Public Scoping Report
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Public Scoping Report Eastern Interior Resource Management Plans: Upper Black River Subunit Fortymile Subunit Steese National Conservation Area, and White Mountains National Recreation Area Bureau of Land Management Eastern Interior Field Office December 2008 Public Scoping Report Eastern Interior Resource iii Management Plans Table of Contents Public Scoping Report Eastern Interior Resource Management Plans ................................... xi Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... xiii 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Overview ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Background ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2. Purpose and Need .................................................................................................. 2 1.2. Planning Area .................................................................................................................... 3 1.2.1. Location ................................................................................................................. 3 1.2.2. Description ............................................................................................................. 5 1.3. Scoping Process ................................................................................................................ 8 1.3.1. Description of Process ........................................................................................... 8 1.3.2. Public Notice .......................................................................................................... 8 1.3.2.1. Federal Register .......................................................................................... 8 1.3.2.2. Mail list, Planning Flyers and Newsletters ................................................. 8 1.3.2.3. Media Releases and Public Service Announcements ................................. 9 1.3.2.3.1. Newspapers ...................................................................................... 9 1.3.2.3.2. Television and Radio ...................................................................... 10 1.3.2.4. Public Notice ............................................................................................. 10 1.3.2.5. Web Site .................................................................................................... 11 1.3.2.6. Other ......................................................................................................... 11 1.3.3. Public Meetings ................................................................................................... 12 1.4. Cooperating Agencies ..................................................................................................... 12 1.5. Collaborative Planning .................................................................................................... 13 1.5.1. Agency Coordination ........................................................................................... 13 1.5.2. Tribal Consultation .............................................................................................. 14 1.5.2.1. Tribal Issues .............................................................................................. 15 1.5.3. Public Interaction ................................................................................................. 15 2. Issue Summary ......................................................................................................................... 17 2.1. Comment Summary ........................................................................................................ 19 2.1.1. Method of Comment Collection and Analysis ..................................................... 19 2.1.2. Summary of Public Comments Received ............................................................ 19 2.1.2.1. Summary of Comments by Topic ............................................................. 20 2.2. Issues Identified During Scoping .................................................................................... 21 2.2.1. Issue 1: Climate Change ...................................................................................... 22 2.2.2. Issue 2: Water Quality ......................................................................................... 23 2.2.3. Issue 3: Fisheries Management ............................................................................ 24 2.2.4. Issue 4: Wildlife Management ............................................................................. 25 2.2.5. Issue 5: Subsistence ............................................................................................. 25 December 2008 Table of Contents iv Public Scoping Report Eastern Interior Resource Management Plans 2.2.6. Issue 6: Minerals Management ............................................................................ 26 2.2.7. Issue 7: Rightsofway Management ................................................................... 28 2.2.8. Issue 8: Travel Management ................................................................................ 29 2.2.9. Issue 9: Recreation and Visitor Services ............................................................. 30 2.2.10. Issue 10: Wilderness Characteristics ................................................................. 31 2.3. Planning Process Comments to be Addressed ................................................................ 32 2.3.1. Combining Plans .................................................................................................. 32 2.4. Special Designations Including Nominations ................................................................. 34 2.4.1. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Research Natural Areas .............. 34 2.4.1.1. ACEC Nominations .................................................................................. 34 2.4.1.2. RNA Nominations .................................................................................... 35 2.4.2. National Natural Landmarks Program ................................................................. 35 2.4.2.1. National Natural Landmark Nominations ................................................. 35 2.4.3. National Trails ...................................................................................................... 36 2.4.4. Wild and Scenic Rivers ........................................................................................ 36 2.5. Concerns or Issues Raised that are Outside the Scope of the RMPs .............................. 37 2.5.1. Full Metal Minerals .............................................................................................. 37 2.5.2. R.S. 2477 RightsofWay and ANCSA Section 17(b) Easements ....................... 37 2.5.3. Wilderness Review .............................................................................................. 37 2.5.4. State Mining Claims on the Mosquito Fork ......................................................... 38 2.5.5. Management of Taylor Highway Waysides ......................................................... 38 2.5.6. Hunting Regulations ............................................................................................ 38 2.5.7. Predator Control and Intensive Management ...................................................... 38 2.5.8. BLM Employees Abusing Their Authority ......................................................... 39 2.5.9. Law Enforcement ................................................................................................. 39 2.5.10. Old Salmon Village ............................................................................................ 40 2.5.11. NEPA Process Issues related to the Doyon Exchange EIS ................................ 40 2.5.11.1. Doyon Exchange EIS .............................................................................. 40 2.5.11.2. Range of Alternatives .............................................................................. 40 2.5.11.3. Simultaneous EIS .................................................................................... 41 2.5.11.4. Incompatibility with Beaver Creek National Wild River ........................ 41 2.6. Valid Existing Management ............................................................................................ 42 2.7. Anticipated Decisions ..................................................................................................... 42 3. Draft Planning Criteria ........................................................................................................... 45 4. Data Summary and Data Gaps ............................................................................................... 49 4.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 51 4.2. Data Gaps and Relevant Data Provided or Identified During Scoping ........................... 51 5. Summary of Future Steps in the Planning Process ............................................................... 53 Appendix A. White Mountains RMP Amendment Scoping Report ....................................... 57 Appendix B. Scoping