[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 28494] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-13301] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CA-930-06-1020-00 [4000/1790]] Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Plan Amendment to Land Use Plans in the Development of Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management on Public Lands in California and Northwestern Nevada
Agency
Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
Action
Notice.
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Summary
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California has available a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) to address Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management as provided in BLM's grazing regulations (43 CFR part 4100) and to amend, as necessary, existing Land Use Plans in the State. The Draft EIS is prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This notice announces the availability of the Draft EIS for public review and comment.
Dates
Comments concerning the Draft EIS must be received by August 31, 1997.
Addresses
Comments to the Draft EIS and requests to receive a copy of the Draft EIS should be mailed to Rangeland Health Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 2135 Butano Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825-0451.
For Further Information Contact
Jim Morrison at (916) 979-2830.
Supplementary Information
The BLM opened an initial scoping period on March 25, 1996, closing on April 24, 1996 and due to public desires, reopened the scoping period on August 5, 1996, closing September 4, 1996. Information taken during the scoping periods, information developed from BLM's Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), and other information, both existing and new, were used to formulate alternatives and to analyze the impacts to the environment as documented in the Draft EIS. As indicated in the previous notices of intent, BLM is required by grazing management regulations (43 CFR part 4100), effective August 21, 1995 to develop state-wide Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management. The final selected Standards and Guidelines (S&Gs) will be incorporated into existing Land Use Plans as plan amendments. The draft EIS is tiered to the national EIS which was completed in early 1995 during the development of the above referenced regulations. The development of rangeland S&Gs for the public owned rangelands in Southern California are not included in this effort and will be developed later in conjunction with the development of coordinated management plans. There are four alternative sets of rangeland S&Gs considered in the Draft EIS including: (1) a set of S&Gs from each of three RACs which constitutes the proposed action, (2) a consolidated state-wide set of S&Gs, (3) a set of fall-back S&Gs as references in the regulations and constitutes the no action alternative, and (4) a set of S&Gs for rapid improvement and recovery of rangeland health. The Draft EIS analyzes the environmental, social, and economic impacts for each alternative. The public is invited to comment on the Draft EIS as to the adequacy of the analysis, suggest modifications and provide recommendations to consider in finalizing EIS and development of plan amendments. No formal public hearings or meetings are anticipated.
Dated: May 12, 1997. Carl Rountree, Acting Deputy State Director,Ecosystem Sciences and Lands. [FR Doc. 97-13301 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P