[Federal Register: June 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 115)]
[Notices]
[Page 35700-35701]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jn03-102]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CO-130-03-1220-DU]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Grand Junction Resource Management
Plan for the North Fruita Desert Area
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to amend the Grand Junction Resource
Management Plan for the North Fruita Desert Area.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 and section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction Field
Office, is proposing to amend the Grand Junction Resource Management
Plan (1987) to develop and design a travel system for the North Fruita
Desert Area. The planning area includes 72,656 acres of public land
located in Mesa County north of the town of Fruita, Colorado. The North
Fruita Desert planning process was initiated in August 2000 and an ad
hoc public committee was chartered under the Northwest Colorado
Resource Advisory Committee to help provide feedback to BLM staff. It
was originally thought that desired management actions identified in
the planning process could be carried out on an activity-level plan
within the existing guidance of the Grand Junction Resource Management
Plan (RMP). However, it has since been determined that a plan amendment
would be needed to consider the input of the ad hoc public committee
and to alter RMP allocations.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. The public is
invited to submit comments throughout the development of the Draft
Amendment/EA. All future public meetings will be announced through the
local news media, newsletters, and other media at least 15 days prior
to the event. In addition to the ongoing public participation process,
formal opportunities for public participation will be provided through
comment upon the issuance of the BLM Draft Amendment/EA.
[[Page 35701]]
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bureau of Land
Management, Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction,
CO, 81506. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Philip Gezon, Supervisory
Outdoor Recreation Planner, Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road,
Grand Junction, CO 81506; (970) 244-3031; pgezon@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Grand Junction Field Office has and will
continue to consult, communicate and cooperate with local landowners,
recreationists, the Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Committee, the
ad hoc committee, the city of Fruita, and other affected interest
groups and individuals to develop and design a travel system for the
North Fruita Desert Area. BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to
develop the plan amendment and environmental assessment in order to
consider all identified resource issues and concerns. Disciplines
involved in the planning process will include specialists with
expertise in outdoor recreation, transportation planning, range
conservation, wildlife, fisheries, law enforcement, oil and gas,
geology, geology, soils and hazardous materials.
Dated: May 6, 2003.
Catherine Robertson,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-15051 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]