81 FR 35793 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Uncompahgre Field Office, Colorado

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 107 (June 3, 2016)

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 a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Uncompahgre Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the opening of the public comment period.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35793-35796]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13131]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOS05000 L16100000.DP0000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Uncompahgre Field Office, 
Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 35794]]

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 a 
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Uncompahgre Planning Area and by this notice is 
announcing the opening of the public comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this notice of the Draft 
RMP/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, and/or 
mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Uncompahgre Draft 
RMP/EIS by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Uncompahgre RMP, 2465 South Townsend Avenue, 
Montrose, CO 81401.
     Fax: 970-240-5368.
    Copies of the Uncompahgre Draft RMP/EIS are available in the 
Uncompahgre Field Office at the above address or on the RMP Web site 
at: http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/uncompahgre_rmp.htm; or at: 
www.uformp.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Jones, Southwest District NEPA 
Coordinator; telephone 970-240-5300; see above for address and email. 
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 Uncompahgre Draft RMP/
EIS to evaluate and revise the management strategy for resources, 
resource uses, and special designations within the Uncompahgre planning 
area. Existing management decisions for public lands and resources in 
the Uncompahgre planning area are described in two documents: the 1985 
San Juan/San Miguel RMP, as amended; and the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin 
RMP, as amended.
    The Uncompahgre planning area includes approximately 3.1 million 
acres of land managed by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service (portions of the 
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest), National Park 
Service (Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and portions of 
Curecanti National Recreation Area), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State 
of Colorado (including Ridgway, Crawford, and Paonia State Parks), and 
local and private lands all of which are located in southwestern 
Colorado, in Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Ouray, San Miguel and Mesa 
counties. The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) and the 
Dominguez-Escalante NCA are not within the planning area for this Draft 
RMP/EIS. The Uncompahgre RMP will determine management for 
approximately 675,800 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and for 
approximately 971,220 acres of Federal mineral estate.
    The formal public scoping process for the Uncompahgre RMP began 
February 25, 2010, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the 
Federal Register (75 FR 8739). The BLM held seven scoping open houses 
in January and February 2010. The BLM used public scoping comments to 
help identify planning issues that led to the formulation of 
alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the Draft RMP/EIS. The 
BLM also used the scoping process to introduce the public to the 
preliminary planning criteria, which set limits on the scope of the 
Draft RMP/EIS.
    Major issues considered in the Draft RMP/EIS include management of 
biological resources including special status species, renewable and 
non-renewable energy, minerals, human activities and uses including 
livestock and recreation, utility/energy corridors and rights-of-way 
(ROW), and cultural resources. The RMP also addresses decisions 
regarding Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Old Spanish National Historic 
Trail, and lands with wilderness characteristics. The Draft RMP/EIS 
evaluates in detail the No Action Alternative (Alternative A), three 
action alternatives (Alternatives B, C and D), and sub-alternative 
(B.1). The BLM identified Alternative D as the Preferred Alternative. 
This alternative, however, does not represent the final agency 
direction, and the Proposed RMP may reflect changes or adjustments 
based on information received during public comment on the Draft RMP/
EIS, new information, or changes in the BLM policies or priorities. The 
Proposed RMP may include objectives and actions described in any of the 
alternatives analyzed in the Draft.
    Alternative A retains the current management goals, objectives, and 
direction specified in the 1985 San Juan/San Miguel RMP and the 1989 
Uncompahgre Basin RMP. Alternative B emphasizes improving, 
rehabilitating and restoring resources; sustaining the ecological 
integrity of habitats for all priority plant, wildlife and fish 
species; and allowing appropriate development scenarios for allowable 
uses (such as mineral leasing, locatable mineral development, 
recreation, communication sites and livestock grazing). Alternative B.1 
is a subset of Alternative B, and specifically addresses oil and gas 
leasing and development in the North Fork and Smith Fork drainages of 
the Gunnison River. Certain areas would be closed to oil and gas 
leasing and this alternative would impose development setbacks with 
strict surface use restrictions in places where leasing might be 
allowed to occur. Alternative C emphasizes the appropriate mix of uses 
that maximize utilization of resources while protecting land health. 
The appropriate development scenarios for allowable uses emphasize 
maximizing resource production in an environmentally responsible 
manner, while maintaining the basic protection needed to sustain 
resources, including mitigating impacts on land health. Alternative D 
emphasizes balancing resources and resource use among competing human 
interests, land uses, and the conservation of natural and cultural 
resource values, while sustaining and enhancing ecological integrity 
across the landscape, including plant, wildlife, and fish habitat. This 
alternative incorporates a balanced level of protection, restoration, 
enhancement and use of resources and services to meet ongoing programs 
and land uses.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 3461.2-1(a)(2), this notice announces a 
concurrent public comment period on the application of unsuitability 
criteria to lands with coal development potential. Maps and other 
information describing the results of the application of unsuitability 
criteria are available at the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office.
    The Uncompahgre planning area has all or portions of five 
Wilderness Study Areas (Needle Rock, Adobe Badlands, Camel Back, 
Sewemup Mesa, Dolores River Canyons), as well as the congressionally 
designated Tabeguache Area. This RMP analyses seven areas identified as 
lands with wilderness characteristics. Also, this RMP analyzes eligible 
water segments for recommendation for inclusion in the National Wild 
and Scenic River System.

[[Page 35795]]

    Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent 
public comment period on the proposed Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern (ACEC). The BLM analyzed 19 potential ACECs meeting the 
relevance and importance criteria within the range of alternatives. The 
alternative where each ACEC is considered, as well as the largest size 
and most restrictive limitations under consideration for each potential 
ACEC within the range of alternatives are as follows:
     Adobe Badlands ACEC, 6,370 acres, Alternatives A, C, D: 
ROW avoidance; close to coal leasing; recommend for withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to 
non-energy solid mineral leasing; close to motorized and mechanized 
travel; Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class I; close to major 
utility development; manage for day use only; prohibit camping and 
campfires; No Surface Occupancy (NSO) for fluid minerals; Site Specific 
Relocation (SSR) for non-fluid mineral activities.
     Fairview South ACEC, up to 4,250 acres, Alternatives A, B, 
C, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid 
mineral leasing; close to motorized and mechanized travel; designated 
trail systems for non-motorized and non-mechanized travel; VRM Class 
III; close to sheep and cattle grazing; day use only; prohibit camping 
and campfires; prohibit wood collecting; close to wood product sales 
and/or harvest; NSO for fluid minerals; No Ground Disturbance (NGD) for 
non-fluid mineral activities.
     Needle Rock ACEC, 80 acres, Alternatives A, B, C, D: ROW 
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; close to livestock grazing; limit motorized and mechanized 
travel to designated routes; VRM Class I; day use only; prohibit 
camping, prohibit open campfires (require use of stoves or grills); 
prohibit wood collecting; close to wood product sales and/or harvest; 
prohibit rock climbing; provide adequate protection (signing, 
stipulations, barricades and fences) to protect sensitive species and 
their habitats; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for non-fluid mineral 
activities.
     San Miguel River ACEC, up to 35,480 acres, Alternatives A, 
B, C, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid 
mineral leasing; close to coal leasing; VRM Class II and III; close to 
wood product sales and/or harvest; allow on-site collection of dead and 
downed wood for campfires (fire pans required); close to livestock 
grazing; limit camping to designated sites and areas; limit camping to 
no longer than 7 consecutive days at any one location and prohibit 
return to that location for 30 days; prohibit target shooting; close to 
recreational mining; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; locate facility development outside the 100-year 
floodplain; prohibit BLM-permitted actions (such as ROWs, bike trails 
and camping areas) in relic riparian communities; close to fluid 
mineral leasing and geophysical exploration; provide informational and 
interpretive signs; designated trail systems, restrooms, barricades and 
fences, as needed for enhanced visitor use, enjoyment, and safety and 
to protect sensitive species and their habitats.
     Coyote Wash ACEC, 2,100 acres, Alternative B: ROW 
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; VRM Class II; NSO for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid 
mineral activities; provide facilities (e.g., informational and 
interpretive signs, designated trail systems, camping areas, restrooms, 
barricades and fences) for resource protection.
     Dolores River Slickrock Canyon ACEC, up to 10,670 acres, 
Alternatives B, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to 
non-energy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class II; close to recreational 
mining; close to motorized and mechanized travel; provide facilities 
(informational/interpretive signs, designated trail systems, camping 
areas, restrooms, barricades, fences) as needed for resource 
protection; camping only in designated sites and areas, prohibit open 
campfires (fire pans, stoves, or grills required); close to wood 
product sales and/or harvest; require porta-potties for overnight use 
if restroom is not available; no leasing of fluid minerals; NGD for 
non-fluid mineral activities.
     East Paradox ACEC, 7,360 acres, Alternative B: ROW 
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; close to camping; close to coal leasing; NSO for 
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities; provide adequate 
protection (signs, use stipulations, barricades and fences, as needed) 
to protect sensitive species and their habitats; on 1,810 acres limit 
all travel (motorized, mechanized, pedestrian and equestrian) to 
designated routes.
     Biological Soil Crust ACEC, 1,900 acres, Alternative D: 
ROW exclusion; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy 
solid mineral leasing; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry; VRM Class II; locate livestock salt/mineral supplement sites and 
water sites farther than 0.25 mile from the boundary of the 
gypsipherous soils (allow existing livestock watering reservoirs closer 
than 0.25 mile from the gypsipherous soils to remain); limit motorized 
and mechanized travel to designated routes; manage for day use only; 
prohibit camping; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for non-fluid mineral 
activities.
     La Sal Creek ACEC, 10,490 acres, Alternative B: ROW 
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; VRM Class II; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; allow camping only in designated sites and areas; 
provide facilities (e.g., informational and interpretive signs, 
designated trail systems, camping areas, restrooms, barricades and 
fences, as needed) for resource protection; NSO for fluid minerals; NGD 
for non-fluid mineral activities.
     Lower Uncompahgre Plateau ACEC, 31,810 acres, Alternative 
B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid 
mineral leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel 
to designated routes; provide facilities (e.g., informational and 
interpretive signs, designated trail systems, camping areas, restrooms, 
barricades and fences, as needed) to provide resource protection; NSO 
for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
     Paradox Rock Art ACEC, 1,080 acres, Alternatives B, D: ROW 
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; VRM Class II; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; provide facilities (e.g., informational and 
interpretive signs, designated trail systems and camping areas, and 
restrooms, as needed) for resource protection; provide adequate 
protection (signs, use stipulations, barricades and

[[Page 35796]]

fences, as needed) to protect sites; allow camping only in designated 
sites and areas; prohibit target shooting; close to rock climbing; 
issue no Special Recreation Permits (SRP); NSO for fluid minerals; NGD 
for non-fluid mineral activities.
     Roubideau-Potter-Monitor ACEC, 20,430 acres, Alternative 
B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral 
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid 
mineral leasing; VRM Class II; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; provide adequate protection (signs, use 
stipulations, barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive 
species and their habitats; issue no SRP for competitive events; 
prohibit target shooting; close to wood product sales and/or harvest 
and Christmas tree cutting; close to recreational mining; close to 
fluid mineral leasing; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
     Roubideau Corridors ACEC, 8,720 acres, Alternative D: ROW 
avoidance; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; provide adequate protection (signs, use 
stipulations, barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive 
species and their habitats; close to wood product sales and/or harvest 
and Christmas tree cutting; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for non-fluid 
mineral activities.
     Salt Desert Shrub Ecosystem ACEC, 34,510 acres, 
Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable 
mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy 
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized 
travel to designated routes; provide such facilities as informational 
and interpretive signs, barricades and fences, as needed to protect 
resources; manage for day use only: Prohibit camping and open campfires 
(require use of stoves or grills); prohibit wood collecting; close to 
coal leasing; NSO for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral 
activities.
     San Miguel Gunnison Sage-Grouse ACEC, 470 acres, 
Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable 
mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy 
solid mineral leasing; manage as VRM Class III; limit motorized and 
mechanized travel to designated routes; close to motorized and 
mechanized travel April 1 to July 15 (during sage-grouse strutting, 
nesting and brood-rearing season) to prevent disturbance to breeding 
sage-grouse; follow recommendations in San Miguel Basin Gunnison Sage-
Grouse Conservation Plan (San Miguel Basin Gunnison Sage-Grouse Working 
Group 2009); manage vegetation for optimal Gunnison Sage-Grouse 
habitat; provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations, 
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive species and 
their habitats; close to leasing for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid 
mineral activities.
     Sims-Cerro Gunnison Sage-Grouse ACEC, 25,620 acres, 
Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable 
mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy 
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III; manage vegetation for optimal 
Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; close to motorized and mechanized travel April 1 to 
July 15 (during sage-grouse strutting, nesting and brood-rearing 
season); provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations, 
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive species and 
their habitats; develop a Sims-Cerro Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation 
Plan; close to leasing for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral 
activities.
     Tabeguache Pueblos and Tabeguache Caves ACEC, 26,400 
acres, Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to 
non-energy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class I (5,260 acres),VRM Class 
II (21,140 acres); limit motorized and mechanized travel to designated 
routes; provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations, 
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive sites; NSO for 
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
     Tabeguache Creek ACEC, 560 acres, Alternative A: VRM Class 
II; close to Off-Road Vehicle use; NSO for fluid minerals.
     West Paradox ACEC, 5,190 acres, Alternative B: ROW 
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close 
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral 
leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel to 
designated routes; close to rock climbing during peregrine falcon 
breeding season (March 1 to August 15) if birds are present; provide 
facilities (e.g., informational and interpretive signs, designated 
trail systems, camping areas and restrooms, as needed) for resource 
protection; provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations, 
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive species and 
their habitats; allow camping only in designated sites and areas; NSO 
for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
    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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 
1610.5.

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-13131 Filed 6-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P