPA will be prepared under 43 CFR part 1610 to meet 
the requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act, and section 102 of the National Environmental Policy 
Act. This revision is necessary to update and expand the decisions in 
the existing land use plan. Decisions generated during this planning 
process will supersede affected land use planning decisions presented 
in the 1985 Book Cliffs RMP that affect lands within the Initiative 
area.
    Public participation is being actively sought at this time to 
ensure the EA addresses all issues, problems, and concerns from those 
interested in the management of the public lands within the Book Cliffs 
Initiative Area, including the acquired lands. The development of the 
CRMP/EA/RMPA is a public process and the public is invited and 
encouraged to assist in the identification of issues and the scope of 
the EA and planning amendment. Public meetings will be held to discuss 
planning issues. The date, time and location of these scoping meetings 
are: July 30, 1996, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the John Wesley Powell 
Museum at Green River, Utah; July 31, 1996, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at 
the Utah State University Extension Building, Room 207-B at Vernal, 
Utah; and August 1, 1996, 7:00 p.m. at the Department of Natural 
Resources Conference Room at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City, 
Utah. These meetings also will be announced in local newspapers and 
through other local media.
    Formal public participation will be requested for review of the 
preliminary CRMP/EA/RMPA and final CRMP/EA/RMPA in 1997. Notice of 
availability of these documents will be published at the appropriate 
times.
    The CRMP/EA/RMPA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team 
which includes specialists in rangeland vegetation, riparian values, 
cultural resources, recreation, wildlife/fisheries habitats, realty, 
and special status animal and plant species. Other disciplines may be 
represented as necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Andrews, Assistant Field Office 
Manager for Renewable Resources, Vernal Office, 170 South, 500 East, 
Vernal, Utah 84078. Business hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, telephone (801) 789-1362 
or 781-4470, fax (801) 781-4410.
Roger Zortman,
Acting State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 96-15939 Filed 6-21-96; 8:45 am]
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