80 FR 50867 - Notice of Availability of the Moab Master Leasing Plan and Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Moab and Monticello Field Offices, UT

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 162 (August 21, 2015)

Page Range		50867-50868
FR Document		2015-20784

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the Moab Master Leasing Plan (MLP) and Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendments/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Moab and Monticello Field Offices in the Canyon Country District. The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS would amend the Resource Management Plans for the Moab and Monticello Field Offices. This notice announces a 90-day comment period.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50867-50868]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20784]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[[15X L1109AF LLUTY01000 L16100000.DS0000.LXSS030J0000 24 1A]


Notice of Availability of the Moab Master Leasing Plan and Draft 
Resource Management Plan Amendments/Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Moab and Monticello Field Offices, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the 
Moab Master Leasing Plan (MLP) and Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
Amendments/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Moab and 
Monticello Field Offices in the Canyon Country District. The MLP/Draft 
RMP Amendments/Draft EIS would amend the Resource Management Plans for 
the Moab and Monticello Field Offices. This notice announces a 90-day 
comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS within 90 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
its Notice of Availability of the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS in 
the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings 
and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance 
through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/
Draft EIS by either of these methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/21jd.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 435-259-2106.
     Mail: BLM, Canyon Country District Office, 82 East 
Dogwood, Moab, Utah 84532, Attention: Brent Northrup.

Reference copies and compact discs of the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/
Draft EIS are available at the following locations:

 Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200 
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
 Bureau of Land Management, Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, 
Moab, Utah
 Bureau of Land Management, Monticello Field Office, 365 North 
Main, Monticello, Utah

The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS and accompanying background 
documents are available on the MLP Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/21jd.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brent Northrup, Project Manager, BLM 
Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532, telephone 435-259-
2151 or 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 for the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area covers about 785,000 acres 
of public lands in east-central Utah, Grand and San Juan Counties. The 
area is located south of Interstate 70 and adjoins the town of Moab and 
Arches National Park. The western boundary is the Green River and the 
northeastern boundary of Canyonlands National Park. To the south of 
Moab, the planning area includes the Indian Creek/Lockhart Basin/Hatch 
Point area between Canyonlands National Park and Highway 191. The 
planning area encompasses a mix of land uses including a wide variety 
of recreation uses oil, gas, and potash development.
    The BLM is preparing a MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS in 
accordance with the BLM Washington Office (WO) Instruction Memorandum 
(IM) No. 2010-117: Oil and Gas Leasing Reform--Land Use Planning and 
Lease Parcel Reviews (May 17, 2010) and the BLM Handbook H-1624-1: 
Planning for Fluid Mineral Resources (January 28,

[[Page 50868]]

2013). Although the IM and the Handbook pertain to oil and gas leasing 
decisions, the BLM determined that the MLP concepts are also applicable 
to potash leasing decisions. Therefore, the MLP process provides 
additional planning and analysis for areas prior to new leasing of oil 
and gas and potash. The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS analyzes 
likely mineral development scenarios and land use plan alternatives 
with varying mitigation levels for leasing.
    The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS includes a range of 
management alternatives designed to address management challenges and 
issues raised during scoping concerning mineral leasing decisions. The 
four alternatives are:
    (1) Alternative A is the No Action alternative and represents the 
continuation of existing mineral leasing management (oil, gas, and 
potash). Alternative A allows for oil, gas, and potash leasing and 
development to occur on the same tracts of land where it is consistent 
with current leasing decisions.
    (2) Alternative B provides for mineral leasing and development 
outside of areas that are protected for high scenic quality (including 
public lands visible from Arches and Canyonlands National Parks), high 
use recreation areas, and other sensitive resources with stipulations 
that minimize surface disturbance and associated potential resource 
impacts. Mineral leasing decisions are divided into two options 
specified as Alternative B1 and Alternative B2. In Alternative B1, 
surface impacts would be minimized by separating new leasing of the two 
commodities (oil/gas and potash), limiting the density of mineral 
development, and locating potash processing facilities in areas 
identified with the least amount of sensitive resources. Potash leasing 
would involve a phased approach and would be prioritized within 
identified areas. Alternative B2 provides for only oil and gas leasing; 
no new potash leasing would occur. Alternative B2 would also minimize 
surface impacts by limiting the density of oil and gas development.
    (3) Alternative C provides for only oil and gas leasing; no potash 
leasing would occur. This alternative affords the greatest protection 
to areas with high scenic quality, recreational uses, special 
designations, BLM lands adjacent to Arches and Canyonlands National 
Parks, and other sensitive resources.
    (4) Alternative D is the BLM's preferred alternative and provides 
for both oil leasing and potash leasing. Mineral development would be 
precluded in many areas with high scenic quality, in some high use 
recreation areas, specifically designated areas, and in other areas 
with sensitive resources. Outside of these areas, surface impacts would 
be minimized by separating leasing of the two commodities (oil/gas and 
potash), locating potash processing facilities in areas with the least 
amount of sensitive resources, and limiting the density of mineral 
development. Potash leasing would involve a phased approach and would 
be prioritized within identified areas. Alternative D provides 
operational flexibility from mineral leasing and development through 
some specific exceptions and closes BLM lands adjacent to Arches and 
Canyonlands National Parks to mineral leasing and development.
    The preferred alternative has been identified as described in 40 
CFR 1502.14(e). However, identification of a preferred alternative does 
not represent the final agency decision. The MLP/Proposed RMP 
Amendments/Final EIS will reflect changes or adjustments based on 
information received during public comment, new information, or changes 
in BLM policies or priorities. The MLP/Proposed RMP Amendments/Final 
EIS may include portions of any analyzed alternatives. For this reason, 
the BLM encourages comments on all alternatives and management actions 
described in the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS.
    You may submit comments on the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS 
in writing to the BLM at any public meeting, or you may submit them to 
the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. 
All comments must be received by the end of the comment period. 
Comments submitted must include the commenter's name and street 
address. Whenever possible, please include reference to either the page 
or section in the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS to which the 
comment applies. Please note that public comments and information 
submitted including names, street addresses, and email addresses of 
persons who submit comments will be available for public review and 
disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, are available for public inspection in 
their entirety.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

    Approved: August 17, 2015.
Jenna Whitlock,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-20784 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 162 / Friday, August 21, 2015 / Notices 50867

resources while still providing for comment, you should be aware that ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
resource use and enjoyment. This 2008 your entire comment—including your on the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/
Decision allows for recreation personal identifying information—may Draft EIS by either of these methods:
opportunities, the issuing of use be made publicly available at any time. • Web site: http://www.blm.gov/21jd.
permits, and the charging of expanded While you can ask us in your comment • Email: blm_ut_mb_mlpcomments@
amenity fees for overnight camping in to withhold your personal identifying blm.gov.
Level 1 sites and an individual special information from public review, we • Fax: 435–259–2106.
recreation permit for boating the cannot guarantee that we will be able to • Mail: BLM, Canyon Country District
UMNWSR. The establishment of a do so. Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah
permit process and the collection of 84532, Attention: Brent Northrup.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6803(b) and 43 CFR
user fees were also addressed in the 2932.13. Reference copies and compact discs of
UMNWSR Business Plan, prepared the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft
pursuant to the REA and BLM Michael Kania, EIS are available at the following
recreation fee program policy. The Upper Missouri River Breaks National locations:
Business Plan establishes the rationale Monument Manager. • Bureau of Land Management, Utah
for charging recreation fees. In [FR Doc. 2015–20713 Filed 8–20–15; 8:45 am] State Office, 440 West 200 South,
accordance with BLM recreation fee BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
program policy, the Business Plan • Bureau of Land Management, Moab
explains the fee collection process and Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab,
outlines how the fees will be used on DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Utah
the UMNWSR. BLM has notified and • Bureau of Land Management,
Bureau of Land Management Monticello Field Office, 365 North
involved the public at each stage of the
planning process, including the Main, Monticello, Utah
proposal to collect fees. The business [[15X L1109AF LLUTY01000 The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft
plan provides management direction for L16100000.DS0000.LXSS030J0000 24 1A] EIS and accompanying background
the UMRBNM to include public documents are available on the MLP
Notice of Availability of the Moab
enjoyment of these public lands and Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/21jd.
Master Leasing Plan and Draft
specifically comments on commercial FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Resource Management Plan
use, fee collection, camping, boating, Brent Northrup, Project Manager, BLM
Amendments/Draft Environmental
hunting, fishing and myriad other Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood,
Impact Statement for the Moab and
outdoor recreational opportunities. The Moab, UT 84532, telephone 435–259–
Monticello Field Offices, UT
current business plan for the UMRBNM/ 2151 or email Brent_Northrup@blm.gov.
UMNWSR River Fees was completed in AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Persons who use a telecommunications
2014 and encompasses the James Kipp Interior. device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Recreation Area business plan. The Federal Information Relay Service
business plan addresses recreation ACTION: Notice. (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the
opportunities, the issuance of SRP’s and above individual during normal
the charging of fees on a per watercraft SUMMARY: In accordance with the
business hours. The FIRS is available 24
and per person, per launch basis. The National Environmental Policy Act of
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a
UMRBNM/UMNWSR River Fees plan, 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
message or question for the above
prepared pursuant to the REA and BLM Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
individual. You will receive a reply
recreation fee policy, also addresses the amended, the Bureau of Land
during normal business hours.
establishment of a permit process and Management (BLM) has prepared the
Moab Master Leasing Plan (MLP) and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
the collection of user fees. The business planning area covers about 785,000
plan articulates the rationale for Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)
Amendments/Draft Environmental acres of public lands in east-central
charging recreation fees. In accordance Utah, Grand and San Juan Counties. The
with the BLM recreation fee program Impact Statement (EIS) for the Moab and
Monticello Field Offices in the Canyon area is located south of Interstate 70 and
policy, the plan explains the fee adjoins the town of Moab and Arches
collection process and outlines how the Country District. The MLP/Draft RMP
Amendments/Draft EIS would amend National Park. The western boundary is
fees would be used on the UMRBNM/ the Green River and the northeastern
UMNWSR. The fee rates have been the Resource Management Plans for the
Moab and Monticello Field Offices. This boundary of Canyonlands National Park.
reviewed by the Central Montana To the south of Moab, the planning area
Resource Advisory Council (RAC) and notice announces a 90-day comment
period. includes the Indian Creek/Lockhart
unanimously approved. Future Basin/Hatch Point area between
adjustments in the fee amount would be DATES: To ensure that comments will be Canyonlands National Park and
made in accordance with the plan and considered, the BLM must receive Highway 191. The planning area
through consultation with the Central written comments on the MLP/Draft encompasses a mix of land uses
Montana RAC and the public prior to a RMP Amendments/Draft EIS within 90 including a wide variety of recreation
fee increase. Fee amounts will be posted days following the date the uses oil, gas, and potash development.
onsite and online at the UMRBNM Web Environmental Protection Agency The BLM is preparing a MLP/Draft
site at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/ publishes its Notice of Availability of RMP Amendments/Draft EIS in
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

umrbnm.html. Copies of the plan will the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft accordance with the BLM Washington
be available at the BLM Central EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM Office (WO) Instruction Memorandum
Montana District Office and online at will announce future meetings or (IM) No. 2010–117: Oil and Gas Leasing
the UMRBNM Web site. hearings and any other public Reform—Land Use Planning and Lease
Before including your address, phone involvement activities at least 15 days Parcel Reviews (May 17, 2010) and the
number, email address, or other in advance through public notices, BLM Handbook H–1624–1: Planning for
personal identifying information in your media releases, and/or mailings. Fluid Mineral Resources (January 28,

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50868 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 162 / Friday, August 21, 2015 / Notices

2013). Although the IM and the Mineral development would be While you can ask us in your comment
Handbook pertain to oil and gas leasing precluded in many areas with high to withhold your personal identifying
decisions, the BLM determined that the scenic quality, in some high use information from public review, we
MLP concepts are also applicable to recreation areas, specifically designated cannot guarantee that we will be able to
potash leasing decisions. Therefore, the areas, and in other areas with sensitive do so. All submissions from
MLP process provides additional resources. Outside of these areas, organizations or businesses, and from
planning and analysis for areas prior to surface impacts would be minimized by individuals identifying themselves as
new leasing of oil and gas and potash. separating leasing of the two representatives or officials of
The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft commodities (oil/gas and potash), organizations or businesses, are
EIS analyzes likely mineral locating potash processing facilities in available for public inspection in their
development scenarios and land use areas with the least amount of sensitive entirety.
plan alternatives with varying resources, and limiting the density of Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10
mitigation levels for leasing. mineral development. Potash leasing and 43 CFR 1610.2.
The MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/ would involve a phased approach and
Draft EIS includes a range of Approved: August 17, 2015.
would be prioritized within identified
management alternatives designed to areas. Alternative D provides Jenna Whitlock,
address management challenges and operational flexibility from mineral Acting State Director.
issues raised during scoping concerning leasing and development through some [FR Doc. 2015–20784 Filed 8–20–15; 8:45 am]
mineral leasing decisions. The four specific exceptions and closes BLM BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
alternatives are: lands adjacent to Arches and
(1) Alternative A is the No Action Canyonlands National Parks to mineral
alternative and represents the leasing and development. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
continuation of existing mineral leasing The preferred alternative has been
management (oil, gas, and potash). identified as described in 40 CFR National Park Service
Alternative A allows for oil, gas, and 1502.14(e). However, identification of a [NPS–NER–BOHA–19019;
potash leasing and development to preferred alternative does not represent PPMPSPD1Z.YM0000; PPNEBOHAS1]
occur on the same tracts of land where the final agency decision. The MLP/
it is consistent with current leasing Proposed RMP Amendments/Final EIS Boston Harbor Islands National
decisions. will reflect changes or adjustments Recreation Area Advisory Council
(2) Alternative B provides for mineral based on information received during AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
leasing and development outside of public comment, new information, or
areas that are protected for high scenic ACTION: Notice of Annual Meeting.
changes in BLM policies or priorities.
quality (including public lands visible The MLP/Proposed RMP Amendments/ SUMMARY: This notice announces the
from Arches and Canyonlands National Final EIS may include portions of any annual meeting of the Boston Harbor
Parks), high use recreation areas, and analyzed alternatives. For this reason, Islands National Recreation Area
other sensitive resources with the BLM encourages comments on all Advisory Council (Council). The agenda
stipulations that minimize surface alternatives and management actions includes results of the Council survey,
disturbance and associated potential described in the MLP/Draft RMP planning for the 20th anniversary of the
resource impacts. Mineral leasing Amendments/Draft EIS. Boston Harbor Islands National
decisions are divided into two options You may submit comments on the Recreation Area, the National Park
specified as Alternative B1 and MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS Service (NPS) Centennial, and the
Alternative B2. In Alternative B1, in writing to the BLM at any public Boston Light Tricentennial in 2016, and
surface impacts would be minimized by meeting, or you may submit them to the membership of and planning for the
separating new leasing of the two BLM using one of the methods listed in next steps for the Council.
commodities (oil/gas and potash), the ADDRESSES section above. All Superintendent Giles Parker will also
limiting the density of mineral comments must be received by the end give updates about park operations and
development, and locating potash of the comment period. Comments planning efforts.
processing facilities in areas identified submitted must include the DATES: September 9, 2015, 6 p.m. to 8
with the least amount of sensitive commenter’s name and street address.
p.m. (Eastern).
resources. Potash leasing would involve Whenever possible, please include
ADDRESSES: WilmerHale, 60 State Street,
a phased approach and would be reference to either the page or section in
prioritized within identified areas. the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft 26th Floor, Conference Room, Boston,
Alternative B2 provides for only oil and EIS to which the comment applies. MA 02109.
gas leasing; no new potash leasing Please note that public comments and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
would occur. Alternative B2 would also information submitted including names, Giles Parker, Superintendent and
minimize surface impacts by limiting street addresses, and email addresses of Designated Federal Official (DFO),
the density of oil and gas development. persons who submit comments will be Boston Harbor Islands National
(3) Alternative C provides for only oil available for public review and Recreation Area, 15 State Street, Suite
and gas leasing; no potash leasing disclosure at the above address during 1100, Boston, MA 02109, telephone
would occur. This alternative affords regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), (617) 223–8669, or email giles_parker@
the greatest protection to areas with Monday through Friday, except nps.gov.
high scenic quality, recreational uses, holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
rmajette on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

special designations, BLM lands Before including your address, phone meeting is open to the public. Those
adjacent to Arches and Canyonlands number, email address, or other wishing to submit written comments
National Parks, and other sensitive personal identifying information in your may contact the DFO for the Council,
resources. comment, you should be aware that Giles Parker, by mail at National Park
(4) Alternative D is the BLM’s your entire comment—including your Service, Boston Harbor Islands, 15 State
preferred alternative and provides for personal identifying information—may Street, Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02109 or
both oil leasing and potash leasing. be made publicly available at any time. via email giles_parker@nps.gov. Before

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Document Created: 2018-02-23 11:01:13
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 11:01:13

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.
Dates		To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the MLP/Draft RMP Amendments/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.
Contact		Brent Northrup, Project Manager, BLM Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532, telephone 435-259- 2151 or 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 for the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
FR Citation		80 FR 50867

80 FR 50867 - Notice of Availability of the Moab Master Leasing Plan and Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Moab and Monticello Field Offices, UT

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 162 (August 21, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management