Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 03/11/1999

Notice of Intent To Modify Scope of Statewide Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Multiple Plan Amendments Considering Establishment of New Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) on Selected Public Lands in Utah, and Call for Additional Information

The BLM has modified the scope of its planning effort considering establishment of new WSAs on public lands in Utah. Instead of preparing a single EIS/Plan Amendment for all inventory areas under study throughout the state, the BLM will now use a staged approach that will break the plan amendment process into four components. Selected inventory areas will be grouped in four regional studies to address whether or not new WSAs should be established. The first such regional grouping will include 35 inventory areas within the southeast region, encompassing approximately 815,000 acres of BLM lands administered by the Moab and Monticello Field Offices. This change is due, in part, to the large number of scoping comments that provided detailed information on specific areas and regions. Focusing planning on a regional basis will allow for a more thorough consideration of public input that has already been received, and is anticipated, as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process proceeds. Some adjustment is also necessary because new legislation prohibits the BLM from proceeding with WSA planning in certain areas in the West Desert region of the state until the Department of Def