From: Subject: FR Doc E7-16332 Date: Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:05:36 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-16332.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-16332 
[Federal Register: August 20, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 160)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 46511-46512]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au07-93]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-070-07-1610-DU]

=20
Notice of Intent (NOI) To Amend the Resource Management Plan for=20
the Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20
1969 (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976=20
(FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Field Office,=20
Wyoming, proposes to amend its 1985 Resource Management Plan (RMP)=20
because of changes in circumstances and proposed actions that may=20
result in changes in the scope of resource uses and/or changes in=20
decisions of the approved plan. The BLM will evaluate the following:=20
(1) Management guidance for the Fortification Creek area, (2)=20
Designation of an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in the=20
Fortification Creek area, and (3) a potential land exchange with the=20
State of Wyoming to consolidate ownership and facilitate management of=20
the Fortification Creek area. The BLM may consider further land use=20
planning decisions for the area surrounding the proposed ACEC.

DATES: Scoping for the proposed plan amendment will commence on the=20
date that this notice is published in the Federal Register. The BLM=20
will host several public, open house meetings to provide additional=20
information about the proposed amendment, and identify any additional=20
resource information or concerns. The BLM will announce the dates and=20
locations of public meetings at least 15 days in advance through local=20
news media, Web site announcements, or mailings. Written comments will=20
be accepted for 30 calendar days after the last public meeting.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to the BLM through any=20
of the following methods:
     Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bi=
n/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www=
.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/bfodocs/fortification_creek.html
;     E-mail: Fort--Crk--WYMail@blm.gov;

     Fax: (307) 684-1122;
     Mail: Fortification Creek RMP Amendment, BLM Buffalo Field=20
Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834; or
     By personal delivery to the Buffalo Field Office or at a=20
BLM-hosted public meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bills, Project Manager, BLM=20
Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834, or by=20
telephone at (307) 684-1133.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Buffalo RMP and associated Environmental=20
Impact Statement (EIS) were prepared in 1985; the RMP was amended in=20
2003. The 1985 RMP identified an area of approximately 12,415 acres as=20
having wilderness characteristics and established it as the=20
Fortification Creek (Fort Creek) Wilderness Study Area (WSA). The 1985=20
RMP also evaluated an area adjacent to the Fort Creek WSA to determine=20
whether it met ACEC relevance and importance criteria, but it did not=20
designate the area as an ACEC in its Record of Decision (ROD). In=20
addition, the 1985 RMP stated that the area surrounding the WSA would=20
require special management. However, it did not specify what resource=20
values were in need of special management, nor did it clearly describe=20
limitations or use restrictions that might be needed to manage those=20
resource values. This RMP amendment process will evaluate resources and=20
issues related to the planning criteria, including the designation of=20
an area surrounding the Fort Creek WSA as an ACEC and the appropriate=20
management actions and use restrictions for the ACEC, if designated.=20
The Fort Creek area is located in Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan=20
Counties, Wyoming.
    The purpose of the scoping process is to determine relevant issues=20
that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and=20
alternatives. Scoping comments will also guide the planning process.=20
The BLM will prepare an associated NEPA document, either an=20
Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement=20
(EIS), based on scoping comments and issues.

[[Page 46512]]

    The BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:
     Management of the Fort Creek Area. Should the BLM=20
recommend the area, or a portion of the area, as an ACEC, or should it=20
establish a management area (MA) with specific goals and objectives?
     Resource Values and Limitations. If the BLM concludes that=20
some or all of the Fort Creek planning area merit establishment of an=20
ACEC, what resource values and what measures would be appropriate to=20
manage the area and its resources?
    If the BLM decides that the Fort Creek planning area does not merit=20
ACEC status, the BLM will determine what resources should be evaluated=20
for activities and use limitations within the area:
    1. Uses. Appropriate use and occupancy of the public lands in the=20
Fort Creek area for energy resources.
    2. Management Activities. Continue management activities for=20
resource values currently identified in the RMP, or generate new goals=20
and objectives and use limitations for the protection of steep slopes,=20
erosive soils, elk habitat, cultural resources and visual resources.
    3. Landownership Adjustments. Identify opportunities, if any, to=20
exchange lands with other landowners including the State of Wyoming for=20
the purpose of consolidating public lands and maintaining continuous=20
wildlife habitat.
    The preliminary land use planning criteria are:
    1. The amendment will be in compliance with FLPMA and applicable=20
laws, regulations, and policies. The land use plan amendment process=20
will be governed by the planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610 and BLM=20
Land Use Planning Handbook H-1601-1.
    2. The proposed action and alternatives will be analyzed in=20
accordance with NEPA.
    3. Lands affected by the proposed plan amendment include public=20
surface and mineral estate managed by the BLM. No decisions will be=20
made relative to non-BLM administered lands or non-federal minerals.
    4. Broad-based public participation will be an integral part of the=20
planning process.
    5. The plan amendment will recognize all valid existing rights.
    6. The BLM will work with cooperating agencies and all other=20
interested groups, agencies, and individuals. The amended RMP will be=20
consistent with existing non-Federal plans and policies, provided the=20
decisions in the existing plans are consistent with the purposes,=20
policies, and programs of Federal law and regulations for public lands.
    7. The WSA will continue to be managed under the BLM's Interim=20
Management Policy for Lands under Wilderness Review until Congress=20
either designates all or portions of the WSA as wilderness or releases=20
the lands from further wilderness consideration.
    8. The planning process will involve consultation with American=20
Indian tribal governments to provide strategies for the protection of=20
recognized traditional uses.
    9. The RMP amendment may include adaptive environmental management=20
(AEM) principles and protocol to deal with future issues and outcomes.
    All comment submittals must include the commenter's name and street=20
address. Comments, including the names and street addresses of=20
respondent, will be available for public review at the Buffalo Field=20
Office listed above during its business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.),=20
Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. Before including=20
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal=20
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your=20
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be=20
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your=20
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public=20
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Alan Rabinoff,
Acting State Director.
 [FR Doc. E7-16332 Filed 8-17-07; 8:45 am]

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