80_FR_70471 80 FR 70252 - Extension of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings and Public Meetings for the Proposed Withdrawal of Sagebrush Focal Areas in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, and an Associated Environmental Impact Statement

80 FR 70252 - Extension of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public Scoping Meetings and Public Meetings for the Proposed Withdrawal of Sagebrush Focal Areas in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, and an Associated Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 219 (November 13, 2015)

Page Range70252-70253
FR Document2015-28877

On September 24, 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal Areas; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming and Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Withdrawal in the Federal Register. This notice extends the comment period for both the proposed withdrawal and initial scoping for the environmental impact statement (EIS) being prepared to consider the merits of the proposed withdrawal and announces the times, dates, and locations of public meetings.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70252-70253]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28877]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO210000.16X.L11100000.PH0000 LXSISGST0000]


Extension of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public Scoping 
Meetings and Public Meetings for the Proposed Withdrawal of Sagebrush 
Focal Areas in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, and 
an Associated Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On September 24, 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
published a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal Areas; 
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming and Notice of Intent 
to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed 
Withdrawal in the Federal Register. This notice extends the comment 
period for both the proposed withdrawal and initial scoping for the 
environmental impact statement (EIS) being prepared to consider the 
merits of the proposed withdrawal and announces the times, dates, and 
locations of public meetings.

DATES: Written or emailed comments for scoping for the EIS and on the 
proposed withdrawal may be submitted through January 15, 2016. In 
addition, through this Notice the BLM is also announcing that it will 
hold public meetings in December 2015 to focus on relevant issues and 
environmental concerns, identify possible alternatives, help determine 
the scope of the EIS, and provide an opportunity for public comments on 
the proposed withdrawal. For dates and locations for the scoping 
meetings, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the BLM Director, 1849 C 
Street NW. (WO-200), Washington, DC 20240 or emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Mark Mackiewicz, BLM, by 
telephone at 435-636-3616. Persons who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to reach the BLM contact person. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM filed an application requesting the 
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management to 
withdraw, subject to valid existing rights, approximately 10 million 
acres of BLM-managed public and National Forest System lands located in 
the States of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming from 
location and entry under the United States mining law, but not from 
leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing or mineral materials 
laws.
    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA), the BLM will prepare an EIS and conduct public 
scoping meetings on the withdrawal from the mining law of approximately 
10 million acres of BLM- and United States Forest Service-administered 
public lands, in 6 western states as identified in the Federal Register 
notice of September 24, 2015 (80 FR 57635). The period for initial 
scoping comments from the public has been extended from December 23, 
2015, to January 15, 2016. These public scoping meetings will also meet 
the requirements under 43 CFR 2310 to provide public meetings for 
comment on the Notice of Proposed Withdrawal that published on 
September 24, 2015.
    The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Dates & times                 Locations           BLM contact
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 14, 2051:
    5 p.m. to 7 p.m...........  Harney County Chamber   Jody Weil, 503-
                                 of Commerce, 484        808-6287.
                                 North Broadway,
                                 Burns, OR 97720.
    5 p.m. to 7 p.m...........  Lakeview BLM District   Jody Weil, 503-
                                 Office, 1301 South G    808-6287.
                                 Street, Lakeview, OR
                                 97630.
    5 p.m. to 7 p.m...........  Salt Lake City BLM      Megan Crandall,
                                 Office, 2370 South      801-539-4020.
                                 Decker Lake Drive,
                                 West Valley City, UT
                                 84119.
Dec. 15, 2015:
    4 p.m. to 6 p.m...........  Best Western Vista Inn  Erin Curtis, 208-
                                 & Conference Center,    373-4016.
                                 2645 Airport Way,
                                 Boise, ID 83709.
    5 p.m. to 7 p.m...........  Rock Springs BLM Field  Kristen
                                 Office, 280 Highway     Lenhardt, 307-
                                 191 North, Rock         775-6015.
                                 Springs, WY 82901.
    5 p.m. to 7 p.m...........  The Nugget, 1100        Steve Clutter,
                                 Nugget Avenue,          775-861-6629.
                                 Sparks, NV 89431.
    Dec. 16, 2015.............
    2 p.m. to 4 p.m...........  Great Northern Hotel,   Al Nash, 406-896-
                                 2 South 1st Street      5260.
                                 East, Malta, MT 59538.
    4 p.m. to 6 p.m...........  Shiloh Suites           Erin Curtis, 208-
                                 Conference Hotel, 780   373-4016.
                                 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho
                                 Falls, ID 83402.

[[Page 70253]]

 
    5 p.m. to 7 p.m...........  Elko Conference         Steve Clutter,
                                 Center, 724 Moren       775-861-6629.
                                 Way, Elko, NV 89801.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The EIS will consider a No Action alternative and consider 
reasonably foreseeable mineral development activities. The EIS does not 
support a land-use plan or a land-use plan amendment. It will provide a 
comprehensive programmatic NEPA analysis for the proposed action of the 
Secretary of the Interior withdrawing these public lands from operation 
of the mining law for the conservation benefit of the Greater Sage-
grouse.
    The BLM has initially identified the following issues for analysis 
in this EIS: Air quality/climate, American Indian resources, cultural 
resources, wilderness and wilderness characteristics, mineral 
resources, public health and safety, recreation, social and economic 
conditions, soil resources, soundscapes, special status species, 
vegetation resources, visual resources, water resources, and fish and 
wildlife habitat.
    In addition, the BLM expects to address economic effects of 
withdrawing these public lands from operation of the mining law, 
wildlife habitat conservation; improvement, restoration of ecosystem 
processes; protection of cultural resources, watershed and vegetative 
community health, new listings of threatened and endangered species and 
consideration of other sensitive and special status species.

Steve Ellis,
Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-28877 Filed 11-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P

70252 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 219 / Friday, November 13, 2015 / Notices Northeast quarter of Section 8 for a ACTION: Notice. You will receive a reply during normal distance of 921.75 feet to the Point of business hours. Beginning; thence continuing along said SUMMARY: On September 24, 2015, the North line, South 88°10′18″ East 921.26 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM feet; thence South 01°29′02″ West published a Notice of Proposed filed an application requesting the parallel with the West line of said Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal Areas; Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Northeast quarter, 1316.97 feet to the Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Land and Minerals Management to South line of the North half of said and Wyoming and Notice of Intent to withdraw, subject to valid existing Northeast quarter; thence North Prepare an Environmental Impact rights, approximately 10 million acres of 88°07′39″ West along said South line, Statement for the Proposed Withdrawal BLM-managed public and National 921.26 feet; thence North 01°29′02″ East, in the Federal Register. This notice Forest System lands located in the 1316.26 feet to the Point of Beginning. extends the comment period for both States of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, EXCEPT the right of way of NW 319th the proposed withdrawal and initial Oregon, Utah and Wyoming from Street. scoping for the environmental impact location and entry under the United The above-described lands contain a statement (EIS) being prepared to States mining law, but not from leasing total of 156.401 acres, more or less, consider the merits of the proposed under the mineral or geothermal leasing which are subject to all valid rights, withdrawal and announces the times, or mineral materials laws. reservations, rights-of-way, and dates, and locations of public meetings. easements of record. Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the This proclamation does not affect title DATES: Written or emailed comments for National Environmental Policy Act of to the lands described above, nor does scoping for the EIS and on the proposed 1969 (NEPA), the BLM will prepare an it affect any valid existing easements for withdrawal may be submitted through EIS and conduct public scoping public roads, highways, public utilities, January 15, 2016. In addition, through meetings on the withdrawal from the railroads, and pipelines, or any other this Notice the BLM is also announcing mining law of approximately 10 million valid easements of rights-of-way or that it will hold public meetings in acres of BLM- and United States Forest reservations of record. December 2015 to focus on relevant Service-administered public lands, in 6 Dated: November 6, 2015. issues and environmental concerns, western states as identified in the identify possible alternatives, help Federal Register notice of September Kevin Washburn, determine the scope of the EIS, and 24, 2015 (80 FR 57635). The period for Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. provide an opportunity for public initial scoping comments from the [FR Doc. 2015–28805 Filed 11–12–15; 8:45 am] comments on the proposed withdrawal. BILLING CODE 4337–15–P public has been extended from For dates and locations for the scoping December 23, 2015, to January 15, 2016. meetings, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY These public scoping meetings will also INFORMATION section below. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR meet the requirements under 43 CFR ADDRESSES: Written comments should 2310 to provide public meetings for Bureau of Land Management be sent to the BLM Director, 1849 C comment on the Notice of Proposed [LLWO210000.16X.L11100000.PH0000 Street NW. (WO–200), Washington, DC Withdrawal that published on LXSISGST0000] 20240 or emailed to sagebrush_ September 24, 2015. withdrawals@blm.gov. Extension of Public Comment Period The dates, times, and locations of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: meetings are as follows: and Schedule of Public Scoping Contact Mark Mackiewicz, BLM, by Meetings and Public Meetings for the telephone at 435–636–3616. Persons Proposed Withdrawal of Sagebrush who use a telecommunications device Focal Areas in Idaho, Montana, for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– and an Associated Environmental 800–877–8339 to reach the BLM contact Impact Statement person. The FIRS is available 24 hours AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message Interior. or question with the above individual. Dates & times Locations BLM contact Dec. 14, 2051: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ....................... Harney County Chamber of Commerce, 484 North Broadway, Burns, Jody Weil, 503–808–6287. OR 97720. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ....................... Lakeview BLM District Office, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR Jody Weil, 503–808–6287. 97630. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ....................... Salt Lake City BLM Office, 2370 South Decker Lake Drive, West Val- Megan Crandall, 801–539–4020. ley City, UT 84119. Dec. 15, 2015: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ....................... Best Western Vista Inn & Conference Center, 2645 Airport Way, Erin Curtis, 208–373–4016. jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Boise, ID 83709. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ....................... Rock Springs BLM Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Kristen Lenhardt, 307–775–6015. Springs, WY 82901. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ....................... The Nugget, 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431 ........................ Steve Clutter, 775–861–6629. Dec. 16, 2015. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ....................... Great Northern Hotel, 2 South 1st Street East, Malta, MT 59538 ........ Al Nash, 406–896–5260. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ....................... Shiloh Suites Conference Hotel, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID Erin Curtis, 208–373–4016. 83402. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:03 Nov 12, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 219 / Friday, November 13, 2015 / Notices 70253 Dates & times Locations BLM contact 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ....................... Elko Conference Center, 724 Moren Way, Elko, NV 89801 ................. Steve Clutter, 775–861–6629. The EIS will consider a No Action comments on significant changes to the environmental consequences of the alternative and consider reasonably Proposed Plan as set forth in the Greater proposed changes and clarification have foreseeable mineral development Sage-Grouse Bi-State Distinct been analyzed as part of the Plan activities. The EIS does not support a Population Segment (BSSG) Forest Plan Amendment and Final EIS. After land-use plan or a land-use plan Amendment and Final Environmental considering any comments on these amendment. It will provide a Impact Statement (EIS), announced on changes, the BLM expects to issue a comprehensive programmatic NEPA February 13, 2015. Following ROD amending the Carson City Field analysis for the proposed action of the consideration of any comments on these Office Consolidated Resource Secretary of the Interior withdrawing changes, the BLM intends to issue a Management Plan and the Tonopah these public lands from operation of the Record of Decision (ROD) amending the Field Office Resource Management Plan. mining law for the conservation benefit Carson City Field Office Consolidated The Environmental Protection Agency of the Greater Sage-grouse. Resource Management Plan and the (EPA) published the Notice of The BLM has initially identified the Tonopah Field Office Resource Availability (NOA) for the BSSG Forest following issues for analysis in this EIS: Management Plan. Plan Amendment/Draft EIS in the Air quality/climate, American Indian DATES: Written comments on the Federal Register on August 23, 2013 (78 resources, cultural resources, wilderness changes to the Proposed Plan will be FR 52524), which initiated a 90-day and wilderness characteristics, mineral accepted until December 14, 2015. comment period. An NOA for the BSSG resources, public health and safety, ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Forest Plan Amendment/Revised Draft recreation, social and economic related to the significant changes to the EIS was published by the EPA on July conditions, soil resources, soundscapes, Proposed Plan by any of the following 11, 2014 (79 FR 40100), which initiated special status species, vegetation methods: a second 90-day comment period. The resources, visual resources, water • Email: blm_nv_ccdowebmail@ EPA published the NOA for the BSSG resources, and fish and wildlife habitat. blm.gov. Forest Plan Amendment and Final EIS In addition, the BLM expects to • Fax: 775–885–6147. in the Federal Register on February 13, address economic effects of • Mail: BLM Carson City District, 2015 (80 FR 8081), which initiated a 30- withdrawing these public lands from Attn: Colleen Sievers, Project Manager, day BLM protest period and 60-day operation of the mining law, wildlife 5665 Morgan Mill Rd., Carson City, NV Governors consistency review period. habitat conservation; improvement, 89701. The Plan Amendment and Final EIS restoration of ecosystem processes; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: identified the BLM Plan as the Proposed protection of cultural resources, Colleen Sievers, Project Manager, Plan. The BLM received three protest watershed and vegetative community telephone: 775–885–6168; address: 5665 letters. In response to those protests and health, new listings of threatened and Morgan Mill Rd., Carson City, NV based on additional policy discussions, endangered species and consideration of 89701; email: blm_nv_ccdowebmail@ the BLM has determined that it will other sensitive and special status blm.gov. Persons who use a clarify and make changes to the species. telecommunications device for the deaf Proposed Plan. (TDD) may call the Federal Information The clarification and changes include: Steve Ellis, Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 (1) Identifying disturbance levels within Deputy Director, Bureau of Land to contact the above individual during Management. BSSG habitat; (2) Adjusting buffers for normal business hours. The FIRS is tall structures near active or pending [FR Doc. 2015–28877 Filed 11–12–15; 8:45 am] available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, leks; (3) Adding a restriction for new BILLING CODE 4310–84–P to leave a message or question with the high-power transmission lines; and (4) above individual. You will receive a Changing on-the-ground management reply during normal business hours. for habitat connectivity. This notice DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The identifies those clarifications and Bureau of Land Management United States Forest Service (USFS) was changes and initiates a 30-day public the lead agency for preparing the BSSG comment period (43 CFR 1610.2(f)(5) [LLNVC00000.L16100000.DR0000; 14– Forest Plan Amendment (Plan and 43 CFR 1610.5–1(b)). 08807; MO# 4500080864] Amendment) and Final EIS. As part of that effort and based on the analysis in Habitat Disturbance—Proposed Change Opportunity To Comment on Changes the Final EIS, the BLM, a cooperating The BLM is changing the Proposed to the Nevada and California Greater agency, proposes to amend the Carson Plan, as it was set forth in the Plan Sage-Grouse Bi-State Distinct City Field Office Consolidated Resource Amendment and Final EIS, to set a total Population Segment Carson City Field Management Plan and the Tonopah anthropogenic disturbance of no more Office Consolidated Resource Field Office Resource Management Plan. than 3 percent of the total BSSG habitat Management Plan and the Tonopah Following the release of the Proposed on Federal lands within the Bodie Field Office Resource Management Plan and the conclusion of the protest Mountain/Grant, Desert Creek/Fales, jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Plan Amendment, Nevada process, the BLM identified changes and and White Mountains population AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, a clarification for the Proposed Plan as management unit boundaries (C–Wild– Interior. explained below and determined, S–04), and a total anthropogenic ACTION: Notice. pursuant to the applicable authorities disturbance of no more than 1.5 percent (43 CFR 1610.2(f)(5) and 43 CFR of the total BSSG habitat on Federal SUMMARY:The Bureau of Land 1610.5–1(b)), that public comment on lands within the Pine Nut Mountains Management (BLM) is soliciting those measures is necessary. The population management unit (PMU) VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:03 Nov 12, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1


Document Created: 2018-03-01 11:22:10
Document Modified: 2018-03-01 11:22:10
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.
DatesWritten or emailed comments for scoping for the EIS and on the proposed withdrawal may be submitted through January 15, 2016. In addition, through this Notice the BLM is also announcing that it will hold public meetings in December 2015 to focus on relevant issues and environmental concerns, identify possible alternatives, help determine the scope of the EIS, and provide an opportunity for public comments on the proposed withdrawal. For dates and locations for the scoping meetings, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
ContactContact Mark Mackiewicz, BLM, by telephone at 435-636-3616. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to reach the BLM contact person. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
FR Citation80 FR 70252 
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