Federal Register: December 10, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 237)NoticesPage 68294-68295From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr10de98-121

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

ID-040-1610-00Availability of the Challis Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Idaho.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, section102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and BLM Planning Regulations (43 CFR part 1600), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Upper Columbia--Salmon Clearwater Districts has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (Proposed RMP/Final EIS) for the Challis Resource Area. The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS has been published and is available for public review by requesting a copy from the address indicated in the ADDRESSES section below.

The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes and analyzes the BLM's proposed plan for managing approximately 792,657 acres of BLM public lands in the Challis Resource Area, located in Custer and Lemhi counties of east-central Idaho. When implemented, the Challis RMP would replace the three Management Framework Plans currently used by the Challis Resource Area. The Challis RMP would also amend the Little Lost-Birch Creek Management Framework Plan (BLM 1981) by designating the Donkey Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which includes 4,714 acres managed by the Upper Snake River District--BLM in Butte County, Idaho.

DATES: Written comments on the Final EIS for the Challis Proposed RMP must be submitted or postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19, 1999. Written protests on the Challis Proposed RMP must also be submitted or postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS may be obtained upon request by contacting the Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-5400. Written comments on the Final EIS should be addressed to Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467. Protests of the Challis Proposed RMP must be filed with the Director, Bureau of Land Management; Attention: Ms. Brenda Williams, Protests Coordinator; WO-210/LS-1075; Department of the Interior; Washington, DC 20240. A description of protest procedures may be obtained from Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756- 5440. Documents relevant to the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS planning process are available for public viewing at the Salmon BLM office on Highway 93 South, Salmon, Idaho.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes and analyzes the BLM's proposed plan for addressing the planning issues and management concerns identified through public involvement and BLM input. The Proposed RMP proposes resource condition objectives, land use allocations, and management actions and direction to guide resource management of the Challis Resource Area on a long term, sustainable basis during the next 15 to 20 years.

The Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes changes from and corrections to the Challis Draft RMP/EIS (BLM, May 1996), updates the discussion of the affected environment, provides an analysis of environmental consequences for the Proposed RMP, records public comments on the Draft RMP/EIS, and documents the BLM's responses to those comments. The Proposed RMP is based on the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) described in the Challis Draft RMP/EIS, as modified in response to public and tribal comments and internal BLM recommendations. When compared with the Preferred Alternative, the Proposed RMP increases the level of protection to aquatic, riparian, and upland resources by limiting off-highway vehicle use to exisitng roads, vehicle ways, and trails thorughout the Resource Area. The Proposed RMP also clarifies numerous decisions, and thereby improves the BLM's ability to implement effective management in order to address resource concerns and improve resource conditions. Finally, the Proposed RMP includes an emphasis on integrated resource activity planning and watershed assessment, in order to ensure that individual project proposals are considered within the context of broader landscape issues.

The Proposed RMP includes decisions related to two types of designations: (a) The Proposed RMP describes the BLM's Wild and Scenic River suitability findings for rivers within the Challis Resource Area; and (b) the Proposed RMP designates public lands as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). The Proposed RMP would continue to designate approximately 13,968 acres within existing ACECs, in order to highlight unique plant communities, paleontological resources, fragile soils and a bighorn sheep population for management and protection; these existing ACECs include 5,975 acres of existing Research Natural Areas (RNAs). The Proposed RMP would expand one existing ACEC by 322 acres. The Proposed RMP would also designate approximately 73,916 acres within seven additional ACECs, in order to highlight the following resources for management and protection: unique plant communities; fragile soils; a geologic area of interest; unique riparian habitats; fisheries habitats; roadless primitive and scenic values; crucial bighorn sheep and elk habitats; and unique cultural resources. Approximately 3,871 acres of Research Natural Areas would be designated within these seven additional ACECs.

Following a 30-day public review period, a concurrent 30-day protest period, a concurrent 60-day Governor's review, and resolution of written protests or concerns raised during these protest and review periods, the BLM will prepare a Record of Decision for the approved RMP. The public will be notified in the Federal Register when the Record of Decision for the Challis RMP becomes available.

Comments on the protests of the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS, including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be

[Page 68295]available for public review at the Salmon BLM Office on Highway 93 South in Salmon, Idaho during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment or protest. Such request will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made avaialble for public inspection in their entirety.

Dated: December 4, 1998. Fritz U. Rennebaum, District Manager.

FR Doc. 98-32807Filed12-9-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4310-GG-M