80 FR 30705 - Notice of Availability of the Miles City Field Office Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Miles City Field Office, Montana
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)
| Page Range | 30705-30707 | |
| FR Document | 2015-12997 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 30705-30707] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-12997] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLMTC00000.L16100000.DQ0000.LXSS036E0000 MO#4500079298] Notice of Availability of the Miles City Field Office Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Miles City Field Office, Montana AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Miles City Field Office planning area and by this notice is announcing its availability. DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's Proposed RMP/Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions and files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Miles City Field Office Proposed RMP/Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies, tribal governments, and to other stakeholders and members of the public who have requested copies. Copies of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS are available for public inspection at the following locations:BLM, Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101 BLM, Miles City Field Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301 Interested persons may also review the Proposed RMP/Final EIS on the Internet at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/miles_city_field_office/rmp.html. All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following addresses: Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383. Overnight Delivery: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Bloom, Miles City RMP Team Leader, telephone: 406-233-2800; address: 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301; email: [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area includes lands within the BLM Miles City Field Office's administrative boundaries in the following Montana counties: Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Wibaux and portions of Big Horn and Valley. The planning area includes all lands, regardless of jurisdiction, totaling approximately 25.8 million acres; however, the BLM will only make decisions on lands that fall under the [[Page 30706]] BLM's jurisdiction. Lands within the Planning Area under the BLM's jurisdiction make up the Decision Area. The Decision Area consists of BLM-administered surface, totaling approximately 2.75 million acres and the Federal mineral estate, totaling approximately 10.6 million acres. The Miles City Field Office RMP will revise and replace the Big Dry (1996) and Powder River (1985) RMPs. The Miles City Draft RMP/EIS was made available for a 90-day comment period on March 8, 2013 (78 FR 15041). The Draft RMP/EIS included a series of management actions, within five management alternatives, designed to address management challenges and issues raised during scoping. These included, but were not limited to, energy development (coal, oil and gas, renewable energy, and locatable minerals), wildlife habitat management, including Greater Sage-Grouse, livestock grazing, air quality, special management areas including areas of critical environmental concern (ACEC), and management of lands with wilderness characteristics. In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), the Notice of Availability for the Draft RMP/EIS also announced a concurrent public comment period on nominated ACECs. Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, which analyzes five alternatives: 1. Alternative A (No Action): Continues existing management; 2. Alternative B: Emphasizes conservation of natural and cultural resources while providing for compatible development and use; 3. Alternative C: Provides development opportunities while protecting sensitive resources; 4. Alternative D: Emphasizes resource development and use while protecting natural and cultural resources; and 5. Alternative E (Proposed): Allows resource use if the activity can be conducted in a manner that conserves physical, biological, heritage and visual resources. As modified, Alternative E is now presented as the Miles City Proposed RMP in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS would provide comprehensive, long-range decisions for the use and management of resources in the planning area administered by the BLM and focus on the principles of multiple use and sustained yield. Alternative E generally allows resource use if the activity can be conducted in a manner that conserves physical, biological, heritage and visual resources. Alternative E allocates land as Special Recreation Management Areas (eight) and ACECs (eighteen) and emphasizes moderate constraints on resource uses to reduce impacts to resource values. Additionally, Alternative E applies a no surface occupancy (NSO) stipulation to oil and gas leasing proposed in riparian/wetland systems and aquatic habitats and a controlled surface use (CSU) stipulation within 300 feet of riparian and wetland areas. Alternative E increases, over existing management, conservation within Greater Sage-Grouse habitats. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS, Alternative E, includes ACEC designation for the following areas (all resource use limitations are subject to valid existing rights): Ash Creek Divide (7,921 acres), Bug Creek (3,837 acres), Hell Creek (19,373 acres), and Sand Arroyo (9,052 acres) ACECs would continue to be designated and managed as ACECs. Management actions proposed for these significant paleontological areas are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, rights-of-way (ROWs) would be allowed in the Hell Creek ACEC and avoided in the Ash Creek Divide, Bug Creek and Sand Arroyo ACECs, geothermal leasing would be closed, and management would be per visual resource management (VRM) Classes II through III. Big Sheep Mountain ACEC (363 acres) would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, geothermal leasing would be closed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, livestock grazing would be allowed, and management would be per VRM Class II. Hoe ACEC (145 acres) would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, geothermal leasing would be closed, 19 acres of the ACEC would be closed to livestock grazing, and management would be per VRM Class II. Jordan Bison Kill ACEC (160 acres) would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, geothermal leasing would be closed, and management would be per VRM Class II. Powder River Depot ACEC (1,401 acres) would continue to be managed and designated as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, geothermal leasing would be closed, livestock grazing would be excluded on 19 acres of the ACEC, and management would be per VRM Class I (Terry Badlands WSA overlap) and II (remainder of the ACEC). Seline ACEC (80 acres) would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, geothermal leasing would be closed, and management would be per VRM Class II. Battle Butte Battlefield ACEC would increase in size from 121 acres to 320 acres and continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, ROWs would be excluded, and management would be per VRM Class II. Reynolds Battlefield ACEC would increase in size from 324 acres to 922 acres and would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, and management would be per VRM Class II. [[Page 30707]] Finger Buttes ACEC (1,520 acres) would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant scenic area are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, geothermal leasing would be closed, and management would be per VRM Class II. Smoky Butte ACEC would decrease in size from 80 to 40 acres and would continue to be designated and managed as an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant geologic area are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would be allowed, OHV use would be limited to existing roads and trails, ROWs would be allowed, and management would be per VRM Class III. Cedar Creek Battlefield (1,022 public surface acres) would be designated an ACEC. This significant battlefield would be managed to enhance and protect cultural resources. Management actions proposed for this area are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with a NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would be not be allowed, off-highway vehicle (OHV) use would be limited to existing roads and trails, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, and management would be per VRM Class II. Flat Creek (339 acres) would be designated an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant paleontological area are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, and the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area. Flat Creek would be managed per VRM Class III. Powderville (9,518 acres) would be designated an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant paleontological area are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, OHV use would be limited to existing roads and trails, and the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area. The Powderville area would be managed per VRM Classes II and III. Long Medicine Wheel (179 acres) would be designated an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural resource site are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, ROWs would be excluded, and management would be per VRM Class II. The Walstein area (1,519 acres) would be designated an ACEC. Management actions proposed for this significant cultural and paleontological area are: Mineral material sales and permits would be closed, oil and gas leasing would be allowed with an NSO stipulation, geophysical exploration would not be allowed, OHV use would be closed, the area would be managed as a ROW avoidance area, and management would be per VRM Class II. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS does not adopt the following nominated ACECs: Black-footed Ferret, Howrey Island, Piping Plover and Yonkee. The Miles City Field Office Proposed RMP/Final EIS is one of a total of 15 separate EISs that make up the BLM and Forest Service National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. Greater-Sage Grouse habitat within the planning area consists of: Priority Habitat Management Area (PHMA)--Areas identified as having the highest conservation value for maintaining sustainable greater sage-grouse populations; include breeding, late brood-rearing, and winter concentration areas. General Habitat Management Area (GHMA)--Areas of seasonal or year-round habitat outside of PHMA. Alternative E supports management of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats and maintaining habitat connectivity to achieve population objectives. Alternative E would limit or eliminate new surface disturbance in PHMA, while minimizing disturbance in GHMA. The BLM and Forest Service, via the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Management Zone Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Team, will develop a Regional Mitigation Strategy to guide the application of the mitigation hierarchy to address impacts within that Zone. The Regional Mitigation Strategy should consider any State- level greater sage-grouse mitigation guidance that is consistent with the requirements. The Regional Mitigation Strategy will be developed in a transparent manner, based on the best science available and standardized metrics. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP/Final EIS may be found in the ``Dear Reader'' letter of the Miles City Field Office Proposed RMP/Final EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the emailed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct emails to [email protected]. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your protest to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5. Jamie E. Connell, State Director, Montana/Dakotas. [FR Doc. 2015-12997 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 103 / Friday, May 29, 2015 / Notices 30705
Copies of the Wyoming Greater Sage- writing and mailed to the appropriate regulations may protest the BLM’s
Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS are address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES Proposed RMP/Final EIS. A person who
available for public inspection at: section above. Emailed protests will not meets the conditions and files a protest
• BLM Wyoming State Office, 5353 be accepted as valid protests unless the must file the protest within 30 days of
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, protesting party also provides the the date that the Environmental
Wyoming 82009 original letter by either regular mail or Protection Agency publishes its notice
• BLM Casper Field Office, 2987 overnight delivery postmarked by the of availability in the Federal Register.
Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming close of the protest period. Under these ADDRESSES: Copies of the Miles City
82604 conditions, the BLM and Forest Service Field Office Proposed RMP/Final EIS
• BLM Kemmerer Field Office, 312 will consider an emailed protest as an have been sent to affected Federal, State,
Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, advance copy and it will receive full and local government agencies, tribal
Wyoming 83101 consideration. If you wish to provide governments, and to other stakeholders
• BLM Newcastle Field Office, 1101 the BLM and Forest Service with such and members of the public who have
Washington Boulevard, Newcastle, advance notifications, please direct requested copies. Copies of the
Wyoming 82701 emails to protest@blm.gov. Proposed RMP/Final EIS are available
• BLM Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Before including your address, phone for public inspection at the following
Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941 number, email address, or other locations:
• BLM Rawlins Field Office, 1300 North personal identifying information in your • BLM, Montana State Office, 5001
Third, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301 protest, you should be aware that your Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101
• BLM Rock Springs Field Office, 280 entire protest—including your personal • BLM, Miles City Field Office, 111
Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, identifying information—may be made Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT
Wyoming 82901 publicly available at any time. While 59301
• Bridger-Teton National Forest, 340 you may ask us in your protest to
North Cache, Jackson, Wyoming withhold your personal identifying Interested persons may also review
83001 information from public review, we the Proposed RMP/Final EIS on the
• Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests cannot guarantee that we will be able to Internet at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/
and Thunder Basin National do so. en/fo/miles_city_field_office/rmp.html.
Grassland, 2468 Jackson Street, All protests must be in writing and
Amy Lueders, mailed to one of the following
Laramie, Wyoming 82070
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable addresses:
Copies of the Northwest Colorado Resources & Planning.
Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/ Regular Mail: BLM Director (210),
Final EIS are available for public Authority: 36 CFR 219.59, 40 CFR 1506.6, Attention: Protest Coordinator, P.O.
inspection at: 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2; 43 CFR Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024–
1610.5 1383.
• BLM Northwest District Office, 2815
[FR Doc. 2015–12950 Filed 5–28–15; 8:45 am] Overnight Delivery: BLM Director (210),
H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado,
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P Attention: Protest Coordinator, 20 M
81506
Street SE., Room 2134LM,
• BLM Colorado State Office, 2850
Washington, DC 20003.
Youngfield Street, Lakewood,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colorado, 80215
• Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests Mary Bloom, Miles City RMP Team
Bureau of Land Management Leader, telephone: 406–233–2800;
and Thunder Basin National
Grassland, 2468 Jackson Street, [LLMTC00000.L16100000.DQ0000. address: 111 Garryowen Road, Miles
Laramie, Wyoming 82070 LXSS036E0000 MO#4500079298] City, MT 59301; email: mbloom@
blm.gov. Persons who use a
Copies of the Lewistown Greater Sage- Notice of Availability of the Miles City telecommunications device for the deaf
Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS are Field Office Proposed Resource (TDD) may call the Federal Information
available for public inspection at: Management Plan and Final Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
• BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office, Environmental Impact Statement, Miles to contact the above individual during
5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, City Field Office, Montana normal business hours. The FIRS is
Montana, 59101 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
• BLM Lewistown Field Office, 920 AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior. to leave a message or question with the
Northeast Main, Lewistown, Montana above individual. You will receive a
59457 ACTION: Notice of availability.
reply during normal business hours.
Copies of the North Dakota Greater SUMMARY: In accordance with the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS National Environmental Policy Act of planning area includes lands within the
are available for public inspection at: 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the BLM Miles City Field Office’s
• BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office, Federal Land Policy and Management administrative boundaries in the
5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the following Montana counties: Carter,
Montana, 59101 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon,
• BLM North Dakota Field Office, 99 prepared a Proposed Resource Garfield, McCone, Powder River,
23rd Avenue East, Suite A, Dickinson, Management Plan (RMP) and Final Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud,
Lhorne on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
North Dakota, 58601 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Sheridan, Treasure, Wibaux and
Instructions for filing a protest with for the Miles City Field Office planning portions of Big Horn and Valley. The
the Director of the BLM regarding the area and by this notice is announcing its planning area includes all lands,
Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs may be availability. regardless of jurisdiction, totaling
found in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ Letter of the DATES: BLM planning regulations state approximately 25.8 million acres;
Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs and at 43 that any person who meets the however, the BLM will only make
CFR 1610.5–2. All protests must be in conditions as described in the decisions on lands that fall under the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:17 May 28, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_30808/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 103 / Friday, May 29, 2015 / Notices 30707
• Finger Buttes ACEC (1,520 acres) • Long Medicine Wheel (179 acres) BLM regarding the Proposed RMP/Final
would continue to be designated and would be designated an ACEC. EIS may be found in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’
managed as an ACEC. Management Management actions proposed for this letter of the Miles City Field Office
actions proposed for this significant significant cultural resource site are: Proposed RMP/Final EIS and at 43 CFR
scenic area are: Mineral material sales Mineral material sales and permits 1610.5–2. All protests must be in
and permits would be closed, oil and would be closed, oil and gas leasing writing and mailed to the appropriate
gas leasing would be allowed with an would be allowed with an NSO address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES
NSO stipulation, geophysical stipulation, geophysical exploration section above. Emailed protests will not
exploration would not be allowed, the would not be allowed, ROWs would be be accepted as valid protests unless the
area would be managed as a ROW excluded, and management would be protesting party also provides the
avoidance area, geothermal leasing per VRM Class II. original letter by either regular or
would be closed, and management • The Walstein area (1,519 acres) overnight mail postmarked by the close
would be per VRM Class II. would be designated an ACEC. of the protest period. Under these
• Smoky Butte ACEC would decrease Management actions proposed for this conditions, the BLM will consider the
in size from 80 to 40 acres and would significant cultural and paleontological emailed protest as an advance copy and
continue to be designated and managed area are: Mineral material sales and it will receive full consideration. If you
as an ACEC. Management actions permits would be closed, oil and gas wish to provide the BLM with such
proposed for this significant geologic leasing would be allowed with an NSO advance notification, please direct
area are: Mineral material sales and stipulation, geophysical exploration emails to protest@blm.gov.
permits would be closed, oil and gas would not be allowed, OHV use would Before including your address, phone
leasing would be allowed with an NSO be closed, the area would be managed number, email address, or other
stipulation, geophysical exploration as a ROW avoidance area, and personal identifying information in your
would be allowed, OHV use would be management would be per VRM Class II. protest, you should be aware that your
limited to existing roads and trails, The Proposed RMP/Final EIS does not entire protest—including your personal
ROWs would be allowed, and adopt the following nominated ACECs: identifying information—may be made
management would be per VRM Class Black-footed Ferret, Howrey Island, publicly available at any time. While
Piping Plover and Yonkee. you may ask us in your protest to
III.
The Miles City Field Office Proposed
• Cedar Creek Battlefield (1,022 RMP/Final EIS is one of a total of 15
withhold your personal identifying
public surface acres) would be information from public review, we
separate EISs that make up the BLM and
designated an ACEC. This significant cannot guarantee that we will be able to
Forest Service National Greater Sage-
battlefield would be managed to do so.
Grouse Planning Strategy. Greater-Sage
enhance and protect cultural resources. Grouse habitat within the planning area Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
Management actions proposed for this consists of: 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5.
area are: Mineral material sales and • Priority Habitat Management Area
permits would be closed, oil and gas Jamie E. Connell,
(PHMA)—Areas identified as having the State Director, Montana/Dakotas.
leasing would be allowed with a NSO highest conservation value for
stipulation, geophysical exploration [FR Doc. 2015–12997 Filed 5–28–15; 8:45 am]
maintaining sustainable greater sage-
would be not be allowed, off-highway grouse populations; include breeding, BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
vehicle (OHV) use would be limited to late brood-rearing, and winter
existing roads and trails, the area would concentration areas.
be managed as a ROW avoidance area, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• General Habitat Management Area
and management would be per VRM (GHMA)—Areas of seasonal or year-
Class II. Bureau of Land Management
round habitat outside of PHMA.
• Flat Creek (339 acres) would be Alternative E supports management of
designated an ACEC. Management greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats [LLMTC040000.L16100000.DP0000.
actions proposed for this significant LXSS059E0000 MO# 4500079352]
and maintaining habitat connectivity to
paleontological area are: Mineral achieve population objectives. Notice of Availability of the South
material sales and permits would be Alternative E would limit or eliminate Dakota Field Office Proposed
closed, oil and gas leasing would be new surface disturbance in PHMA, Resource Management Plan and Final
allowed with an NSO stipulation, while minimizing disturbance in Environmental Impact Statement,
geophysical exploration would not be GHMA. South Dakota Field Office, Montana
allowed, and the area would be The BLM and Forest Service, via the
managed as a ROW avoidance area. Flat Western Association of Fish and AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Creek would be managed per VRM Class Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Interior.
III. Management Zone Greater Sage-Grouse ACTION: Notice of Availability.
• Powderville (9,518 acres) would be Conservation Team, will develop a
designated an ACEC. Management Regional Mitigation Strategy to guide SUMMARY: In accordance with the
actions proposed for this significant the application of the mitigation National Environmental Policy Act of
paleontological area are: Mineral hierarchy to address impacts within that 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
material sales and permits would be Zone. The Regional Mitigation Strategy Federal Land Policy and Management
closed, oil and gas leasing would be should consider any State-level greater Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
Lhorne on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
allowed with an NSO stipulation, sage-grouse mitigation guidance that is Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
geophysical exploration would not be consistent with the requirements. The prepared a Proposed Resource
allowed, OHV use would be limited to Regional Mitigation Strategy will be Management Plan (RMP) and Final
existing roads and trails, and the area developed in a transparent manner, Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
would be managed as a ROW avoidance based on the best science available and for the South Dakota Field Office and by
area. The Powderville area would be standardized metrics. Instructions for this notice is announcing its
managed per VRM Classes II and III. filing a protest with the Director of the availability.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:17 May 28, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM 29MYN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_30808/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:31:19
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:31:19
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability. | |
| Dates | BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's Proposed RMP/Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions and files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of availability in the Federal Register. | |
| Contact | Mary Bloom, Miles City RMP Team | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 30705 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR