Proposed Continuation of Withdrawal; Nevada

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[NV-930-1430-00; Nev-043278]

Proposed Continuation of Withdrawal; Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, proposes that

113,260 acres of the Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD) withdrawal at

Hawthorne, Nevada, be continued for 75 years. The Bureau of Land

Management proposes that 69,037 acres of the HWAD withdrawal be

continued for 20 years.

DATE: Comments should be received by May 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Nevada

State Director, BLM, 850 Harvard Way, P.O. Box 12000, Reno, Nevada

89520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis J. Samuelson, BLM Nevada State

Office, 702-785-6532.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Army, Corps of

Engineers, proposes that a portion (113,260 acres) of the existing

withdrawal made by Executive Order No(s). 4531 of October 27, 1926;

5664 of July 2, 1931; 5828 of March 30, 1932, and 6958 of February 4,

1935, be continued for a period of 75 years. The Bureau of Land

Management proposes that 69,037 acres of the same withdrawal be

continued for a period of 20 years. The continuation will be made

pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43

U.S.C. 1714 (1988).

The area the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers proposes

for continuation is described as follows (excluding any non-Federal

land):

Mount Diablo Meridian

T. 7 N., R. 28 E.,

Sec. 1.

T. 8 N., R. 28 E.,

Secs. 1 to 3;

Sec. 10, E\1/2\;

Secs. 11 to 14;

Sec. 15, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;

Secs. 23 to 25;

Sec. 36.

T. 9 N., R. 28 E.,

Sec. 10, S\1/2\;

Secs. 11 to 15;

Secs. 22 to 27;

Secs. 34 to 36, inclusive.

T. 7 N., R. 29 E.,

Secs. 5 and 6.

T. 8 N., R. 29 E.,

Secs. 1 to 33.

T. 9 N., R. 29 E.,

Secs. 1 to 4;

Secs. 7 to 36, inclusive.

T. 7 N., R. 30 E.,

Secs. 1 to 3;

Sec. 4, lot 1, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\ east of

Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 9, E\1/2\, SW\1/4\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Secs. 10 to 15;

Sec. 16, east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 21, E\1/2\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Secs. 22 to 26;

Sec. 27, east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 34, NE\1/4\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 35, east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 36.

T. 8 N., R. 30 E.,

Sec. 1;

Sec. 2;

Sec. 3, lots 4 to 18, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;

Secs. 4 to 7;

Sec. 8, lots 1, 2, 5, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 9, lots 4 to 10, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;

Sec. 10, lots 6 to 12;

Secs. 11 to 14;

Sec. 15, lots 1 to 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, subdivisions undescribed;

Sec. 16, lots 4 to 6, subdivisions undescribed;

Sec. 17, lots 6 to 14, NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 18;

Sec. 19, lots 5 to 7, NE\1/4\E\1/4\, W\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\;

Sec. 20, lots 3 to 11, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

[[Page 5840]]

Sec. 21, lots 4-8, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\,

NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, subdivisions undescribed;

Sec. 22, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, subdivision undescribed;

Secs. 23 to 25;

Sec. 26, lot 2, E\1/2\E\1/2\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\,

S\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 33, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\ west of

Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 34, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\SW\1/4\ west of Hwy 359 right-

of-way;

Sec. 35;

Sec. 36.

T. 9 N., R. 30 E.,

Secs. 25 to 36.

T. 7 N., R. 31 E.,

Secs. 2 to 11;

Secs. 14 to 23;

Secs. 26 to 35.

T. 8 N., R. 31 E.,

Secs. 1 to 23;

Secs. 26 to 35.

T. 9 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 31.

The area described contains approximately 113,260 acres in

Mineral County. The area the Bureau of Land Management proposes for

continuation is described as follows (excluding any non-Federal

land):

Mount Diablo Meridian

T. 8 N., R. 29 E.,

Sec. 1;

Sec. 12;

Sec. 13, N\1/2\.

T. 9 N., R. 29 E.,

Sec. 25;

Sec. 36.

T. 7 N., R. 30 E.,

Secs. 1 to 3;

Sec. 4, lot 1, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\ east of

Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 9, E\1/2\, SW\1/4\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Secs. 10 to 15;

Sec. 16, east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 21, E\1/2\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Secs. 22 to 26;

Sec. 27, east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 34, NE\1/4\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 35, east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 36.

T. 8 N., R. 30 E.,

Sec. 1;

Sec. 2;

Sec. 3, lots 4 to 18, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;

Secs. 4 to 7, inclusive;

Sec. 8, lots 1, 2, 5, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 9, lots 4 to 10, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;

Sec. 10, lots 6 to 12;

Secs. 11 to 14;

Sec. 15, lots 1 to 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, subdivisions undescribed;

Sec. 16, lots 4 to 6, subdivisions undescribed;

Sec. 17, lots 6 to 14, NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 18;

Sec. 19, lots 5 to 7, NE\1/4\E\1/4\, W\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\;

Sec. 20, lots 3 to 11, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 21, lots 4 to 8, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/

4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, subdivisions undescribed;

Sec. 22, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, subdivision undescribed;

Secs. 23 to 25, inclusive;

Sec. 26, lot 2, E\1/2\E\1/2\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\,

S\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;

Sec. 33, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\ east of Hwy 359 right-of-way;

Sec. 34, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\,

SW\1/4\ east of Hwy 359;

Sec. 35;

Sec. 36.

T. 9 N., R. 30 E.,

Secs. 25 to 36.

7 N., R. 31 E.,

Secs. 2 to 11;

Secs. 14 to 23;

Secs. 26 to 35.

T. 8 N., R. 31 E.,

Secs. 1 to 23;

Secs. 26 to 35.

T. 9 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 31.

The area described contains approximately 60,037 acres in

Mineral County.

The HWAD was originally established as a naval ammunition depot.

The facility was subsequently transferred from the Department of the

Navy to the Department of the Army. The HWAD serves as the primary

ammunition depot and plant on the west coast, with service provided to

the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.

The difference between the portion of the withdrawal proposed for

continuation by the Army and the portion proposed for continuation by

the Bureau of Land Management is the Mt. Grant area.

The Army states that the Mt. Grant watershed is the source of water

required to support the missions at the HWAD. The Mt. Grant area is

undeveloped except for a water delivery system maintained by the Army.

The Army states that full control of the area is needed to monitor and

control access by the public. The Army is concerned that uncontrolled

access could lead to degradation of the watershed. The Army has

acquired non-Federal land in the Mt. Grant area in order to protect the

watershed. Degradation of the watershed would require the Army to

install an expensive water filtration system. The Army contends that

Mt. Grant is being used for the purpose for which it was withdrawn,

which is to provide water in support of the depot. At one time, a small

portion of the Mt. Grant area was used as a live fire area and is

contaminated by munitions. The Army has been making periodic sweeps of

this area for clean up purposes.

The Bureau of Land Management's finding is that the Mt. Grant area

is not being used for the purpose for which it was withdrawn, which is

``development and use as an ammunition depot.'' Although there is a

water delivery system that supports the depot, that system can be

authorized by a right-of-way reservation to the Army. The BLM has

mechanisms, such land use planning decisions, to protect the watershed.

Mt. Grant is generally undeveloped and pristine and the area has

outstanding scenic, natural, and recreation values. Currently, access

by the public is allowed, but controlled by the Army. The Bureau of

Land Management can manage the Mt. Grant area for recreation while

protecting the watershed values for the Army.

For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this

notice, all persons who wish to submit comments in connection with the

proposed continuation of the withdrawals may present their views in

writing to the Lands Team Lead in the Nevada State Office. The

authorized officer of the Bureau of Land Management will undertake such

investigations as are necessary to determine the existing and potential

demand for the land and its resources. A report will also be prepared

for consideration by the Secretary of the Interior, the President, and

Congress, who will determine whether or not the withdrawals will be

continued and if so, for how long. The final determination on the

continuation of the withdrawals will be published in the Federal

Register. The existing withdrawals will continue until such final

determination is made. The withdrawals segregate the land from

operation of the public land laws generally, including the mining laws,

but not the mineral leasing laws.

Dated: January 28, 1997.

William K. Stowers,

Lands Team Lead.

[FR Doc. 97-3020 Filed 2-6-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P