Notice2023-21331
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Redding and Arcata Field Offices and an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, California
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 29, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Northwest California Integrated Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) for the Redding Field Office and Arcata Field Office. By this notice, the BLM is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft RMP/EIS and is announcing the comment period on the BLM's proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67344-67349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21331]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_CA_FRN_MO4500173171]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement for the Redding and Arcata Field Offices
and an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared a Northwest California Integrated Draft Resource Management
Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) for the
Redding Field Office and Arcata Field Office. By this notice, the BLM
is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period
on the Draft RMP/EIS and is announcing the comment period on the BLM's
proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).
DATES: This notice announces the opening of a 90-day comment period for
the Draft RMP/EIS beginning with the date following the Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) publication of its Notice of Availability
(NOA) in the Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on
Fridays.
To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the
Proposed RMP/Final EIS, please ensure that the BLM receives your
comments prior to the close of the 90-day public comment period or 15
days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
In addition, this notice also announces the opening of a concurrent
60-day comment period for ACECs. The BLM must receive your ACEC-related
comments by November 28, 2023.
The BLM plans to hold at least one virtual and at least two in-
person public meetings, in Redding and Arcata, California during the
90-day public comment period. The dates and locations of the meetings
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media,
social media, newspaper, and the ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES
section).
ADDRESSES: The Draft RMP/EIS is available for review on the BLM
National NEPA Register project website at <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510</a>.
[[Page 67345]]
Written comments related to the Northwest California Integrated
Resource Management Plan (NCIP) may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510</a>
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d89a9495879b99878abdbcbcb1b6bf8799aabbb9acb987969b918898bab4b5f6bfb7ae"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9fbf5f4e6faf8e6ebdcddddd0d7dee6f8cbdad8cdd8e6f7faf0e9f9dbd5d497ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>
<bullet> Mail: NCIP Comments, Bureau of Land Management, 1695 Heindon
Road, Arcata, California 95521-4573
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012803/510</a> or the
Redding or Arcata field offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Callahan, Planning and
Environmental Specialist, telephone: (707) 825-2315; address: Bureau of
Land Management, Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata,
California 95521-4573; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fa8c89969b8f9d928e9f88ba989697d49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d1a7a2bdb0a4b6b9a5b4a391b3bdbcffb6bea7">[email protected]</span></a> or Chad Endicott,
Planning and Environmental Specialist, telephone: (530) 224-2140;
address: Bureau of Land Management, Redding Field Office, 6640 Lockheed
Drive, Redding, CA 96002-9003; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7310161d171a101c070733111f1e5d141c05"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3457515a505d575b4040745658591a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting
Ms. Callahan or Mr. Endicott. Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered within their country to make
international calls to the point of contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
California State Director has prepared a Draft RMP/EIS, provides
information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft
RMP/EIS, and announces the comment period on the BLM's proposed ACECs.
The planning area is in Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou,
Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, and Butte counties, California, and
encompasses approximately 382,200 acres of public land and
approximately 295,100 subsurface acres of Federal mineral estate.
Current Arcata Field Office and Redding Field Office management is
identified in their respective 1992 and 1993 RMPs. All existing
management as described in the Arcata Field Office and Redding Field
Office approved RMPs remains in effect until and unless replaced or
modified by the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management
Plan Approved RMP and Record of Decision. Separate management plans
guide BLM management for National Conservation Land units within the
planning area.
Other non-BLM-administered lands within the planning area include
the Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, Lassen, Plumas, and Mendocino
National Forests; Lassen Volcanic and Redwoods National Parks; the
Whiskeytown and Smith River National Recreation Areas; the Sacramento
Castle Rock and Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuges; and Black Butte
Lake (managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers). In addition, Tribal
lands and reservations for 31 federally recognized Native American
Tribes fall within the planning area, and the BLM-administered lands
include sacred sites, gathering areas, and other places important to
Tribes. The Bureau of Reclamation manages numerous land holdings and
facilities within the planning area, including six hydroelectric dams
and lands that are comanaged with the BLM under a memorandum of
agreement with the Redding Field Office near the Shasta Dam and Keswick
Reservoir. In addition to federally managed lands, there are an
extensive number of State of California-managed beaches, parks,
wildlife areas, and recreation areas in the planning area. The Arcata
Field Office and Redding Field Office have taken these non-BLM-
administered lands into account in this planning effort.
Public comments received during the public scoping period held
between April 29, 2022, and June 28, 2022, were reviewed and taken into
consideration in the development of the Draft RMP/EIS. Additionally,
comments submitted by other government agencies, public organizations,
State, and Tribal entities, and interested individuals were given
careful consideration. Public scoping efforts enabled the BLM to
identify and shape significant issues pertaining to recreational
opportunities, special designations, land tenure, cultural resources,
and other program areas. Cooperating agencies were provided the
opportunity to review and comment on the proposed range of alternatives
during the alternative's development process. A summary of the public
involvement process and comments received can be viewed on the BLM
National NEPA Register (see ADDRESSES).
Purpose and Need for the Planning Effort
The purpose of and need for the plan identified in the sections
below describes why the BLM is revising the existing RMPs and what
outcomes the BLM intends the new RMP to achieve. The purpose and need
incorporates information identified in past planning efforts and
supporting analyses, including the 1992 Arcata RMP, 1993 Redding RMP,
2002 Redding RMP plan evaluation, 2009 Arcata RMP plan evaluation, 2016
initial RMP effort (including envisioning and scoping public meetings),
pre-scoping public meetings held in early 2021, and public scoping held
in 2022. The purpose and need helps to define the range of alternatives
that are analyzed in the planning process because alternatives are only
considered reasonable if they respond to the purpose of and need for
action.
Need for the Action: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, establishes the BLM's multiple-use and sustained-
yield mandate to serve present and future generations. To meet this
overarching mandate, FLPMA requires the BLM to ``develop, maintain,
and, when appropriate, revise land use plans'' (43 U.S.C. 1712 (a)).
Consistent with the BLM's planning regulations, RMPs ``shall be revised
as necessary based on monitoring and evaluation findings, new data, new
or revised policy and changes in circumstances affecting the entire
plan or major portions of the plan'' (43 CFR 1610.5-6).
Many factors affecting daily management decisions faced by the
Field Offices (FOs) have changed since the development of the existing
Arcata and Redding RMPs. These factors include updated special status
species lists, changes to endangered species recovery plans, population
growth, changes in land tenure, shifting focus away from annual quotas
for forestry and wildfire and fuels management programs, larger and
higher-intensity wildland fires, increasing demand for fuels reduction
projects, and increases in recreational use. Additionally, the
accelerated pace of climate change and related climate impacts
(including changes in temperature, precipitation, and water resources),
and higher intensity wildland fires within the planning area are
environmental drivers that have also caused management decisions to
shift since the existing RMPs were finalized. Additional resource
information, changing social perspectives, new technologies, and
federal mandates have also generated important justifications for
revising these preliminary RMPs.
Arcata and Redding FO RMP Plan Evaluations: In 2009, the Redding FO
and Arcata FO conducted RMP evaluations that, with the addition of new
resource information, changing social perspectives, new technologies,
[[Page 67346]]
and federal mandates, highlighted the need for revising the RMPs. The
NCIP would enable the BLM to guide management actions based on up-to-
date information reflecting current public input, changes in policy,
resource conditions, and development trends. The planning issues and
resources identified in the 2009 evaluations to be addressed in the
NCIP include responding to changes in land tenure, changes in
wilderness designations, new species listings, new forest pathogens,
climate change, sea-level rise, fuels management, wildland fire
suppression and management, human population growth, Tribal
empowerment, and the need to reassess determinations regarding ACECs
and Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs).
Additional Considerations: The need for the RMP revisions has
remained crucial given the recent cumulative changes to resource
conditions, primarily due to catastrophic wildland fire within the
planning area. Incorporating over three decades of scientific studies
and new management approaches into a revised RMP would greatly benefit
future decision-making and bring the FOs' planning guidance into
compliance with legislative mandates, executive orders, current DOI
policies, and current land management standards. The NCIP would also
facilitate coordination of the Arcata and Redding FOs' land management
with that of adjacent public lands managed by the US Department of
Agriculture Forest Service, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Fish and
Wildlife Service, other federal and state agencies, and Tribes.
Purpose of the Action: The purpose of the NCIP is to make land use
decisions to guide the management of BLM-managed lands within the
planning area. Planning decisions would integrate current law and
policies as well as current information to resolve primary issues
identified in the planning area, specifically related to increasing
human population and changing use patterns, wilderness management,
climate change, special status species, and land tenure.
Climate Change, Sea-Level Rise, and Ecosystem Resiliency: Climate
change and sea-level rise will continue to affect the planning area.
Impacts from rising sea levels will affect the management of coastal
lands within the planning area. Coastal dunes that provide a buffer
against sea-level rise and storm surges will change, and coastal
lowlands will experience novel saltwater intrusion and resulting
changes in vegetation. High-elevation areas in the planning area may
become increasingly important refuge areas for species displaced from
lower habitats. While projected changes in temperature, precipitation,
and sea-level rise differ based on modeling assumptions, the magnitude
of these changes is expected to increase during implementation of the
NCIP.
By accounting for anticipated climate change effects during the
planning process, the BLM would make management decisions that reflect
the anticipated impacts on vulnerable resources to assure that public
lands and ecosystems are resilient to sea-level rise, increasing
temperatures, and changing precipitation patterns. Management would
maintain habitat connectivity and resiliency, promote carbon
sequestration by providing for the long-term health and productivity of
vegetation communities, and implement best management practices to
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases for authorized activities in
accordance with regional and state climate goals. Additionally, the
NCIP would allow the BLM to coordinate forestry actions to develop
treatments that achieve silvicultural objectives while considering
impacts on carbon sequestration, acquire land to manage for coastal
resiliency, reduce or eliminate uses that degrade natural systems that
protect the human environment from climate change, and contribute to
regional habitat and water quality monitoring efforts.
Wildland Fire and Fuels Management: Managing for diverse,
ecologically resilient landscapes and healthy forests will be central
to adapting to a changing climate. Due to drought and abnormally warm
temperatures, wildfires in California have increased in frequency,
size, and severity, with 8 of the 20 largest fires in California's
history occurring since 2017 and the area burned annually by wildfire
in California increasing since 1950. Fire management in the Arcata and
Redding RMPs does not include current guidance or best management
practices for wildland fire management. During public outreach efforts,
commenters expressed concern related to wildland fire risk and
requested that fire response be considered in the proposed NCIP
management actions. Public commenters highlighted how prescribed fire
could be used to manage or improve landscape conditions, reduce the
risk and damage from catastrophic wildfires, and improve the overall
soil and ecosystem health of a region.
The NCIP would emphasize forest and vegetation management
strategies that account for the protection of adjacent human values,
public use, and public safety, while enhancing or maintaining ecosystem
function and productivity. Wildland fire management strategies that
establish multiple resource-based objectives in addition to public,
infrastructure, and first responder safety would improve wildfire
outcomes as fire occurrence, size, and severity increase. Planned
treatments, such as hazardous fuels reduction through mechanical,
biological, chemical, or manual means, would be identified, especially
in high-risk or fire-prone portions of the planning area. Prescribed
burning within fire-dependent ecosystems would be established as a
priority management strategy to maintain disturbance regimes. To guide
management decisions, the BLM will use the most up-to-date fuels
treatment, planning, and analysis tools, including interagency spatial
fire planning platforms and decision support tools that drive wildfire
and fuels management planning.
Promote Recovery of Special Status Species: BLM-administered lands
within the planning area have served as important habitat for listed
and special status plants, fish, and animals. As climate change impacts
increase and development of private lands intensifies, the importance
of BLM-administered lands for the recovery of these species has
continually increased and will continue to do so during the NCIP's
implementation.
The NCIP is intended to enhance, maintain, or protect habitat and
migration corridors for a range of special status species, including
species identified as threatened and endangered under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act.
The NCIP would bring management guidance in line with certain recovery
plan recommendations for threatened and endangered species. Further,
the NCIP will promote the recovery of special status populations and
diminish or remove invasive, nonnative species through the management
and restoration of habitats to promote long-term recovery of special
status species.
Wilderness Management: The NCIP decision area includes
approximately 50,040 acres of designated wilderness (approximately 13
percent of the decision area), including the Elkhorn Ridge (11,120
acres), Yuki (17,150 acres), South Fork Eel River (13,020 acres), Yolla
Bolly-Middle Eel (8,550 acres), and Ishi (200 acres) Wilderness Areas.
Most wilderness areas are surrounded by private lands that are managed
for a variety of uses, including industrial forestry, rural
development, and cannabis production. Preserving
[[Page 67347]]
wilderness character is a key component of wilderness management.
Conducting wilderness character baseline assessments is essential to
determine whether this goal is met.
The BLM will also manage wilderness study areas to preserve
wilderness characteristics. The NCIP will provide the initial guidance
for developing Wilderness Management Plans as funding becomes
available.
Develop Land Tenure Patterns and Access Strategy: Through
implementation of the existing RMPs over the past three decades, the
BLM has made substantial changes in landownership through land tenure
adjustments, including exchanges, acquisitions, and disposals. This
change in landownership has been effective at consolidating BLM-
administered lands and disposing of scattered parcels. Despite the
success of these adjustments, many scattered parcels still exist in the
planning area.
The NCIP will weigh the current land tenure adjustment strategies
against other land tenure adjustment options and the needs of other
resources, resource uses, and Tribal interests. This would ensure land
tenure adjustment actions are in line with current management
direction, policy, and law. The NCIP will identify criteria for
consideration of lands for retention, disposal, and acquisition, and
specify those parcels that meet the disposal criteria. Further, the
NCIP will consider areas where consolidating BLM administration of
lands would enhance public values, such as conservation of important
resources, recreation and public access, and integration with the needs
of local communities.
Provide for a Broad Array of Recreation Uses: Increasing human
populations have also brought a large increase in recreation on BLM-
administered lands, especially those lands near population centers,
such as Redding, Chico, Eureka, and Arcata. The public currently
engages in a wide array of recreation uses, such as hunting, fishing,
boating, target shooting, bird-watching, biking, off-highway vehicle
riding, and car touring. Previous public outreach efforts have
identified a great deal of public interest in maintaining existing
recreational opportunities and a desire for more opportunities (for
example, hiking, biking, equestrian, and off-highway vehicle trails).
The BLM has also experienced an increase in requests for organized
events, such as races.
The BLM will manage recreation in the NCIP decision area by
designating SRMAs and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs).
The NCIP will provide specific goals for recreation outcomes in each
recreation management area (RMA). The NCIP will develop a range of
recreation management area scenarios in relation to other land use
allocations and management objectives among the alternatives, while
providing public access, promoting public health and safety, and
minimizing conflicting uses.
Respond to Increasing Population and Changing Use Patterns: Within
the planning area, the human population has grown by 20 to 30 percent
in some counties over the past three decades. With increasing
population has come increased development near BLM-administered lands.
Such development and attendant infrastructure have led to increased
numbers of rights-of-way across BLM-administered lands.
The BLM must balance the increasing need for ROWs with protection
of natural and cultural resources. The NCIP would continue to provide
for the use of BLM-managed lands in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations, manage the public lands in support of the goals and
objectives of other resource programs, and support the use and
development of adjacent private lands, through the issuance of ROWs,
leases, and permits, where appropriate. Land use allocations would
define resource uses and land designations to help resolve conflicts
between infrastructure and resource protection.
Alternatives Including the Preferred Alternative
The BLM has analyzed four alternatives in detail, including the no
action alternative. Three action alternatives (Alternatives B, C, and
D) were identified based on perceived resource use and issues in the
planning area. Alternative B emphasizes resource connectivity and
resiliency and has been developed to manage for multiple use by
maintaining corridors of relatively undeveloped area to provide for
connectivity of wildlife and fisheries habitat and to serve as a
resilient refuge from ongoing development and climate change. This, in
turn, would provide a recreational and aesthetic resources for public
enjoyment. Alternative C emphasizes community access and development.
Alternative C also manages for multiple use and public enjoyment but
emphasizes recreational opportunity and access, travel and utility
opportunities, and social and economic benefits. Alternatives B and C
would manage for multiple use and long-term sustainability and provide
for public use and enjoyment of BLM-administered lands. Alternative D
aims to create opportunities for resource uses, such as recreation,
motorized and mechanized travel, and livestock grazing while
maintaining ecological function and meeting land capability to protect
habitat connectivity.
These alternatives are to be analyzed against the No Action
Alternative (current management, Alternative A) and can be refined or
combined to provide the best mix to meet the public's needs while
complying with the BLM's management responsibilities and regulatory
requirements. The BLM further considered one additional alternative but
dismissed this alternative from detailed analysis as explained in the
Draft RMP/EIS.
The State Director has identified Alternative D as the preferred
alternative. Alternative D was found to best meet the State Director's
planning guidance and, therefore, was selected as the preferred
alternative because it attempts to strike a balance between the action
alternatives to provide community access and development while ensuring
connectivity and resilience by including components of all alternatives
considered.
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
Consistent with land use planning regulations, 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b),
the BLM is announcing the opening of a 60-day comment period on the
ACECs proposed for designation in the preferred alternative. Comments
may be submitted using any of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section earlier.
The proposed ACECs included in the preferred alternative are:
<bullet> Upper Burney Dry Lake and Baker Cypress, 210 acres, to
protect the Rare Baker Cypress and mountain vernal pool habitat. Visual
Resource Management (VRM) class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle limited (183 acres--Baker Cypress), off-highway vehicle
closed (26 acres--Upper Burney Dry Lake), closed to mineral leasing,
closed to mineral material development, not available for livestock
grazing, and work cooperatively with surrounding landowners to prevent
trespass, unauthorized grazing, and cross-county off-highway vehicle
use.
<bullet> Butte Creek, 2,250 acres, to protect old-growth reserves
and the Northern Spotted Owl. VRM class II, right-of-way avoidance,
off-highway vehicle limited, not available for livestock grazing,
closed to mineral leasing.
<bullet> Deer Creek, 570 acres, to protect the scenic qualities of
the canyon, to ensure the long-term protection of the raptors in the
area, conserve archaeological
[[Page 67348]]
resources, and protect ecologically intact habitat for wildlife. VRM
class II, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle limited, closed
to mineral leasing.
<bullet> Forks of Butte Creek, 2,900 acres, to protect scenic
values, cultural resources, and fisheries. VRM class II, right-of-way
exclusion, off-highway vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing,
withdrawn from mineral entry under Public Land Order 5329 (270 acres),
closed to mineral material development, open to casual use gold
panning, not available for livestock grazing, except for Helltown
parcels which would be available, motor vehicle access to the day use
area would be seasonally closed.
<bullet> Gillham Butte, 9,330 acres, to protect old-growth
reserves. VRM class III, rights of way avoidance, off-highway vehicle
limited, except where closed by deed restriction on acquired lands,
closed to discharge of firearms where prohibited by deed restriction on
acquired lands, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material
development, recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, not
available for livestock grazing.
<bullet> Hawes Corner, 40 acres, to protect communities of slender
Orcutt grass (Orcuttia tenuis). VRM class III, off-highway vehicle
closed, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material
development, not available for livestock grazing, work cooperatively
with surrounding landowners to prevent trespass, unauthorized grazing,
and cross-country off-highway vehicle use.
<bullet> Iaqua Butte, 1,100 acres, to protect old-growth reserves.
VRM class II, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle limited,
closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal from locatable
mineral entry, closed to mineral material development, not available
for livestock grazing.
<bullet> Lacks Creek, 2,140 acres, to protect old-growth reserves.
VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle closed,
closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material development
except for free use by other agencies, not available for livestock
grazing, seasonal limitations on mountain biking would be considered as
necessary to limit conflict and provide for public safety.
<bullet> Ma-le'l Dunes, 206 acres, to protect sensitive plant and
wetland habitat and cultural resources. VRM class II, right-of-way
exclusion outside of existing rights-of -way, off-highway vehicle
closed, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral material development, not
available for livestock grazing, day use only, surface disturbing
activities would only be allowed if they are consistent with relevance
and importance values or in an existing right of way.
<bullet> Sacramento Island, 90 acres, to protect rare riparian
habitat and fisheries. VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle closed, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral
material development, not available for livestock grazing, except for
target grazing by goats for weed control on case-by-case basis, day use
only, closed to campfires.
<bullet> Sacramento River Bend, 20,420 acres, to protect cultural
resources and rare habitats (vernal pools and wetlands that support
slender Orcutt grass [Orcuttia tenuis]). VRM class II, right-of-way
exclusion outside of existing rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle
limited, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral material
development, day use only, not available for livestock grazing in
riparian areas, limit special recreation permits and non-special
recreation permits group uses to minimize resource impacts in spring
and fall, limit target shooting to designated areas.
<bullet> Shasta and Klamath River Canyon, 1,210 acres, to protect
rare and sensitive riparian and fisheries habitat values. VRM class
III, right-of-way avoidance outside of existing rights-of-way, off-
highway vehicle limited, not available for grazing, recommend for
withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral leasing, and
closed to mineral material development.
<bullet> Swasey Drive, 470 acres, to protect cultural resources.
VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, not available for livestock
grazing, closed to mineral material development, closed to mineral
leasing, existing trails would continue to be maintained within the
ACEC.
<bullet> Grass Valley, 19,560 acres, to protect fragile highly
erosive soils, reduce sediment delivery to the Trinity River, and
maintain the important stronghold to climate change and ecosystem
resiliency and diversity. Right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle
limited, VRM class III north of State Highway 299, VRM class II south
of State Highway 299, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for
withdrawal from mineral entry, closed to mineral material development,
not available for livestock grazing, maintain existing roads to
minimize erosion and sedimentation.
<bullet> Upper and Lower Clear Creek, 4,560 acres, to protect and
improve anadromous salmonid habitat and the scenic values of the Clear
Creek canyon. VRM class III, right-of-way avoidance, off-highway
vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal
from locatable entry, closed to mineral material development, with the
exception of free use by other agencies, not available for livestock
grazing, limited to day use only, prioritize riparian restoration and
nonnative and invasive species management, special recreation permits
for commercial guided fishing would not be issued.
<bullet> Sheep Rock, 1,410 acres, to protect irreplaceable scenic,
wildlife, historic, and cultural values. VRM class II, right-of-way
exclusion, off-highway vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing,
closed to mineral material development, unavailable for domestic sheep
grazing or trailing (only if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
proposes bighorn sheep reintroduction in this area).
<bullet> Black Mountain, 1,100 acres, to protect irreplaceable old-
growth coniferous forest habitat, unique geologic features, cultural
resources, and wildlife. Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway vehicle
limited, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing, closed to mineral
material development.
<bullet> Upper Klamath Bench, 90 acres, to protect prehistoric and
historic archaeological resources. Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway
vehicle closed, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing, recommend for
withdrawal from locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral material
development, not available for livestock grazing, cultural sites may be
fenced, trespass livestock removed to protect the cultural setting.
<bullet> Upper Mattole, 460 acres, to protect rare and sensitive
riparian and fisheries habitat values. Right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle limited, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing,
closed to livestock grazing.
<bullet> Beegum Creek Gorge, 4,380 acres, to protect scenic
fisheries, wildlife resources, ecological intactness, and rare and
sensitive geological and lithological features that support rare and
endemic serpentine plant species. Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway
vehicle limited, VRM class II, closed to mineral leasing, not available
for livestock grazing, recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry, closed to mineral material development, bulldozer use prohibited
unless approved by an authorized officer.
<bullet> North Fork Eel, 500 acres, to protect sensitive geological
and lithological features, along with fisheries, and wildlife
resources. Right-of-way avoidance, off-highway vehicle closed, VRM
class II (in Wild and Scenic River corridor), VRM class III (remaining
acres), closed to mineral leasing, closed
[[Page 67349]]
to mineral material development, not available for livestock grazing.
<bullet> Willis Ridge, 3,180 acres, to protect old-growth reserves,
along with fisheries and wildlife resources. VRM class III, right-of-
way avoidance, off-highway vehicle limited, closed to mineral leasing,
and closed to mineral material development.
<bullet> South Spit, 630 acres, to protect sensitive plant and
wetland habitat and cultural resources. Right-of-way avoidance, off-
highway vehicle limited, VRM class III, closed to mineral leasing,
closed to mineral material development, day use only.
<bullet> Corning Vernal Pools, 170 acres, to protect critical
habitat that supports threatened and endangered species. Right-of-way
exclusion, off-highway vehicle closed, VRM class III, closed to mineral
leasing, open to locatable mineral entry, closed to mineral material
development, available to livestock grazing if compatible with vernal
pool ecology and relevant and important values.
<bullet> North Table Mountain, 50 acres, to protect habitat that
supports the rare Butte County Golden Clover (Trifolium jokerstii).
Right-of-way exclusion, off-highway vehicle closed, VRM class III,
closed to mineral leasing, recommend for withdrawal from locatable
mineral entry, not available for livestock grazing, and closed to
mineral material development.
More information on management of ACECs under the BLM's preferred
alternative is available in Chapter 2, Table 2-2 and Chapter 3.4.1 of
the Draft RMP/EIS.
The preferred alternative would not propose the following potential
ACECs for designation: Swasey Drive Clear Creek Greenway and Eden
Creek.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes,
including a 30-day public protest period and a 60-day governor's
consistency review on the Proposed RMP. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS is
anticipated to be available for public protest in the late spring of
2024 with an approved RMP and Record of Decision in late summer of
2024.
The BLM will hold at least one virtual and two in-person public
meetings, in Redding and Arcata, California, on the Draft RMP/EIS
during the 90-day public comment period. The specific date(s) and
location(s) of these meetings will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM National NEPA
Register project page (see ADDRESSES).
The BLM will continue to consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order
13175, BLM MS 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due consideration.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR
1610.7-2)
Karen E. Mouritsen,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-21331 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.