From: Subject: FR Doc E7-16126 Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:27:26 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-16126.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-16126 
[Federal Register: August 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 159)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 46237-46238]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17au07-76]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-027-1110-JM-H2KO; G-06-HAG-0139]

=20
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement=20
for the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20
1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the=20
Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act (Steens Act)=20
of 2000, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared an=20
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential effects of=20
implementing the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project (North=20
Steens Project). The proposed project area lies within the Andrews=20
Management Unit (AMU) and the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management=20
and Protection Area (CMPA), designated October 30, 2000 by Act of=20
Congress. The North Steens Project is located in Harney County, Oregon,=20
and affects approximately 336,000 acres of public and private lands.

DATES: The Final EIS will be available for a 30-day period of=20
availability with the publishing of the Environmental Protection=20
Agency's Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: North Steens Project EIS Lead, BLM,=20
Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738; (541)=20
573-4543; Fax (541) 573-4411; or e-mail (ornseis@blm.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Steens Project is a proposed=20
landscape-level project utilizing a combination of western juniper=20
treatments (mechanical and nonmechanical methods) and wildland=20
(prescribed and natural) fire to treat fuels and to restore sagebrush/
steppe habitat. Implementation of the project would reduce the=20
increasing adverse influence of western juniper in mountain big=20
sagebrush, low sagebrush, quaking aspen, mountain mahogany, old growth=20
juniper (over 120 years old), and riparian plant communities.
    Section 113(c) of the Steens Act states, ``The Secretary shall=20
emphasize the restoration of the historic fire regime in the=20
Cooperative Management and Protection Area and the resulting native=20
vegetation communities through active management of western juniper on=20
a landscape level. Management measures shall include the use of natural=20
and prescribed burning.''
    The Resource Management Plans for the CMPA and AMU contain overall=20
direction and guidance for proposed management actions such as those=20
analyzed in the North Steens Project EIS. Management actions analyzed=20
include seeding of native species, reduction of western juniper (less=20
than 120 yrs old), fencing, and management of wildland fire.=20
Preliminary issues and management concerns were identified by BLM=20
personnel and through public scoping. Major issues addressed in the EIS=20
include management of woodlands, rangeland vegetation, Steens Mountain=20
Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), Wild and Scenic River=20
corridors, wildlife habitat, special status species, wildland fire/
fuels, recreation, cultural resources, noxious weeds, water quality/
aquatic resources/fisheries, biological soil crusts, and social and=20
economic values. The EIS also considered American Indian traditional=20
practices. An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Final=20
EIS.
    Government agencies having specific expertise or interests in the=20
project were

[[Page 46238]]

invited to participate as cooperating agencies. The public and interest=20
groups have been provided opportunities to participate during formal=20
comment periods and during Steens Mountain Advisory Council meetings.
    The Final EIS evaluates six alternative management approaches=20
including a No Action Alternative. A Preferred Alternative is proposed=20
in the Final EIS. The three features of the Preferred Alternative are:=20
(1) The Full Treatment Alternative would be implemented in all portions=20
of the project area including WSAs, but excluding Steens Mountain=20
Wilderness; (2) The Continuation of Current Management Alternative=20
would be selected for the Steens Mountain Wilderness; (3) Future=20
proposals in Steens Mountain Wilderness would be in conformance with=20
the Steens Act and the Wilderness Act.
    Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State,=20
Tribal and local government agencies and to interested parties. The=20
Final EIS is available for public inspection at the BLM Burns District=20
Office in Hines, Oregon, during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to=20
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays). Comments received=20
from the public and internal BLM review comments on the Draft EIS were=20
incorporated into the Final EIS, where appropriate.
    Public input during scoping as well as internal scoping identified=20
at least 20 issues for analysis in the EIS. These issues are outlined=20
in Chapter 1 of the Final EIS.
    Opportunities for public involvement to date in the process have=20
included two separate public scoping periods, a 45-day comment period=20
on the Draft EIS which included two public meetings. In addition, the=20
Steens Mountain Advisory Council has participated in the process and=20
made a specific recommendation which supports the Preferred=20
Alternative.
    Public comments on the Draft EIS received during the 45-day comment=20
period were reviewed by BLM specialists and cooperating agencies.=20
Responses to public comments as well as summarized versions of the=20
public comments are included in the Final EIS. Changes to the EIS made=20
between Draft and Final were based on public comments and internal=20
review. Meetings were held and coordination has been conducted with=20
Harney County Commissioner, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife,=20
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, U.S.=20
Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services, Oregon Department of=20
Environmental Quality, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center,=20
Burns Paiute Tribe, and Harney Soil and Water Conservation District.

Karla Bird,
Andrews Resource Area Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E7-16126 Filed 8-16-07; 8:45 am]

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