80 FR 39150 - Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Colorado River Valley Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 130 (July 8, 2015)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Colorado River Valley Field Office located in portions of Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties in northwest Colorado. The Colorado State Director signed the ROD on June 11, 2015, which constitutes the BLM's final decision and makes the approved RMP effective immediately.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39150-39151]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16431]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCON04000. L16100000.DR0000]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Colorado 
River Valley Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) for the Colorado River Valley Field Office located in portions of 
Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties in 
northwest Colorado. The Colorado State Director signed the ROD on June 
11, 2015, which constitutes the BLM's final decision and makes the 
approved RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Field Manager, BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, 2300 
River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652 or via the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/crvfo.html. Copies of the Colorado River Valley 
Field Office ROD and approved RMP are available for public inspection 
at the Colorado River Valley Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Hopkins, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator; telephone: 970-876-9073; address: 2300 River 
Frontage Road in Silt, CO 81652; 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, 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 field office has worked with the public, 
interest groups, stakeholders, cooperating agencies, tribes, the 
Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council, neighboring BLM offices, 
the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to craft the revised RMP. The result is 
an approved RMP that seeks to provide an overall balance between the 
protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural and cultural 
values, while allowing resource use and development in identified 
areas. Goals and objectives focus on environmental, economic, and 
social outcomes achieved by strategically addressing them on a 
landscape scale. Management direction is broad to accommodate a variety 
of interests and uses.
    The BLM initiated scoping for the RMP in 2007 and collected 
information and public input via public meetings and interviews in 
order to develop the Draft RMP/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
September 2011. Based on public and agency comments, the BLM carried 
forward the preferred alternative with some edits as the Proposed RMP/
Final EIS. The BLM published the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in March 2014 
and made it available for a 30-day public protest period beginning on 
March 24, 2014. During the protest period, the BLM received protests on 
a variety of issues. Following the protest resolution, the BLM made 
minor editorial modifications to the approved RMP to provide further 
clarification of some decisions.
    BLM regulations also require a 60-day Governor's Consistency Review 
period for the Proposed RMP/Final EIS to ensure consistency with State 
government plans or policies. The Governor did not identify any 
inconsistencies with State government plans or policies. The response 
letter stated that the State is grateful that the BLM has chosen to 
rely upon the Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Stakeholder Group 
Management Plan in concert with BLM management authorities to protect 
Colorado River segments. This approach is consistent with Colorado 
policy and law to support stakeholder efforts to develop protection of 
river-dependent resources as alternatives to Wild and Scenic River 
designation.
    Management decisions outlined in the approved RMP apply only to 
BLM-managed surface lands (approximately 505,200 acres) and BLM-managed 
Federal mineral estate (approximately 701,200 acres) that lies beneath 
other Federal, State and private surface ownership with the exception 
of National Forest lands. The approved RMP will replace the 1984 
Glenwood Springs Resource Area RMP. The approved RMP outlines goals, 
objectives, management actions, and allowable uses for resources and 
land uses including: Air, soil, water, upland and riparian vegetation, 
fish and wildlife, cultural resources, visual resources, forestry, 
livestock, grazing, minerals, energy development and recreation. While 
the RMP also proposes conservation management for Greater Sage-grouse 
habitat, the Northwest Colorado BLM Greater Sage-Grouse Plan Amendment 
and EIS will fully analyze the applicable Greater Sage-grouse 
conservation measures, consistent with BLM Instruction Memorandum No. 
2012-044. The BLM expects to make a comprehensive set of decisions for 
managing Greater Sage-grouse on lands administered by the Colorado 
River Valley Field Office in the ROD for the Northwest Colorado BLM 
Greater Sage-Grouse Plan Amendment and EIS.
    The approved RMP includes some implementation decisions designating 
routes of travel which are appealable to the Interior Board of Land 
Appeals under 43 CFR part 4. The route decisions are displayed by 
travel zone in Appendix A of the approved RMP. Any party adversely 
affected by the proposed route designations may appeal within 30 days 
of publication of this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR part 
4, subpart E. The appeal should state the specific route(s), as

[[Page 39151]]

identified in Appendix A of the approved RMP, on which the decision is 
being appealed.
    The appeal must be filed with the Colorado River Valley 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

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-16431 Filed 7-7-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P