81 FR 84611 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project, Owyhee County, Idaho
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 226 (November 23, 2016)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 226 (November 23, 2016)
| Page Range | 84611-84612 | |
| FR Document | 2016-28236 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 226 (Wednesday, November 23, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 84611-84612] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-28236] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [15XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 241A 4500084766] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project, Owyhee County, Idaho AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project Draft EIS within 45 days of this Notice of Availability being published in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed Bruneau- Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project by any of the following methods:Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_register/BOSH-juniper-removal.html. Email: [email protected]. Fax: 208-384-3205. Mail: 3948 S. Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705. Please title your correspondence, ``BOSH Project'' and include ``Attn: Mike McGee.'' Electronic copies of the proposed Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project Draft EIS are available at the BLM Boise District Office at the above address; you may also view or download the Draft EIS at the Web site listed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike McGee, Project Lead/Wildlife Biologist, 3948 S. Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705; via email at [email protected]; or phone (208) 384-3464. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. McGee. The Service [[Page 84612]] is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Mr. McGee. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Loss of suitable sage-grouse habitat from conversion of sagebrush steppe to juniper woodlands is a major threat to Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in southwest Idaho. The BLM, in collaboration with other Federal and State agencies and local groups, is proposing to remove encroaching juniper in areas that would provide the greatest benefit to existing sage-grouse habitat and improve the long-term viability and persistence of sage-grouse in the BOSH project area. The purpose of the project is to restore, improve, and maintain Greater Sage-Grouse habitat at a landscape scale that is being and/or has been degraded by the encroachment of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) into sagebrush communities. The proposed BOSH project boundary encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres in the BLM Owyhee and Bruneau Field Office management areas in Owyhee County, Idaho. Within the proposed project area, an approximately 600,000-acre focal treatment area has been identified based on modeling and treatment criteria. The preferred alternative is to remove all juniper within 3 kilometers of occupied sage-grouse leks (breeding habitat areas where male sage-grouse gather each spring to perform courtship displays to attract and mate with females), all juniper in the early phases of encroachment (greater than 20 percent canopy cover), as well as 5-acre or smaller patches of later phases of juniper encroachment (less than 20 percent canopy cover) in riparian areas deemed important for sage-grouse in the focal treatment area. Old growth juniper trees, as identified in the Draft EIS, will not be removed during these treatments. Proposed treatment methods include cutting juniper with handsaws or chainsaws, lopping with pruning shears, or using heavy equipment such as a track-hoe fitted with a grinding implement (masticator) or a shearing implement (large, powerful pruning shears). Juniper material (logs, branches, etc.) may be scattered on site and left, or the material may be jackpot-burned or piled and burned where scattering cut material is not feasible or desirable (e.g., where there would be too much material to scatter, or in riparian areas). The focal treatment area includes approximately 47,000 acres of designated wilderness where only non-motorized hand tools would be used to cut juniper, which must be less than or equal to eight inches diameter at breast height, and access to treatment areas would be permitted on foot only. Juniper treatment in wilderness is included in the preferred alternative because 92 percent of the wilderness area (43,000 acres) is identified as a Priority Habitat Management Area for sage-grouse, and the remaining 8 percent (4,000 acres) is considered a General Habitat Management Area. Habitat management areas are delineated in the Record of Decision for the 2015 Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments for Idaho and Southwest Montana. The BLM used the Minimum Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG) to ensure that juniper treatments in wilderness areas would produce the least disturbance possible (e.g., hand saws only, no vehicle travel off designated roads, foot traffic only, etc.). The other alternatives analyzed in the draft EIS include the No Action alternative (i.e., present management would continue as usual and the project would not be implemented in any form) and an action alternative to treat juniper on approximately 553,000 acres within the project area boundary that excludes wilderness (i.e., juniper in the 47, 000 acres of designated wilderness would remain untreated). Internal meetings and meetings with collaborators to discuss and develop the project proposal began in 2013. A 30-day public scoping period was held from January 20 to February 20, 2015 to aid the BLM in project development. The scoping period included public meetings held at the Boise District Office on February 4, 2015 and at the Owyhee County Historical Museum on February 5, 2015. Important issues identified during internal and public scoping and addressed in the document include effects to the following: wildlife habitat (especially sage-grouse and migratory birds), native plant communities, riparian areas and vegetation, soils, visual resources, spread of noxious weeds and invasive plants, wilderness values, recreation values, cultural resources, and social values. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Lara Douglas, BLM Boise District Manager. [FR Doc. 2016-28236 Filed 11-22-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 226 / Wednesday, November 23, 2016 / Notices 84611
HUD pursuant to the Governmentwide of an employee of HUD’s Office of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Suspension and Debarment regulations Housing (other than in such employee’s
at 2 CFR parts 180 and 2424; official capacity); or Bureau of Land Management
2. An individual or entity that is The Qualification Statement has
[15XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000
currently suspended, debarred or additional representations and LXSS020D0000 241A 4500084766]
otherwise restricted by any department warranties which the prospective bidder
or agency of the federal government or must make, including but not limited to Notice of Availability of the Draft
of a state government from doing the representation and warranty that the Environmental Impact Statement for
business with such department or prospective bidder or its Related the Proposed Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-
agency; Entities are not and will not knowingly Grouse Habitat Project, Owyhee
3. An individual or entity that is use the services, directly or indirectly, County, Idaho
currently debarred, suspended, or of any person or entity that is, any of the
excluded from doing mortgage related following (and to the extent that any AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
business, including having a business such individual or entity would prevent Interior.
license suspended, surrendered or the prospective bidder from making the ACTION: Notice.
revoked, by any federal, state or local following representations, such
government agency, division or individual or entity has been removed SUMMARY: In accordance with the
department; from participation in all activities National Environmental Policy Act of
4. An entity that has had its right to related to this sale and has no ability to 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of
act as a Government National Mortgage influence or control individuals Land Management (BLM) has prepared
Association (‘‘Ginnie Mae’’) issuer involved in formation of a bid for this a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
terminated and its interest in mortgages sale): (Draft EIS) for the proposed Bruneau-
backing Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed (1) An entity or individual is Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat (BOSH)
securities extinguished by Ginnie Mae; ineligible to bid on any included reverse Project and by this notice is announcing
5. An individual or entity that is in mortgage loan or on the pool containing the opening of the comment period.
violation of its neighborhood stabilizing such reverse mortgage loan because it is DATES: To ensure comments will be
outcome obligations or post-sale an entity or individual that: considered, the BLM must receive
reporting requirements under a (a) serviced or held such reverse written comments on the Bruneau-
Conveyance, Assignment and mortgage loan at any time during the Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project
Assumption Agreement executed for two-year period prior to the bid, or Draft EIS within 45 days of this Notice
any previous mortgage loansale of HUD; (b) is any principal of any entity or of Availability being published in the
6. An employee of HUD’s Office of individual described in the preceding Federal Register. The BLM will
Housing, a member of such employee’s sentence; announce future meetings or hearings
household, or an entity owned or (c) any employee or subcontractor of
and any other public involvement
controlled by any such employee or such entity or individual during that
activities at least 15 days in advance
member of such an employee’s two-year period; or
(d) any entity or individual that through public notices, media releases,
household with household to be and mailings.
inclusive of the employee’s father, employs or uses the services of any
other entity or individual described in ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
mother, stepfather, stepmother, brother,
this paragraph in preparing its bid on related to the proposed Bruneau-
sister, stepbrother, stepsister, son,
such reverse mortgage loan. Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project by
daughter, stepson, stepdaughter,
any of the following methods:
grandparent, grandson, granddaughter, Freedom of Information Act Requests • Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/
father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-
HUD reserves the right, in its sole and en/prog/nepa_register/BOSH-juniper-
law, sister-in-law, son-in-law, daughter- absolute discretion, to disclose removal.html.
in-law, first cousin, the spouse of any of information regarding HVLS 2017–1, • Email: blm_id_bruneauo
the foregoing, and the employee’s including, but not limited to, the wyheesagegrouse@blm.gov.
spouse;
7. A contractor, subcontractor and/or
identity of any successful qualified • Fax: 208–384–3205.
consultant or advisor (including any
bidder and its bid price or bid • Mail: 3948 S. Development Ave.,
percentage for any pool of loans or Boise, ID 83705.
agent, employee, partner, director, or
individual loan, upon the closing of the Please title your correspondence,
principal of any of the foregoing) who
sale of all the Mortgage Loans. Even if ‘‘BOSH Project’’ and include ‘‘Attn:
performed services for or on behalf of HUD elects not to publicly disclose any
HUD in connection with the sale; Mike McGee.’’ Electronic copies of the
information relating to SFLS 2017–1, proposed Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse
8. An individual or entity that
HUD will disclose any information that Habitat Project Draft EIS are available at
knowingly acquired or will acquire
HUD is obligated to disclose pursuant to the BLM Boise District Office at the
prior to the sale date material non-
the Freedom of Information Act and all above address; you may also view or
public information, other than that
regulations promulgated thereunder. download the Draft EIS at the Web site
information which is made available to
Bidder by HUD pursuant to the terms of Scope of Notice listed above.
this Qualification Statement, about FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
This notice applies to HVLS 2017–1
mortgage loans offered in the sale; Mike McGee, Project Lead/Wildlife
and does not establish HUD’s policy for
9. An individual or entity that Biologist, 3948 S. Development Ave.,
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
the sale of other mortgage loans.
knowingly uses the services, directly or Boise, ID 83705; via email at
indirectly, of any person or entity Dated: November 16, 2016. blm_id_bruneauowyheesagegrouse
ineligible under 1 through 10 to assist Edward L. Golding, @blm.gov; or phone (208) 384–3464.
in preparing any of its bids on the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Persons who use a telecommunications
mortgage loans; Housing. device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
10. An individual or entity which [FR Doc. 2016–28244 Filed 11–22–16; 8:45 am] Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–
knowingly employs or uses the services BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 8339 to contact Mr. McGee. The Service
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 Nov 22, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_84837/page/1.svg)
![84612 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 226 / Wednesday, November 23, 2016 / Notices
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a cut juniper, which must be less than or comment, you should be aware that
week, to leave a message or question equal to eight inches diameter at breast your entire comment—including your
with Mr. McGee. You will receive a height, and access to treatment areas personal identifying information—may
reply during normal business hours. would be permitted on foot only. be made publicly available at any time.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Loss of Juniper treatment in wilderness is While you can ask us in your comment
suitable sage-grouse habitat from included in the preferred alternative to withhold your personal identifying
conversion of sagebrush steppe to because 92 percent of the wilderness information from public review, we
juniper woodlands is a major threat to area (43,000 acres) is identified as a cannot guarantee that we will be able to
Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus Priority Habitat Management Area for do so.
urophasianus) in southwest Idaho. The sage-grouse, and the remaining 8 Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
BLM, in collaboration with other percent (4,000 acres) is considered a
General Habitat Management Area. Lara Douglas,
Federal and State agencies and local
groups, is proposing to remove Habitat management areas are BLM Boise District Manager.
encroaching juniper in areas that would delineated in the Record of Decision for [FR Doc. 2016–28236 Filed 11–22–16; 8:45 am]
provide the greatest benefit to existing the 2015 Greater Sage-Grouse Approved BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
sage-grouse habitat and improve the Resource Management Plan
long-term viability and persistence of Amendments for Idaho and Southwest
sage-grouse in the BOSH project area. Montana. The BLM used the Minimum DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The purpose of the project is to restore, Requirements Decision Guide (MRDG)
to ensure that juniper treatments in Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
improve, and maintain Greater Sage-
Grouse habitat at a landscape scale that wilderness areas would produce the [Docket No. BOEM–2016–0003];
is being and/or has been degraded by least disturbance possible (e.g., hand [MAA104000]
the encroachment of western juniper saws only, no vehicle travel off
(Juniperus occidentalis) into sagebrush designated roads, foot traffic only, etc.). Notice of Availability of the 2017–2022
The other alternatives analyzed in the Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas
communities.
draft EIS include the No Action Leasing Proposed Final Program
The proposed BOSH project boundary
alternative (i.e., present management
encompasses approximately 1.5 million AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy
would continue as usual and the project
acres in the BLM Owyhee and Bruneau would not be implemented in any form) Management, Interior.
Field Office management areas in and an action alternative to treat juniper ACTION: Notice of availability.
Owyhee County, Idaho. Within the on approximately 553,000 acres within
proposed project area, an approximately SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy
the project area boundary that excludes
600,000-acre focal treatment area has Management (BOEM) is announcing the
wilderness (i.e., juniper in the 47, 000
been identified based on modeling and availability of the 2017–2022 Outer
acres of designated wilderness would
treatment criteria. The preferred Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas
remain untreated).
alternative is to remove all juniper Internal meetings and meetings with Leasing Proposed Final Program
within 3 kilometers of occupied sage- collaborators to discuss and develop the (‘‘Proposed Final Program’’ or ‘‘PFP’’).
grouse leks (breeding habitat areas project proposal began in 2013. A 30- This proposal is the last of three
where male sage-grouse gather each day public scoping period was held proposals for the 2017–2022 OCS Oil
spring to perform courtship displays to from January 20 to February 20, 2015 to and Gas Leasing Program that will
attract and mate with females), all aid the BLM in project development. succeed the current, 2012–2017
juniper in the early phases of The scoping period included public Program. The PFP provides information
encroachment (greater than 20 percent meetings held at the Boise District and analyses to inform the Secretary of
canopy cover), as well as 5-acre or Office on February 4, 2015 and at the the Interior’s (Secretary) decision on the
smaller patches of later phases of Owyhee County Historical Museum on size, timing, and location of leasing in
juniper encroachment (less than 20 February 5, 2015. Important issues the 2017–2022 Program. Section 18 of
percent canopy cover) in riparian areas identified during internal and public the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344)
deemed important for sage-grouse in the scoping and addressed in the document specifies a multi-step process of
focal treatment area. Old growth juniper include effects to the following: wildlife consultation and analysis that must be
trees, as identified in the Draft EIS, will habitat (especially sage-grouse and completed before the Secretary may
not be removed during these treatments. migratory birds), native plant approve a new OCS Oil and Gas Leasing
Proposed treatment methods include communities, riparian areas and Program, commonly known as the Five-
cutting juniper with handsaws or vegetation, soils, visual resources, Year Program. The required steps
chainsaws, lopping with pruning shears, spread of noxious weeds and invasive following this notice include a
or using heavy equipment such as a plants, wilderness values, recreation minimum 60-day period after the
track-hoe fitted with a grinding values, cultural resources, and social submission of the PFP to the President
implement (masticator) or a shearing values. and Congress before the Secretary may
implement (large, powerful pruning Please note that public comments and approve the 2017–2022 Program.
shears). Juniper material (logs, branches, information submitted including names, Concurrently with this notice, and
etc.) may be scattered on site and left, street addresses, and email addresses of pursuant to the National Environmental
or the material may be jackpot-burned persons who submit comments will be Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM is publishing
or piled and burned where scattering available for public review and a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
cut material is not feasible or desirable disclosure at the above address during Final Programmatic Environmental
(e.g., where there would be too much regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Impact Statement (PEIS) for the 2017–
material to scatter, or in riparian areas). Monday through Friday, except 2022 Program.
The focal treatment area includes holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
approximately 47,000 acres of Before including your address, phone Kelly Hammerle, Five-Year Program
designated wilderness where only non- number, email address, or other Manager, at (703) 787–1613 or
motorized hand tools would be used to personal identifying information in your Kelly.hammerle@boem.gov.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:04 Nov 22, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23NON1.SGM 23NON1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_84837/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2016-11-23 05:29:29
Document Modified: 2016-11-23 05:29:29
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project Draft EIS within 45 days of this Notice of Availability being published in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and mailings. | |
| Contact | Mike McGee, Project Lead/Wildlife Biologist, 3948 S. Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705; via email at [email protected]; or phone (208) 384-3464. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. McGee. The Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Mr. McGee. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 84611 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR