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Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 177 (Tuesday, =
September 13, 2011)
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 177 (Tuesday, September =
13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56466-56468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [http://www.gpo.gov/]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23320]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[[LLCAD00000.L91310000.EI0000]
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Document and=20
Proposed Plan Amendment for the West Mojave (WEMO) Plan, Motorized=20
Vehicle Access Element, Inyo, Kern and Los Angeles and San Bernardino=20
Counties, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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)=20
California Desert District (CDD) intends to prepare an environmental=20
document to amend the West Mojave (WEMO) area plan. By this Notice, the=20
BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit=20
public comments.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the=20
environmental document and proposed plan amendment. Comments on issues=20
may be submitted in writing until October 13, 2011. The date(s) and=20
location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days=20
in advance through the local news media, newspapers, and the BLM Web=20
site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st=
/en/fo/cdd.html. In order to be fully=20
considered in the environmental document, all scoping comments must be=20
received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the=20
last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide=20
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of=20
the environmental document.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit comments on planning criteria and=20
related issues, by any of the following methods:
E-mail: cawemopa@blm.gov.
Web site: http://www.b=
lm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd/west_mojave_wemo.
Fax: (951) 697-5299.
Mail: BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle=20
San Juan de Los Lagos, ATTN: Alan Stein, Moreno Valley, CA 92553-9046.
Documents relevant to this proposal may be examined at the=20
California Desert District Office or Web site (address above), or the=20
BLM's California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
[[Page 56467]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Stein, telephone (951) 697-5382;=20
address Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Office,=20
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, ATTN: Alan Stein, Moreno Valley, CA=20
92553-9046; e-mail cawemopa@blm.gov. Persons who use a =
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal=20
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above=20
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours=20
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above=20
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The California Desert Conservation Area=20
(CDCA) Plan of 1980 addressed public-land resources and resources use=20
within 25-million acres of land in southern California. The 1980 CDCA=20
Plan included 12 plan elements, including a Motorized Vehicle Element.=20
The Motorized Vehicle Access Element of the CDCA Plan addressed both=20
access and vehicular use of public lands in southern California, and=20
identified management guidelines and objectives. The CDCA Plan of 1980=20
has been amended numerous times since it was adopted in 1982. The CDCA=20
Plan contains language that has been judicially determined to restrict=20
motorized routes to those that existed in 1980.
In 2006, the BLM approved a comprehensive amendment to the West=20
Mojave area of the CDCA Plan. In a 2006 Western Mojave Record of=20
Decision (WEMO ROD) the BLM amended the CDCA Plan and modified its=20
motorized vehicle management decisions, including off-highway vehicle=20
(OHV) route designation, on more than 3 million acres of public land=20
within the CDCA. The 2006 WEMO ROD approved the designation of 5,098=20
miles of motorized vehicle routes without specifically changing the=20
language of the 1980 CDCA plan.
A lawsuit was filed challenging the WEMO ROD's route designation=20
process. In January 2011, a court order remanded the 2006 WEMO ROD to=20
the BLM and, in part, directed the BLM to amend the CDCA Plan and=20
reconsider route designation throughout the WEMO area. By court order,=20
the BLM must issue a revised decision by March 31, 2014.
A plan amendment is necessary to update language in the Motorized=20
Vehicle Access Element of the CDCA Plan. The plan amendment, and=20
associated environmental documents, will address two components, among=20
others: (1) Alternatives for amending the Motorized Vehicle Access=20
Element of the CDCA Plan for the WEMO area; and (2) Alternative=20
processes for designating travel routes within the sub-regional areas=20
of the WEMO plan area.
The main purpose of the scoping process is to solicit public=20
comments on the following:
1. Identification of those portions of the WEMO plan that should be=20
revised to reflect current management policy regarding motorized=20
vehicle access;
2. Identification of the process and decision criteria that should=20
be used to designate routes in the sub-regional areas of the WEMO plan=20
area;
3. Identification of motorized vehicle use issues and concerns=20
within each sub-regional area of the WEMO plan area;
4. Identification of the best science and technology available to=20
identify and establish viable route networks in the sub-regional areas=20
of the WEMO plan area; and
5. Whether the BLM should analyze an amendment to the WEMO plan as=20
it relates, primarily, to motorized vehicle use separately or in=20
conjunction with sub-regional route designation, and alternatives to=20
route designation.
The proposed planning effort would allow the BLM to revise portions=20
of the Motorized Vehicle Element of the CDCA Plan to more clearly=20
describe how motorized vehicle use will be managed in the CDCA=20
according to current BLM policy. A primary objective of the proposed=20
action for this plan amendment is to replace the following CDCA Plan=20
language: ``at the minimum, use will be restricted to existing routes=20
of travel,'' with language that reflects current BLM policy, such as=20
restricting motorized vehicle use to designated routes. Other language=20
from the CDCA Plan may be modified to reduce confusion and clearly=20
state to the public where motorized vehicle use is appropriate and=20
where it is inappropriate.
Further, subsequently, concurrently, or in a combination of both,=20
additional environmental analysis would address current route=20
designation within the WEMO sub-regional areas. This analysis would=20
result in new decisions for each sub-regional area within the WEMO plan=20
area that would either retain or modify, in whole or in part, current=20
route designations. New route designation decisions would be issued in=20
accordance with the route designation criteria in 43 CFR 8342.1, and in=20
consideration of other applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
The public scoping process for this action will also determine=20
relevant issues, impacts, and possible alternatives that could=20
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, and guide the entire=20
process from plan decision-making to route designation review in order=20
to comply with the court order.
The BLM has identified the following preliminary issues of concern:=20
Special status species, vegetation communities (including unique plant=20
assemblages), special area designations, air quality in previously=20
designated open areas, cultural resources, soils, springs and seeps,=20
fringe-toed lizard habitat, and cumulative effects.
By this Notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR=20
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use=20
plans. The BLM will integrate the land use planning process with the=20
NEPA process. The scoping process will help determine whether the BLM=20
prepares an environmental assessment or an environmental impact=20
statement (EIS), based on the anticipated level of impacts. In the=20
event the BLM elects to prepare an EIS, this notice satisfies the=20
requirement in 40 CFR 1501.7 to publish a Notice of Intent to prepare=20
an EIS.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to=20
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National=20
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)), as provided for in=20
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Tribal consultations will be conducted in=20
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns including impacts on Indian=20
trust assets, if any, will be given due consideration. Federal, State,=20
and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be=20
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this proposed plan=20
amendment or implementation decisions, are invited to participate in=20
the scoping process, and the whole of the public involvement process.
Preliminary planning criteria include the following:
1. The plan amendment will comply with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other=20
applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
2. For program-specific guidance for decisions at the land use=20
planning level, the process will follow the BLM's policies in the Land=20
Use Planning Handbook, H-1601-1 and Manual Section 1626, Travel and=20
Transportation Management.
3. Public participation and collaboration will be an integral part=20
of the planning process.
4. The BLM will strive to make decisions in the plan compatible=20
with
[[Page 56468]]
the existing plans and policies of adjacent local, State, and Federal=20
agencies and local American Indian tribes, as long as the decisions are=20
consistent with the purposes, policies, and programs of Federal law and=20
regulations applicable to public lands.
5. The plan amendment will incorporate, where applicable and=20
appropriate, management decisions brought forward from existing=20
planning documents.
6. The BLM will work collaboratively with cooperating agencies and=20
all other interested groups, agencies, and individuals.
7. GIS and metadata information will meet Federal Geographic Data=20
Committee standards, as required by Executive Order 12906. All other=20
applicable BLM data standards will also be followed.
8. The planning process will provide for ongoing consultation with=20
American Indian tribes and strategies for protecting recognized=20
traditional uses, e.g., gathering of traditionally used plant=20
materials.
9. The plan amendment will focus on developing language for the=20
WEMO area that conforms to the goals of the Motorized Vehicle Access=20
Element of the CDCA Plan as described in the 1982 Plan Amendment=20
3.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or=20
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be=20
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying=20
information--may be made available any time. While you can ask the BLM=20
in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from=20
public release, the BLM cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2011-23320 Filed 9-12-11; 8:45 am]
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