From: Subject: FR Doc E8-520 Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:13:24 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-520.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc E8-520 
[Federal Register: January 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 10)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 2520-2521]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ja08-90]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[HAG  8-0020]

=20
Notice of Intent To Revise a Resource Management Plan and the=20
Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Baker Resource Area=20
of the Vale District

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Baker City,=20
Oregon intends to revise a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an=20
associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Baker Resource=20
Area of the Vale District and by this notice is announcing public=20
scoping meetings. The RMP will revise the existing Baker Resource=20
Management Plan of 1989.

DATES: The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify=20
relevant issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web=20
site http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dlea=
vingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/or/districts/va=
le/index.php at least 15 days=20

prior to the first meeting. We will provide formal opportunities for=20
public participation upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: BakerRMP@blm.gov.
     Fax: 541-523-1965.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Baker Field Office, P.O.=20
Box 947, Baker City, OR 97814.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM=20
Baker Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20
your name added to our mailing list, Contact: Allison Kuehl, RMP Team=20
Leader, Telephone: 541-523-1931; E-mail: allison_kuehl@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM=20
Field Office, Baker City, Oregon, intends to revise an RMP with an=20
associated EIS for the Baker Resource Area and announces public scoping=20
meetings.
    The planning area is located in Baker, Union, Wallowa, Morrow, and=20
Umatilla Counties in Oregon and in Asotin County, Washington. This=20
planning activity encompasses approximately 423,000 acres of public=20
land. The plan will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the=20
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and=20
Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM will work=20
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management=20
decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs=20
and concerns.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant=20
issues, concerns and ideas that will influence the scope of the=20
environmental analysis and EIS alternatives. These issues also guide=20
the planning process. You may submit comments on issues and planning=20
criteria in writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you=20
may submit them to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the=20
ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, you should submit formal=20
scoping comments within 30 days after the last public meeting. The=20
minutes for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and=20
open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to=20
clarify the views he or she expressed. Before including your address,=20
phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information=20
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly=20
available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold=20
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot=20
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from=20
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying=20
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or=20
businesses, are available for public inspection in their entirety.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified.=20
They represent the BLM's knowledge to date regarding the existing=20
issues and concerns with current land management. The preliminary=20
issues being considered in this planning effort include: vegetation=20
management; water quality, aquatic resources, fisheries; special=20
management areas; recreation

[[Page 2521]]

management; cultural and paleontological resources; socioeconomics and=20
environmental justice; energy and minerals; lands and realty;=20
transportation, including Off Highway Vehicle management, and public=20
access; fire and fuels management; wildlife habitat and wildlife.
    After public comments as to what issues the plan should address are=20
gathered, they will be placed in one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;=20
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the plan as to why we placed=20
an issue in category two or three. In addition to these major issues, a=20
number of management questions and concerns will be addressed in the=20
plan. The public is encouraged to help identify these questions and=20
concerns during the scoping phase.
    Preliminary planning criteria are:
    1. The BLM will manage the Baker Resource Area to protect resources=20
in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976=20
(FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), other applicable laws and regulations,=20
and all existing public land laws.
    2. The Plan will recognize valid existing rights within the=20
Planning Area and review how valid existing rights are verified. The=20
Plan will outline the process the BLM will use to address applications=20
or notices filed on existing claims or other land use authorizations=20
after the completion of the Plan.
    3. Lands covered in the RMP will be public lands, including split=20
estate lands, managed by BLM. Decisions on lands not managed by the BLM=20
will not be made in the RMP except when formal cooperator status is=20
mutually accepted and leads to additional Records of Decision.
    4. The BLM will use a collaborative and multi-jurisdictional=20
approach, where possible to jointly determine the desired future=20
conditions of public lands.
    5. The Plan will emphasize the protection and enhancement of the=20
Planning Area's biodiversity while at the same time providing the=20
public with opportunities for compatible commodity-based and recreation=20
activities.
    6. The socioeconomic impacts of the alternatives will be addressed.
    7. The BLM will use current scientific information, research,=20
technologies, and results of inventory, monitoring and coordination to=20
determine appropriate local, and regional management strategies that=20
will enhance or restore impaired ecosystems.
    8. The planning process will include an EIS that will comply with=20
NEPA standards.
    9. Any land located within the Planning Area's administrative=20
boundary, and subsequently acquired by the BLM, will be managed=20
consistent with the Plan, subject to any constraints associated with=20
the acquisition.
    10. The Plan will recognize the State's responsibility to manage=20
wildlife. The BLM would consult with Oregon Department of Fish and=20
Wildlife before establishing no-hunting zones or periods for the=20
purposes of protecting public safety, administration, or public use and=20
enjoyment.
    11. The Plan will address transportation and access, and will=20
identify where better access is warranted, where it should remain as=20
is, and where decreased access is appropriate to protect Planning Area=20
resources.
    12. Laws and regulations regulate grazing management. The Plan will=20
incorporate the Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines. It will=20
provide a strategy to ensure proper grazing practices are followed=20
within the Planning Area.
    13. The planning process will involve American Indian Tribal=20
governments and will provide possible strategies for the protection of=20
recognized traditional uses, if such uses are identified.
    14. Decisions in the Plan will strive to be compatible with=20
existing plans and policies of adjacent local, State, Federal, and=20
tribal agencies as long as the decisions are consistent with Federal=20
law governing the administration of public land.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the=20
revision in order to consider the variety of resource issues and=20
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following=20
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: rangeland=20
management, minerals and geology, forestry, fire and fuels, outdoor=20
recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands=20
and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics.

     Dated: January 8, 2008.
Nancy K. Lull,
Baker City Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E8-520 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]

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