[Federal Register: November 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 211)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58752]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02no98-88]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-067-1050-00, CACA 39853]

 
Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; Imperial 
County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management proposes to withdraw 9,360.74 
acres of public land in Imperial County to protect the archaeological 
and cultural resources located in the Indian Pass Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern and Expanded Management Area. Publication of this 
notice segregates the land proposed to be withdrawn, subject to valid 
existing rights, for a 2-year period from settlement, sale, location, 
or entry under the general land laws, including the mining laws. The 
land will remain open to the operations of the mineral leasing, 
geothermal leasing, and material sales laws.

DATES: Comments and request for a public meeting must be received by 
February 1, 1999.

ADDRESSes: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Field 
Manager, El Centro Field Office (CA-067), 1661 South 4th Street, El 
Centro, California 92243-4561.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Zale, BLM, El Centro Field 
Office, (760) 337-4420.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 26, 1998, a petition was approved 
allowing the Bureau of Land Management to file an application to 
withdraw for a 20-year period, and subject to valid existing rights, 
the following described public land from settlement, sale, location, or 
entry under the general land laws, including the mining laws, but not 
the mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, or the material sales laws, 
subject to valid existing rights:

San Bernardino Meridian

T. 13 S., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 25, E\1/2\.
T. 13 S., R. 21 E.,
    Sec. 21, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, NW\1/4\ and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Secs. 29 to 33, inclusive.
T. 14 S., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 1, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 11, E\1/2\;
    Secs. 12 to 14, inclusive.
T. 14 S., R. 21 E.,
    Sec. 4, lots 1 and 2 of NW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, lots 1 and 2 of NE\1/4\, lots 1 and 2 of NW\1/4\, and 
S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lots 1 and 2 of NE\1/4\, lots 1 & 2 of NW\1/4\, lots 1 
and 2 of SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lots 1 and 2 of NW\1/4\, lots 1 and 2 of SW\1/4\, and 
E\1/2\;
    Sec. 8, N\1/2\NE\1/4\ and W\1/2\;
    Sec. 17, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, lots 1 and 2 of NW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 9,360.74 acres in Imperial County.

    The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the 
archaeological and cultural resources in the Indian Pass Area of 
Critical Environmental Concern and Expanded Management Area 
(collectively the ``Indian Pass area''). The Indian Pass area is 
considered to be a sacred site by the Quechan people.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their 
views in writing to the Field Manager, El Centro Field Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management.
    Notice is hereby given that a public meeting will be held to 
discuss the proposed withdrawal and solicit comments from the public 
regarding it. A notice of the time and place will be published in the 
Federal Register at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the 
meeting.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2300. The application and case file are 
available for public inspection at the El Centro Field Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management.
    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated as specified above 
unless the application is denied or canceled or the withdrawal is 
approved prior to that date. During the segregation period various 
studies and analyses will be conducted. No action as to the proposed 
withdrawal shall be taken until these studies and analyses are 
completed. The temporary uses which may be permitted during this 
segregative period are those which are compatible with the use of land, 
as determined by the Bureau of Land Management.

    Dated: October 27, 1998.
Duane Marti,
Acting Chief, Branch of Lands.
[FR Doc. 98-29286 Filed 10-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P