[Federal Register: January 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 10)]
[Notices]
[Page 2654]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja05-79]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT080-1610-DH]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Resource Management Plan
Revision and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Vernal Field
Office Planning Area, in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties, Utah
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976
(FLPMA), and regulatory requirements, a Draft RMP Revision/EIS has been
prepared for the Vernal Field Office planning area and is available for
a 90 day public review and comment period. The Draft RMP Revision/EIS
may be viewed and downloaded in PDF format at the project Web site at
http://www.vernalrmp.com. Copies of the Draft RMP Revision/EIS will
also be available for distribution and review during the comment period
at the BLM Vernal Field Office, at the address shown below.
DATES: Written comments on the Draft RMP Revision/EIS will be accepted
for 90 days following publication of the EPA Notice of Availability.
Future public meetings and any other public involvement activities will
be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, local
media news releases, mailings, and the project Web site at: http://www.vernalrmp.com
.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Vernal Field Office RMP
Comments--Attention Dave Moore, Vernal Field Office, Bureau of Land
Management, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078. Comments may also
be made electronically at: http://www.vernalrmp.com. Comments,
including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for
public review at the BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East,
Vernal, Utah during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except
weekends and holidays). All submissions from organizations or
businesses will be made available for public inspection in their
entirety. Individuals may request confidentiality with respect to their
name, address, and phone number. If you wish to have your name or
street address withheld from public review, or from disclosure under
the Freedom of Information Act, the first line of the comment should
start with the words ``CONFIDENTIALITY REQUESTED'' in uppercase letters
in order for BLM to comply with your request. Such requests will be
honored to the extent allowed by law. Comment contents will not be kept
confidential.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the planning project mailing list, visit the Web
site shown above. You may also contact Dave Moore, Supervisory Planning
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South
500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078, telephone: (435) 781-4400, or e-mail
through the Web site: http://www.vernalrmp.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area includes all of the public
land and federal mineral ownership managed by the Vernal Field Office
in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties, in northeast Utah, and about
3,000 acres in Grand County. The planning area encompasses public lands
currently managed under the Book Cliffs and Diamond Mountain Resource
Management Plans (RMP). This area includes approximately 1.8 million
acres of BLM administered surface lands and 2.1 million acres of
federal mineral lands under federal, state, private, and Ute Tribal
surface in the three county areas.
The Draft RMP Revision/EIS addresses alternatives, management
guidance, monitoring, and impact analysis of the alternatives. The
alternatives present differing management balances between the various
resources and uses. This planning effort will revise the Book Cliffs
(1985) and Diamond Mountain (1994) RMPs. Once approved, the Record of
Decision (ROD) for the Vernal Field Office RMP Revision will supercede
all existing management plans for the planning area. SWCA Environmental
Consultants in Salt Lake City, Utah is assisting the BLM in the
planning process and in the preparation of the document. In order to
receive full consideration, comments should focus on specific
management actions being considered and the adequacy of analysis.
Responses to the comments will be published as part of the Final RMP
Revision/EIS. The Draft RMP Revision/EIS contains four alternatives
(including the No Action Alternative). Major issues considered are:
management of oil and gas resources, special designation areas,
wildlife, special status plants and animals, regional air quality, and
recreation.
Dated: November 3, 2004.
Gene R. Terland,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-730 Filed 1-13-05; 8:45 am]