[Federal Register: December 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 237)]
[Notices]               
[Page 69292]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10de99-86]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-056-1020-DA; GP0-0040]

 
Notice of Consent Judgment

    Notice is hereby given that a consent judgment in Central Oregon 
Forest Issues Committee et. al. v. James G. Kenna, Deschutes Area 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management et al., Civil Action No. 98-29-ST 
(D. Or.), was lodged with the United States District Court for the 
District of Oregon on November 23, 1999.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District Office.

ACTION: Notice of Consent Judgment.

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SUMMARY: The proposed consent judgment would govern use of off-highway 
vehicles (OHVs) on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) in and around the Millican Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area (``OHV 
Area''), located in Central Oregon, until the BLM prepares a new 
environmental impact statement and issues a new decision regarding 
management of the OHV Area. On February 26, 1999, the District Court of 
Oregon held that BLM must prepare an environmental impact statement 
under the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370d, to 
analyze management alternatives and environmental impacts associated 
with use of the OVH Area.
    The proposed consent judgment would govern OHV use of the Millican 
Valley OHV area as well as the Millican Plateau, Badlands Wilderness 
Study area, West Butte area, and Horse Ridge/Skeleton Fire Area. It 
would: (1) Limit OHV use in the Millican Plateau Area and the West 
Butte Area to existing routes and trails; (2) Expand the area covered 
by the existing winter closure to protect additional habitat within the 
North Side of the OHV area; (3) Continue existing restrictions on OHV 
use in the Horse Ridge/Skeleton fire Area. [GP8-0194]; (4) Adopt 
specified snow depths at which emergency winter OHV closures will be 
implemented to protect wildlife; (5) Include measures to control 
noxious weeds; (6) Require monitoring of OHV use during specific routes 
to OHVs in the Badlands Wilderness Study Area seasonally or 
permanently; (9) Provide for implementation of a designated trail 
system and (10) Authorize continued competitive and casual OHV use 
consistent with the judgment and existing 1997 Millican Valley OHV 
Plan.
    Any person who may be adversely affected by any provision of this 
judgment may file written comments within thirty (30) days from the 
date of publication of this notice. Comments should be addressed to: 
Shaaron Netherton, Field Manager, Deschutes Resource Area, Bureau of 
Land Management, Prineville District Office, P.O. Box 550, Prineville, 
Oregon 97754. Comments should refer to Central Oregon Forest Issue 
Committee v. Kenna, Civil No. 98-29-St (D. Or.). The BLM will forward 
these comments to the Court for consideration. If the Court deems a 
hearing to be necessary on any of the comment letters, one may be 
scheduled. The provisions of the proposed consent judgment take effect 
December 1, 1999, but will be subject to the approval of the Court 
after the 30-day comment period. The proposed consent judgment may be 
examined at the Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District Office, 
3050 Northeast Third Street, Prineville, Oregon. Requests for a copy of 
the consent judgment may also be directed to this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shaaron Netherton, Prineville 
District, Bureau of Land Management, 3050 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, 
Oregon 97754, or call (541) 416-6700.

    Dated: November 29, 1994.
James L. Hancock,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-31996 Filed 12-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M