[Federal Register: October 17, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 201)]
[Notices]
[Page 64130-64131]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17oc02-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CA-660-02-1610-DT]
Notice of Availability of the Proposed California Desert
Conservation Area Plan Amendment for the Coachella Valley, and the
Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
California Desert District.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) Proposed California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan
Amendment for the Coachella Valley (Coachella Valley Plan) and
associated Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and initiation
of the 30-day protest period.
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SUMMARY: The Coachella Valley Plan amends the CDCA Plan for a 1.2
million-acre planning area encompassing the Coachella Valley,
California. The BLM administers approximately 28 percent, or 330,516
acres, of the planning area. The Coachella Valley Plan is being
developed in coordination with the Coachella Valley Association of
Governments in support of their efforts to prepare a Coachella Valley
Multiple-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP).
The Coachella Valley Plan includes goals, objectives, and
management prescriptions in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) for comprehensive management of desert
ecosystems, including actions supporting recovery of ten species listed
under the federal Endangered Species Act: Peninsular Ranges Bighorn
Sheep (Ovis Canadensis nelsoni), Arroyo Toad (Bufo microscaphus
californicus), Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius macularius),
Desert Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps aridus), Desert Tortoise
(Xerobates [or Gopherus] agassizii), Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii
pusillus), Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus),
Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris yumanesis), Coachella Valley
Milk Vetch (Astragalus lentiginousus coachellae), and Triple-ribbed
Milk Vetch (Astragalus tricarinatus). The
[[Page 64131]]
FEIS evaluates the Proposed Plan Amendments and three alternatives. The
FEIS also includes public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) and BLM's response to those comments.
DATES: The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the
Director. The protest shall be filed within 30 days of the date the
Environmental Protection Agency published the notice of receipt of the
final EIS containing the plan or amendment in the Federal Register. For
an amendment not requiring the preparation of an EIS, the protest shall
be filed within 30 days of the publication of the notice of its
effective date. The BLM will issue a press release citing the actual
date for closure of the protest period when determined, including
publication on the BLM California's Internet site. Instructions for
filing protests are contained in the Coachella Valley Plan cover sheet
just inside the front cover, and are included below under
``Supplementary Information.''
ADDRESSES: Mailing address for filing a protest:
Regular mail--U.S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau of
Land Management (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 66538,
Washington, DC 20035.
Overnight mail--U.S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau
of Land Management (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, Telephone (202) 452-
5045, 1620 ``L'' Street NW, Rm. 1075, Washington, DC 20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Foote at (760) 251-4836 or
jfoote@ca.blm.gov. Copies of the Coachella Valley Plan are being mailed
to those who received the DEIS or provided comments on the DEIS. The
document is available for review via the Internet at http://
www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings and is also available in hard copy at the
following addresses and telephone numbers:
BLM, 690 West Garnet Ave., P.O. Box 581260, North Palm Springs, CA
92258; (760) 251-4800.
BLM, 6221 Box Springs Blvd., Riverside, CA 92507; (909) 697-5200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following are the instructions from Title 43
Code of Federal Regulations 1610.5-2 for filing protests:
(a) Any person who participates in the planning process and has an
interest that is or may be adversely affected by the approval or
amendment of a resource management plan may protest such approval or
amendment. A protest may raise only those issues that were submitted
for the record during the planning process.
(1) The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the
Director. The protest shall be filed within 30 days of the date the
Environmental Protection Agency published the notice of receipt of the
final EIS containing the plan or amendment in the Federal Register. For
an amendment not requiring the preparation of an EIS, the protest shall
be filed within 30 days of the publication of the notice of its
effective date.
(2) The protest shall contain:
(i) The name, mailing address, telephone number and interest of the
person filing the protest;
(ii) A statement of the issue or issues being protested;
(iii) A statement of the part or parts of the plan or amendment
being protested;
(iv) A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues that
were submitted during the planning process by the protesting party or
an indication of the date the issue or issues were discussed for the
record; and
(v) A concise statement explaining why the State Director's
decision is believed to be wrong.
(3) The Director shall promptly render a decision on the protest.
The decision shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for
the decision. The decision shall be sent to the protesting party by
certified mail, return receipt requested.
(b) The decision of the Director shall be the final decision for
the Department of the Interior.
Dated: September 13, 2002.
James G. Kenna,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 02-26390 Filed 10-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P