From: Subject: FR Doc E8-2768 Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:38:58 -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/E8-2768.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc E8-2768 
[Federal Register: February 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 32)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 8901]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15fe08-99]                        =20


[[Page 8901]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Sierra=20
Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20
(NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and Bureau=20
of Land Management (BLM) regulations and policies, the BLM announces=20
the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Sierra=20
(California) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for public lands=20
administered by the Folsom Field Office. The California State Director=20
has signed the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and=20
makes the RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request=20
from the Bureau of Land Management, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630.=20
The document is also available via the Internet at http://=
frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&lo=
g=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/ca/folsom.
 To receive a copy of the document, contact the BLM via e-mail at caformp@ca.blm.gov. or call (916) =
978-4427.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra McGinnis, (916) 978-4427,=20
Bureau of Land Management, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. You can=20
also e-mail the Folsom Field Office at caformp@ca.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area for the Sierra RMP=20
encompasses portions of 15 counties in California: Yuba, Sutter,=20
Colusa, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, San=20
Joaquin, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sacramento, Stanislaus, and Merced. A=20
total of 230,000 acres of public lands and an additional 70,000 acres=20
of subsurface mineral estate are administered by the BLM in the=20
planning area. The Sierra RMP has been developed through collaborative=20
planning. Although no agencies requested formal cooperating agency=20
status, the BLM worked with Federal, State, and local agencies to=20
better understand resource conditions and public expectations and to=20
address concerns to the extent possible. Federally recognized Native=20
American tribes were contacted at various times by phone, mail, and e-
mail throughout the planning process, informing them of comment=20
opportunities and soliciting their input. The BLM consulted with the=20
State Historic Preservation Office throughout the planning process.
    The RMP addresses issues such as recreation, wild and scenic river=20
recommendations, sensitive natural and cultural resources, livestock=20
grazing, wildland fire risk and fuel reduction, energy and mineral=20
development, land ownership adjustments, and motorized vehicle route=20
designations. The RMP includes two wild and scenic river suitability=20
recommendations: South Fork American River (8.8 miles--recreational)=20
and North Fork and Main Mokelumne River (13.7 miles--wild, scenic,=20
recreational). The RMP includes eight new Areas of Critical=20
Environmental Concern (ACEC): Pine Hill Preserve (3,236 acres),=20
Cosumnes River Preserve (2,035 acres), Spivey Pond (54 acres),=20
Deadman's Flat (796 acres), Dutch Flat/Indiana Hill Research Natural=20
Area (320 acres), Bagby Serpentine (5,775 acres) and North Fork=20
Cosumnes (1,129 acres). Additionally, the RMP expands three existing=20
ACECs: Red Hills, Ione Manzanita, and Limestone Salamander ACECs. Use=20
of public lands in these ACECs would vary depending on their individual=20
resources and values but would likely include limitations on motorized=20
use, mining, and other surface disturbing activities.
    The Draft RMP/EIS was made available to the public via a Federal=20
Register notice on September 15, 2006. The publication of that notice=20
initiated a 90-day public comment period, during which time the BLM=20
hosted four public meetings throughout the planning area. Upon=20
evaluation of the alternatives and anticipated impacts described in the=20
Draft RMP/EIS and based on public and agency comments, the BLM prepared=20
the Proposed RMP/Final EIS (PRMP/FEIS), which incorporated corrections=20
and clarifying text as well as the proposal to establish a 1,129-acre=20
ACEC along the North Fork Cosumnes River. The preferred alternative in=20
the Draft RMP/EIS was carried forward as the Proposed RMP in the PRMP/
FEIS, which became available to the public via a Federal Register=20
notice on June 8, 2007. Six protests were received on the PRMP/FEIS,=20
which resulted in minor changes that provide further clarification of=20
some of the decisions in the RMP.
    The Governor of the State of California, in his letter dated August=20
17, 2007, stated: ``Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.3-2, and after consulting=20
with affected State and local agencies, the Governor's Office of=20
Planning and Research (OPR) has determined that the [BLM's Sierra]=20
Resource Management Plan (RMP) contains some inconsistencies with local=20
plans.'' Consistent with BLM policy and OPR's recommendations, the BLM=20
will continue to work with counties, California Department of Fish and=20
Game, and local fire agencies to reach solutions that serve local,=20
State, and BLM land management needs regarding wild and scenic rivers,=20
vegetation and habitat management, wildfire protection, and other=20
issues of shared concern.
    Decisions identifying designated routes of travel for motorized=20
vehicles are implementation decisions appealable under 43 CFR part 4.=20
These decisions are described in Appendix A of the Approved RMP. Any=20
party adversely affected by the BLM's decision(s) to identify,=20
evaluate, define, delineate and/or select specific routes as available=20
for motorized use within designated areas of travel in the Sierra=20
Resource Management Plan may appeal within 30 days of publication of=20
this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The=20
appeal should state the specific route(s), as identified in Appendix A=20
of the Approved RMP, on which the decision is being appealed. The=20
appeal must be filed with the Folsom Field Manager at the above listed=20
address. Please consult 43 CFR part 4 for further information on the=20
IBLA appeals process.

William S. Haigh,
Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E8-2768 Filed 2-14-08; 8:45 am]

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