Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of The Interior Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 41108-41111 [2018-17751]
Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 41108-41111 [2018-17751]
Download as PDF 41108 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices between the national government and the States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among various levels of government. A federalism summary impact statement is not required. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988) Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statement This notice complies with the requirements of Executive Order 12988. Specifically, in issuing this notice, the Department has taken the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for affected conduct as required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 These rate adjustments do not affect the collections of information which have been approved by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OMB Control Number is 1076–0141 and expires June 30, 2019. National Environmental Policy Act The Department has determined that these rate adjustments do not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and that no detailed statement is required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321–4370(d), pursuant to 43 CFR 46.210(i). In addition, the rate adjustments do not present any of the 12 extraordinary circumstances listed at 43 CFR 46.215. Data Quality Act In developing this notice, we did not conduct or use a study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Data Quality Act (Pub. L. 106–554). Dated: August 13, 2018. Tara Sweeney, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2018–17724 Filed 8–16–18; 8:45 am] amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 BILLING CODE 4337–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Aug 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have prepared Draft Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and Federal lands excluded from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 and by this notice are announcing the opening of the public comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMPs/ Draft EIS within 90 days of the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS by either of the following methods: • Website: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc • Mail: 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 84741, Attn: Matt Betenson Copies of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS are available at the following locations: • Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah • Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 West Main, Escalante, Utah • Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS and accompanying background documents PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Matt Betenson, Associate Monument Manager, telephone (435) 644–1200; address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 84741; email BLM_UT_CCD_ monuments@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [18X 1109AF LLUT930000 L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0640000] SUMMARY: are available on the ePlanning website at: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc. On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump signed Presidential Proclamation 9682 modifying the boundaries of the GSENM as established by Proclamation 6920 to exclude from designation and reservation approximately 861,974 acres of land. Lands that remain part of the GSENM are included in three units, known as the Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and are reserved for the care and management of the objects of historic and scientific interest described in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation 9682. Lands that are excluded from the Monument boundaries are now referred to as the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (KEPA) and are managed in accordance with the BLM's multiple-use mandate. The planning area is located in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah, and encompasses approximately 1.86 million acres of public land. For the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units, this planning effort, is needed to identify goals, objectives, and management actions necessary for the conservation, protection, restoration, or enhancement of the resources, objects, and values identified in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation 9682. For lands excluded from the monument, this planning effort is needed to determine to identify goals, objectives, and management actions necessary to ensure that public lands and their various resource values are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people. The entire planning area is currently managed by the BLM and under the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan (BLM 1999), as amended. This planning effort would replace the existing Monument Management Plan with four new RMPs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices Within the Draft EIS, the BLM is also considering alternatives related to livestock Grazing on 318,000 acres of land within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, 65,500 acres in the Kanab Field Office and 2,300 acres in the Arizona Strip Field Office. The EIS includes information regarding the environmental consequences of implementing various livestock grazing management actions on resources in these areas. At the completion of this planning process, the National Park Service, who is cooperating with the BLM on preparation of the NEPA analysis, may adopt the EIS and prepare a separate decision related to livestock grazing for lands under NPS authority. The BLM reviewed public scoping comments to identify planning issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. Issues identified include management of recreation and access; paleontological and cultural resources; livestock grazing; mineral resources; and wildlife, Potential ACEC Alternative B (acres) water, vegetation, and soil resources. This planning effort also considers management of lands with wilderness characteristics and designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS evaluate four alternatives in detail. Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is a continuation of existing decisions in the Monument Management Plan. Alternative B generally focuses on protection of resources (e.g., wildlife, vegetation, cultural, etc.) while providing for targeted resource use (e.g., rights-of-way, travel, mineral development). Alternative C generally represents a balance of resource protection and resource use. Alternative D generally focuses on maximizing resource use (e.g., rights-of-way, minerals development, livestock grazing) while still providing for resource protection as required by applicable regulations, laws, policies, plans, and guidance, including protection of Monument objects within Alternative C (acres) Relevant and important values 30,460 Not Designated ........... Historic and Cultural Values. Bulldog Bench ............... 361 Not Designated ........... Historic and Cultural Values. Butler Valley .................. 15,899 Not Designated ........... Scenic and Natural Process or System. Circle Cliffs .................... 26,706 26,706 ......................... Historic and Cultural, Scenic, and Fish and Wildlife Resources. Cockscomb East ............ amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 Alvey Wash .................... 42,182 32,683 ......................... Fish and Wildlife Resources, Natural Process or Systems, Scenic, and Historic and Cultural Value. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Aug 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 41109 the GSENM Units. The BLM has identified Alternative D as the preferred alternative for purposes of public comment and review. Identification of this alternative, however, does not represent final agency direction, and the Proposed RMPs/Final EIS may include management actions described in the other analyzed alternatives. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), the BLM is required to publish a notice in the Federal Register listing each ACEC proposed and specifying the resource use limitations which would occur if the ACEC were formally designated. This notice announces a concurrent public comment period for potential ACECs. There are no ACECs under Alternative A. There are 14 potential ACECs under Alternative B (totaling 308,044 acres), 5 potential ACECs under Alternative C (totaling 130,997 acres), and no potential ACECs under Alternative D. Pertinent information regarding ACECs, including proposed designation acreage and resource use limitations are included below: Resource use limitations • Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites. • Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in size. • Surface facilities incident to underground mining would be required to avoid known and document archaeological sites. • Stipulations would be necessary to mitigate adverse effects of subsidence. • NSO for fluid mineral leasing. • No rock climbing allowed within 100 meters of archaeological structures. • No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials. • Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates. • No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials. • Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates. • Manage as VRM Class II. • No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research permit. • Prohibit vegetation treatments that are likely to harm, or will not benefit, special status species plants in known suitable habitat. • Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites. • Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in size. • NSO for fluid mineral leasing. • No Casual Collection of petrified Wood. • Avoid surface disturbance and placement of facilities near concentrations of petrified wood or in situ logs. • No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research permit. • Prohibit vegetation treatments that are likely to harm, or will not benefit, special status species plants in known suitable habitat. • Manage as VRM Class II. • No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials. • Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates. • Do not designate new OHV routes. OHV use limited to designated routes. E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 41110 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices Potential ACEC Alternative B (acres) Alternative C (acres) Relevant and important values Resource use limitations • Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites. • Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in size. • NSO for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative B). • CSU for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative C). • Avoid vegetation treatments that disturb soils in previously untreated areas that are either Semidesert Shallow Loam (Pinyon-Juniper) or Semidesert Shallow Gypsum (Mormontea) Ecological Sites; Limit method to hand-thinning (lop and scatter). • No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research permit. • Manage as VRM Class II. • Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites. • Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in size. • NSO for fluid mineral leasing. • Surface facilities incident to underground mining would be required to avoid known and document archaeological sites. • Stipulations would be necessary to mitigate adverse effects of subsidence. • No rock climbing allowed within 100 meters of archaeological structures. • Manage as VRM Class II. • No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research permit. • Manage as VRM Class II. • No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials. • Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates. • Manage all areas outside WSAs VRM Class II. • Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites. • Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than 5 acres in size. • NSO for fluid mineral leasing. • No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research permit. • Manage all areas outside WSAs VRM Class II. • Closed or limited to designated routes. 40,476 40,476 ......................... Natural Process or Systems, Scenic, and Historic and Cultural Values. Collet Top ...................... 9,218 Not Designated ........... Historic and Cultural Values, Scenic, and Natural Process or Systems. Henderson/Pardner ....... 12,259 Not Designated ........... Scenic and Historic and Cultural Values. Hole in the Rock Trail .... 61,064 Not Designated ........... Historic and Cultural Values and Natural Process or System. Paria River ..................... 180 Not Designated ........... Scorpion Flat/Dry Fork .. Straight Cliffs/Fifty Mile Bench. 30,691 21,357 Not Designated ........... 12,270 ......................... Scenic, Historic and Cultural Values, Fish Wildlife, Natural Process or System. Scenic ......................... Scenic and Historical and Cultural Values. Tibbet Head ................... 19,079 19,079 ......................... Historical and Cultural Values and Natural process or System. Wahweap Hoodoos ....... amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 Cockscomb West ........... 130 Not Designated ........... Natural Systems or Process. • Manage all areas outside WSAs VRM Class II. • Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites. • Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in size. • NSO for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative B). • CSU for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative C). • Surface facilities incident to underground mining would be required to avoid known and document archaeological sites. • Stipulations would be necessary to mitigate adverse effects of subsidence. • No rock climbing allowed within 100 meters of archaeological structures. • Manage as VRM Class II. • No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research permit. No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials. • Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates. • Recommend withdrawing from mineral entry. • No rock climbing or rappelling within 100 meters of any hoodoo formation. The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to portions of the Southern Kaiparowits in the lands excluded from the monument is included in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. As required by 43 CFR 3461.2–1(a)(2), the public is invited to comment on the results of the application of the criteria and the process used to derive these results. note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at addresses provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. BLM Utah is soliciting comments on the entire Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. Please Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Aug 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may request to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Edwin L. Roberson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2018–17751 Filed 8–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [18X 1109AF LLUT930000 L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0650000] Notice of Availability of the Draft Bears Ears National Monument Indian Creek ´ and Shash Jaa Units Monument Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, Utah Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Canyon Country District Office, in coordination with the United States Forest Service (USFS), Manti-La Sal National Forest, has prepared Draft Monument Management Plans (MMPs) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bears Ears National Monument (BENM) ´ Indian Creek and Shash Jaa Units. By this Notice, the BLM is announcing the opening of the public comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the BENM Draft MMPs/Draft EIS within 90 days of the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the BENM Draft MMPs/ Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the BENM Draft MMPs/EIS by either of these methods: • Email: blm_ut_monticello_ monuments@blm.gov • Mail: BLM, Canyon Country District Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532, Attn: Lance Porter Copies of the BENM Draft MMPs/ Draft EIS are available at the following locations: • Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Aug 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 • Bureau of Land Management, Monticello Field Office, 365 North Main, Monticello, Utah • Bureau of Land Management, Canyon Country District Office, 82 E Dogwood, Moab, Utah • Manti-La-Sal National Forest, 559 West Price River Drive, Price, Utah The BENM Draft MMPs/Draft EIS and accompanying background documents are available on the ePlanning website at: https://goo.gl/uLrEae. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Porter, District Manager, BLM Canyon Country District Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532, telephone 435–259–2100 or email l50porte@ blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump signed Proclamation 9681 modifying the Bears Ears National Monument designated by Proclamation 9558 to exclude from its designation and reservation approximately 1,150,860 acres of land. The revised BENM boundary includes two units— ´ Shash Jaa and Indian Creek Units—that are reserved for the care and management of the objects of historic and scientific interest within their boundaries. The planning area is located entirely in San Juan County, Utah and encompasses 169,289 acres of BLMmanaged lands and 32,587 acres of National Forest System Lands. All of the National Forest System Lands are ´ within the Shash Jaa Unit. The BLM is the lead agency for the preparation of the EIS, and the Forest Service is participating as a cooperating agency. This planning effort is needed to identify goals, objectives, and management actions necessary for the conservation, protection, restoration, or enhancement of the resources, objects, and values identified in Proclamation 9558, as modified by Proclamation 9681. The BENM is jointly managed by the BLM and USFS under the Monticello Resource Management Plan (BLM 2008), as amended, and the Manti La-Sal Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP), as amended (USFS 1986). The MMPs would replace the existing Monticello RMP for the BLMadministered lands within the BENM, and would amend the existing Manti La- PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 41111 Sal LRMP for USFS-administered lands within the BENM. Each agency will continue to manage their lands within the monument pursuant to their respective applicable legal authorities. The responsible official for the BLM is the Utah State Director; the responsible official for the USFS is the Manti-La Sal Forest Supervisor. The USFS intends to use the BLM's EIS to make its decision for the ´ part of the Shash Jaa Unit MMP it administers. The USFS will use the BLM's administrative review procedures, as provided by the USFS 2012 Planning Rule, at 36 CFR 219.59(b). The BLM and USFS have reviewed public scoping comments to identify planning issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the Draft MMPs/ Draft EIS. Issues identified include management of cultural resources, including protection of American Indian sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, and access by members of Indian tribes for traditional cultural and customary uses; recreation and access; livestock grazing; and wildlife, water, vegetation, and soil resources. This planning effort also considers management of lands with wilderness characteristics. The Draft MMPs/Draft EIS evaluate four alternatives in detail. Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is a continuation of existing decisions in the Monticello RMP and in the Manti-La Sal Forest Plan, to the extent that those decisions are compatible with the proclamations. Alternative B emphasizes resource protection and conservation. It is the alternative which imposes the greatest restrictions on recreation and other uses. The BLM and USFS would take a more active management approach to ensure that objects and values are conserved, protected and restored. Alternative C represents a balance among levels of restriction on recreation and other uses and emphasizes adaptive management to protect the long-term sustainability of Monument objects and values while providing for other multiple uses. Alternative D is the alternative with the least restrictive management prescriptions and utilizes a more passive management strategy, with the aim of minimizing the number of changes in the BENM. The agencies would focus on management actions that preserve objects and values but do not alter the existing character of the landscape or limit future agency discretion. The BLM and USFS have identified Alternative D as the preferred E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[18X 1109AF LLUT930000 L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0640000]
Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and
Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded
From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have
prepared Draft Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and Federal lands excluded
from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 and by this notice are
announcing the opening of the public comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS within 90 days of the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of
Availability of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The
BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public
notices, media releases and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS by
either of the following methods:
Website: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc
Mail: 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 84741, Attn: Matt Betenson
Copies of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS are available at the following
Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 West Main,
Escalante, Utah
Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah
The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS and accompanying background documents are
available on the ePlanning website at: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Betenson, Associate Monument
Manager, telephone (435) 644-1200; address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT
84741; email [email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, to leave a message or question for the above individual. You will
receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump
signed Presidential Proclamation 9682 modifying the boundaries of the
GSENM as established by Proclamation 6920 to exclude from designation
and reservation approximately 861,974 acres of land. Lands that remain
part of the GSENM are included in three units, known as the Grand
Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and are reserved
for the care and management of the objects of historic and scientific
interest described in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation
9682. Lands that are excluded from the Monument boundaries are now
referred to as the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (KEPA) and are managed
in accordance with the BLM's multiple-use mandate.
The planning area is located in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah,
and encompasses approximately 1.86 million acres of public land. For
the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units,
this planning effort, is needed to identify goals, objectives, and
management actions necessary for the conservation, protection,
restoration, or enhancement of the resources, objects, and values
identified in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation 9682. For
lands excluded from the monument, this planning effort is needed to
determine to identify goals, objectives, and management actions
necessary to ensure that public lands and their various resource values
are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and
future needs of the American people.
The entire planning area is currently managed by the BLM and under
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan (BLM
1999), as amended. This planning effort would replace the existing
Monument Management Plan with four new RMPs.
Within the Draft EIS, the BLM is also considering alternatives
related to livestock Grazing on 318,000 acres of land within the Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area, 65,500 acres in the Kanab Field Office
and 2,300 acres in the Arizona Strip Field Office. The EIS includes
information regarding the environmental consequences of implementing
various livestock grazing management actions on resources in these
areas. At the completion of this planning process, the National Park
Service, who is cooperating with the BLM on preparation of the NEPA
analysis, may adopt the EIS and prepare a separate decision related to
livestock grazing for lands under NPS authority.
The BLM reviewed public scoping comments to identify planning
issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the
scope of analysis in the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. Issues identified
include management of recreation and access; paleontological and
cultural resources; livestock grazing; mineral resources; and wildlife,
water, vegetation, and soil resources. This planning effort also
considers management of lands with wilderness characteristics and
designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).
The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS evaluate four alternatives in detail.
Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is a continuation of
existing decisions in the Monument Management Plan. Alternative B
generally focuses on protection of resources (e.g., wildlife,
vegetation, cultural, etc.) while providing for targeted resource use
(e.g., rights-of-way, travel, mineral development). Alternative C
generally represents a balance of resource protection and resource use.
Alternative D generally focuses on maximizing resource use (e.g.,
rights-of-way, minerals development, livestock grazing) while still
providing for resource protection as required by applicable
regulations, laws, policies, plans, and guidance, including protection
of Monument objects within the GSENM Units. The BLM has identified
Alternative D as the preferred alternative for purposes of public
comment and review. Identification of this alternative, however, does
not represent final agency direction, and the Proposed RMPs/Final EIS
may include management actions described in the other analyzed
alternatives.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), the BLM is required to publish a
notice in the Federal Register listing each ACEC proposed and
specifying the resource use limitations which would occur if the ACEC
were formally designated. This notice announces a concurrent public
comment period for potential ACECs. There are no ACECs under
Alternative A. There are 14 potential ACECs under Alternative B
(totaling 308,044 acres), 5 potential ACECs under Alternative C
(totaling 130,997 acres), and no potential ACECs under Alternative D.
Pertinent information regarding ACECs, including proposed designation
acreage and resource use limitations are included below:
Relevant and
Potential ACEC          Alternative B    Alternative C      important        Resource use limitations
(acres)          (acres)           values
Alvey Wash...................          30,460  Not Designated..  Historic and      Prohibit exclusive
Cultural         commercial mineral material
Values.          sites.
Prohibit community
mineral material pits larger
than five acres in size.
Surface facilities
incident to underground
mining would be required to
avoid known and document
archaeological sites.
Stipulations would be
necessary to mitigate adverse
effects of subsidence.
NSO for fluid mineral
leasing.
No rock climbing
allowed within 100 meters of
archaeological structures.
No casual use
collection of fossils or
other paleontological
materials.
Require inventories
of all paleontological
resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to
document significant
invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites,
not just vertebrates.
Bulldog Bench................             361  Not Designated..  Historic and      No casual use
Cultural         collection of fossils or
Values.          other paleontological
Butler Valley................          15,899  Not Designated..  Scenic and        Manage as VRM Class
Natural          II.
Process or       No collection of BLM
System.          or State sensitive plants
without a research permit.
Prohibit vegetation
treatments that are likely to
harm, or will not benefit,
special status species plants
in known suitable habitat.
Circle Cliffs................          26,706  26,706..........  Historic and      Prohibit exclusive
Cultural,        commercial mineral material
Scenic, and      sites.
Fish and         Prohibit community
Wildlife         mineral material pits larger
Resources.       than five acres in size.
No Casual Collection
of petrified Wood.
Avoid surface
disturbance and placement of
facilities near
concentrations of petrified
wood or in situ logs.
Cockscomb East...............          42,182  32,683..........  Fish and          No collection of BLM
Wildlife         or State sensitive plants
Resources,       without a research permit.
Natural          Prohibit vegetation
Process or       treatments that are likely to
Systems,         harm, or will not benefit,
Scenic, and      special status species plants
Historic and     in known suitable habitat.
Cultural Value.  Manage as VRM Class
Do not designate new
OHV routes. OHV use limited
to designated routes.
Cockscomb West...............          40,476  40,476..........  Natural Process   Prohibit exclusive
or Systems,      commercial mineral material
Historic and     Prohibit community
Cultural         mineral material pits larger
Values.          than five acres in size.
leasing (Alternative B).
CSU for fluid mineral
leasing (Alternative C).
Avoid vegetation
treatments that disturb soils
in previously untreated areas
that are either Semidesert
Shallow Loam (Pinyon-Juniper)
or Semidesert Shallow Gypsum
(Mormontea) Ecological Sites;
Limit method to hand-thinning
(lop and scatter).
No collection of BLM
or State sensitive plants
Manage as VRM Class
Collet Top...................           9,218  Not Designated..  Historic and      Prohibit exclusive
Values,          sites.
Scenic, and      Prohibit community
Natural          mineral material pits larger
Process or       than five acres in size.
Systems.         NSO for fluid mineral
Henderson/Pardner............          12,259  Not Designated..  Scenic and        Manage as VRM Class
Historic and     II.
Cultural         No casual use
Values.          collection of fossils or
Hole in the Rock Trail.......          61,064  Not Designated..  Historic and      Manage all areas
Cultural         outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Values and       Prohibit exclusive
Natural          commercial mineral material
Process or       sites.
System.          Prohibit community
than 5 acres in size.
Paria River..................             180  Not Designated..  Scenic,           Manage all areas
Historic and     outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Cultural         Closed or limited to
Values, Fish     designated routes.
Process or
Scorpion Flat/Dry Fork.......          30,691  Not Designated..  Scenic.........   Manage all areas
outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Straight Cliffs/Fifty Mile             21,357  12,270..........  Scenic and        Prohibit exclusive
Bench.                                                           Historical and   commercial mineral material
Cultural         sites.
Values.          Prohibit community
Tibbet Head..................          19,079  19,079..........  Historical and    No collection of BLM
Cultural         or State sensitive plants
Values and       without a research permit. No
Natural          casual use collection of
process or       fossils or other
System.          paleontological materials.
Wahweap Hoodoos..............             130  Not Designated..  Natural Systems   Recommend withdrawing
or Process.      from mineral entry.
No rock climbing or
rappelling within 100 meters
of any hoodoo formation.
The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to
portions of the Southern Kaiparowits in the lands excluded from the
monument is included in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. As required by 43 CFR
3461.2-1(a)(2), the public is invited to comment on the results of the
application of the criteria and the process used to derive these
BLM Utah is soliciting comments on the entire Draft RMPs/Draft EIS.
Please note that public comments and information submitted including
names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit
comments will be available for public review and disclosure at
addresses provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice during
regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, email address or other
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may
request to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Edwin L. Roberson,
State Director.
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