80 FR 29331 - Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the California Coastal Monument for the Inclusion of the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 98 (May 21, 2015)

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ukiah Field Office, Ukiah, California intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of a scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29331-29332]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12360]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[L12200000.AL0000/LLCAC05000]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the 
California Coastal Monument for the Inclusion of the Point Arena-
Stornetta Unit and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ukiah 
Field Office, Ukiah, California intends to prepare a Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) and 
by this notice is announcing the beginning of a scoping process to 
solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment and associated EA. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the 
local news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/ukiah. In order to be included in the analysis, all 
written comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day 
scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is 
later. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and the planning criteria 
related to the RMP Amendment and EA by the following methods:

[[Page 29332]]

     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/ukiah.
     email: BLM Ukiah Field Office at 
[email protected].
     fax: 707-468-4027.
     mail: Ukiah Field Office, 2550 North State Street, Ukiah, 
CA 95482.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Ukiah 
Field Office, 2550 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonna Hildenbrand, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, telephone 707-468-4000; address Bureau of 
Land Management, 2550 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482; or email 
[email protected]. Contact Ms. 
Hildenbrand to have your name added to our mailing list. Persons who 
use a telecommunication 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, 7 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 approved the Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the California Coastal National Monument RMP on September 
2005. On March 11, 2014, the Point Arena-Stornetta Management Area was 
included as the first mainland based portion of the California Coastal 
National Monument by Presidential Proclamation and named the Point 
Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument. The 
RMP amendment will incorporate relevant new information to provide 
management goals and objectives, and to identify allowable uses of the 
area, consistent with current management documents, including the 
Presidential Proclamation, Deed Restrictions of the transfer of the 
property, the existing CCNM RMP, and BLM Manual 6620 (National 
Monuments, National Conservation Areas, and Similar Designations).
    The planning area is in Mendocino County and encompasses 1,665 
acres of public land. The purpose of the public scoping process is to 
determine relevant issues that will inform the scope of the 
environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the planning 
process. Preliminary issues for the plan amendment area have been 
identified by the BLM; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other 
stakeholders. The issues include recreation management, travel 
management, access, livestock grazing and potential new land use 
authorizations such as rights-of-ways.
    Preliminary planning criteria include:
    1. The BLM will comply with FLPMA, NEPA, the Presidential 
Proclamation, Deed Restrictions at the time of transfer of the property 
and all other applicable laws;
    2. The BLM will coordinate with local and county governments for 
analysis of economic and social impacts;
    3. The BLM will conduct government-to-government consultation with 
federally recognized tribes;
    4. The BLM will comply with Rangeland Health Standards and 
Guidelines; and
    5. The BLM will consider the cost-effectiveness of proposed actions 
and alternatives.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the 
BLM using one of the methods listed above in the ADDRESSES section.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources. The BLM will 
consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in 
accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal 
concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential 
impacts to cultural resources, will be given due consideration. 
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other 
stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the 
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the 
BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as 
a cooperating agency.
    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. The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping 
meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the 
meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she 
expressed.
    BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan, 
and will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the EA as to why an issue 
was placed in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to 
help identify any management questions and concerns that should be 
addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best 
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland 
management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, 
wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, and 
sociology and economics.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Rich Burns,
Ukiah Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2015-12360 Filed 5-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P