Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) and Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for the North Bank Habitat

Management Area (NBHMA), Douglas County, Oregon; and Notice of Public

Scoping period. The NBHMA is approximately five miles east of Wilbur,

Oregon on County Road 200 (North Bank Road).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, and 40 CFR 1501.7 the Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), Roseburg District, will prepare an EIS/HMP that will evaluate

the environmental impacts of management on the 6,580 acre North Bank

Habitat Management Area. This plan is necessary to form a basis for the

management of habitat for the Columbian white-tailed deer (a federally

listed ``endangered'' species), as well as rare plants and other

sensitive species of wildlife. The EIS/HMP will also identify

recreational opportunities and habitat restoration projects. The effect

of this action would be to meet criteria in the Recovery Plan required

for delisting the Columbian white-tailed deer (CWTD).

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until March 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should he sent to the District Manager, Roseburg

District, Bureau of Land Management, 777 NW Garden Valley Blvd.,

Roseburg, Oregon 97470; Attention NBHMA Project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph Klein (541) 440-4931.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS/HMP will be written in cooperation

with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service. This agency previously developed an Environmental

Analysis (EA) and HMP in 1998. These documents are available for public

review at the Roseburg District Office during business hours. When the

EA was written the public was provided an opportunity to provide

scoping comments through four ``open house'' meetings, a news release

and the Roseburg District Project Planning Update which is mailed out

on a quarterly basis to inform the public of upcoming projects and

comment opportunities. Previous comments that have been submitted will

be considered in the development of the EIS. The following issues were

identified in the EA:

1. Impacts to the CWTD and other special status species.

2. Degree of facility development and use.

3. Affect on adjacent landowners.

4. Affect on water quality.

The draft EIS is expected to be completed by June 1999, at which

time the document will be made available for a 60 day public review and

comment

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period. If there is sufficient public interest, an open house meeting

may be scheduled during the public comment period.

Dated: January 28, 1999.

Cary Osterhaus,

District Manager.

[FR Doc. 99-2652 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]

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