80 FR 30709 - Notice of Availability of the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Buffalo Resource Management Plan Revision, Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 103 (May 29, 2015)

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)/Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Buffalo Field Office planning area and by this notice is announcing its availability.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30709-30710]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12998]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYP0700.L16100000.DP0000.LXSS041K0000]


Notice of Availability of the Proposed Resource Management Plan 
and Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Buffalo Resource 
Management Plan Revision, Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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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)/Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Buffalo Field Office planning area and 
by this notice is announcing its availability.

DATES: The 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 Buffalo 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. 
Copies of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS are available for public 
inspection at the following locations:
     The BLM, Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, 
Cheyenne, WY 82003
     The BLM, High Plains District Office, 2987 Prospector 
Drive, Casper, WY 82604
     The BLM, Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, 
WY 82834
    Interested persons may also review the Proposed RMP/Final EIS on 
the Internet at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/rmps/buffalo.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: Thomas Bills, Buffalo RMP Team Leader; 
The BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834, by 
telephone 307-684-1133, or by 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 Buffalo Field Office's administrative boundaries, including all of 
Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan counties in Wyoming. The planning area 
includes all lands, regardless of jurisdiction, totaling approximately 
7.35 million acres; however, the BLM will only make decisions on lands 
that fall under the 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 
782,000 acres, and Federal mineral estate, totaling

[[Page 30710]]

approximately 4.8 million acres. The revised RMP will replace the 1985 
Buffalo RMP as amended. The Draft RMP/EIS was made available for public 
review for a 90-day comment period on June 28, 2013. The Draft RMP/EIS 
included a series of management actions, within four 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 uranium), 
wildlife habitat management, including that of the Greater Sage-Grouse, 
livestock grazing, air quality, special management areas including 
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), and travel management. 
In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), the Notice of Availability for 
the Draft RMP/EIS announced a concurrent public comment period on 
proposed ACECs.
    Comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS were considered and 
incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, which 
analyzes four alternatives:
    A. Alternative A: (No Action): Continues existing management;
    B. Alternative B: Emphasizes conservation of natural and cultural 
resources while providing for compatible development and use;
    C. Alternative C: Emphasizes resource development and use while 
protecting natural and cultural resources; and
    D. Alternative D (Proposed): Provides development opportunities and 
conserve sensitive resources.
    As modified, Alternative D has been identified as the Proposed 
Buffalo RMP in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The Proposed RMP 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 D 
generally allows resource use if the activity can be conducted in a 
manner that conserves physical, biological, and heritage and visual 
resources. Alternative D allocates land as Special Recreation 
Management Areas (seven) and ACECs (two) and emphasizes moderate 
constraints on resource uses to reduce impacts to resource values.
    Under Alternative D, the BLM manages the suitable segment of the 
Middle Fork Powder River to protect and/or enhance its free-flowing 
condition, outstandingly remarkable values, and tentative 
classification until such time that Congress designates the river or 
releases the river for other uses. If released by Congress for other 
uses, the river segment would be managed to retain its free-flowing 
condition and identified outstandingly remarkable values. Similarly, 
this alternative manages wilderness study areas to protect wilderness 
characteristics until such time that Congress designates the areas as 
wilderness or releases them for other uses. If released by Congress for 
other uses, the wilderness study areas would be managed to emphasize 
healthy ecosystems, opportunities for solitude, and primitive 
recreation. Additionally, Alternative D would apply a controlled 
surface use (CSU) stipulation to any mineral lease within 500 feet of 
riparian/wetland systems and aquatic habitats.
    The Proposed Plan, Alternative D of the Final EIS, includes ACEC 
designation for the following areas:
     Pumpkin Buttes (1,733 acres). Value: Cultural resources. 
Proposed management would prohibit surface-disturbing activities not 
compatible with the area's values including a No Surface Occupancy 
stipulation for new fluid mineral leases; recommending withdrawal from 
locatable mineral entry; excluding rights-of-way (ROWs); and closing 
the area to motorized vehicles.
     Welch Ranch (1,116 acres). Values: visual resources, 
wildlife resources, and presence of a natural hazard. Proposed 
management would prohibit all surface-disturbing activities not 
compatible with the area's values including closing the area to all 
forms of mineral leasing and development, including solid minerals; 
recommending withdrawal from locatable mineral entry and excluding 
ROWs. Travel is limited to administrative use on designated routes.
    The Proposed RMP does not adopt the following ACECs: Burnt Hollow, 
Cantontment Reno, Dry Creek/Petrified Tree, Fortification Creek, Hole 
in the Wall, and Sagebrush Ecosystem.
    The Buffalo 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 D supports management of greater sage-grouse seasonal 
habitats and maintaining habitat connectivity to achieve population 
objectives. Alternative D would limit or eliminate new surface 
disturbance in PHMA, while minimizing disturbance in GHMA. Alternative 
D is also consistent with guidelines provided in the Governor's Sage-
Grouse Implementation Team's Core Population Area strategy and the 
Governor's Executive Order (WY EO 2011-05).
    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 Buffalo 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

Mary Jo Rugwell,
Acting State Director, Wyoming.
[FR Doc. 2015-12998 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-22-P