Administration of Grazing on Public Lands and National Forest System Lands

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 222

RIN 0596-AA35, 0596-AB42

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Parts 1780 and 4100

[WO-220-4320-02 24 1A]

RIN 1004-AB89

Administration of Grazing on Public Lands and National Forest

System Lands

AGENCIES: Forest Service, USDA and Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of hearings and informational meetings.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of public hearings in which the

public is invited to comment on regulations proposed by the Bureau of

Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, relating to the

administration of grazing on the public lands administered by the BLM

and on National Forest System lands. These hearings will also provide

the public an opportunity to comment on a draft environmental impact

statement (EIS) for Rangeland Reform '94. Immediately preceding the

hearings, BLM and the Forest Service will sponsor informational

meetings on the proposed regulations.

DATES: All hearings will be held on June 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Hearings will be held at the facilities listed in the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Otteni (BLM), 202-208-7701 or

Jerry McCormick (Forest Service), 202-205-1746.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The United States Department of the Interior is proposing to amend

the regulations which govern how the BLM administers livestock grazing

on the public lands. A proposed rule was published in the Federal

Register on Friday, March 25, 1994 (59 FR 14314). The proposed rule

provides for a public comment period that runs until July 28, 1994.

On April 28, 1994, the United States Department of Agriculture

published similar proposed rules in the Federal Register (59 FR 22074,

22094) which govern how the Forest Service administers livestock

grazing on National Forest System lands. These proposed rules also

provide for public comments to be received by July 28, 1994.

In addition to the proposed rules, the Bureau of Land Management

and the Forest Service, as cooperating agencies, have prepared a draft

EIS. The draft EIS is currently being printed and prepared for

distribution. Notice of availability of the draft EIS will be made

through a separate publication in the Federal Register.

During the preparation of the BLM proposed rule, Interior Secretary

Bruce Babbitt met on a number of occasions throughout the West with

governors, State and local officials, ranchers, environmentalists and

other public land users. These meetings resulted in many useful

suggestions that are reflected in the proposed rule. In order to

continue this important communication with user groups and members of

the public, and to further elicit valuable comments on the proposed

rules of both Departments and the draft EIS, the BLM and Forest Service

have jointly scheduled 49 public hearings to be held throughout the

United States on June 8, 1994.

Hearing Procedures

The purpose of the hearings is to provide the public an alternate

method by which to comment on the proposed rules and the EIS. The

hearings do not replace the public comment period described in the

proposed rules. All members of the public may submit comments in

accordance with the procedures set forth in the proposed rules and are

encouraged to do so.

The hearings will be preceded by informal general information

sessions which will begin at 8 a.m. in each location. The purpose of

these sessions is to allow the public an opportunity to learn more

about the proposed rules and EIS. BLM and Forest Service personnel will

be present to describe the key elements of the proposals, and to answer

questions so that those who wish to testify at the hearings will fully

understand the proposals. These sessions are not part of the hearing

and will not appear as part of the hearing record.

The hearings themselves will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue until

5 p.m., with a lunch recess to be determined by the Hearing Officer.

The hearings will resume at 7 p.m. and will continue until 10 p.m. or

thereafter until all speakers have been heard.

In order to have productive and meaningful hearings and to ensure

that those who wish to speak at the hearings are able to do so in a

fair and orderly manner, the following procedures will be observed:

--Persons wishing to testify must register at the hearing site between

8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Speakers will be heard in the order in which they

register, with the exception of elected Federal, state or local

officials, who will speak first at the beginning of each session or as

otherwise arranged with the Hearing Officer.

--Each person may present testimony only once. However, if time

permits, the Hearing Officer may allow each speaker additional time

after all other witnesses have had the opportunity to speak. When

provided, such additional time will be granted to speakers in the same

order in which they originally testified.

--Because a large number of speakers is anticipated, it will be

necessary to limit the amount of time of each speaker. Since the number

of speakers may vary greatly from location to location, the time

allocated to each speaker may also vary among the hearings. However,

within any one hearing, all speakers will be allocated an equal amount

of time. The amount of time allocated to each speaker will be left to

the discretion of the Hearing Officer. Time limitations will be

strictly followed.

--The purpose of the hearings is to elicit comments from the public. A

technical representative from the BLM and Forest Service will be

present to ask clarifying questions of witnesses. Time spent asking and

answering these questions will not count against the time allocated to

the speaker. Because of the time constraints and the desire to maximize

public input, the technical representatives will not respond to

questions from or otherwise engage in discussions with the speaker.

Speakers who wish to ask questions should do so during the informal

information session.

--A transcript of the hearing will be made and become part of the

rulemaking record. Speakers are encouraged to submit a written copy of

their statements to be included in the hearing record. The record of

the hearing will remain open through June 13, 1994 for submission of

supplemental written statements or other exhibits. The name and address

of the designated official to receive these statements or exhibits will

be announced at the hearing.

Location

The hearings are to be held at the following locations:

ARIZONA

Fountain Suites Hotel, 2577 W. Greenway, Phoenix, AZ, on the

Southeast Corner of the Black Canyon Freeway.

Eastern Arizona College, Student Activity Center, Highway 70,

Thatcher, AZ

CALIFORNIA

Red Lion Inn, 1830 Hilltop Drive, Redding, CA 96002

Red Lion Inn, 3100 Camino del Rio Court, Bakersfield, CA 93308

Barstow Community Center, 841 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311

Lassen Community College, Room H221-222 (Humanities Building),

Highway 139, Susanville, CA 96130

COLORADO

Holiday Inn Denver West, 14707 West Colfax Avenue, Golden, CO

Holy Cross Abbey, Community Center, 2951 East Highway 50, Canon

City, CO

Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion, Craig, CO

Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO

The Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Road, Montrose, CO

IDAHO

Weston Plaza, 1350 Blue Lakes Blvd., N., Twin Falls, ID 83301

Senior Citizens Center, Rt. 2 Truck Route, Grangeville, ID 83530

Quality Inn of Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, ID

83201

Boise Center On-the-Grove, 850 Front, Boise, ID 83702

Salmon Valley Center, 200 Main Street, Salmon, ID 83467

MONTANA

Copper King Inn, 4655 Harrison Ave. S., Butte, MT 59701

Exhibition Hall, Custer Co. Fairgrounds, Garryowen Rd., W. of Miles

City, Miles City, MT 59301

Fergus High School, 201 Casino Creek Dr., Lewistown, MT 59457

NEVADA

Elko Junior High School, 770 Country Club Drive, Elko, NV 89801

Humboldt County Fairgrounds, Exhibition Hall, Fairgrounds Road,

Winnemucca, NV 89445

Peppermill Hotel and Casino, 2707 S. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502

Bristlecone Convention Center, 150 6th Street, Ely, NV 89301

Cashman Field, 850 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Room 103-104, Las Vegas, NV

89101

Austin High School, Highway 305 North, Austin, NV 89310

NEW MEXICO

UNM Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd.,

NE, Main Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM 87131-4006

The Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn, Aspen Room, 901 Avenida de

Mesilla, Las Cruces, NM 88005

Pearson Auditorium, New Mexico Military Institute Campus, Roswell,

NM 88201

Farmington Civic Center, 200 West Arrington, Farmington, NM 87401

NORTH DAKOTA

Hospitality Inn, Remington-Winchester Rooms, Highway 22 and I-94,

Dickinson, ND

OREGON

BLM Salem District, Lobby Level Conference Room, 1717 Fabry Road SE,

Salem, OR 97306

Vale Catholic Church, Parish Hall, 690 A Street West, Vale, OR 97918

Harney County Fairgrounds, Memorial Building, South Egan Road,

Burns, OR 97720

BLM Medford District, The Oregon Room, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR

97504

Central Oregon Community College, Hitchcock Auditorium, 2600 NW

College Way, Bend, OR 97701

Lake County Courthouse, Lakeview, OR 97630

LaGrande Senior High School, High School Auditorium, 708 K Avenue,

LaGrande, OR 97850

UTAH

Holiday Inn, 1575 W. 200 N., Cedar City UT

Sevier County Courthouse, 250 North Main Street, Richfield, UT

Uintah County High School, Little Theater, 1880 W. 500 N., Vernal,

UT

Star Hall, Center Street, Moab, UT

Salt Lake City Public Library, Third Floor Lecture Hall, 209 E. 500

S., Salt Lake City, UT

Dixie High School, 350 East 700 South, St. George, UT

WASHINGTON

Wenatchee Convention Center, South Ball Room, 201 Wenatchee Avenue,

Wenatchee, WA 98801

WASHINGTON DC

Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia

22153

WYOMING

Elks Lodge BPOE II 1908, 601 Coburn Avenue, Worland, WY 82401

While Mountain Junior High School Auditorium, 2550 Foothills Blvd,

Rock Springs, WY 82901

Jeffrey Center, 3rd and Spruce St., Rawlins, WY 82301

Natrona County Agricultural Building, 2011 Fairground Road, Casper,

WY 82604

Dated: May 5, 1994.

Mike Dombeck,

Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management.

Mark A. Reimers,

Acting Chief, Forest Service.

[FR Doc. 94-11653 Filed 5-13-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-84-P