80 FR 23046 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan Revisions and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Western Oregon

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 79 (April 24, 2015)

Page Range		23046-23049
FR Document		2015-09474
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) has prepared Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Revisions and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Western Oregon and, by this notice, is announcing the opening of the comment period.
Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23046-23049]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09474]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLOR930000.L63500000.DP0000.LXSS081H0000.15XL1116AF; HAG 15-0095]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan 
Revisions and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Western Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

[[Page 23047]]


ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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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) has prepared 
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Revisions and a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Western Oregon and, by this 
notice, is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS within 90 
days following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
publishes notice of the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS in the 
Federal Register. Written comments on proposed ACEC designations must 
be received within 60 days following the date that the EPA publishes 
notice of the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS in the Federal 
Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any 
other public participation activities at least 15 days in advance 
through public notices, media releases, the Web site, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Draft RMP Revisions, 
Draft EIS, and potential ACECs for Western Oregon by any of the 
following methods:

 Web site: http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/deis.php
 Email: BLM_OR_RMPWO_Comments@blm.gov
 Fax: 503-808-6021
 Mail: BLM--EIS for Western Oregon, 1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, 
Portland, OR 97204, or P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208

    Copies of the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS for Western Oregon 
are available at the Oregon State Office at the above address or on the 
Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/deis.php.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Mark Brown, RMPs for Western 
Oregon Project Manager; telephone: 503-808-6233; address: 1220 SW. 3rd 
Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, or P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208; or 
email at BLM_OR_RMPWO_Comments@blm.gov. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Draft RMP Revisions and 
Draft EIS for Western Oregon encompassing approximately 2,550,000 acres 
of BLM-administered lands and 69,000 acres of split-estate lands in 
western Oregon. The documents address a range of alternatives focused 
on providing a sustained yield of timber, contributing to the 
conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species, 
providing for clean water, restoring fire-adapted ecosystems, 
coordinating management of lands surrounding the Coquille Forest with 
the Coquille Tribe, and providing for recreation opportunities. The 
Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS propose to revise the RMPs for the 
Coos Bay, Eugene, Medford, Roseburg, and Salem Districts and the 
Lakeview District's Klamath Falls Resource Area. These six RMPs, 
completed in 1995, incorporated the land use allocations and standards 
and guidelines from the Northwest Forest Plan.
    In 2012, the BLM conducted an evaluation of the 1995 RMPs in 
accordance with its planning regulations and concluded that a plan 
revision was necessary to address the changed circumstances and new 
information that had led to a substantial, long-term departure from the 
timber management outcomes predicted under the 1995 RMPs. Within the 
western Oregon districts, three BLM-administered areas are not included 
in the decision area: the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument (Medford 
District), the Upper Klamath Basin and Wood River Wetland (Klamath 
Falls Field Office), and the West Eugene Wetlands (Eugene District).
    BLM-administered lands in the planning area include Oregon and 
California Railroad (O&C) lands, Coos Bay Wagon Road lands, Public 
Domain lands, and acquired lands. The Oregon and California Railroad 
and Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant Lands Act of 1937 (O&C Act) put the O&C 
lands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior and 
provides the legal authority for the management of O&C lands and Coos 
Bay Wagon Road lands. The lands were classified as timberlands to be 
managed for permanent forest production, and the timber was to be sold, 
cut, and removed in conformity with the principle of sustained yield 
for the purpose of providing a permanent source of timber supply. 
Sustained yield management under the O&C Act also provides for the 
purpose of protecting watersheds, regulating stream flow, contributing 
to the economic stability of local communities and industries, and 
providing recreational facilities. The Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 provides the legal authority for the management 
of Public Domain lands and acquired lands. These lands and resources 
are to be managed under the principles of multiple use and sustained 
yield. The land ownership patterns in western Oregon create unique 
management challenges. Generally, O&C land is located in odd-numbered 
sections and private land is located in even-numbered sections, 
creating a ``checkerboard'' ownership pattern. Activities on adjacent 
private lands have implications for management of the BLM-administered 
lands. The BLM also typically manages only a small percentage of the 
land in any particular watershed and, in many cases, the cumulative 
actions across all ownerships determine resource outcomes. In the Coast 
Range, checkerboard ownership is spread across the entire watershed. In 
the western Cascades, checkerboard ownership is mostly in the lower 
part of watersheds with blocked U.S. Forest Service ownership in the 
headwater areas.
    The formal public scoping process for the RMP Revisions and EIS 
began on March 9, 2012, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in 
the Federal Register (77 FR 14414) and ended on October 5, 2012. The 
BLM held scoping open houses in May and June 2012. The BLM used public 
scoping comments to help identify planning issues that directed the 
formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the 
Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS.
    The Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS for Western Oregon analyze, 
in detail, four action alternatives, two sub-alternatives, and the No 
Action alternative. The No Action alternative would implement the 1995 
RMPs, as written, into the future with no change in the management 
actions and level of management intensity in the planning area. There 
are 107 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) currently 
designated in the western Oregon districts' RMPs and described in the 
No Action alternative. The BLM developed the action alternatives to 
represent a range of overall management approaches. All action 
alternatives include the following land use allocations: 
Congressionally Reserved (e.g., wilderness, wild and scenic rivers), 
District-Designated Reserves, Late-Successional Reserve, Riparian 
Reserve, Harvest Land Base, and Eastside Management Area. The location 
and acreage of these allocations

[[Page 23048]]

vary by alternative with the exception of Congressionally Reserved 
allocations that are common to all alternatives. Within each action 
alternative, the Harvest Land Base, Late-Successional Reserve, and 
Riparian Reserve have specific, mapped sub-allocations with differing 
management direction. Given the checkboard ownership patterns and the 
wide-spread distribution of the federally listed species in the 
planning area analyzed in the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS, 
regional mitigation considerations are incorporated throughout the 
action alternatives.
    The two sub-alternatives modify an individual component of northern 
spotted owl conservation and related effects on timber production.
    The BLM has identified Alternative B as the preferred alternative. 
Identification of this alternative, however, does not represent final 
agency direction, and the Proposed RMP Revisions and Final EIS may 
reflect changes or adjustments based on information received during 
public comment, from new information, or from changes in BLM policies 
or priorities. The proposed RMPs and Final EIS may include objectives 
and actions described in the other analyzed alternatives or otherwise 
within the spectrum of the analyzed alternatives.
    Alternative A has a Late-Successional Reserve larger than the No 
Action Alternative. The Harvest Land Base is comprised of the Uneven-
Aged Timber Area and the High Intensity Timber Area. The High Intensity 
Timber Area includes regeneration harvest with no retention (clear 
cuts). Under Alternative A the BLM would designate 119 ACECs.
    Alternative B has a Late-Successional Reserve similar in size to 
Alternative A, though of a different spatial design. The Harvest Land 
Base is comprised of the Uneven-Aged Timber Area, Low Intensity Timber 
Area, and Moderate Intensity Timber Area. The portion of the Harvest 
Land Base in Uneven-Aged Timber Area is the largest of all action 
alternatives. The Low Intensity Timber Area and Moderate Intensity 
Timber Area include regeneration harvest with varying levels of 
retention. Under Alternative B, the BLM would designate 114 ACECs.
    Sub-alternative B is identical to Alternative B except that it 
includes protection of habitat within the home ranges of all northern 
spotted owl known and historic sites. Alternative C has the largest 
Harvest Land Base of any of the alternatives. The Harvest Land Base is 
comprised of the Uneven-Aged Timber Area and the High Intensity Timber 
Area. The High Intensity Timber Area includes regeneration harvest with 
no retention (clear cuts). Alternative C has the smallest acreage in 
the Riparian Reserve of all of the alternatives. Under Alternative C, 
the BLM would designate 111 ACECs.
    Sub-alternative C is identical to Alternative C except that the 
Late-Successional Reserve includes all stands 80 years old and older.
    Alternative D has the smallest Late-Successional Reserve of any of 
the alternatives. The Harvest Land Base is comprised of the Uneven-Aged 
Timber Area, Owl Habitat Timber Area, and Moderate Intensity Timber 
Area. The Owl Habitat Timber Area includes timber harvest applied in a 
manner that would maintain northern spotted owl habitat. The Moderate 
Intensity Timber Area includes regeneration harvest with retention. 
Alternative D has the largest acreage in the Riparian Reserve of all of 
the action alternatives. Under Alternative D, the BLM would designate 
118 ACECs.
    In addition to announcing the opening of the 90-day comment period 
on the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS for Western Oregon, this 
notice is also announcing the start of the 60-day period for public 
comment on proposed Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) 
designations, consistent with 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b). The action 
alternatives in the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS for Western 
Oregon consider the designation of 121 potential ACECs, with a variety 
of resource use limitations that would occur if formally designated.
    The 121 potential ACECs are Brownson Ridge, Cherry Creek, China 
Wall, Euphoria Ridge, Hunter Creek Bog, New River, North Fork Chetco, 
North Fork Coquille River, North Fork Hunter Creek, North Spit, North 
Spit Addition, Rocky Peak, Roman Nose, Steel Creek, Tioga Creek, Upper 
Rock Creek, Wassen Creek, Camas Swale, Cottage Grove Old Growth, Cougar 
Mountain Yew Grove, Dorena Prairie, Esmond Lake, Ferguson Creek, Fox 
Hollow, Garoutte Prairie, Grandmother's Grove, Grassy Mountain, Heceta 
Sand Dunes, Horse Rock Ridge, Hult Marsh, Jordan Creek, Lake Creek 
Falls, Lorane Ponderosa Pine, Low Elevation Headwaters of the McKenzie 
River, McGowan Meadow, Mohawk, Nails Creek, Oak Basin Prairies, Upper 
Elk Meadows, Upper Willamette Valley Margin, Willamette Valley Prairie 
Oak and Pine Area, Bumpheads, Old Baldy, Spencer Creek, Surveyor, 
Tunnel Creek, Upper Klamath River, Upper Klamath River Addition, Yainax 
Butte, Baker Cypress, Bobby Creek, Brewer Spruce, Cobleigh Road, 
Dakubetede, Deer Creek, East Fork Whiskey Creek, Eight Dollar Mountain, 
French Flat, Grayback Glades, Green Springs Mt Scenic, Hole-In-The-
Rock, Holton Creek, Hoxie Creek, Iron Creek, King Mountain Rock Garden, 
Lost Lake, Moon Prairie, North Fork Silver Creek, Old Baldy, Pickett 
Creek, Pipe Fork, Poverty Flat, Reeves Creek, Rough and Ready, Round 
Top Butte, Sterling Mine Ditch, Table Rocks, Tin Cup, Waldo-Takilma, 
West Fork Illinois River, Woodcock Bog, Bear Gulch, Beatty Creek, 
Bushnell-Irwin Rocks, Callahan Meadows, Myrtle Island, North Bank, 
North Myrtle Creek, Red Pond, Tater Hill, Beaver Creek, Crabtree 
Complex, Elk Creek, Forest Peak, Grass Mountain, High Peak--Moon Creek, 
Little North Fork Wilson River, Little Sink, Lost Prairie, Lower 
Scappoose Eagle, Mary's Peak, McCully Mountain, Middle Santiam 
Terrrace, Mill Creek Ridge, Molalla Meadows, Nestucca River, Rickreall 
Ridge, Saddle Bag Mountain, Sandy River, Silt Creek, Snow Peak, Soosap 
Meadows, The Butte, Valley of the Giants, Walker Flat, Waterloo, White 
Rock Fen, Wilhoit Springs, Williams Lake, Yaquina Head, and Yellowstone 
Creek.
    If formally designated, the BLM would close all potential ACECs to 
salable mineral development, except for Sandy River, in which the BLM 
would close most of the potential ACEC, but minerals are owned by non-
federal entities in portions of parcels 14 and 33, and Roman Nose, in 
which the BLM would limit salable mineral development to the existing 
quarry.
    If formally designated, the BLM would recommend withdrawal of all 
or part of the following potential ACECs from locatable mineral entry: 
Hunter Creek Bog, New River, North Fork Chetco, North Fork Hunter 
Creek, Rocky Peak, Cougar Mountain Yew Grove, Grassy Mountain, Heceta 
Sand Dunes, Horse Rock Ridge, Low Elevation Headwaters of the McKenzie 
River, McGowan Meadow, Mohawk, Oak Basin Prairies, Upper Elk Meadows, 
Upper Willamette Valley Margin, Willamette Valley Prairie Oak and Pine 
Area, Bumpheads, Old Baldy, Spencer Creek, Surveyor, Tunnel Creek, 
Upper Klamath River, Upper Klamath River Addition, Yainax Butte, Bobby 
Creek, Brewer Spruce, Dakubetede, East Fork Whiskey Creek, Eight Dollar 
Mountain, Grayback Glades, Holton Creek, Iron Creek, North Fork Silver 
Creek, Pickett Creek, Pipe Fork, Reeves Creek, Rough and Ready, Table 
Rocks, West Fork Illinois River, Woodcock Bog, Bear Gulch, Beatty 
Creek, Bushnell-Irwin Rocks, Callahan Meadows, Myrtle Island, North 
Bank, North Myrtle Creek, Red Pond, Tater Hill, Beaver Creek, Crabtree 
Complex,

[[Page 23049]]

Elk Creek, Forest Peak, Grass Mountain, High Peak--Moon Creek, Little 
North Fork Wilson River, Little Sink, Lost Prairie, Lower Scappoose 
Eagle, Mary's Peak, McCully Mountain, Middle Santiam Terrrace, Mill 
Creek Ridge, Molalla Meadows, Nestucca River, Rickreall Ridge, Saddle 
Bag Mountain, Silt Creek, Snow Peak, Soosap Meadows, The Butte, Valley 
of the Giants,Walker Flat, Waterloo, White Rock Fen, Wilhoit Springs, 
Williams Lake, Yaquina Head, Yellowstone Creek, Sandy River, French 
Flat, and Waldo-Takilma.
    If formally designated, all potential ACECs would be open to 
leasable mineral entry with a no surface occupancy stipulation, except 
for Valley of the Giants, for which the BLM does not own sub-surface 
mineral rights, except for 07S-08W-31 NE1/4.
    If formally designated, the BLM would close all or part of the 
following potential ACECs to off-highway vehicle use: Lower Scappoose 
Eagle, North Bank, Table Rocks, New River, Hunter Creek Bog, North Fork 
Hunter Creek, Camas Swale, Cottage Grove Old Growth, Cougar Mountain 
Yew Grove, Dorena Prairie, Esmond Lake, Ferguson Creek, Fox Hollow, 
Garoutte Prairie, Grandmother's Grove, Grassy Mountain, Heceta Sand 
Dunes, Horse Rock Ridge, Jordan Creek, Lake Creek Falls, Lorane 
Ponderosa Pine, Low Elevation Headwaters of the McKenzie River, McGowan 
Meadow, Mohawk, Nails Creek, Oak Basin Prairies, Upper Elk Meadows, 
Upper Willamette Valley Margin, Willamette Valley Prairie Oak and Pine 
Area, Old Baldy, Spencer Creek, Woodcock Bog, Bear Gulch, Beatty Creek, 
Bushnell-Irwin Rocks, Callahan Meadows, Myrtle Island, North Myrtle 
Creek, Red Pond, Tater Hill, Beaver Creek, Crabtree Complex, Forest 
Peak, Grass Mountain, High Peak--Moon Creek, Little Sink, Lost Prairie, 
McCully Mountain, Mill Creek Ridge, Molalla Meadows, Rickreall Ridge, 
Saddle Bag Mountain, Silt Creek, Soosap Meadows, Walker Flat, Waterloo, 
Williams Lake, Yaquina Head, and French Flat. In all of the remaining 
potential ACECs, if formally designated, the BLM would limit off-
highway vehicle use to existing or designated roads and trails.
    If formally designated, the BLM would preclude timber harvest or 
condition timber harvest to maintain relevant and important values in 
all potential ACECs. As explained in Chapter 1 of the Draft RMP 
Revisions and Draft EIS for Western Oregon, the BLM will designate and 
manage ACECs on O&C lands where the special management needed to 
maintain relevant and important values would not conflict with the 
planning for sustained-yield timber production for the purposes of the 
O&C Act.
    If formally designated, the BLM would manage livestock grazing in 
all potential ACECs to maintain relevant and important values. The 
following potential ACECs are already closed to livestock grazing and 
would continue to be closed if formally designated: Old Baldy, Spencer 
Creek, Lost Lake, Round Top Butte, Table Rocks, and Poverty Flat. At 
the Bumpheads potential ACEC, the BLM maintains gap fence to exclude 
livestock and would continue that management if formally designated. 
The following potential ACECs are open to grazing with stipulations for 
fencing to control grazing that would continue if formally designated: 
Surveyor and Tunnel Creek. The following potential ACECs are open to 
grazing with stipulations to monitor important values and fence or 
implement other protection measures if needed and those stipulations 
would continue if formally designated: Cobleigh Road, Green Springs Mt 
Scenic, Hole-In-The-Rock, Hoxie Creek, Moon Prairie, and Tin Cup.
    If formally designated, the BLM would designate all potential ACECs 
as Right-of-Way Avoidance Areas.
    The BLM is planning a series of public meetings after the release 
of the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS. The purpose of these meetings 
is to help members of the public understand the content of the Draft 
RMP Revisions and Draft EIS and provide meaningful and constructive 
comments. There will be at least six ``open-house'' public meetings 
(one meeting per District) where people can engage with BLM employees 
on all resources addressed in the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS. 
The BLM will likely also be organizing issue-specific meetings on 
topics such as socio-economics, forestry, aquatics, and wildlife. 
Information on meeting locations and dates will be available at http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/. Following the close of the 
public review and comment period, any substantive public comments will 
be used to revise the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS in preparation 
for their release to the public as the Proposed RMP and Final EIS. The 
BLM will respond to each substantive comment received during the public 
review and comment period by making appropriate revisions to the 
document or explaining why the comment did not warrant a change. Notice 
of the availability of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS will be posted in 
the Federal Register. 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 the above address 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 can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Jerome E. Perez,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

[FR Doc. 2015-09474 Filed 4-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-33-P
23046 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: compliance with existing regulatory recovery plan; comments regarding
Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, at mechanisms. A majority of the known recovery plan implementation will be
the above street address or telephone California tiger salamander occurrences forwarded as appropriate to Federal or
number (see ADDRESSES). in Santa Barbara County currently occur other entities so that they can be taken
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: on private lands, requiring continual into account during the course of
coordination with multiple private and implementing recovery actions.
Background local government entities for Responses to individual commenters
Recovery of endangered or threatened management. will not be provided, but we will
animals and plants to the point where provide a summary of how we
Recovery Plan
they are again secure, self-sustaining addressed substantive comments in an
members of their ecosystems is a The purpose of a recovery plan is to appendix to the approved recovery plan.
primary goal of our endangered species provide a framework for the recovery of We invite written comments on the
program and the Endangered Species species so that protection under the Act draft recovery plan. In particular, we are
Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. is no longer necessary. A recovery plan interested in additional information
1531 et seq.). Recovery means includes scientific information about regarding the current threats to the
improvement of the status of listed the species and provides criteria that species, and our proposed approach to
species to the point at which listing is help us to gauge whether downlisting or recovering the species.
no longer appropriate under the criteria delisting the species is warranted. Before we approve our final recovery
specified in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. Furthermore, recovery plans help guide plan, we will consider all comments we
The Act requires the development of our recovery efforts by describing receive by the date specified in DATES
recovery plans for listed species, unless actions we consider necessary for each above. Methods of submitting comments
such a plan would not promote the species’ conservation and by estimating are in the ADDRESSES section above.
conservation of a particular species. time and costs for implementing needed
On January 19, 2000, the Santa recovery measures. Public Availability of Comments
Barbara County Distinct Population The goal of this draft recovery plan is Before including your address, phone
Segment (DPS) of the California tiger to reduce the threats to the Santa number, email address, or other
salamander was emergency listed as Barbara County DPS of the California personal identifying information in your
endangered (65 FR 3096). The final tiger salamander to ensure its long-term comment, you should be aware that
listing rule for the species was viability in the wild, and allow for its your entire comment—including your
subsequently published on September removal from the list of threatened and personal identifying information—may
21, 2000 (65 FR 57242). Critical habitat endangered species. The interim goal is be made publicly available at any time.
for the DPS was designated in 2004 (69 to recover the DPS to the point that it While you can ask us in your comment
FR 68568). can be downlisted from endangered to to withhold your personal identifying
The Santa Barbara County DPS of the threatened status. The recovery information from public review, we
California tiger salamander is endemic objectives of the plan are: cannot guarantee that we will be able to
to the northern portion of Santa Barbara 1. Protect and manage sufficient do so.
County, California, and currently habitat within the metapopulation areas Comments and materials we receive
consists of six distinct metapopulations, to support long-term viability of the will be available, by appointment, for
defined as a set of local populations or Santa Barbara County DPS of the public inspection during normal
breeding sites within an area, where California tiger salamander. business hours at our office (see
typically dispersal from one local 2. Reduce or remove other threats to ADDRESSES).
population or breeding site to other the Santa Barbara County DPS of the
areas containing suitable habitat is California tiger salamander. Authority
possible, but not routine. The primary The draft recovery plan contains We developed our draft recovery plan
threat that resulted in the listing of the recovery criteria based on maintaining under the authority of section 4(f) of the
Santa Barbara DPS of the California tiger and increasing population numbers and Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this
salamander as federally endangered was habitat quality and quantity, and notice under section 4(f) Endangered
the loss, degradation, and fragmentation mitigating significant threats to the Species Act of 1973, as amended (16
of habitat from human activities. The species. As the Santa Barbara County U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
California tiger salamander requires a DPS of the California tiger salamander Alexandra Pitts,
combination of pond habitat for meets these criteria, we will review the
breeding, and upland (underground) Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
species’ status and consider the species Region.
habitat for the rest of its life cycle. The for downlisting or removal from the
[FR Doc. 2015–09547 Filed 4–23–15; 8:45 am]
species depends on a series of Federal List of Endangered and
interconnected breeding and upland BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
Threatened Wildlife and Plants.
habitats, making it particularly sensitive
to changes in the amount, configuration, Request for Public Comments
and quality of these habitats. The loss Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
and destruction of habitat continues to provide public notice and an Bureau of Land Management
represent the primary threat to the opportunity for public review and
species. Within the range of the Santa comment during recovery plan [LLOR930000.L63500000.DP0000.
Barbara County DPS of the California development. It is also our policy to LXSS081H0000.15XL1116AF; HAG 15–0095]
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

tiger salamander, significant portions of request peer review of recovery plans
Notice of Availability of the Draft
its habitat have been altered or (July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). In an
Resource Management Plan Revisions
destroyed. Additional threats to the appendix to the approved recovery plan,
and Draft Environmental Impact
species include hybridization with we will summarize and respond to the
Statement for Western Oregon
nonnative tiger salamanders, predation issues raised by the public and peer
and competition by nonnative species, reviewers. Substantive comments may AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
vehicle-strike mortality, and lack of or may not result in changes to the Interior.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 79 / Friday, April 24, 2015 / Notices 23047

ACTION: Notice of Availability. individual. You will receive a reply contributing to the economic stability of
during normal business hours. local communities and industries, and
SUMMARY: In accordance with the providing recreational facilities. The
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
National Environmental Policy Act of Federal Land Policy and Management
prepared the Draft RMP Revisions and
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Act of 1976 provides the legal authority
Draft EIS for Western Oregon
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as for the management of Public Domain
encompassing approximately 2,550,000
amended, the Bureau of Land lands and acquired lands. These lands
acres of BLM-administered lands and
Management (BLM) has prepared Draft and resources are to be managed under
69,000 acres of split-estate lands in
Resource Management Plan (RMP) the principles of multiple use and
western Oregon. The documents address
Revisions and a Draft Environmental sustained yield. The land ownership
a range of alternatives focused on
Impact Statement (EIS) for Western patterns in western Oregon create
providing a sustained yield of timber,
Oregon and, by this notice, is unique management challenges.
contributing to the conservation and
announcing the opening of the comment Generally, O&C land is located in odd-
recovery of threatened and endangered
period. numbered sections and private land is
species, providing for clean water,
DATES: To ensure that comments will be located in even-numbered sections,
restoring fire-adapted ecosystems,
considered, the BLM must receive coordinating management of lands creating a ‘‘checkerboard’’ ownership
written comments on the Draft RMP surrounding the Coquille Forest with pattern. Activities on adjacent private
Revisions and Draft EIS within 90 days the Coquille Tribe, and providing for lands have implications for management
following the date that the recreation opportunities. The Draft RMP of the BLM-administered lands. The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Revisions and Draft EIS propose to BLM also typically manages only a
publishes notice of the Draft RMP revise the RMPs for the Coos Bay, small percentage of the land in any
Revisions and Draft EIS in the Federal Eugene, Medford, Roseburg, and Salem particular watershed and, in many
Register. Written comments on Districts and the Lakeview District’s cases, the cumulative actions across all
proposed ACEC designations must be Klamath Falls Resource Area. These six ownerships determine resource
received within 60 days following the RMPs, completed in 1995, incorporated outcomes. In the Coast Range,
date that the EPA publishes notice of checkerboard ownership is spread
the land use allocations and standards
the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS across the entire watershed. In the
and guidelines from the Northwest
in the Federal Register. The BLM will western Cascades, checkerboard
Forest Plan.
announce future meetings or hearings ownership is mostly in the lower part of
In 2012, the BLM conducted an
and any other public participation watersheds with blocked U.S. Forest
evaluation of the 1995 RMPs in
activities at least 15 days in advance Service ownership in the headwater
accordance with its planning
through public notices, media releases, areas.
regulations and concluded that a plan The formal public scoping process for
the Web site, and/or mailings. revision was necessary to address the
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments the RMP Revisions and EIS began on
changed circumstances and new March 9, 2012, with the publication of
related to the Draft RMP Revisions, Draft information that had led to a
EIS, and potential ACECs for Western a Notice of Intent in the Federal
substantial, long-term departure from Register (77 FR 14414) and ended on
Oregon by any of the following the timber management outcomes
methods: October 5, 2012. The BLM held scoping
predicted under the 1995 RMPs. Within open houses in May and June 2012. The
• Web site: http://www.blm.gov/or/ the western Oregon districts, three BLM- BLM used public scoping comments to
plans/rmpswesternoregon/deis.php administered areas are not included in help identify planning issues that
• Email: BLM_OR_RMPWO_ the decision area: the Cascade Siskiyou directed the formulation of alternatives
Comments@blm.gov National Monument (Medford District), and framed the scope of analysis in the
• Fax: 503–808–6021 the Upper Klamath Basin and Wood
• Mail: BLM—EIS for Western Oregon, Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS.
River Wetland (Klamath Falls Field The Draft RMP Revisions and Draft
1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR Office), and the West Eugene Wetlands EIS for Western Oregon analyze, in
97204, or P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR (Eugene District). detail, four action alternatives, two sub-
97208 BLM-administered lands in the alternatives, and the No Action
Copies of the Draft RMP Revisions planning area include Oregon and alternative. The No Action alternative
and Draft EIS for Western Oregon are California Railroad (O&C) lands, Coos would implement the 1995 RMPs, as
available at the Oregon State Office at Bay Wagon Road lands, Public Domain written, into the future with no change
the above address or on the Web site at: lands, and acquired lands. The Oregon in the management actions and level of
http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/ and California Railroad and Coos Bay management intensity in the planning
rmpswesternoregon/deis.php. Wagon Road Grant Lands Act of 1937 area. There are 107 Areas of Critical
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. (O&C Act) put the O&C lands under the Environmental Concern (ACEC)
Mark Brown, RMPs for Western Oregon jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of currently designated in the western
Project Manager; telephone: 503–808– the Interior and provides the legal Oregon districts’ RMPs and described in
6233; address: 1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, authority for the management of O&C the No Action alternative. The BLM
Portland, OR 97204, or P.O. Box 2965, lands and Coos Bay Wagon Road lands. developed the action alternatives to
Portland, OR 97208; or email at BLM_ The lands were classified as timberlands represent a range of overall management
OR_RMPWO_Comments@blm.gov. to be managed for permanent forest approaches. All action alternatives
Persons who use a telecommunications production, and the timber was to be include the following land use
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

device for the deaf (TDD) may call the sold, cut, and removed in conformity allocations: Congressionally Reserved
Federal Information Relay Service with the principle of sustained yield for (e.g., wilderness, wild and scenic
(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the the purpose of providing a permanent rivers), District-Designated Reserves,
above individual during normal source of timber supply. Sustained yield Late-Successional Reserve, Riparian
business hours. The FIRS is available 24 management under the O&C Act also Reserve, Harvest Land Base, and
hours a day, seven days a week, to leave provides for the purpose of protecting Eastside Management Area. The
a message or question with the above watersheds, regulating stream flow, location and acreage of these allocations

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Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Availability.
Dates		To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS within 90 days following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes notice of the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS in the Federal Register. Written comments on proposed ACEC designations must be received within 60 days following the date that the EPA publishes notice of the Draft RMP Revisions and Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, the Web site, and/or mailings.
Contact		Mr. Mark Brown, RMPs for Western
FR Citation		80 FR 23046
80 FR 23046 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan Revisions and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Western Oregon

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 79 (April 24, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
