[Federal Register: April 8, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 67)] [Notices] =20 [Page 17950-17951] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08ap10-93] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLORV00000.16100000.DO0000.LXSS072H0000 HAG10-0083] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare Amendments to the Southeastern Oregon=20 Resource Management Plan (RMP), Malheur County, OR, and the Lakeview=20 RMP, Lake County, OR, and Associated Environmental Impact Statements. AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act=20 of 1976, as amended, (FLPMA) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vale=20 District (Jordan Resource Area and Malheur Resource Area) and Lakeview=20 District (Lakeview Resource Area) in southeastern Oregon intend to=20 prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to amend the=20 Southeastern Oregon RMP (September 2002), Vale, Oregon, and the=20 Lakeview RMP (January 2003), Lakeview, Oregon, and by this notice are=20 announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public=20 comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the two RMP=20 amendments with associated EISs. Comments on issues may be submitted in=20 writing until July 7, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping=20 meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local=20 media, newspapers and the BLM Web sites at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?fr= om=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/or/dist= ricts/vale/plans/valermp.php and http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leavin= g.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov= /or/districts/lakeview/plans/lakeviewrmp.php. In order to be = included in the Draft=20 EISs, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 90-day=20 scoping period or within 30 days after the last public meeting,=20 whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public=20 participation upon publication of both Draft EISs. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the=20 Southeastern Oregon RMP Amendment/EIS by any of the following methods:Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?fr= om=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/or/dist= ricts/vale/plans/valermp.php. E-mail: SEORMP@blm.gov. Fax: 541-473-3144. Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Vale District Office, 100=20 Oregon St., Vale, Oregon 97918. You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to=20 the Lakeview RMP Amendment/EIS by any of the following methods: E-mail: paul_whitman@blm.gov. Fax: 541-947-6399. Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Lakeview District Office,=20 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630. Documents pertinent to these proposals may be examined at the Vale=20 and Lakeview District Offices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20 your name added to our mailing lists, contact Jill Silvey, Southeastern=20 Oregon and Lakeview RMP Project Manager, telephone (541) 473-3144;=20 address 100 Oregon Street, Vale, Oregon 97918; e-mail SEORMP@blm.gov,=20 or Paul Whitman, Lakeview District Planner, telephone (541) 947-6110;=20 address, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630; e-mail paul_ whitman@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM=20 Vale and Lakeview District Offices intend to prepare RMP Amendments=20 with associated EISs for the Southeastern Oregon and Lakeview planning=20 areas. The two planning areas are located in Malheur, Lake, Harney, and=20 Grant Counties in Oregon and encompass approximately 4.6 million acres=20 of public land in the Southeastern Oregon planning area and=20 approximately 3.2 million acres of public land in the Lakeview planning=20 area. After the BLM completed the Southeastern Oregon RMP and the=20 Lakeview RMP in 2002 and 2003, respectively, separate lawsuits were=20 filed challenging each RMP. On July 14, 2008, the Ninth Cicuit ruled on=20 the Southeastern Oregon RMP in Oregon Natural Desert Association v.=20 Bureau of Land Management, 531 F.3d 1114 (9th Cir. 2008). Soon=20 thereafter, the BLM filed a petition for panel rehearing of the Court's=20 remedy (vacatur of the Record of [[Page 17951]] Decision). The matter has been stayed during settlement negotiations.=20 The Ninth Circuit stayed litigation regarding similar challenges to the=20 Lakeview RMP in Oregon Natural Desert Association v. Gammon, No. 07- 35728 (9th Cir.), pending resolution of the Southeastern Oregon RMP=20 case, and to allow for settlement negotiations between the parties. The=20 BLM is preparing RMP Amendments/EISs consistent with the 2008 holding=20 of the Ninth Circuit. The two RMP Amendments/EISs plan to address the following issues: Consideration of information from updates of resource=20 information related to wilderness characteristics; Development of a range of allocation alternatives with=20 respect to ORV use, travel, and transportation; and Development of grazing management alternative(s). The purpose of the public scoping processes is to determine other=20 relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental=20 analyses, including alternatives, and guide the planning processes. The BLM has also identified some preliminary planning criteria to=20 guide development of the RMP Amendments, to avoid unnecessary data=20 collection and analysis, and to ensure the RMP Amendments are tailored=20 to the issues. These criteria may be modified and/or other criteria may=20 be identified during the public scoping process. Preliminary planning=20 criteria include compliance with all legal mandates of the FLPMA, the=20 NEPA, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Administrative Procedures=20 Act, the BLM planning regulations in 43 CFR part 1600, and other=20 relevant laws. The following planning criteria will also guide the=20 planning processes: The principles of multiple-use and sustained yield will be=20 observed; A systematic interdisciplinary approach to integrate,=20 physical, biological, economic, and other sciences will be used; Priority will be given to the designation and protection=20 of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern; The best available data regarding natural resources will=20 be used, to the extent possible; Present and potential uses of public lands will be=20 considered; The relative scarcity of values and availability of=20 alternative means and sites for recognizing those values will be=20 considered; Long term benefits to the public against short term=20 benefits will be weighed; Tribal, Federal, and state pollution laws, standards and=20 implementation plans will be complied with, to the extent possible; and Consistency and coordination with other programs, plans=20 and policies will be sought. You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing=20 to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the=20 BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To=20 be most helpful, you should submit comments either prior to the close=20 of the 90-day scoping period or within 30 days after the last public=20 meeting. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address,=20 or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should=20 be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying=20 information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can=20 ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying=20 information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be=20 able to do so. The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping=20 meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the=20 meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she=20 expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in=20 the RMP Amendments, and will place them into one of three categories: 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment; 2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;=20 or 3. Issues beyond the scope of the plan amendments. The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP Amendments/ EISs as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public=20 is also encouraged to help identify any management questions and=20 concerns that should be addressed in the RMP Amendments. The BLM will=20 work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management=20 decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs=20 and concerns. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the RMP=20 Amendments in order to consider the variety of resource issues and=20 concerns identified. At a minimum, specialists with expertise in the=20 following disciplines will be involved in the planning processes:=20 Rangeland management, wilderness, travel management, recreation, and=20 wildlife. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2. Larry Frazier, Acting Vale District Manager. Carol Benkosky, Lakeview District Manager. [FR Doc. 2010-7986 Filed 4-7-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-33-P