Daily Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of the Federal Government
The creation of the KRNCA along with the changing needs and interests of the public necessitates a revision to the KRMP, which was completed in 1974. Various supplementary plans, amendments, and implementation of new laws have served to update the 27 year old plan. Decisions in these existing plans that are still current will be carried forward in the new plan. However, changing uses, public interests, and resource conditions indicate that it is timely to update the plan in a comprehensive manner.
Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by BLM personnel, other agencies, and in discussions with individuals and user groups. They represent the BLM's knowledge to date on the existing issues and concerns with current management. The major issue themes that will be addressed in the plan effort include: Management and protection of natural/cultural resources and primitive values; recreation/visitor use and safety; and
After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
Rationale will be provided in the plan for each issue placed in category two or three. In addition to these major issues, a number of management questions and concerns will be addressed in the plan. The public is encouraged to help identify these questions and concerns during the scoping phase.
Preliminary planning criteria have also been identified to guide development of the plan decisions and selection of a preferred alternative. Some key criteria are as follows. The plan decisions will: 1. Be completed in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, King Range Act and other applicable laws and policies; 2. Recognize lifestyles and concerns of area residents; 3. Be consistent with NW Forest Plan; and 4. Carry forward the zoning concept of the original KRMP, and existing relevant decisions from the original plan and amendments/supplements. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments and update planning criteria as part of the scoping process.
An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the plan in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified.
On October 21, 1970, Congress passed the King Range Act (Pub. L. 91-476) creating the KRNCA. The area encompasses approximately 63,000 acres in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, California. The KRNCA includes 35 miles of Pacific coastline backed by peaks climbing to 4,000 feet. The area is bordered on the north and east by a mixture of public and private lands, and on the south by the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park.
The KRMP was completed in 1974 and has been amended a number of times to reflect changing public needs, new laws, and executive orders. Several significant multi-discipline and activity plans have also been completed, including the KRNCA Extension Plan (1981), Allotment Management Plan (1984), Transportation Plan (1986), Cultural Resources Management Plan (1988), Wilderness Recommendations/EIS (1988), and Northwest Forest Plan (1994). Information and decisions from these existing plans may be incorporated into this plan revision.
The King Range Act requires that the “plan will be reviewed and reevaluated periodically”. To date, updates have been completed on an as-needed basis to respond to changing public demands, resource needs or public policies affecting a specific aspect of the management program. This effort will serve as the first comprehensive plan update since the original KRMP was completed in 1974.