[Federal Register: February 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 27)]
[Notices]
[Page 6761-6762]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10fe03-99]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CO-160-03-1220-DU-241E]
Notice of Intent To prepare a Recreation Area Management Plan and
an Amendment to the Gunnison Resource Management Plan for the Hartman
Rocks Recreation Area
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Recreation Area Management Plan
(RAMP) and an amendment to the Gunnison Resource Management Plan (RMP)
for the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area in Gunnison County, Colorado.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare a RAMP
with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Hartman Rocks
area near Gunnison, Colorado. The planning area encompasses
approximately 10,000 acres of public land. This proposed action is
being taken in response to increasing use and the changing needs and
interests of public land users of this popular recreation area located
near the city of Gunnison. The BLM will work collaboratively with
interested parties to identify the management decisions that
[[Page 6762]]
are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
The public scoping process will identify planning issues and develop
planning criteria, including an evaluation of the existing management
direction in the context of the needs and interests of the public. It
is probable that the collaborative planning process will recommend
changes to the Gunnison RMP for this area so this notice provides for
this contingency. If desired management actions identified in the
planning process can be carried out within the existing guidance of the
RMP then an RMP Amendment will not be necessary.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Comments on
issues and planning criteria may be submitted in writing to the address
listed below and will be accepted throughout the creation of the Draft
RAMP/Draft EA. All public meetings will be announced through the local
news media, newsletters, and other mediums at least 15 days prior to
the event. The minutes and list of attendees for each meeting will be
available to the public and open for 30 days to any participant who
wishes to clarify the views they expressed. Public meetings will be
held throughout the plan scoping and preparation period. To ensure
local community participation and input, public meetings will be
scheduled at times that are convenient for the public to attend. Early
participation is encouraged to help determine the future management of
the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bureau of Land
Management, Gunnison Field Office, 216 N. Colorado St., Gunnison, CO
81230; Fax (970) 642-4425. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be
examined at the Gunnison Field Office. Comments, including names and
street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at
the Gunnison Field Office during regular business hours (7:30am to
4:30pm), Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published
as part of the EA. Individual respondents may request confidentiality.
If you wish to withhold your name or street 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 and businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Arden Anderson,
Telephone--(970) 642-4454; E-mail_Arden_Anderson@co.blm.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is a
popular site for a variety of recreation activities in the urban
interface zone near Gunnison, Colorado. The increased use over the
years as well as changing needs and interests of the public
necessitates a more detailed management strategy beyond the general
guidelines contained in the Gunnison RMP (completed in 1993).
Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by BLM
personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and user
groups. They represent the BLM's knowledge to date on the existing
issues and concerns with current management. The major issue themes
that will be addressed in the plan include: Management and protection
of public land resources; recreation/visitor use and safety; access and
transportation on the public lands; integrating management with the
needs of the community and other agencies; reducing conflicts between
different public land visitors and balancing multiple uses.
After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should
address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of three
categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
Rationale will be provided in the plan for each issue placed in
category two or three. In addition to these major issues, a number of
management questions and concerns will be addressed in the plan. The
public is encouraged to help identify these questions and concerns
during the scoping phase.
An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the plan in
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will include
specialists with expertise in outdoor recreation, rangeland management,
archaeology, wildlife, fisheries and soils.
Dated: December 6, 2003.
Barry A. Tollefson,
Gunnison Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-3165 Filed 2-7-03; 8:45 am]