80 FR 55150 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Jarbidge Resource Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 177 (September 14, 2015)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Jarbidge Field Office located in the Twin Falls District (Idaho and Nevada). The Idaho State Director signed the ROD on September 2, 2015, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 177 (Monday, September 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55150-55151]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23060]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[15XL.LLIDT01000.L10200000.DR0000.LXSSD0080000.241A 4500080108]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Jarbidge 
Resource Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) for the Jarbidge Field Office located in the Twin Falls 
District (Idaho and Nevada). The Idaho State Director signed the ROD on 
September 2, 2015, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and 
makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are available upon request 
from the Field Manager, Jarbidge Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 and online at 
http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_register/jarbidge-rmp-revision.html. Copies of the ROD/Approved RMP are also available for 
public inspection at 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elliot Traher, Jarbidge Field Manager, 
or Heidi Whitlach, Jarbidge RMP Project Manager, telephone 208-736-
2350; address Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, 
Idaho 83301; 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.

[[Page 55151]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Approved RMP was developed with public 
participation through a collaborative planning process in accordance 
with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, 
and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. The 
Approved RMP addresses the management of resources and resource uses on 
about 1,371,000 acres of public land surface; 1,497,000 acres of 
Federal mineral estate; and 1,463,000 acres of livestock grazing 
(including 1,371,000 acres of public land surface and an additional 
92,000 acres on the US Air Force Saylor Creek Training Range) in 
Elmore, Owyhee, and Twin Falls Counties in Idaho and Elko County in 
Nevada. The Approved RMP describes the landscape-level conservation and 
management actions needed to meet desired resource conditions and 
regional mitigation objectives for vegetation, wild horses, livestock 
grazing, recreation, energy development, and Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs).
    In the Draft RMP/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Alternative 
IV-B was selected as the BLM's Preferred Alternative. As a result of 
public comment, internal review, and cooperating agency coordination on 
the Draft RMP/EIS, Alternative IV-B was adjusted to become Alternative 
VI (Proposed RMP) and analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The 
Proposed RMP/Final EIS was published in theFederal Registeron August 
22, 2014 (79 FR 49774).
    The BLM received 8 protest letters during the 30-day protest 
period. The BLM Director denied all protest issues as reported in the 
Director's Protest Resolution Report, which can be reviewed at the 
following Web site:http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/planning/planning_overview/protest_resolution/protestreports.html.
    While the Approved RMP contains some conservation management 
measures for greater sage-grouse habitat, final decisions on how to 
manage habitat within the Jarbidge Field Office will be made in the 
Records of Decision for the Idaho/Southwest (SW) Montana Greater Sage-
Grouse Plan Amendment and the Nevada/Northeast (NE) California Greater 
Sage-Grouse Plan Amendment. The Idaho/SW Montana and Nevada/NE 
California Greater Sage-grouse Plan Amendment EISs will fully analyze 
applicable greater sage-grouse conservation measures, consistent with 
BLM Instruction Memorandum No. 2012-044. The BLM expects to make a 
comprehensive set of decisions for managing greater sage-grouse on 
lands administered by the Jarbidge Field Office in the Records of 
Decision for the Idaho/SW Montana and Nevada/NE California Greater 
Sage-Grouse Plan Amendments.
    During the Governor's consistency review process, the Idaho 
Governor's Office identified discrepancies between the Jarbidge 
Proposed RMP and laws, plans, policies and programs of the State of 
Idaho. The discrepancies mostly concerned greater sage-grouse direction 
and conservation actions in the Proposed RMP and Governor C.L. 
``Butch'' Otter's ``Alternative for Federal Lands for Greater Sage-
grouse Management in Idaho'' and the Idaho Department of Lands Greater 
Sage-grouse Conservation Plan for State Endowment Lands. The issues 
raised by the State of Idaho were responded to by letter from the BLM 
Idaho State Director. The Governor's Office did not appeal the State 
Director's decision to the BLM Director. The Nevada Governor's Office 
did not submit a response to the BLM during the Governor's consistency 
review period.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6.

Timothy M. Murphy,
BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-23060 Filed 9-11-15; 8:45 am]
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