80 FR 33546 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the John Day Basin Resource Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 113 (June 12, 2015)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the John Day Basin planning area located in northern central Oregon. The Oregon/Washington State Director signed the ROD on April 28, 2015, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 33546]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14485]



[[Page 33546]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORP0000.16100000.DR0000 LXSS053H0000 HAG14-0129]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the John Day 
Basin Resource Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) for the John Day Basin planning area located in northern 
central Oregon. The Oregon/Washington State Director signed the ROD on 
April 28, 2015, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and 
makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Central Oregon Field Manager, Prineville District Office, 
Bureau of Land Management, 3050 NE Third Street, Prineville, OR 97754, 
or via the internet at http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/plans/johndayrmp/jdbdocuments.php. Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are 
available for public inspection at the Prineville District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teal Purrington, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator; telephone, 541-416-6700; address, Prineville 
District Office, Bureau of Land Management, 3050 NE Third Street, 
Prineville, OR 97754; email, [email protected]. 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, 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: Interaction with the public regarding this 
RMP began in early 2006 and included dozens of public meetings and 
workshops. The BLM worked with cooperators from six Federal agencies, 
including the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; three state agencies; and eight county governments. 
The BLM also consulted, on a government-to-government basis, with three 
federally recognized tribes with interests in the planning area. The 
RMP provides management direction for 456,600 acres of public land. The 
Approved RMP describes the actions that will meet desired resource 
conditions for soil, vegetation, water quality, aquatic habitat, and 
wildlife habitat; protects cultural resources, visual resources, Wild 
and Scenic River values, Wilderness areas, and Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern; and provides opportunities for recreation, 
transportation, livestock grazing, rights-of-way, and energy and 
mineral development. The preferred alternative published October 2008 
in the Draft RMP/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was carried 
forward as the Proposed RMP in the Final EIS with minor modifications. 
The Proposed RMP/EIS was published in April 2012, and the BLM received 
three protest letters. After careful consideration of all points raised 
in those protests, the BLM Director concluded that the BLM followed all 
applicable laws, regulations, policies, and pertinent resource 
considerations in developing the proposed plan. Responses were sent 
from the BLM Director to all protesting parties to address their 
concerns. The BLM's protest summary report is available on the 
Prineville District Web page at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/plans/johndayrmp/jdbsupportdocs.
    The Governor of Oregon was provided a formal, 60-day review period 
to determine if the Proposed RMP/EIS is consistent with existing state 
or local plans, programs, or policies. No inconsistencies were 
identified. In preparing the Approved RMP, the BLM applied the seasonal 
wildlife closures considered in Alternatives 4 and 5 to the 3,970-acre 
area identified as an Open Off-highway Vehicle (OHV) designation in the 
Rudio Mountain area. As a result, the OHV designation was also changed 
to Limited. All other changes were minor editorial modifications.
    There are several implementation decisions in the Approved RMP 
which are appealable under 43 CFR part 4: (a) Limits on decibels, hours 
of operation, and class of OHV at Little Canyon Mountain; (b) interim 
management plan for Spring Basin Wilderness; (c) interim management 
direction for the portion of the North Fork John Day River determined 
to be suitable for designation as a Wild and Scenic River; (d) 
management plan for the existing wild and scenic river designations on 
the John Day River; (e) seasonal area and route closures; and (f) 
decisions identifying routes of travel for motorized vehicles. Any 
party adversely affected may appeal within 30 days of publication of 
this Notice of Availability. The appeal should state the specific 
decision(s) being appealed. The appeal must be filed with the Central 
Oregon Field Manager at the above listed address. Please consult the 
appropriate regulations (43 CFR part 4, subpart E) for further appeal 
requirements.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.

Jerome E. Perez,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.
[FR Doc. 2015-14485 Filed 6-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-33-P