[Federal Register: February 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 6762-6763]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe03-100]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[OR-116-6310-PB; HAG03-0031]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Development of the Timber Mountain/John's Peak Off-Highway Vehicle
Management Plan
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS) for the development of the Timber Mountain/John's Peak Off-
Highway Vehicle (OHV) Management Plan, and initiation of public
scoping.
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SUMMARY: The Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is
developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the management
of off-highway vehicle (OHV) use in the Timber Mountain/John's Peak OHV
area. The BLM designated the Timber Mountain/John's Peak area
``specifically to provide for OHV use'' in the 1995 Medford District
Resource Management Plan (RMP). The RMP directs the agency to, ``Manage
off-highway vehicle use on BLM-administered land to protect natural
resources, provide visitor safety, and minimize conflicts among various
users.'' The development of the Timber Mountain/John's Peak OHV
Management Plan will provide site-specific guidance for managing OHV
use in accordance with the Medford District RMP direction.
Approximately 13,865 acres of public land in Oregon are being
considered in this planning effort. The public scoping process will be
used to identify interested and affected individuals and groups, and to
identify issues associated with the management of OHV use in the Timber
Mountain/John's Peak area. Issues identified through the scoping
process will be used to explore a range of possible alternatives for
managing OHV use in this area.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing 30 days from publication of this notice, to ensure timely
consideration. Public scoping meetings and/or field tours will be held
to provide the public with information on the planning process and to
provide for opportunities for the public to share their concerns and
ideas with the BLM. Meeting dates and locations will be announced
through mailings, the local news media, and on the BLM Web site (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.or.blm.gov
).
[[Page 6763]]
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Richard J. Drehobl, Ashland Field
Manager, Medford District Bureau of Land Management, 3040 Biddle Road,
Medford Oregon, 97504.
Pursuant to 7 CFR Part 1, Subpart B, Sec. 1.27, all written
submissions in response to this notice, public scoping letters, and
draft and final Environmental Impact Statements will be made available
for public inspection including the submitter's name and address,
unless the submitter specifically requests confidentiality. If you wish
to withhold your name or 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 or
businesses, submitted on official letterheads, and from individuals
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organization
or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their
entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristi Mastrofini at (541) 618-2384 or
Don Ferguson at (541) 618-2292. Fax or E-mail can be sent to the
attention of Kristi Mastrofini or Don Ferguson at (541) 618-2400, or
110mb@or.blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OHV enthusiasts have recreated in the Timber
Mountain/John's Peak area for 40 to 50 years. The 1995 Medford District
Resource Management Plan (RMP) designated public lands in the Timber
Mountain/John's Peak area as an OHV use area. The area is comprised of
a checkerboard of BLM administered lands mixed with private lands
(including lands owned by the City of Jacksonville, Motorcycle Riders
Association, and Boise Corporation), increasing the complexity of
managing trails and public access in the area. Off-highway vehicle use
has increased tremendously in recent years, leading to the
proliferation of new unauthorized trails on both public and private
lands. Many existing trails are in good condition, while other trails
are experiencing erosion that is leading to resource degradation. Due
to the close proximity to the City of Jacksonville and adjacent
wildland urban interface areas, and the checkerboard pattern of land
ownership, there is also a high level of unauthorized access across
private lands and vandalism (e.g. illegal dumping, sign shooting, etc).
The Timber Mountain/John's Peak OHV Management Plan is needed to
provide for OHV use in accordance with the Medford District RMP.
Preliminary public scoping for the Timber Mountain/John's Peak
Management Plan began in 1998; however, due to limited funding, work on
this project was temporarily deferred. The following issues were
identified to be associated with OHV use in the Timber Mountain/John's
Peak OHV area: Effects to water quality and riparian conditions;
effects on sensitive soils; effects to Threatened or Endangered plants,
fish, and wildlife; and impacts to private land owners associated with
the incidence of trespass on private lands. Through additional public
scoping and specialist review, this list of issues will be refined.
Issues determined to be significant to the planning process will be
used to develop a range of alternatives for managing OHV use in the
Timber Mountain/John's Peak OHV area.
The National Environmental Policy Act encourages the use of
cooperative relationships with Federal, State, and local agencies to
capture opportunities where the decision-making authorities or special
expertise of other agencies can enhance the planning process. The
Medford District BLM, as the Lead Agency for this EIS, has identified
opportunities to work cooperatively with Jackson County, the City of
Jacksonville, the State of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department,
Boise Cascade, and the Motorcycle Riders Association. The Medford
District BLM will seek cooperative relationships with these local
agencies and affected landowners to enhance this planning effort.
As public scoping progresses, other opportunities for cooperative
relationships may become apparent.
Dated: November 15, 2002.
Richard J. Drehobl,
Field Manager, Ashland Resource Area.
Ron Wenker,
District Manager, Medford District BLM.
[FR Doc. 03-3164 Filed 2-7-03; 8:45 am]