[Federal Register: September 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 174)]
[Notices]               
[Page 49022]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09se99-72]                         


[[Page 49022]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 
Bureau of Land Management

[ID-040-1610-00]
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Idaho.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Challis Record of Decision and 
Resource Management Plan (ROD/RMP).

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SUMMARY: The Idaho State Director, Bureau of Land Management, has 
documented her approval of the Challis Resource Management Plan through 
a Record of Decision signed July 29, 1999.
    Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, and BLM Planning Regulations (43 CFR part 1600), the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), Upper Columbia--Salmon Clearwater District 
prepared and analyzed a Draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental 
Impact Statement (BLM, May 1996) and Proposed Resource Management Plan/
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Proposed RMP) (BLM, October 1998) 
for the Challis Resource Area. Following a 30-day public protest period 
and 60-day Governor's consistency review of the Proposed RMP, the BLM 
prepared, published, and distributed the Challis Record of Decision and 
Resource Management Plan (ROD/RMP) (BLM, July 1999). Changes to the 
Proposed RMP which are incorporated in the approved RMP are listed in 
the Record of Decision portion of the ROD/RMP document. When compared 
with the Proposed RMP, the approved RMP clarifies the wording of 
several decisions, maintains the existing off-highway vehicle use for 
the Dry Creek Road (rather than closing the road to OHV use), updates 
beneficial use information for surface waters within the planning area, 
and adds information about current authorized grazing use in the 
Challis Resource Area.

DATES: Implementation of the Challis RMP will begin as of September 9, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Challis ROD/RMP document may be obtained upon 
request by contacting the Bureau of Land Management at Route 2, Box 
610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-5400.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information about the Challis 
RMP and Record of Decision for the Plan may be obtained by contacting 
Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land 
Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-
5440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Challis RMP describes the BLM's plan for 
managing the approximately 792,657 acres of BLM public lands in the 
Challis Resource Area, located in Custer and Lemhi counties of east-
central Idaho. More specifically, the Challis RMP presents the resource 
condition objectives, land use allocations, and management actions and 
direction to guide resource management of the Challis Resource Area on 
a long-term sustainable basis during the next 15 to 20 years. The 
Challis RMP replaces the three Management Framework Plans previously 
used by the Challis Resource Area. It also amends the Little Lost-Birch 
Creek Management Framework Plan (MFP) (BLM 1981), administered by the 
Upper Snake River District--BLM, by designating 4,714 acres of lands 
described in the MFP as part of the Donkey Hills Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern.
    The Challis RMP describes the BLM's Wild and Scenic River 
suitability findings for rivers within the Challis Resource Area and 
designates 88,206 acres of public lands as Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs). The RMP continues to designate seven 
existing ACEC's (12,236 acres) and also designates seven new ACECs 
(75,970 acres). These 14 ACECs are designated in order to highlight the 
following resources for management and protection: unique plant 
communities, paleontological resources; fragile soils; a geologic area 
of interest; unique riparian habitats; fisheries habitats; roadless, 
primitive, and scenic values; crucial bighorn sheep and elk habitats; 
and unique cultural resources. The ACECs include a total of 
approximately 9,846 acres of Research Natural Areas (RNAs) which are 
designated to maintain native plant communities, special status 
species, and rare/endemic species in a natural condition for study 
purposes.

    Dated: September 1, 1999.
Ted Graf,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-23351 Filed 9-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-66-M