80_FR_61645 80 FR 61448 - BLM Director's Responses to the Appeals by the Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah Governors of the BLM State Directors' Governor's Consistency Review Determination

80 FR 61448 - BLM Director's Responses to the Appeals by the Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah Governors of the BLM State Directors' Governor's Consistency Review Determination

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 197 (October 13, 2015)

Page Range61448-61454
FR Document2015-25973

The Approved Resource Plan Amendments and Approved Resource Plan/Records of Decision (RODs) for the Great Basin Region and Rocky Mountain Regions were signed by the BLM Director and the Assistant Secretary, Lands and Minerals Management, on September 21, 2015. The RODs constitute the final decision of the BLM and the Approved Plan Amendments and Approved Plan were effective immediately upon their signing. In accordance with its regulations, the BLM is publishing the reasons for rejecting the recommendations of the Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah regarding Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Proposed Resource Management Plans Amendments (PRMPAs) and Final Environmental Impact Statements (FEISs) and the South Dakota Proposed Resource Management Plan (PRMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which were published on May 29, 2015.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61448-61454]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25973]



[[Page 61448]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO2100000 L11100000.DR0000.LXSISGST0000]


BLM Director's Responses to the Appeals by the Governors of 
Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah Governors of the 
BLM State Directors' Governor's Consistency Review Determination

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Approved Resource Plan Amendments and Approved Resource 
Plan/Records of Decision (RODs) for the Great Basin Region and Rocky 
Mountain Regions were signed by the BLM Director and the Assistant 
Secretary, Lands and Minerals Management, on September 21, 2015. The 
RODs constitute the final decision of the BLM and the Approved Plan 
Amendments and Approved Plan were effective immediately upon their 
signing. In accordance with its regulations, the BLM is publishing the 
reasons for rejecting the recommendations of the Governors of Idaho, 
Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah regarding Idaho, Nevada, 
North Dakota, and Utah Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Proposed Resource 
Management Plans Amendments (PRMPAs) and Final Environmental Impact 
Statements (FEISs) and the South Dakota Proposed Resource Management 
Plan (PRMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which were 
published on May 29, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Amme, Acting Division Chief for 
Decision Support, Planning and NEPA, telephone 202-912-7289; address 
1849 C Street NW., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20240; 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 individuals 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 (Governor) will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RODs amend and revise Resource 
Management Plans (RMPs) across the range of the Greater Sage Grouse 
(GRSG), including RMPs in the states of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, 
South Dakota, and Utah. The RODs incorporate conservation measures to 
conserve, enhance and restore GRSG and its habitat.
    In accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e), the BLM 
submitted the Proposed Plan Amendments (Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, 
and Utah) and Proposed Plan (South Dakota) for a 60-day Governors' 
Consistency Review. The 60-day review period ended on July 29, 2015. 
The relevant BLM State Directors (State Directors) received letters 
from the Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Utah identifying alleged inconsistencies with State and local plans, 
policies, and programs and identifying recommendations to address those 
potential inconsistencies. These letters are available at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/documents_and_resources.html. 
After careful consideration of the concerns raised by the five States, 
the State Directors decided not to adopt the recommendations made by 
the Governors. Copies of the August 6, 2015, letters from the State 
Directors to the Governors are also available at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/documents_and_resources.html.
    By September 11, 2015, the BLM Director had received appeals from 
the Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah on 
the State Directors' decisions on their recommendations.
    In reviewing these appeals, the regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e) 
state that ``[t]he Director shall accept the (consistency) 
recommendations of the Governor(s) if he/she determines they provide 
for a reasonable balance between the state's interest and the national 
interest.'' On September 16, 2015, the BLM Director issued final 
responses to the Governors detailing the reasons that the 
recommendations did not meet this standard. Copies of both the incoming 
appeal letters from the Governors and the outgoing responses are 
available at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/documents_and_resources.html. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e), the basis 
for the BLM's determination on the Governors' appeals is presented 
below. Appeal responses are grouped by state and issues area and are 
being published verbatim.

Idaho

Overall Consistency With Idaho State and Local Plans

    Your (Governor's) letter states that the BLM responses to the Idaho 
Consistency Review letter failed to follow section 202(c)(9) of FLPMA, 
which states that land use plans be consistent with state and local 
plans to the maximum extent the Secretary of the Interior finds 
consistent with Federal law. A cornerstone of the BLM's sage grouse 
planning process has been coordination and collaboration with the 
affected states, as demonstrated by the detailed consideration and, in 
many cases, adoption of the strong GRSG conservation approaches put in 
place by or suggested by the states, including those put in place by or 
suggested by the State of Idaho. However, in order to provide the 
necessary regulatory certainty, the BLM found it necessary to ensure 
that there are consistently strong approaches to the management of BLM-
managed lands range-wide. The purpose of these common elements is to 
provide for a net conservation gain for the GRSG. However, the plans 
also recognize that different circumstances exist across the range, 
which is why the plans have allowed for flexibility where appropriate 
in the sub-regional plans, such as the three-tier mapping and 
management approach adopted as part of the Idaho plans. As such, I (BLM 
Director) must respectfully disagree with your contention that the 
ARMPA is materially inconsistent with the Governor's Plan. The three-
tier approach in the Governor's Plan is the basis of the Idaho/
Southwest Montana ARMPA. The BLM has also worked with the State of 
Idaho to tailor many of the ``range-wide'' management actions in the 
Idaho ARMPA, such as the recent inclusion of prioritization actions for 
grazing management in Sagebrush Focal Area (SFAs). These actions 
demonstrate how the PRPMA has adopted the fundamental tenets of the 
State plan.

Multiple Use in the Proposed Plan

    Your (Governor's) appeal letter states that the BLM erroneously 
relied on Manual 6840, Special Status Species Management, in the 
development of the PRMPA and the response to the Governor's Consistency 
Review letter. This statement does not identify an inconsistency with 
state or local resource related plans, policies, or programs, 
therefore, a response is not required under the Governor's consistency 
review process. The purpose of the amendment is the conservation of a 
special status species, the GRSG, and the management actions in the 
amendment are limited to those which will conserve, enhance, and 
restore GRSG and its habitat consistent with the agency's multiple-use 
and sustained yield mission. The management actions are consistent with

[[Page 61449]]

all of the applicable BLM regulations and policies and allow for 
continued multiple-use of the lands. Most uses may still occur on the 
lands included in the amendment, with stipulations and conditions which 
conserve, enhance, and restore GRSG and its habitat. Allowable resource 
uses of the BLM lands which are not addressed in this amendment remain 
in the current land use plans. Therefore, I concur with the BLM Idaho 
State Director's statements about the applicable purposes, policies, 
programs, Federal laws, and regulations applicable to BLM-managed 
public lands, including BLM Manual 6840.

Alleged Improper Delegation

    You (Governor) also assert that the BLM has improperly delegated 
authority to the FWS by permitting that agency to effectively veto land 
management decisions for an unlisted species. This statement does not 
identify an inconsistency with state or local resource related plans, 
policies, or programs, therefore, a response is not required under the 
Governor's consistency review process. That said, I would note that the 
BLM is not and has not delegated its authority. Rather, the BLM has 
focused on making its planning decisions based on input from local and 
national experts on these issues. For example, in order to provide the 
most protection to GRSG in Priority Habitat Management Areas (PHMA), 
the areas of highest importance for the species, decisions on allowing 
surface occupancy during fluid mineral development will be made with 
the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the FWS, the local and 
national experts on GRSG, respectively. The BLM is not delegating 
authority, but ensuring that all experts evaluate whether there would 
be direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on GRSG before allowing 
surface-disturbing fluid mineral development in areas of important 
habitat. While the BLM retains the final decision-making authority for 
decisions on the public lands, this input is critically important.

SFAs Exemption

    In your (Governor's) appeal letter, you request that I reconsider 
the request to exempt Idaho from SFAs. I have reviewed your prior 
comments on the development of the SFAs and I understand that your 
office is strongly opposed to them. While I understand these concerns, 
I uphold the determination of the BLM Idaho State Director that the 
SFAs are consistent with the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation 
strategy. I also want to reiterate that the SFAs are a subset of PHMA, 
with limited additional management actions to ensure that the ``best of 
the best'' habitat receives the attention it deserves. In addition to 
the recommended mineral withdrawal and the fluid mineral no surface 
occupancy (NSO) stipulation without waivers, exceptions, or 
modifications, the ARMPA clarifies (in response to your Governor's 
consistency review letter) that these areas will be prioritized for a 
broader group of activities, including vegetation management, wild 
horse and burro management, habitat restoration, fire and fuels 
actions, as well as the review of livestock grazing permits and leases, 
consistent with the State of Idaho Plan.
    You also assert in your (Governor's) appeal that in developing the 
SFAs the BLM has created Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 
(ACECs) without following the proper regulatory process. This concern 
does not identify an inconsistency with state or local resource or 
related plans, policies or programs, and therefore, a response is not 
required under the Governor's consistency review process. It should be 
noted that the SFAs are not ACECs--they are a subset of PHMAs with 
additional management protections, all of which were fully analyzed in 
the Draft and Final EISs for the Idaho plan. These additional measures 
include NSO without waiver, exception, or modification for fluid 
mineral development and a recommendation for withdrawal from the 1872 
Mining Law. These actions and recommendations do not constitute an ACEC 
designation under the applicable regulations.

Disturbance Caps

    Both your (Governor's) consistency review and appeal letter 
requested the removal of the project level disturbance caps. The BLM 
included the project-level disturbance cap to ensure that disturbance 
is limited at both a local and landscape scale and to encourage co-
location of disturbance. Based on best available science, when 
disturbance exceeds three percent at either scale, GRSG numbers are 
affected and tend to decline (derived from Holloran 2005, Walker et al. 
2007, Doherty et al. 2008, Naugle et al. 2011). Disturbance caps at 
both the BSU and the project scale are necessary to account for the 
amount of existing disturbance at both scales. Calculating disturbance 
for each additional anthropogenic disturbance placed on the landscape 
is particularly important at the project scale to ensure that GRSG 
numbers and habitat acreages remain stable or increase. Further, 
calculations at both of these scales are intended to encourage 
clustering of disturbance and discouraging development in undisturbed 
habitat. This is a critically important aspect of the GRSG strategy, 
and therefore, I (BLM Director) respectfully deny your appeal on this 
issue and uphold the State Director's determination that your 
recommendation is inconsistent with the goal of the BLM's range-wide 
GRSG conservation strategy.
    It should be noted that based upon further review across the Great 
Basin region, the BLM is including an exception to the project-level 
disturbance cap for designated utility corridors, to ensure that these 
areas are used to the fullest extent possible as intended for utility 
lines and associated disturbance. This modification is consistent with 
BLM's goal of encouraging co-location of disturbance.

Net Conservation Gain Standard

    Your (Governor's) appeal notes that the Governor's ``. . . strategy 
is in many ways in and of itself a mitigation plan,'' and as a result, 
you expresses concern that the BLM mitigation standard of net 
conservation gain is in conflict with this. I respectfully disagree 
with this statement. Based on the way the ARPMA is structured, the 
Idaho State Plan, especially the three-tier approach, will serve as a 
key component of the BLM's mitigation strategy, and therefore the AMPRA 
is not in conflict or inconsistent with the state strategy. 
Additionally, as noted in the State Director's response, the mitigation 
standard in the amendment is consistent with numerous national 
policies, including Secretarial Order 3330 and BLM's Draft--Regional 
Mitigation Manual Section (MS)-1794. As a result, I deny your appeal on 
this issue and uphold the State Director's determination that your 
recommendation is inconsistent with the goal of the BLM's range-wide 
GRSG conservation strategy.
    I would also note that going forward it will be critical for BLM 
and its partners to work together to develop and implement effective 
mitigation on the ground. This mitigation will be developed working 
with existing and developing mitigation approaches that are being 
utilized in individual states and west-wide. To do this, the BLM will 
utilize the expertise of state and Federal partners, through WAFWA 
Management Zone conservation teams, to develop mitigation strategies. 
Participation of your Office of Species Conservation and the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game will be critical to this effort.

Livestock Grazing

    You (Governor) identified numerous concerns with the livestock 
grazing

[[Page 61450]]

management actions in the amendment in your (Governor's) Consistency 
Review and appeal. As a result of the Governor's consistency review 
process, the BLM included a refinement of the prioritization strategy 
for livestock grazing management. The revised language states that:
    ``Management and conservation action prioritization will occur at 
the Conservation Area (CA) scale and be based on GRSG population and 
habitat trends: Focusing management and conservation actions first in 
SFAs followed by areas of PHMA outside SFA.''

Under this refined language, vegetation management actions, including 
but not limited to the review of grazing permits, are prioritized in 
SFAs. In light of the agency's limited resources, we will focus our 
management actions first in SFAs, as these are the areas which hold the 
best contiguous habitat and populations. Specifically, our actions will 
focus on those allotments or permits not meeting land health standards 
in areas where the sage-grouse populations are in decline.
    You (Governor) also express concerns with the habitat objectives 
table, that the management direction associated with its use is vague 
and subjective. The use of the metrics in the table will be site-
specific. Specifically, the habitat objectives table sets forth the 
desired habitat condition for permitted uses. The metrics in the table 
will be used, as appropriate, based on ecological site potential, in 
the development of land use authorizations, including but not limited 
to livestock grazing permits, and land health assessments. Please note, 
the BLM creates and uses habitat objectives for many special status 
species and includes them in land health assessments it prepares 
routinely across the west.
    Finally, you (Governor) expressed concern about the BLM's statement 
that ``current grazing management will not change as a result of the 
SFA designation.'' Specifically, with respect to your statement that 
prioritization of grazing permit renewals in SFAs ``. . . is really a 
subterfuge for elevating the activity ((i.e., grazing)) to primary 
threat status,'' I (BLM Director) would like to clarify the intent of 
BLM's approach. The plans prioritize grazing permit renewals and field 
checks within SFAs because of the habitat quality in those areas, not 
because of some unstated concern about the level of threat posed by 
current grazing activities. As stated above, maintenance of habitat 
quality within SFAs is a key component of the BLM's plans. Moreover, it 
should be noted that the BLM, under current authority and plans, is 
responsible for ensuring that grazing is undertaken in an appropriate 
manner and that uses are meeting or moving towards meeting applicable 
land health standards. The amendment does not change this underlying 
obligation. They do however inform the applicable land health standards 
and place a higher focus on meeting or moving toward meeting land 
health standards and GRSG habitat objectives in SFAs.
    Based on the foregoing, I respectfully deny your appeal on these 
grazing issues and uphold the State Director's determination that your 
recommendation is inconsistent with the goal of the BLM's range-wide 
GRSG conservation strategy range-wide.

Lek Buffers

    In your (Governor's) Consistency Review, you recommended that the 
BLM remove the uniform lek buffers from the plans. The BLM Idaho State 
Director's response explained that the buffers are not uniform and that 
local data and regulations can be considered in their application at 
the project development stage. The application of buffers also varies 
according to habitat type, with more exceptions provided in General 
Habitat Management Areas (GHMA) than in PHMA. Additionally, the use of 
the buffers identified in the Governor's Plan is allowed under the 
considerations put forth in the amendment, provided they provide the 
same level of protection for GRSG and its habitat in any particular 
circumstance. Again, the use of buffers will be determined on a site- 
and project-specific basis, during project development. Based on the 
foregoing, I (BLM Director) respectfully deny your appeal on this issue 
and uphold the State Director's determination that your recommendation 
is inconsistent with the goal of the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation 
strategy.

Required Design Features

    In your (Governor's) appeal, you request that I (BLM Director) 
consider removing the Required Design Features (RDFs) which are not 
contained in the Governor's Plan. I agree with the Idaho State Director 
that the RDFs are an important aspect of the BLM strategy and 
respectfully deny your request. Similar to the buffers, there is 
flexibility in the application of the RDFs, such that if there is a 
Best Management Practice in the Governor's Plan which provides equal 
protection for GRSG and its habitat, it may be used instead, and 
therefore the RDFs do not create an inconsistency with state or local 
resource related plans, policies, or programs.

Nevada

Inconsistencies Between the BLM's Nevada GRSG PRMPA and the State GRSG 
Plan

    As you (Governor) know, the BLM adopted much of the State GRSG Plan 
into the PRMPA. However, in addition to the measures in the State plan, 
the BLM is required under the applicable regulations to include in its 
land use plans goals, objectives, allocation decisions and management 
actions that help the BLM to specifically manage certain resources on 
public land. These components are also a critical part of BLM's Special 
Status Species policy, under which disturbance-limiting land use plan 
allocation decisions are a key component. The State's Plan does not 
contain such allocation decisions or management actions as it relies 
largely on cost-based incentives to implement an avoid, minimize, and 
mitigate strategy. In effect, if an applicant has sufficient funds to 
buy credits, a project could be allowed to be placed anywhere, even in 
the most important habitat. The BLM has found that this approach, 
especially before it has built an implementation track record, may not 
address the BLM's land use planning requirements and does not provide 
the requisite level of regulatory certainty for a landscape-level 
species like the GRSG. As noted above, the allocation decisions 
presented in the BLM's plans and amendments range-wide were designed to 
provide that level of certainty. Therefore, I (BLM Director) concur 
with the Acting Nevada State Director's response and respectfully deny 
your (Governor's) appeal on this issue because it is inconsistent with 
the goal of the BLM's GRSG conservation strategy.

Anthropogenic Disturbance Cap Will Hinder GRSG Conservation Efforts

    Your (Governor's appeal) letter states that the Disturbance Cap 
Protocol (DCP) would encourage habitat fragmentation because it 
provides an incentive to locate new disturbances in areas with little 
existing disturbance. The goal of the DCP has always been to encourage 
the co-location of new disturbances with existing disturbances if the 
activity cannot be avoided altogether within GRSG habitat in order to 
limit overall disturbance levels in these areas and the impact that 
they have on the species. The BLM Nevada State Director worked closely 
with your office to craft the DCP. Due to that close coordination and 
in recognition of the State's work and

[[Page 61451]]

investment in the CCS, the BLM's plan in Nevada is the only one to 
include an exception to the cap. The ARMPA adopts a DCP with a 3% cap, 
except in situations where a biological analysis indicates a net 
conservation gain to the species, and the State of Nevada, the BLM, and 
FWS concur with that analysis.
    With respect to the suggestion that the DCP will encourage 
disturbance in previously undisturbed areas, the Nevada ARMPA contains 
allocation decisions separate and apart from the DCP that will limit or 
preclude new disturbance in PHMA and minimize disturbance in GHMA. The 
BLM believes that these protective allocation decisions (i.e. no 
surface occupancy for fluid mineral leasing in PHMA), will limit 
additional disturbance from occurring and causing habitat 
fragmentation, thereby maintaining disturbance under the 3% disturbance 
cap threshold.
    In addition, the ARMPA has been clarified to provide for exceedance 
of the 3% disturbance cap within open designated utility corridors. 
This clarification has now been added to the BLM Nevada and 
Northeastern California's ARMPA in order to ensure co-location with 
existing disturbances. Based on best available science, when 
disturbance exceeds three percent at either the biologically 
significant unit or project scale, GRSG numbers are affected and tend 
to decline (derived from Holloran 2005, Walker et al. 2007, Doherty et 
al. 2008, Naugle et al. 2011).
    Based on the foregoing, I (BLM Director) therefore deny your 
(Governor's) appeal on this issue and concur with the Acting State 
Director's determination that this recommendation is inconsistent with 
the goal of the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation strategy.

SFAs Are Scientifically, Functionally and Administratively Flawed

    As explained in the Acting BLM Nevada State Director's response, 
the BLM continues to rely on the FWS expertise as a cooperating agency 
in this planning effort. In that role, the FWS' provided the BLM with a 
memorandum identifying highly important landscapes. These areas 
represent the recognized ``strongholds'' for GRSG that have been noted 
and referenced as having the highest densities of GRSG and other 
criteria important for the persistence of the species. By recognizing 
these areas and applying consistent management within them across the 
Great Basin, the BLM believes it is providing regulatory certainty to 
the FWS that these areas will be protected. Additionally, although the 
SFAs are a high priority for protection from anthropogenic 
disturbances, and disturbances from fire, invasives, and conifer 
encroachment, the protection of all other GRSG habitat is also a major 
component of the ARMPA, contrary to the suggestion in your (Governor's) 
appeal. The ARMPA contains numerous pages of protective decisions that 
apply to PHMA, GHMA, and Other Habitat Management Areas; no habitat 
category is being ignored. I (BLM Director), therefore, respectfully 
deny your appeal on these issues and uphold the Acting State Director's 
determination that your recommendations are inconsistent with the goal 
of the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation strategy.
    Your letter also states that segregating the SFA lands from mineral 
entry for a two-year period would have a negative effect on investment 
in the region, to the detriment of local, state, and national 
interests. This statement does not identify an inconsistency with State 
or local resource related plans, policies, or programs, therefore a 
response is not required under the Governor's consistency review 
process. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the SFAs comprise 
less than 3% of the lands in Nevada. The withdrawal process, beginning 
with the temporary segregation, includes a public process to consider 
information provided by the states, stakeholders and others on mineral 
potential, as well as the importance of these areas as sage-grouse 
habitat. This information will be included in the analyses which the 
Secretary will use to make a decision about a potential withdrawal.

Nevada's Conservation Credit System (CCS) Assures Net Conservation Gain

    The ARMPA does not deny the application of the State of Nevada's 
CCS or say that it will not provide for a net conservation gain. In 
fact, BLM recognizes that CCS will play an important role in mitigation 
efforts in Nevada. That said, the ARMPA also recognizes that there are 
other forms of mitigation that can result in a net conservation gain to 
GRSG and its habitat. As a result, the ARPMA commits to consideration 
of the CCS, as appropriate, and looks forward to utilizing the CCS as 
an important tool in mitigating the impacts of habitat disturbance. The 
relationship between BLM management of the public lands and the CCS is 
currently being negotiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 
with the SETT. Working through the specific factors of how and when the 
BLM and applicants would use the CCS is not a planning decision, and is 
outside of the scope of the planning effort, and therefore is not 
subject to consistency review of appeal. The MOU reflects the plan 
decision to consider the CCS as a means of mitigation. The ARMPA 
includes language to clarify the relationship between the CCS and 
proposed uses in GRSG habitat. I (BLM Director) therefore respectfully 
deny your (Governor's) appeal on this issue and uphold the State 
Director's determination that your recommendation is inconsistent with 
the goal of the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation strategy.

LUPA/FEIS Must Incorporate New Science and Data

    Your (Governor's appeal) letter indicates that BLM is not committed 
to using the best available science. This statement does not identify 
an inconsistency with State or local resource related plans, policies, 
or programs, and therefore a response is not required under the 
Governor's consistency review process. The BLM will incorporate new 
science as it becomes available. New information, updated analyses, or 
new resource use or protection proposals may require amending or 
revising land use plans and updating implementation decisions. In this 
case, the primary requirement for considering new information is as 
follows:

    The BLM planning regulations require evaluating whether there is 
new data of significance to the land use plan (see 43 CFR 1610.4-9) 
and whether plan amendments (see 43 CFR 1610.5-5) or revisions (see 
43 CFR 1610.5-6) are required.

The BLM commends the State of Nevada for investing in updating mapping 
in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey and others. There are 
many factors that will need to be taken into consideration concerning 
new mapping efforts and how they will used by the BLM. Although the BLM 
can take these new mapping changes into account when making 
implementation-level decisions, the BLM's authority to impose plan-
level management changes is limited. The determination whether to amend 
or revise an RMP based on new proposals, circumstances, or information 
depends on (1) the nature of the new proposals, (2) significance of the 
new information or circumstances, (3) specific wording of the existing 
land use plan decision, including any provisions for flexibility, and 
(4) the level and detail of the NEPA analysis.
    Finally, your letter also includes a concern regarding the 
leadership of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 
(WAFWA) Management Zone Greater Sage-Grouse

[[Page 61452]]

Conservation Team. This statement does not identify an inconsistency 
with State or local resource related plans, policies, or programs, and 
therefore a response is not required under the Governor's consistency 
review process. Nevertheless, I (BLM Director) wish to clarify, as 
explained in the ARMPA, that this team will be led by State of Nevada 
and representatives from the appropriate Federal agencies.

North Dakota

Balanced Land Use

    Your (Governor's) consistency review and appeal letter expressed 
concern that the PRMPA does not include adequate information on land 
use. This concern does not identify an inconsistency with State or 
local resource related plans, policies, or a program, therefore a 
response is not required under the Governor's consistency review 
process. I (BLM Director) do, however, concur with the response from 
the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director that the purpose of the plan 
amendment is to conserve, enhance and restore GRSG habitat by reducing, 
minimizing, or eliminating threats to the habitat of GRSG in accordance 
with the BLM's multiple-use and sustained yield mandate. Management 
direction in the amendment is specific to those activities on BLM land 
in southwestern North Dakota which may impact GRSG. Other programs/uses 
outside of GRSG habitat that are not addressed in the ARMPA are carried 
forward from the existing North Dakota Resource Management Plan (1988) 
and are not altered by this decision.

New Technology

    The North Dakota Governor's consistency review and appeal letter 
states that the proposed amendment is unclear about new technologies. 
The appeal does not raise an issue of inconsistency to resolve in this 
regard. I (BLM Director) do, however, concur with the response from the 
Montana/Dakotas State Director Jamie Connell which noted that the 
majority of the southwestern area of North Dakota is already leased and 
predominately developed using one well per pad. I would also note that 
the amendment includes flexibility for oil and gas development and 
location, such as collocation of wells on well pads and directional 
drilling from outside of habitat, and therefore is not inconsistent 
with modern drilling technologies and approaches.

Case-by-Case Analysis

    In your (Governor's) consistency review and appeal letter, you 
expressed a need for case-by-case management decisions. This statement 
does not identify an inconsistency with State or local resource related 
plans, policies, or programs, and therefore a response is not required 
under the Governor's consistency review process. Nevertheless, I (BLM 
Director) concur with the response from the BLM Montana/Dakotas State 
Director that the BLM's planning regulations require that we use land 
use plan allocation decisions to specifically manage certain resources 
on public land. Disturbance-limiting allocation decisions are the 
keystone to the BLM's Special Status Species Policy. In contrast, the 
North Dakota State Plan is voluntary, and does not contain allocation 
decisions. Such an approach does not provide the necessary level of 
regulatory certainty necessary to achieve the goals of the BLM's range-
wide GRSG conservation strategy for a landscape-level species such as 
GRSG. It is important to note that the BLM will continue to work with 
the State of North Dakota and proponents on a case-by-case basis on all 
future project level implementation activities, to ensure that they 
utilize the best available science and local information, in 
conformance with the decisions in the ARMPA. Also, please note that all 
of the management decisions in the ARMPA are subject to valid existing 
rights.
    With respect to your concerns about new information and mapping 
data, the BLM will consider and incorporate new information and habitat 
mapping, when applicable, and as it becomes available. New information, 
updated analyses, or new resource use or protection proposals may 
require subsequent plan maintenance, revision, or amendment, as 
appropriate.

Net Conservation Gain

    You state that the net conservation gain mitigation standard put 
forth in the PRMPA is inconsistent with FLPMA. This statement does not 
identify an inconsistency with State or local resource related plans, 
policies, or a program, therefore a response is not required under the 
Governor's consistency review process. I (BLM Director) do, however, 
concur with the response provided the BLM Montana/Dakotas State 
Director that included an extensive explanation of how this landscape-
scale goal is consistent with the BLM's GRSG Strategy as well as 
Federal policy.

Tall Structures

    Your (Governor's) consistency review and appeal letter state that 
the management actions for ``tall structures'' are unworkable. As noted 
in the response from the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director, this 
statement does not identify an inconsistency with State or local 
resource related plans, policies, or programs, and therefore a response 
is not required under the Governor's consistency review process. It 
should be noted, however, that tall structures are a concern because 
they can provide habitat for predators of GRSG. Therefore, managing the 
placement and mitigating impacts of tall structures is an important 
aspect of the BLM's range-wide conservation strategy. The management 
approaches in the amendment, such as required design features and 
application of lek buffer distances, allow for the development and use 
of appropriately designed and mitigated tall structures.

Comment Periods

    The North Dakota Governor's consistency review and appeal letter 
state that there was not adequate opportunity for public review and 
comment. As noted in the response from the BLM Montana/Dakotas State 
Director, this statement does not identify an inconsistency with State 
or local resource related plans, policies, or programs, and therefore a 
response is not required under the Governor's consistency review 
process. It should be noted, however, that the BLM provided full 
opportunity for public comment and involvement in accordance with 
applicable law and regulations. More details on this can be found in 
Chapter 6 of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, as well as in 
the ARMPA and Record of Decision, found at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse.html.

South Dakota

Waivers and Modifications for No Surface Occupancy Stipulations

    In both your Governor's consistency review letter and in your 
(Governor's) appeal letter, you recommend that the BLM provide more 
flexibility regarding fluid mineral development to allow for the 
development of oil and gas resources in South Dakota. I (BLM Director) 
concur with the assertion of Montana/Dakotas State Director Jamie 
Connell that adoption of the recommendation offered, namely allowing 
waivers and modifications to no surface occupancy stipulations in 
Priority Habitat Management Areas, is not consistent with the goals of 
the

[[Page 61453]]

BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation strategy. The FWS identified energy 
development, mining, and infrastructure as major threats to the GRSG 
populations in the Dakotas in its 2010 listing determination and in the 
2013 Conservation Objectives Team Report. The BLM has determined that 
allowing limited exceptions and no modification or waivers to the 
development of future fluid mineral resources with No Surface Occupancy 
stipulations is necessary to address these threats in Priority Habitat 
Management Areas. I, therefore, respectfully deny your appeal on this 
issue and uphold the State Director's determination.

Reasonable Foreseeable Development Analysis

    You state that you wish the BLM to reconsider the decision not to 
update the Reasonable Foreseeable Development (RFD) analysis in the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement. This statement does not identify 
an inconsistency with State or local resource related plans, policies, 
or programs; therefore, a response is not required under the Governor's 
consistency review process. I (BLM Director) do, however, concur with 
the response from the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director that, while 
the RFD may not have utilized the 2014 data provided by South Dakota, 
the analysis provides adequate information with regard to overall 
potential development and serves as an appropriate basis for the BLM's 
planning process.
    In connection with the development of the PRMP, the BLM reviewed 
the RFD Scenario for Oil and Gas Activities on Bureau Managed Lands in 
the South Dakota Study Area (RFD; BLM, 2009) and the report reviewed by 
the Wyoming Reservoir Management Group, which includes BLM technical 
experts. The BLM also reviewed information provided by the State of 
South Dakota and data on drilling that has occurred in the first 4 
years and 10 months of the analysis period for the 2009 RFD. Based on a 
review of this data, the BLM has determined that the current drilling 
rate does not support the projections offered by the State of South 
Dakota. Additionally, the reviewers determined that the 2009 RFD 
adequately accounted for variables such as increased gas prices. While 
the RFD is not able to accurately predict the exact locations of future 
wells, the reviewers determined that in aggregate, it still provides 
the best available information with regard to overall potential 
development. Therefore, I respectfully deny your appeal on this issue.

Utah

WAFWA Management Zone GRSG Conservation Team

    You (Governor) expressed concern about the use of the WAFWA 
Management Zone GRSG Conservation Team in your Governor's Consistency 
Review and reiterate the concern in your (Governor's) appeal. This 
concern does not identify an inconsistency with state or local resource 
related plans, policies, or programs, and therefore a response is not 
required under the Governor's consistency review process.
    I (BLM Director) understand that the State of Utah is in a unique 
position, with habitat in four WAFWA Zones, and agree that the WAFWA 
Management Zone GRSG Conservation Teams should utilize existing 
approaches and constructs to the fullest extent possible in connection 
with their work. The ARMPA and the ROD include language to reflect this 
direction. It should also be remembered that the primary purpose of 
these teams are to advise on cross-state issues, such as regional 
mitigation strategies and adaptive management monitoring and response. 
In connection with these efforts, I am confident that the BLM Acting 
Utah State Director will ensure that the good work the State of Utah 
has done, including the State's mitigation plan, is considered as the 
PLUPA is implemented. Notably, the State of Utah has done outstanding 
work on vegetation treatments to improve habitat condition, including 
its conifer removal implementation plans.

Conservation Activities for the Department of Defense

    Your (Governor's) Consistency Review and appeal letters recommend 
that the BLM adopt planning provisions in the amendment which provide 
equivalent protections for the activities of the Department of Defense 
as those found in the State's Conservation Plan. The Department of 
Defense has been a partner throughout the GRSG planning process and has 
worked with us to address the potential impacts of the amendment on 
base readiness across the range. Therefore, I (BLM Director) 
respectfully deny your (Governor's) appeal on this issue and uphold the 
Acting Utah State Director's determination that your recommendation is 
inconsistent with the goal of the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation 
strategy range-wide and the applicable legal authorities.

Livestock Grazing

    The BLM was able to provide clarifying information in the ROD to 
make clear that appropriately managed livestock grazing may continue 
under the GRSG plans. However, the additional changes you recommend in 
your (Governor's) appeal letter are beyond the scope of the appeal 
process and do not relate to an inconsistency with State or local 
resource related plans, policies, or programs; therefore, a response is 
not required under the Governor's consistency review process. That 
said, I (BLM Director) remain committed to working with the state and 
other stakeholders to ensure that these plans are implemented in a 
manner that demonstrates well-managed grazing practices are compatible 
with long-term sage-grouse conservation.

Alton Coal Lease-By-Application

    In the Governor's Consistency Review and the appeal, you 
recommended that the BLM identify the Alton Coal Lease-By-Application 
(LBA) tract as GHMA, as opposed to a PHMA. Based on data collected by 
the State, the company, FWS, and the BLM, the area in and around the 
Alton tract contains active dancing and strutting grounds, and may 
contain the southernmost lek in the United States. Based on this data, 
the FWS, working with the State and others, identified the area as a 
priority area for conservation in the FWS Conservation Objectives Team 
Report, which led to the BLM identifying it as PHMA. After carefully 
reviewing the available information related to GRSG in and around the 
Alton Coal tract and the response by the BLM Acting Utah State 
Director, I (BLM Director) am upholding the decision to retain this 
area as PHMA and deny your recommendation because it is inconsistent 
with the goal of the BLM's GRSG conservation strategy range-wide.

State Authority Concerning Management of Wildlife

    Your consistency review and appeal letter express concern about the 
provision which requires agreement by the State and FWS prior to 
approving exceptions to the NSO stipulation for fluid mineral 
development in PHMA. This does not raise an issue of inconsistency with 
State or local resource or related plans, policies or programs; 
therefore, a response is not required under the Governor's consistency 
review process. Moreover, the involvement of FWS in the determination 
as to whether there would be direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts to 
GRSG does not unlawfully or unconstitutionally infringe on state 
authority or unlawfully delegate BLM's authority over the public lands. 
Rather, in order to provide the most protection

[[Page 61454]]

to GRSG in PHMA, the areas of highest importance for the species, the 
BLM is implement a structure whereby it will seek the input of local 
and national experts on GRSG--the FWS and the Utah Division of Wildlife 
Resources--before making decisions regarding whether to grant an 
exception to an NSO Stipulation to allow surface-disturbing fluid 
mineral development.

Inconsistency With State Law School Trust Land Obligations

    The appeal letter requests that I (BLM Director) reconsider the 
decision of the Acting Utah State Director related to land tenure 
adjustments involving lands owned and managed by the School and 
Institutional Trust Lands Administration. I have reviewed the response, 
as well as the clarifying language that we have added to the amendment 
in response to your consistency review letter, which allows for 
disposal or exchange if there is a net conservation gain or no direct 
or indirect adverse impact to GRSG and its habitat. I believe that the 
state trust land exchanges and selections can be completed under this 
management direction and assure you that we will work with the State of 
Utah to complete such actions as appropriate. Therefore, I respectfully 
deny your (Governor's) appeal on this issue and uphold the Acting Utah 
State Director's determination that your recommendation is inconsistent 
with the goal of the BLM's GRSG conservation strategy range-wide.

Management of Habitat Outside of PHMA

    The State of Utah has recommended that the BLM eliminate the 
management actions in its plans for areas outside of PHMA. After having 
reviewed the information provided with your recommendation, I (BLM 
Director) respectfully deny your (Governor's) appeal and uphold the 
decision of the Acting Utah State Director that your recommendation is 
inconsistent with the goal of the BLM's GRSG range-wide conservation 
strategy. GHMA provides important connectivity and restoration areas 
and its protection is an essential aspect of the BLM's GRSG 
conservation strategy. Additionally, as stated above, the PLUPA 
amendment already incorporates additional flexibility for GHMA in the 
state of Utah because of the limited number of birds in GHMA.

SFA Exemption

    In your (Governor's) appeal letter, you request that I (BLM 
Director) reconsider the request to exempt Utah from SFAs. I have 
reviewed your prior comments on the development of the SFAs and while I 
understand these concerns, I uphold the determination of the Acting 
Utah State Director, that the SFAs are consistent with the BLM's range-
wide GRSG conservation strategy. I also want to reiterate that the SFAs 
are a subset of PHMA, with limited additional management actions to 
ensure that the ``best of the best'' receives the attention it 
deserves. In addition to the recommended mineral withdrawal and the 
fluid mineral NSO stipulation without waivers, exceptions, or 
modifications, these areas will be prioritized for vegetation 
management, review of livestock grazing permits and leases, habitat 
restoration, and fire and fuels actions. Therefore, I respectfully deny 
your (Governor's) appeal on this issue and uphold the Acting Utah State 
Director's determination that your recommendation is inconsistent with 
the goal of the BLM's range-wide GRSG conservation strategy range-wide.

    Authority: 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e).

Byron Loosle,
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable Resources & Planning.
[FR Doc. 2015-25973 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-22-P



                                                  61448                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices

                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              incorporate conservation measures to                  Review letter failed to follow section
                                                                                                          conserve, enhance and restore GRSG                    202(c)(9) of FLPMA, which states that
                                                  Bureau of Land Management                               and its habitat.                                      land use plans be consistent with state
                                                  [LLWO2100000                                               In accordance with the regulations at              and local plans to the maximum extent
                                                  L11100000.DR0000.LXSISGST0000]                          43 CFR 1610.3–2(e), the BLM submitted                 the Secretary of the Interior finds
                                                                                                          the Proposed Plan Amendments (Idaho,                  consistent with Federal law. A
                                                  BLM Director’s Responses to the                         Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah) and                   cornerstone of the BLM’s sage grouse
                                                  Appeals by the Governors of Idaho,                      Proposed Plan (South Dakota) for a 60-                planning process has been coordination
                                                  Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota,                     day Governors’ Consistency Review.                    and collaboration with the affected
                                                  and Utah Governors of the BLM State                     The 60-day review period ended on July                states, as demonstrated by the detailed
                                                  Directors’ Governor’s Consistency                       29, 2015. The relevant BLM State                      consideration and, in many cases,
                                                  Review Determination                                    Directors (State Directors) received                  adoption of the strong GRSG
                                                                                                          letters from the Governors of Idaho,                  conservation approaches put in place by
                                                  AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,                                                                          or suggested by the states, including
                                                                                                          Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota,
                                                  Interior.                                                                                                     those put in place by or suggested by the
                                                                                                          and Utah identifying alleged
                                                  ACTION: Notice.                                                                                               State of Idaho. However, in order to
                                                                                                          inconsistencies with State and local
                                                  SUMMARY:   The Approved Resource Plan                   plans, policies, and programs and                     provide the necessary regulatory
                                                  Amendments and Approved Resource                        identifying recommendations to address                certainty, the BLM found it necessary to
                                                  Plan/Records of Decision (RODs) for the                 those potential inconsistencies. These                ensure that there are consistently strong
                                                  Great Basin Region and Rocky Mountain                   letters are available at http://                      approaches to the management of BLM-
                                                  Regions were signed by the BLM                          www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/                       managed lands range-wide. The purpose
                                                  Director and the Assistant Secretary,                   sagegrouse/documents_and_                             of these common elements is to provide
                                                  Lands and Minerals Management, on                       resources.html. After careful                         for a net conservation gain for the
                                                  September 21, 2015. The RODs                            consideration of the concerns raised by               GRSG. However, the plans also
                                                  constitute the final decision of the BLM                the five States, the State Directors                  recognize that different circumstances
                                                  and the Approved Plan Amendments                        decided not to adopt the                              exist across the range, which is why the
                                                  and Approved Plan were effective                        recommendations made by the                           plans have allowed for flexibility where
                                                  immediately upon their signing. In                      Governors. Copies of the August 6,                    appropriate in the sub-regional plans,
                                                  accordance with its regulations, the                    2015, letters from the State Directors to             such as the three-tier mapping and
                                                  BLM is publishing the reasons for                       the Governors are also available at                   management approach adopted as part
                                                  rejecting the recommendations of the                    http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/                     of the Idaho plans. As such, I (BLM
                                                  Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North                       more/sagegrouse/documents_and_                        Director) must respectfully disagree
                                                  Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah                          resources.html.                                       with your contention that the ARMPA is
                                                  regarding Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota,                     By September 11, 2015, the BLM                     materially inconsistent with the
                                                  and Utah Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG)                     Director had received appeals from the                Governor’s Plan. The three-tier
                                                  Proposed Resource Management Plans                      Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North                     approach in the Governor’s Plan is the
                                                  Amendments (PRMPAs) and Final                           Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah on the                 basis of the Idaho/Southwest Montana
                                                  Environmental Impact Statements                         State Directors’ decisions on their                   ARMPA. The BLM has also worked with
                                                  (FEISs) and the South Dakota Proposed                   recommendations.                                      the State of Idaho to tailor many of the
                                                  Resource Management Plan (PRMP) and                        In reviewing these appeals, the                    ‘‘range-wide’’ management actions in
                                                  Final Environmental Impact Statement                    regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e) state               the Idaho ARMPA, such as the recent
                                                                                                          that ‘‘[t]he Director shall accept the                inclusion of prioritization actions for
                                                  (FEIS) which were published on May
                                                                                                          (consistency) recommendations of the                  grazing management in Sagebrush Focal
                                                  29, 2015.
                                                                                                          Governor(s) if he/she determines they                 Area (SFAs). These actions demonstrate
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                          provide for a reasonable balance                      how the PRPMA has adopted the
                                                  Brian Amme, Acting Division Chief for                                                                         fundamental tenets of the State plan.
                                                  Decision Support, Planning and NEPA,                    between the state’s interest and the
                                                  telephone 202–912–7289; address 1849                    national interest.’’ On September 16,                 Multiple Use in the Proposed Plan
                                                  C Street NW., Room 2134LM,                              2015, the BLM Director issued final
                                                                                                                                                                  Your (Governor’s) appeal letter states
                                                  Washington, DC 20240; email bamme@                      responses to the Governors detailing the
                                                                                                                                                                that the BLM erroneously relied on
                                                  blm.gov.                                                reasons that the recommendations did
                                                                                                                                                                Manual 6840, Special Status Species
                                                     Persons who use a                                    not meet this standard. Copies of both
                                                                                                                                                                Management, in the development of the
                                                  telecommunications device for the deaf                  the incoming appeal letters from the
                                                                                                                                                                PRMPA and the response to the
                                                  (TDD) may call the Federal Information                  Governors and the outgoing responses                  Governor’s Consistency Review letter.
                                                  Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339                  are available at http://www.blm.gov/wo/               This statement does not identify an
                                                  to contact the above individuals during                 st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse/                           inconsistency with state or local
                                                  normal business hours. The FIRS is                      documents_and_resources.html.                         resource related plans, policies, or
                                                  available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,                Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e), the                   programs, therefore, a response is not
                                                  to leave a message or question with the                 basis for the BLM’s determination on                  required under the Governor’s
                                                  above individual. You (Governor) will                   the Governors’ appeals is presented                   consistency review process. The
                                                  receive a reply during normal business                  below. Appeal responses are grouped by                purpose of the amendment is the
                                                  hours.                                                  state and issues area and are being
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                                                                                                                                                                conservation of a special status species,
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RODs                     published verbatim.                                   the GRSG, and the management actions
                                                  amend and revise Resource                               Idaho                                                 in the amendment are limited to those
                                                  Management Plans (RMPs) across the                                                                            which will conserve, enhance, and
                                                  range of the Greater Sage Grouse                        Overall Consistency With Idaho State                  restore GRSG and its habitat consistent
                                                  (GRSG), including RMPs in the states of                 and Local Plans                                       with the agency’s multiple-use and
                                                  Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South                        Your (Governor’s) letter states that the            sustained yield mission. The
                                                  Dakota, and Utah. The RODs                              BLM responses to the Idaho Consistency                management actions are consistent with


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices                                          61449

                                                  all of the applicable BLM regulations                   management actions to ensure that the                 development in undisturbed habitat.
                                                  and policies and allow for continued                    ‘‘best of the best’’ habitat receives the             This is a critically important aspect of
                                                  multiple-use of the lands. Most uses                    attention it deserves. In addition to the             the GRSG strategy, and therefore, I (BLM
                                                  may still occur on the lands included in                recommended mineral withdrawal and                    Director) respectfully deny your appeal
                                                  the amendment, with stipulations and                    the fluid mineral no surface occupancy                on this issue and uphold the State
                                                  conditions which conserve, enhance,                     (NSO) stipulation without waivers,                    Director’s determination that your
                                                  and restore GRSG and its habitat.                       exceptions, or modifications, the                     recommendation is inconsistent with
                                                  Allowable resource uses of the BLM                      ARMPA clarifies (in response to your                  the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG
                                                  lands which are not addressed in this                   Governor’s consistency review letter)                 conservation strategy.
                                                  amendment remain in the current land                    that these areas will be prioritized for a              It should be noted that based upon
                                                  use plans. Therefore, I concur with the                 broader group of activities, including                further review across the Great Basin
                                                  BLM Idaho State Director’s statements                   vegetation management, wild horse and                 region, the BLM is including an
                                                  about the applicable purposes, policies,                burro management, habitat restoration,                exception to the project-level
                                                  programs, Federal laws, and regulations                 fire and fuels actions, as well as the                disturbance cap for designated utility
                                                  applicable to BLM-managed public                        review of livestock grazing permits and               corridors, to ensure that these areas are
                                                  lands, including BLM Manual 6840.                       leases, consistent with the State of Idaho            used to the fullest extent possible as
                                                                                                          Plan.                                                 intended for utility lines and associated
                                                  Alleged Improper Delegation                                You also assert in your (Governor’s)               disturbance. This modification is
                                                     You (Governor) also assert that the                  appeal that in developing the SFAs the                consistent with BLM’s goal of
                                                  BLM has improperly delegated authority                  BLM has created Areas of Critical                     encouraging co-location of disturbance.
                                                  to the FWS by permitting that agency to                 Environmental Concern (ACECs)
                                                  effectively veto land management                                                                              Net Conservation Gain Standard
                                                                                                          without following the proper regulatory
                                                  decisions for an unlisted species. This                 process. This concern does not identify                  Your (Governor’s) appeal notes that
                                                  statement does not identify an                          an inconsistency with state or local                  the Governor’s ‘‘. . . strategy is in many
                                                  inconsistency with state or local                       resource or related plans, policies or                ways in and of itself a mitigation plan,’’
                                                  resource related plans, policies, or                    programs, and therefore, a response is                and as a result, you expresses concern
                                                  programs, therefore, a response is not                  not required under the Governor’s                     that the BLM mitigation standard of net
                                                  required under the Governor’s                           consistency review process. It should be              conservation gain is in conflict with
                                                  consistency review process. That said, I                noted that the SFAs are not ACECs—                    this. I respectfully disagree with this
                                                  would note that the BLM is not and has                  they are a subset of PHMAs with                       statement. Based on the way the
                                                  not delegated its authority. Rather, the                additional management protections, all                ARPMA is structured, the Idaho State
                                                  BLM has focused on making its                           of which were fully analyzed in the                   Plan, especially the three-tier approach,
                                                  planning decisions based on input from                  Draft and Final EISs for the Idaho plan.              will serve as a key component of the
                                                  local and national experts on these                     These additional measures include NSO                 BLM’s mitigation strategy, and therefore
                                                  issues. For example, in order to provide                without waiver, exception, or                         the AMPRA is not in conflict or
                                                  the most protection to GRSG in Priority                 modification for fluid mineral                        inconsistent with the state strategy.
                                                  Habitat Management Areas (PHMA), the                    development and a recommendation for                  Additionally, as noted in the State
                                                  areas of highest importance for the                     withdrawal from the 1872 Mining Law.                  Director’s response, the mitigation
                                                  species, decisions on allowing surface                  These actions and recommendations do                  standard in the amendment is consistent
                                                  occupancy during fluid mineral                          not constitute an ACEC designation                    with numerous national policies,
                                                  development will be made with the                       under the applicable regulations.                     including Secretarial Order 3330 and
                                                  Idaho Department of Fish and Game and                                                                         BLM’s Draft—Regional Mitigation
                                                  the FWS, the local and national experts                 Disturbance Caps
                                                                                                                                                                Manual Section (MS)-1794. As a result,
                                                  on GRSG, respectively. The BLM is not                     Both your (Governor’s) consistency                  I deny your appeal on this issue and
                                                  delegating authority, but ensuring that                 review and appeal letter requested the                uphold the State Director’s
                                                  all experts evaluate whether there                      removal of the project level disturbance              determination that your
                                                  would be direct, indirect, or cumulative                caps. The BLM included the project-                   recommendation is inconsistent with
                                                  effects on GRSG before allowing surface-                level disturbance cap to ensure that                  the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG
                                                  disturbing fluid mineral development in                 disturbance is limited at both a local                conservation strategy.
                                                  areas of important habitat. While the                   and landscape scale and to encourage                     I would also note that going forward
                                                  BLM retains the final decision-making                   co-location of disturbance. Based on                  it will be critical for BLM and its
                                                  authority for decisions on the public                   best available science, when disturbance              partners to work together to develop and
                                                  lands, this input is critically important.              exceeds three percent at either scale,                implement effective mitigation on the
                                                                                                          GRSG numbers are affected and tend to                 ground. This mitigation will be
                                                  SFAs Exemption                                          decline (derived from Holloran 2005,                  developed working with existing and
                                                    In your (Governor’s) appeal letter, you               Walker et al. 2007, Doherty et al. 2008,              developing mitigation approaches that
                                                  request that I reconsider the request to                Naugle et al. 2011). Disturbance caps at              are being utilized in individual states
                                                  exempt Idaho from SFAs. I have                          both the BSU and the project scale are                and west-wide. To do this, the BLM will
                                                  reviewed your prior comments on the                     necessary to account for the amount of                utilize the expertise of state and Federal
                                                  development of the SFAs and I                           existing disturbance at both scales.                  partners, through WAFWA Management
                                                  understand that your office is strongly                 Calculating disturbance for each                      Zone conservation teams, to develop
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                                                  opposed to them. While I understand                     additional anthropogenic disturbance                  mitigation strategies. Participation of
                                                  these concerns, I uphold the                            placed on the landscape is particularly               your Office of Species Conservation and
                                                  determination of the BLM Idaho State                    important at the project scale to ensure              the Idaho Department of Fish and Game
                                                  Director that the SFAs are consistent                   that GRSG numbers and habitat acreages                will be critical to this effort.
                                                  with the BLM’s range-wide GRSG                          remain stable or increase. Further,
                                                  conservation strategy. I also want to                   calculations at both of these scales are              Livestock Grazing
                                                  reiterate that the SFAs are a subset of                 intended to encourage clustering of                     You (Governor) identified numerous
                                                  PHMA, with limited additional                           disturbance and discouraging                          concerns with the livestock grazing


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                                                  61450                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices

                                                  management actions in the amendment                     noted that the BLM, under current                     resource related plans, policies, or
                                                  in your (Governor’s) Consistency                        authority and plans, is responsible for               programs.
                                                  Review and appeal. As a result of the                   ensuring that grazing is undertaken in
                                                                                                                                                                Nevada
                                                  Governor’s consistency review process,                  an appropriate manner and that uses are
                                                  the BLM included a refinement of the                    meeting or moving towards meeting                     Inconsistencies Between the BLM’s
                                                  prioritization strategy for livestock                   applicable land health standards. The                 Nevada GRSG PRMPA and the State
                                                  grazing management. The revised                         amendment does not change this                        GRSG Plan
                                                  language states that:                                   underlying obligation. They do however                   As you (Governor) know, the BLM
                                                     ‘‘Management and conservation                        inform the applicable land health                     adopted much of the State GRSG Plan
                                                  action prioritization will occur at the                 standards and place a higher focus on                 into the PRMPA. However, in addition
                                                  Conservation Area (CA) scale and be                     meeting or moving toward meeting land                 to the measures in the State plan, the
                                                  based on GRSG population and habitat                    health standards and GRSG habitat
                                                                                                                                                                BLM is required under the applicable
                                                  trends: Focusing management and                         objectives in SFAs.
                                                                                                                                                                regulations to include in its land use
                                                  conservation actions first in SFAs                         Based on the foregoing, I respectfully
                                                                                                          deny your appeal on these grazing                     plans goals, objectives, allocation
                                                  followed by areas of PHMA outside                                                                             decisions and management actions that
                                                  SFA.’’                                                  issues and uphold the State Director’s
                                                                                                          determination that your                               help the BLM to specifically manage
                                                  Under this refined language, vegetation                                                                       certain resources on public land. These
                                                  management actions, including but not                   recommendation is inconsistent with
                                                                                                          the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG                 components are also a critical part of
                                                  limited to the review of grazing permits,                                                                     BLM’s Special Status Species policy,
                                                                                                          conservation strategy range-wide.
                                                  are prioritized in SFAs. In light of the                                                                      under which disturbance-limiting land
                                                  agency’s limited resources, we will                     Lek Buffers                                           use plan allocation decisions are a key
                                                  focus our management actions first in                      In your (Governor’s) Consistency                   component. The State’s Plan does not
                                                  SFAs, as these are the areas which hold                 Review, you recommended that the                      contain such allocation decisions or
                                                  the best contiguous habitat and                         BLM remove the uniform lek buffers                    management actions as it relies largely
                                                  populations. Specifically, our actions                  from the plans. The BLM Idaho State                   on cost-based incentives to implement
                                                  will focus on those allotments or                       Director’s response explained that the                an avoid, minimize, and mitigate
                                                  permits not meeting land health                         buffers are not uniform and that local                strategy. In effect, if an applicant has
                                                  standards in areas where the sage-grouse                data and regulations can be considered                sufficient funds to buy credits, a project
                                                  populations are in decline.                             in their application at the project                   could be allowed to be placed
                                                     You (Governor) also express concerns                 development stage. The application of                 anywhere, even in the most important
                                                  with the habitat objectives table, that the             buffers also varies according to habitat              habitat. The BLM has found that this
                                                  management direction associated with                    type, with more exceptions provided in                approach, especially before it has built
                                                  its use is vague and subjective. The use                General Habitat Management Areas                      an implementation track record, may
                                                  of the metrics in the table will be site-               (GHMA) than in PHMA. Additionally,                    not address the BLM’s land use
                                                  specific. Specifically, the habitat                     the use of the buffers identified in the              planning requirements and does not
                                                  objectives table sets forth the desired                 Governor’s Plan is allowed under the                  provide the requisite level of regulatory
                                                  habitat condition for permitted uses.                   considerations put forth in the                       certainty for a landscape-level species
                                                  The metrics in the table will be used, as               amendment, provided they provide the                  like the GRSG. As noted above, the
                                                  appropriate, based on ecological site                   same level of protection for GRSG and                 allocation decisions presented in the
                                                  potential, in the development of land                   its habitat in any particular                         BLM’s plans and amendments range-
                                                  use authorizations, including but not                   circumstance. Again, the use of buffers               wide were designed to provide that
                                                  limited to livestock grazing permits, and               will be determined on a site- and                     level of certainty. Therefore, I (BLM
                                                  land health assessments. Please note,                   project-specific basis, during project                Director) concur with the Acting Nevada
                                                  the BLM creates and uses habitat                        development. Based on the foregoing, I                State Director’s response and
                                                  objectives for many special status                      (BLM Director) respectfully deny your                 respectfully deny your (Governor’s)
                                                  species and includes them in land                       appeal on this issue and uphold the                   appeal on this issue because it is
                                                  health assessments it prepares routinely                State Director’s determination that your              inconsistent with the goal of the BLM’s
                                                  across the west.                                        recommendation is inconsistent with                   GRSG conservation strategy.
                                                     Finally, you (Governor) expressed                    the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG
                                                  concern about the BLM’s statement that                                                                        Anthropogenic Disturbance Cap Will
                                                                                                          conservation strategy.                                Hinder GRSG Conservation Efforts
                                                  ‘‘current grazing management will not
                                                  change as a result of the SFA                           Required Design Features                                 Your (Governor’s appeal) letter states
                                                  designation.’’ Specifically, with respect                  In your (Governor’s) appeal, you                   that the Disturbance Cap Protocol (DCP)
                                                  to your statement that prioritization of                request that I (BLM Director) consider                would encourage habitat fragmentation
                                                  grazing permit renewals in SFAs ‘‘. . .                 removing the Required Design Features                 because it provides an incentive to
                                                  is really a subterfuge for elevating the                (RDFs) which are not contained in the                 locate new disturbances in areas with
                                                  activity ((i.e., grazing)) to primary threat            Governor’s Plan. I agree with the Idaho               little existing disturbance. The goal of
                                                  status,’’ I (BLM Director) would like to                State Director that the RDFs are an                   the DCP has always been to encourage
                                                  clarify the intent of BLM’s approach.                   important aspect of the BLM strategy                  the co-location of new disturbances
                                                  The plans prioritize grazing permit                     and respectfully deny your request.                   with existing disturbances if the activity
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                                                  renewals and field checks within SFAs                   Similar to the buffers, there is flexibility          cannot be avoided altogether within
                                                  because of the habitat quality in those                 in the application of the RDFs, such that             GRSG habitat in order to limit overall
                                                  areas, not because of some unstated                     if there is a Best Management Practice                disturbance levels in these areas and the
                                                  concern about the level of threat posed                 in the Governor’s Plan which provides                 impact that they have on the species.
                                                  by current grazing activities. As stated                equal protection for GRSG and its                     The BLM Nevada State Director worked
                                                  above, maintenance of habitat quality                   habitat, it may be used instead, and                  closely with your office to craft the DCP.
                                                  within SFAs is a key component of the                   therefore the RDFs do not create an                   Due to that close coordination and in
                                                  BLM’s plans. Moreover, it should be                     inconsistency with state or local                     recognition of the State’s work and


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices                                             61451

                                                  investment in the CCS, the BLM’s plan                   Additionally, although the SFAs are a                 decision, and is outside of the scope of
                                                  in Nevada is the only one to include an                 high priority for protection from                     the planning effort, and therefore is not
                                                  exception to the cap. The ARMPA                         anthropogenic disturbances, and                       subject to consistency review of appeal.
                                                  adopts a DCP with a 3% cap, except in                   disturbances from fire, invasives, and                The MOU reflects the plan decision to
                                                  situations where a biological analysis                  conifer encroachment, the protection of               consider the CCS as a means of
                                                  indicates a net conservation gain to the                all other GRSG habitat is also a major                mitigation. The ARMPA includes
                                                  species, and the State of Nevada, the                   component of the ARMPA, contrary to                   language to clarify the relationship
                                                  BLM, and FWS concur with that                           the suggestion in your (Governor’s)                   between the CCS and proposed uses in
                                                  analysis.                                               appeal. The ARMPA contains numerous                   GRSG habitat. I (BLM Director) therefore
                                                     With respect to the suggestion that the              pages of protective decisions that apply              respectfully deny your (Governor’s)
                                                  DCP will encourage disturbance in                       to PHMA, GHMA, and Other Habitat                      appeal on this issue and uphold the
                                                  previously undisturbed areas, the                       Management Areas; no habitat category                 State Director’s determination that your
                                                  Nevada ARMPA contains allocation                        is being ignored. I (BLM Director),                   recommendation is inconsistent with
                                                  decisions separate and apart from the                   therefore, respectfully deny your appeal              the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG
                                                  DCP that will limit or preclude new                     on these issues and uphold the Acting                 conservation strategy.
                                                  disturbance in PHMA and minimize                        State Director’s determination that your
                                                  disturbance in GHMA. The BLM                                                                                  LUPA/FEIS Must Incorporate New
                                                                                                          recommendations are inconsistent with
                                                  believes that these protective allocation                                                                     Science and Data
                                                                                                          the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG
                                                  decisions (i.e. no surface occupancy for                conservation strategy.                                  Your (Governor’s appeal) letter
                                                  fluid mineral leasing in PHMA), will                       Your letter also states that segregating           indicates that BLM is not committed to
                                                  limit additional disturbance from                       the SFA lands from mineral entry for a                using the best available science. This
                                                  occurring and causing habitat                           two-year period would have a negative                 statement does not identify an
                                                  fragmentation, thereby maintaining                      effect on investment in the region, to the            inconsistency with State or local
                                                  disturbance under the 3% disturbance                    detriment of local, state, and national               resource related plans, policies, or
                                                  cap threshold.                                          interests. This statement does not                    programs, and therefore a response is
                                                     In addition, the ARMPA has been                      identify an inconsistency with State or               not required under the Governor’s
                                                  clarified to provide for exceedance of                  local resource related plans, policies, or            consistency review process. The BLM
                                                  the 3% disturbance cap within open                      programs, therefore a response is not                 will incorporate new science as it
                                                  designated utility corridors. This                      required under the Governor’s                         becomes available. New information,
                                                  clarification has now been added to the                 consistency review process.                           updated analyses, or new resource use
                                                  BLM Nevada and Northeastern                             Nevertheless, it is important to note that            or protection proposals may require
                                                  California’s ARMPA in order to ensure                   the SFAs comprise less than 3% of the                 amending or revising land use plans and
                                                  co-location with existing disturbances.                 lands in Nevada. The withdrawal                       updating implementation decisions. In
                                                  Based on best available science, when                   process, beginning with the temporary                 this case, the primary requirement for
                                                  disturbance exceeds three percent at                    segregation, includes a public process to             considering new information is as
                                                  either the biologically significant unit or             consider information provided by the                  follows:
                                                  project scale, GRSG numbers are                         states, stakeholders and others on                      The BLM planning regulations require
                                                  affected and tend to decline (derived                   mineral potential, as well as the                     evaluating whether there is new data of
                                                  from Holloran 2005, Walker et al. 2007,                 importance of these areas as sage-grouse              significance to the land use plan (see 43 CFR
                                                  Doherty et al. 2008, Naugle et al. 2011).               habitat. This information will be                     1610.4–9) and whether plan amendments
                                                     Based on the foregoing, I (BLM                       included in the analyses which the                    (see 43 CFR 1610.5–5) or revisions (see 43
                                                  Director) therefore deny your                           Secretary will use to make a decision                 CFR 1610.5–6) are required.
                                                  (Governor’s) appeal on this issue and                   about a potential withdrawal.                         The BLM commends the State of
                                                  concur with the Acting State Director’s                                                                       Nevada for investing in updating
                                                  determination that this recommendation                  Nevada’s Conservation Credit System
                                                                                                                                                                mapping in cooperation with the U.S.
                                                  is inconsistent with the goal of the                    (CCS) Assures Net Conservation Gain
                                                                                                                                                                Geological Survey and others. There are
                                                  BLM’s range-wide GRSG conservation                        The ARMPA does not deny the                         many factors that will need to be taken
                                                  strategy.                                               application of the State of Nevada’s CCS              into consideration concerning new
                                                                                                          or say that it will not provide for a net             mapping efforts and how they will used
                                                  SFAs Are Scientifically, Functionally                   conservation gain. In fact, BLM                       by the BLM. Although the BLM can take
                                                  and Administratively Flawed                             recognizes that CCS will play an                      these new mapping changes into
                                                     As explained in the Acting BLM                       important role in mitigation efforts in               account when making implementation-
                                                  Nevada State Director’s response, the                   Nevada. That said, the ARMPA also                     level decisions, the BLM’s authority to
                                                  BLM continues to rely on the FWS                        recognizes that there are other forms of              impose plan-level management changes
                                                  expertise as a cooperating agency in this               mitigation that can result in a net                   is limited. The determination whether
                                                  planning effort. In that role, the FWS’                 conservation gain to GRSG and its                     to amend or revise an RMP based on
                                                  provided the BLM with a memorandum                      habitat. As a result, the ARPMA                       new proposals, circumstances, or
                                                  identifying highly important                            commits to consideration of the CCS, as               information depends on (1) the nature of
                                                  landscapes. These areas represent the                   appropriate, and looks forward to                     the new proposals, (2) significance of
                                                  recognized ‘‘strongholds’’ for GRSG that                utilizing the CCS as an important tool in             the new information or circumstances,
                                                  have been noted and referenced as                       mitigating the impacts of habitat                     (3) specific wording of the existing land
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                                                  having the highest densities of GRSG                    disturbance. The relationship between                 use plan decision, including any
                                                  and other criteria important for the                    BLM management of the public lands                    provisions for flexibility, and (4) the
                                                  persistence of the species. By                          and the CCS is currently being                        level and detail of the NEPA analysis.
                                                  recognizing these areas and applying                    negotiated through a Memorandum of                       Finally, your letter also includes a
                                                  consistent management within them                       Understanding (MOU) with the SETT.                    concern regarding the leadership of the
                                                  across the Great Basin, the BLM believes                Working through the specific factors of               Western Association of Fish and
                                                  it is providing regulatory certainty to the             how and when the BLM and applicants                   Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA)
                                                  FWS that these areas will be protected.                 would use the CCS is not a planning                   Management Zone Greater Sage-Grouse


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                                                  61452                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Conservation Team. This statement does                  Case-by-Case Analysis                                 Tall Structures
                                                  not identify an inconsistency with State                                                                         Your (Governor’s) consistency review
                                                  or local resource related plans, policies,                 In your (Governor’s) consistency
                                                                                                          review and appeal letter, you expressed               and appeal letter state that the
                                                  or programs, and therefore a response is                                                                      management actions for ‘‘tall structures’’
                                                                                                          a need for case-by-case management
                                                  not required under the Governor’s                                                                             are unworkable. As noted in the
                                                                                                          decisions. This statement does not
                                                  consistency review process.                                                                                   response from the BLM Montana/
                                                                                                          identify an inconsistency with State or
                                                  Nevertheless, I (BLM Director) wish to                                                                        Dakotas State Director, this statement
                                                                                                          local resource related plans, policies, or
                                                  clarify, as explained in the ARMPA, that                programs, and therefore a response is                 does not identify an inconsistency with
                                                  this team will be led by State of Nevada                                                                      State or local resource related plans,
                                                                                                          not required under the Governor’s
                                                  and representatives from the                                                                                  policies, or programs, and therefore a
                                                                                                          consistency review process.
                                                  appropriate Federal agencies.                                                                                 response is not required under the
                                                                                                          Nevertheless, I (BLM Director) concur
                                                                                                                                                                Governor’s consistency review process.
                                                  North Dakota                                            with the response from the BLM
                                                                                                                                                                It should be noted, however, that tall
                                                                                                          Montana/Dakotas State Director that the
                                                  Balanced Land Use                                                                                             structures are a concern because they
                                                                                                          BLM’s planning regulations require that
                                                                                                                                                                can provide habitat for predators of
                                                                                                          we use land use plan allocation
                                                     Your (Governor’s) consistency review                                                                       GRSG. Therefore, managing the
                                                                                                          decisions to specifically manage certain
                                                  and appeal letter expressed concern that                                                                      placement and mitigating impacts of tall
                                                                                                          resources on public land. Disturbance-
                                                  the PRMPA does not include adequate                                                                           structures is an important aspect of the
                                                                                                          limiting allocation decisions are the                 BLM’s range-wide conservation strategy.
                                                  information on land use. This concern                   keystone to the BLM’s Special Status
                                                  does not identify an inconsistency with                                                                       The management approaches in the
                                                                                                          Species Policy. In contrast, the North                amendment, such as required design
                                                  State or local resource related plans,                  Dakota State Plan is voluntary, and does
                                                  policies, or a program, therefore a                                                                           features and application of lek buffer
                                                                                                          not contain allocation decisions. Such                distances, allow for the development
                                                  response is not required under the                      an approach does not provide the                      and use of appropriately designed and
                                                  Governor’s consistency review process.                  necessary level of regulatory certainty               mitigated tall structures.
                                                  I (BLM Director) do, however, concur                    necessary to achieve the goals of the
                                                  with the response from the BLM                          BLM’s range-wide GRSG conservation                    Comment Periods
                                                  Montana/Dakotas State Director that the                 strategy for a landscape-level species                  The North Dakota Governor’s
                                                  purpose of the plan amendment is to                     such as GRSG. It is important to note                 consistency review and appeal letter
                                                  conserve, enhance and restore GRSG                      that the BLM will continue to work with               state that there was not adequate
                                                  habitat by reducing, minimizing, or                     the State of North Dakota and                         opportunity for public review and
                                                  eliminating threats to the habitat of                   proponents on a case-by-case basis on                 comment. As noted in the response from
                                                  GRSG in accordance with the BLM’s                       all future project level implementation               the BLM Montana/Dakotas State
                                                  multiple-use and sustained yield                        activities, to ensure that they utilize the           Director, this statement does not
                                                  mandate. Management direction in the                    best available science and local                      identify an inconsistency with State or
                                                  amendment is specific to those activities               information, in conformance with the                  local resource related plans, policies, or
                                                  on BLM land in southwestern North                       decisions in the ARMPA. Also, please                  programs, and therefore a response is
                                                  Dakota which may impact GRSG. Other                     note that all of the management                       not required under the Governor’s
                                                                                                          decisions in the ARMPA are subject to                 consistency review process. It should be
                                                  programs/uses outside of GRSG habitat
                                                                                                          valid existing rights.                                noted, however, that the BLM provided
                                                  that are not addressed in the ARMPA
                                                  are carried forward from the existing                      With respect to your concerns about                full opportunity for public comment
                                                  North Dakota Resource Management                        new information and mapping data, the                 and involvement in accordance with
                                                  Plan (1988) and are not altered by this                 BLM will consider and incorporate new                 applicable law and regulations. More
                                                  decision.                                               information and habitat mapping, when                 details on this can be found in Chapter
                                                                                                          applicable, and as it becomes available.              6 of the Final Environmental Impact
                                                  New Technology                                          New information, updated analyses, or                 Statement, as well as in the ARMPA and
                                                                                                          new resource use or protection                        Record of Decision, found at http://
                                                     The North Dakota Governor’s                          proposals may require subsequent plan                 www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/
                                                  consistency review and appeal letter                    maintenance, revision, or amendment,                  sagegrouse.html.
                                                  states that the proposed amendment is                   as appropriate.
                                                  unclear about new technologies. The                                                                           South Dakota
                                                  appeal does not raise an issue of                       Net Conservation Gain                                 Waivers and Modifications for No
                                                  inconsistency to resolve in this regard.                  You state that the net conservation                 Surface Occupancy Stipulations
                                                  I (BLM Director) do, however, concur                    gain mitigation standard put forth in the                In both your Governor’s consistency
                                                  with the response from the Montana/                     PRMPA is inconsistent with FLPMA.                     review letter and in your (Governor’s)
                                                  Dakotas State Director Jamie Connell                    This statement does not identify an                   appeal letter, you recommend that the
                                                  which noted that the majority of the                    inconsistency with State or local                     BLM provide more flexibility regarding
                                                  southwestern area of North Dakota is                    resource related plans, policies, or a                fluid mineral development to allow for
                                                  already leased and predominately                        program, therefore a response is not                  the development of oil and gas
                                                  developed using one well per pad. I                     required under the Governor’s                         resources in South Dakota. I (BLM
                                                  would also note that the amendment
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                                                                                                          consistency review process. I (BLM                    Director) concur with the assertion of
                                                  includes flexibility for oil and gas                    Director) do, however, concur with the                Montana/Dakotas State Director Jamie
                                                  development and location, such as                       response provided the BLM Montana/                    Connell that adoption of the
                                                  collocation of wells on well pads and                   Dakotas State Director that included an               recommendation offered, namely
                                                  directional drilling from outside of                    extensive explanation of how this                     allowing waivers and modifications to
                                                  habitat, and therefore is not inconsistent              landscape-scale goal is consistent with               no surface occupancy stipulations in
                                                  with modern drilling technologies and                   the BLM’s GRSG Strategy as well as                    Priority Habitat Management Areas, is
                                                  approaches.                                             Federal policy.                                       not consistent with the goals of the


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices                                          61453

                                                  BLM’s range-wide GRSG conservation                      Utah                                                  make clear that appropriately managed
                                                  strategy. The FWS identified energy                                                                           livestock grazing may continue under
                                                                                                          WAFWA Management Zone GRSG
                                                  development, mining, and infrastructure                                                                       the GRSG plans. However, the
                                                                                                          Conservation Team
                                                  as major threats to the GRSG                                                                                  additional changes you recommend in
                                                  populations in the Dakotas in its 2010                     You (Governor) expressed concern                   your (Governor’s) appeal letter are
                                                  listing determination and in the 2013                   about the use of the WAFWA                            beyond the scope of the appeal process
                                                  Conservation Objectives Team Report.                    Management Zone GRSG Conservation                     and do not relate to an inconsistency
                                                  The BLM has determined that allowing                    Team in your Governor’s Consistency                   with State or local resource related
                                                  limited exceptions and no modification                  Review and reiterate the concern in                   plans, policies, or programs; therefore, a
                                                  or waivers to the development of future                 your (Governor’s) appeal. This concern                response is not required under the
                                                  fluid mineral resources with No Surface                 does not identify an inconsistency with               Governor’s consistency review process.
                                                  Occupancy stipulations is necessary to                  state or local resource related plans,                That said, I (BLM Director) remain
                                                  address these threats in Priority Habitat               policies, or programs, and therefore a                committed to working with the state and
                                                  Management Areas. I, therefore,                         response is not required under the                    other stakeholders to ensure that these
                                                  respectfully deny your appeal on this                   Governor’s consistency review process.                plans are implemented in a manner that
                                                  issue and uphold the State Director’s                      I (BLM Director) understand that the               demonstrates well-managed grazing
                                                  determination.                                          State of Utah is in a unique position,                practices are compatible with long-term
                                                                                                          with habitat in four WAFWA Zones,                     sage-grouse conservation.
                                                  Reasonable Foreseeable Development                      and agree that the WAFWA
                                                  Analysis                                                Management Zone GRSG Conservation                     Alton Coal Lease-By-Application
                                                    You state that you wish the BLM to                    Teams should utilize existing                            In the Governor’s Consistency Review
                                                  reconsider the decision not to update                   approaches and constructs to the fullest              and the appeal, you recommended that
                                                  the Reasonable Foreseeable                              extent possible in connection with their              the BLM identify the Alton Coal Lease-
                                                  Development (RFD) analysis in the Final                 work. The ARMPA and the ROD include                   By-Application (LBA) tract as GHMA, as
                                                  Environmental Impact Statement. This                    language to reflect this direction. It                opposed to a PHMA. Based on data
                                                  statement does not identify an                          should also be remembered that the                    collected by the State, the company,
                                                  inconsistency with State or local                       primary purpose of these teams are to                 FWS, and the BLM, the area in and
                                                  resource related plans, policies, or                    advise on cross-state issues, such as                 around the Alton tract contains active
                                                  programs; therefore, a response is not                  regional mitigation strategies and                    dancing and strutting grounds, and may
                                                  required under the Governor’s                           adaptive management monitoring and                    contain the southernmost lek in the
                                                  consistency review process. I (BLM                      response. In connection with these                    United States. Based on this data, the
                                                  Director) do, however, concur with the                  efforts, I am confident that the BLM                  FWS, working with the State and others,
                                                  response from the BLM Montana/                          Acting Utah State Director will ensure                identified the area as a priority area for
                                                  Dakotas State Director that, while the                  that the good work the State of Utah has              conservation in the FWS Conservation
                                                  RFD may not have utilized the 2014                      done, including the State’s mitigation                Objectives Team Report, which led to
                                                  data provided by South Dakota, the                      plan, is considered as the PLUPA is                   the BLM identifying it as PHMA. After
                                                  analysis provides adequate information                  implemented. Notably, the State of Utah               carefully reviewing the available
                                                  with regard to overall potential                        has done outstanding work on                          information related to GRSG in and
                                                  development and serves as an                            vegetation treatments to improve habitat              around the Alton Coal tract and the
                                                  appropriate basis for the BLM’s                         condition, including its conifer removal              response by the BLM Acting Utah State
                                                  planning process.                                       implementation plans.                                 Director, I (BLM Director) am upholding
                                                    In connection with the development                                                                          the decision to retain this area as PHMA
                                                  of the PRMP, the BLM reviewed the                       Conservation Activities for the                       and deny your recommendation because
                                                  RFD Scenario for Oil and Gas Activities                 Department of Defense                                 it is inconsistent with the goal of the
                                                  on Bureau Managed Lands in the South                      Your (Governor’s) Consistency                       BLM’s GRSG conservation strategy
                                                  Dakota Study Area (RFD; BLM, 2009)                      Review and appeal letters recommend                   range-wide.
                                                  and the report reviewed by the                          that the BLM adopt planning provisions
                                                  Wyoming Reservoir Management Group,                                                                           State Authority Concerning
                                                                                                          in the amendment which provide
                                                  which includes BLM technical experts.                                                                         Management of Wildlife
                                                                                                          equivalent protections for the activities
                                                  The BLM also reviewed information                       of the Department of Defense as those                    Your consistency review and appeal
                                                  provided by the State of South Dakota                   found in the State’s Conservation Plan.               letter express concern about the
                                                  and data on drilling that has occurred in               The Department of Defense has been a                  provision which requires agreement by
                                                  the first 4 years and 10 months of the                  partner throughout the GRSG planning                  the State and FWS prior to approving
                                                  analysis period for the 2009 RFD. Based                 process and has worked with us to                     exceptions to the NSO stipulation for
                                                  on a review of this data, the BLM has                   address the potential impacts of the                  fluid mineral development in PHMA.
                                                  determined that the current drilling rate               amendment on base readiness across the                This does not raise an issue of
                                                  does not support the projections offered                range. Therefore, I (BLM Director)                    inconsistency with State or local
                                                  by the State of South Dakota.                           respectfully deny your (Governor’s)                   resource or related plans, policies or
                                                  Additionally, the reviewers determined                  appeal on this issue and uphold the                   programs; therefore, a response is not
                                                  that the 2009 RFD adequately accounted                  Acting Utah State Director’s                          required under the Governor’s
                                                  for variables such as increased gas                     determination that your                               consistency review process. Moreover,
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                                                  prices. While the RFD is not able to                    recommendation is inconsistent with                   the involvement of FWS in the
                                                  accurately predict the exact locations of               the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG                 determination as to whether there
                                                  future wells, the reviewers determined                  conservation strategy range-wide and                  would be direct, indirect, or cumulative
                                                  that in aggregate, it still provides the                the applicable legal authorities.                     impacts to GRSG does not unlawfully or
                                                  best available information with regard to                                                                     unconstitutionally infringe on state
                                                  overall potential development.                          Livestock Grazing                                     authority or unlawfully delegate BLM’s
                                                  Therefore, I respectfully deny your                       The BLM was able to provide                         authority over the public lands. Rather,
                                                  appeal on this issue.                                   clarifying information in the ROD to                  in order to provide the most protection


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                                                  61454                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 197 / Tuesday, October 13, 2015 / Notices

                                                  to GRSG in PHMA, the areas of highest                   the development of the SFAs and while                 other data sources, Internet sites, and
                                                  importance for the species, the BLM is                  I understand these concerns, I uphold                 automotive solutions that they control;
                                                  implement a structure whereby it will                   the determination of the Acting Utah                  and (2) prevents Defendants from
                                                  seek the input of local and national                    State Director, that the SFAs are                     unreasonably using their ownership
                                                  experts on GRSG—the FWS and the                         consistent with the BLM’s range-wide                  interest in Chrome Data Solutions, LP,
                                                  Utah Division of Wildlife Resources—                    GRSG conservation strategy. I also want               a company that compiles and licenses
                                                  before making decisions regarding                       to reiterate that the SFAs are a subset of            vehicle information data used by IMSs
                                                  whether to grant an exception to an                     PHMA, with limited additional                         and other solutions and Web sites.
                                                  NSO Stipulation to allow surface-                       management actions to ensure that the                    Copies of the Complaint, proposed
                                                  disturbing fluid mineral development.                   ‘‘best of the best’’ receives the attention           Final Judgment, and Competitive Impact
                                                                                                          it deserves. In addition to the                       Statement are available for inspection
                                                  Inconsistency With State Law School
                                                                                                          recommended mineral withdrawal and                    on the Antitrust Division’s Web site at
                                                  Trust Land Obligations
                                                                                                          the fluid mineral NSO stipulation                     http://www.justice.gov/atr and at the
                                                     The appeal letter requests that I (BLM               without waivers, exceptions, or                       Office of the Clerk of the United States
                                                  Director) reconsider the decision of the                modifications, these areas will be                    District Court for the District of
                                                  Acting Utah State Director related to                   prioritized for vegetation management,                Columbia. Copies of these materials may
                                                  land tenure adjustments involving lands                 review of livestock grazing permits and               be obtained from the Antitrust Division
                                                  owned and managed by the School and                     leases, habitat restoration, and fire and             upon request and payment of the
                                                  Institutional Trust Lands                               fuels actions. Therefore, I respectfully              copying fee set by Department of Justice
                                                  Administration. I have reviewed the                     deny your (Governor’s) appeal on this                 regulations.
                                                  response, as well as the clarifying                     issue and uphold the Acting Utah State                   Public comment is invited within 60
                                                  language that we have added to the                      Director’s determination that your                    days of the date of this notice. Such
                                                  amendment in response to your                           recommendation is inconsistent with                   comments, including the name of the
                                                  consistency review letter, which allows                 the goal of the BLM’s range-wide GRSG                 submitter, and responses thereto, will be
                                                  for disposal or exchange if there is a net              conservation strategy range-wide.                     posted on the Antitrust Division’s Web
                                                  conservation gain or no direct or                                                                             site, filed with the Court, and, under
                                                  indirect adverse impact to GRSG and its                   Authority: 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e).
                                                                                                                                                                certain circumstances, published in the
                                                  habitat. I believe that the state trust land            Byron Loosle,                                         Federal Register. Comments should be
                                                  exchanges and selections can be                         Acting Assistant Director, Renewable                  directed to James J. Tierney, Chief,
                                                  completed under this management                         Resources & Planning.                                 Networks &Technology Enforcement
                                                  direction and assure you that we will                   [FR Doc. 2015–25973 Filed 10–9–15; 8:45 am]           Section, Antitrust Division, Department
                                                  work with the State of Utah to complete                 BILLING CODE 4310–22–P                                of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW., Suite
                                                  such actions as appropriate. Therefore,                                                                       7100, Washington, DC 0530 (telephone:
                                                  I respectfully deny your (Governor’s)                                                                         202–307–6200).
                                                  appeal on this issue and uphold the                     DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
                                                  Acting Utah State Director’s                                                                                  Patricia A. Brink,
                                                  determination that your                                 Antitrust Division                                    Director of Civil Enforcement.
                                                  recommendation is inconsistent with                                                                           IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
                                                  the goal of the BLM’s GRSG                              United States v. Cox Enterprises, Inc.                COURT
                                                  conservation strategy range-wide.                       et al.; Proposed Final Judgment and
                                                                                                          Competitive Impact Statement                          FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
                                                  Management of Habitat Outside of                                                                                 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, U.S.
                                                  PHMA                                                      Notice is hereby given pursuant to the              Department of Justice, Antitrust
                                                     The State of Utah has recommended                    Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act,               Division, 450 Fifth Street NW., Suite
                                                  that the BLM eliminate the management                   15 U.S.C. 16(b)–(h), that a proposed                  7100, Washington, DC 20530, Plaintiff,
                                                  actions in its plans for areas outside of               Final Judgment, Hold Separate                         v. COX ENTERPRISES, INC., 6205
                                                  PHMA. After having reviewed the                         Stipulation and Order, and Competitive                Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA
                                                  information provided with your                          Impact Statement have been filed with                 30328, COX AUTOMOTIVE, INC., 3003
                                                  recommendation, I (BLM Director)                        the United States District Court for the              Summit Blvd., Suite 200, Atlanta, GA
                                                  respectfully deny your (Governor’s)                     District of Columbia in United States of              30319, and DEALERTRACK
                                                  appeal and uphold the decision of the                   America v. Cox Enterprises, Inc., et al.,             TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 1111 Marcus
                                                  Acting Utah State Director that your                    Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-01583 (TFH).                 Ave, Suite M04, Lake Success, NY
                                                  recommendation is inconsistent with                     On September 29, 2015, the United                     11042,Defendants.
                                                  the goal of the BLM’s GRSG range-wide                   States filed a Complaint alleging that                Case No. 1:15–cv–01583
                                                  conservation strategy. GHMA provides                    Cox Automotive’s proposed acquisition                 Judge: Thomas F. Hogan
                                                  important connectivity and restoration                  of Dealertrack Technologies, Inc.’s                   Description: Antitrust
                                                  areas and its protection is an essential                automobile dealership inventory                       Filed: September 29, 2015
                                                  aspect of the BLM’s GRSG conservation                   management solution (IMS) business
                                                                                                          would violate Section 7 of the Clayton                COMPLAINT
                                                  strategy. Additionally, as stated above,
                                                  the PLUPA amendment already                             Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18. The proposed Final                  The United States of America, acting
                                                  incorporates additional flexibility for                 Judgment, filed at the same time as the               under the direction of the Attorney
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  GHMA in the state of Utah because of                    Complaint, requires Defendants to                     General of the United States, brings this
                                                  the limited number of birds in GHMA.                    divest Dealertrack’s IMS business to                  civil action to enjoin the proposed
                                                                                                          DealerSocket, Inc. or to another buyer                acquisition by Defendants Cox
                                                  SFA Exemption                                           approved by the United States. The                    Enterprises, Inc. and Cox Automotive,
                                                     In your (Governor’s) appeal letter, you              proposed Final Judgment also: (1)                     Inc. (collectively, ‘‘Cox’’) of Defendant
                                                  request that I (BLM Director) reconsider                Requires Defendants to enable the                     Dealertrack Technologies, Inc.
                                                  the request to exempt Utah from SFAs.                   continuing exchange of data and content               (‘‘Dealertrack’’). The United States
                                                  I have reviewed your prior comments on                  between the divested IMS business and                 alleges as follows:


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Document Created: 2018-02-27 08:47:56
Document Modified: 2018-02-27 08:47:56
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
ContactBrian Amme, Acting Division Chief for
FR Citation80 FR 61448 

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