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Notice of Availability
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: January 5, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 4)]
[Notices]
[Page 1152-1153]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja01-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-060-1220DM-00]
Notice of Availability
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the
[[Page 1153]]
availability of a Final Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) and Proposed Plan Amendment. The Final EIS describes
the analysis completed on proposed management changes in off-highway
vehicle area designations on public lands administered by the Bureau of
Land Management and Forest Service, Northern Region, in Montana, North
Dakota, and portions of South Dakota. The BLM and Forest Service are
joint lead agencies responsible for preparation of the final EIS. The
purpose and need are to address the impacts of OHV travel on open areas
that are currently available to motorized wheeled cross-country travel.
The preferred alternative would restrict motorized wheeled cross-
country travel yearlong on approximately 6 million acres of public land
administered by the BLM and 10 million acres of National Forest System
lands. These lands would be designated limited or restricted yearlong
for motorized wheeled cross-country travel.
DATES: The proposed plan amendment is subject to a BLM 30-day protest
period commencing with the date of publication of the Environmental
Protection Agency's notice of availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Written protests must be sent to: Director, Bureau of Land
Management, Attention: Ms Brenda Williams, Protests Coordinator, WO-
210/LS-1075, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Majerus, 406-538-1924.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS and Proposed Plan Amendment
discloses the potential environmental consequences of managing
motorized wheeled cross-country travel on public lands administered by
the BLM and Forest Service, Northern Region, in Montana, North Dakota,
and portions of South Dakota (excluding the Black Hills National
Forest, Buffalo Gap Grasslands and the Fort Pierre Grasslands). A Draft
OHV EIS and Plan Amendment was released for a 90-day public comment
period in November 1999. Over 1,500 peopled attended 35 open houses
that were held around Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota and 2,300
comment letters were received on the Draft OHV EIS and Plan Amendment.
Six alternatives, including a No Action Alternative, were analyzed
in the Final OHV EIS and Proposed Plan Amendment. The No Action
Alternative would maintain current management and areas currently open
seasonally or yearlong to motorized wheeled cross-country travel would
remain open. Alternatives 1, 2 and 5 would restrict motorized wheeled
cross-country travel yearlong and the alternatives vary by exceptions
allowed for cross-country travel. Alternative 3 would restrict
motorized wheeled cross-country travel yearlong in North Dakota, most
of Montana, and portions of South Dakota. Alternative 4 would limit
motorized wheeled cross-country travel seasonally from September 1 to
December 1 and February 16 to June 14. Alternative 5 is the preferred
alternative.
Alternative 5, the preferred alternative, was developed in response
to comments on the Draft OHV EIS and Plan Amendment from the public and
other agencies. It restricts motorized wheeled cross-country travel
yearlong throughout the analysis area to protect riparian areas,
wetlands, crucial wildlife habitat, threatened or endangered species,
soils and vegetation, aquatic resources, and to reduce user conflicts.
Through subsequent site-specific planning, the BLM would designate
roads and trails for motorized use. The following BLM resource
management plans (Big Dry, Powder River, Billings, Headwaters, West
HiLine, Judith-Valley-Phillips, North Dakota, and South Dakota) and the
Dillon management framework plan would be amended to designate
approximately 6 million acres limited yearlong for motorized wheeled
cross-country travel under 43 CFR 8342.
The BLM's resource management planning process includes an
opportunity for administrative review via a plan protest to the BLM's
Director (43 CFR 1610.5-2). Any person who participated in the planning
process and has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by
the approval of an amendment to a resource management plan may protest
such approval. Careful adherence to the following guidelines will
assist in preparing a protest that will assure the greatest
consideration to your point of view. Only those persons or
organizations who participated in the planning process may protest. A
protesting party may raise only those issues which were commented on
during the planning process. New issues may be raised at any time but
should be directed to the appropriate BLM field office for
consideration in plan implementation, as potential plan amendments, or
as otherwise appropriate. The protest period extends for 30 days. There
is no provision for any extension of time. To be considered timely,
your protest must be postmarked no later than the last day of the
protest period. Also, although not a requirement, we suggest that you
send your protest by certified mail, return receipt requested. In order
to be considered complete, your protest must contain, at a minimum, the
following information:
(1) The name, mailing address, telephone number and interest of the
person filing the protest.
(2) A statement of the issue or issues being protested.
(3) A statement of the part or parts of the amendment being
protested. To the extent possible, this should be done by reference to
specific pages, paragraphs, sections, tables, maps, etc. included in
the proposed amendment.
(4) A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues
submitted during the planning process by the protesting party or an
indication of the discussion date of the issue(s) for the record.
(5) A concise statement explaining why the proposed decision is
believed to be incorrect. This is a critical part of your protest. Take
care to document all relevant facts. As much as possible, reference or
cite the planning documents, environmental analysis documents,
available planning records (i.e., meeting minutes or summaries,
correspondence, etc.). A protest which merely expresses disagreement
with the proposed decision, without any data will not provide us with
the benefit of your information and insight. In this case, the
Director's review will be based on the existing analysis and supporting
data.
At the end of the 30-day protest period, the BLM may issue a Record
of Decision, approving implementation of any portions of the proposed
plan amendment not under protest. Approval will be withheld on any
portion of the plan under protest until the protest has been resolved.
(Authority: Sec. 202, Pub. L. 94-579, 90 Stat. 2747 (43 U.S.C.
1712))
Dated: December 27, 2000.
Mat Millenbach,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 01-105 Filed 1-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P