[Federal Register: September 16, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 179)]
[Notices]
[Page 54769-54770]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16se05-147]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Availability of Ukiah Draft Resource Management Plan
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Ukiah Draft Resource Management
Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan
and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Ukiah Field
Office.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS will be accepted for 90
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes
the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Future meetings or
hearings and any other public involvement activities will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media news
releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments at the public meetings or by any of
the following methods:
     Web Site: http://www.ca.blm.gov/ukiah (subject to change)

     Fax: (707) 468-4027
     Mail: 2550 North State Street, Ukiah, California 95482

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eli Ilano, (916) 978-4427.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area covers approximately
270,000 surface acres and approximately 214,000 acres of additional
subsurface mineral estate within the following California counties:
Marin, Solano, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, Yolo, Colusa, and Glenn.
The Ukiah RMP, when completed, will provide management guidance for use
and protection of the resources managed by the Ukiah Field Office. The
Ukiah Draft RMP/EIS has been developed through a collaborative planning
process and considers five alternatives. The primary issues addressed
include: conflicts among motorized, mechanized, and non-motorized/non-
mechanized recreationists; protection of sensitive natural and cultural
resources from impacts due to increased recreational use and other land
uses; provision of guidance for wind energy development; and addressing
other planning issues raised during the scoping process. The

[[Page 54770]]

Draft RMP/EIS also includes consideration of the designation of Areas
of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). The preferred alternative
includes the following ACECs: Cache Creek ACEC--10,000 acres
(existing); Northern California Chaparral RNA--11,206 acres (existing);
Indian Valley Brodiaea ACEC--100 acres (currently 40 acres); Cedar
Roughs ACEC/RNA--6,350 acres (currently 5,567 acres); Knoxville ACEC--
5,236 acres; Stornetta ACEC--887 acres; Walker Ridge ACEC--3,990 acres;
The Cedars ACEC--1,500 acres; Black Forest ACEC--239 acres; and Lost
Valley ACEC--40 acres. Two additional ACECs, Blue Ridge ACEC--13,640
acres and Quail Ridge ACEC--558 acres, were considered but not included
in the preferred alternative. Use of public lands within these ACECs
would vary, depending on the resources and/or values identified (see
Chapter 2 of the Draft RMP/EIS), but would likely include limitations
on off-highway vehicle use and development projects.
    Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to
withhold your name or street address from public review or from
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from
organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
CD and paper copies of the Ukiah Draft RMP/EIS are available at the
Ukiah Field Office at the above address; CD copies are available at the
California BLM State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California
95825.

    Dated: July 11, 2005.
Richard Burns,
Ukiah Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-18345 Filed 9-15-05; 8:45 am]

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