81 FR 96478 - Notice of Amended Proposed Withdrawal, Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 251 (December 30, 2016)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 251 (December 30, 2016)
| Page Range | 96478-96481 | |
| FR Document | 2016-31629 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 251 (Friday, December 30, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 96478-96481] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-31629] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO350000.16X.L11100000.PI0000 LXSISGMW0000] Notice of Amended Proposed Withdrawal, Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the amendment of the September 24, 2015, application by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of public and National Forest System lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The amendment adds 387,981.42 acres in the State of Nevada and refines the proposed withdrawal boundaries in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition, this notice announces the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review, which analyzes and discloses the impacts of the proposed withdrawal. DATES: Comments must be received by March 28, 2017. Meetings will be held to provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed withdrawal amendment and the draft EIS. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the locations, dates, and times of the scheduled public meetings. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mark Mackiewicz, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) WO, C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, UT 84501 or submitted electronically to [email protected]. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for an electronic link and office locations where specific legal descriptions and maps of the lands may be reviewed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark A. Mackiewicz, BLM, by telephone at 435-636-3616, or by email at [email protected]. Persons using a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 24, 2015, a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal was published in the Federal Register (80 FR 57635), as corrected (80 FR 63583), which provided notice of the proposal to withdraw the identified lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. As a result of a request submitted by the State of Nevada, the BLM (applicant) petitioned the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management to amend the original proposal through the addition of 387,981.42 acres of lands in that state. These lands represent a proposal by the State of Nevada to substitute for withdrawal 487,756 acres of high mineral development potential areas in Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) for areas adjacent to SFAs that contain high value habitat and identified Greater Sage-Grouse populations. This petition also amends the original withdrawal proposal by adjusting the boundary of lands located in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming as a result of legal land description refinements that defined the proposed withdrawal boundaries utilizing the public land survey system standards. The boundary adjustments resulted in a slight decrease in overall acres proposed for withdrawal, though refinements vary section-by-section. The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management has approved the BLM's petition. This action therefore, constitutes a withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1-3(e)). Exhibit ``A'' of the application amendment describes the proposed additional public lands in Nevada being considered for withdrawal. Exhibit ``B'' describes all of the lands in both the original withdrawal application and the proposed withdrawal amendment under consideration by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The withdrawal [[Page 96479]] amendment includes 387,981.42 acres in the State of Nevada and the boundary adjustment of lands located in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming that were identified as a result of legal land description refinements. The written legal land descriptions and the maps depicting the proposed withdrawal for both Exhibit ``A'' and Exhibit ``B'' may be found on the BLM internet Web site link: https://www.blm.gov/node/3282. The maps, legal land descriptions, and records relating to the amendment application may be examined at the following BLM State Offices or USFS Regional Offices or by contacting Mark Mackiewicz at 435-636-3616. Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709. Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101- 4669. Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502. Oregon State Office, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland OR 97204. Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009. U.S. Forest Service, Region 1, 200 E Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802. U.S. Forest Service, Region 4, Federal Building, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. U.S. Forest Service, Region 6, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland OR 97204. The withdrawal proposal (including the amendment) will be processed in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300. The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat from adverse effects of locatable mineral exploration and mining. Publication of this notice segregates the lands described in the amended withdrawal application from location or entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, until September 24, 2017, unless the withdrawal application is denied or cancelled or the withdrawal is approved prior to that date. All of the lands (unless otherwise subject to an existing withdrawal) will remain open to the public land laws, leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and disposal under the mineral material sales laws. Non-Federal mineral lands located within the boundaries of the proposed withdrawal areas will not be affected. Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or discretionary land use authorizations may be allowed during the temporary segregative period, but only with the approval of the authorized officer of the BLM or the USFS. The use of a right-of-way, interagency or cooperative agreement, or surface management by the BLM under 43 CFR 3715 or 43 CFR 3809 regulations will not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses, which could result in loss of critical Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. There are no suitable alternative sites for the withdrawal. No water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested withdrawal. The proposed action analyzed in the draft EIS considers a withdrawal of approximately 10 million acres of Federal lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws for a maximum period of 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. The lands included in the proposed action are National System of Public Lands and National Forest System lands administered by the BLM and the USFS. Public scoping for this project began on September 24, 2015, and closed on January 15, 2016, with the publication in the Federal Register of the Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal Areas; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming and Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS. During public scoping there were 5,078 unique letters submitted. The issues identified include, but are not limited to:Development of Federal mineral resources is authorized by law on BLM and National Forest System Lands; restrictions or closures may decrease the ability to provide mineral resources; The proposed action could affect the social and economic conditions within the analysis area, particularly in smaller communities; The proposed action could reduce the potential for disturbance to vegetation communities and habitat alteration and fragmentation that otherwise might have occurred from mining activity; and Mineral exploration and development has the potential to impact wildlife, including special status species and associated habitat within and adjacent to the proposed withdrawal area. An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the draft EIS to consider a variety of resource issues and concerns. Based on internal and external scoping, the issues analyzed in detail in the draft EIS include: Geology and mineral resources; Vegetation, including special status plant species; Wildlife and special status animal species, including Greater Sage-Grouse; and Socioeconomic conditions, including environmental justice and human health and safety. In addition to the proposed action, the draft EIS analyzes and discloses the potential effects of the No Action alternative, State of Nevada alternative, High Mineral Potential alternative, and State of Idaho alternative. Under the No Action alternative, the proposed withdrawal area would remain open to location and entry under the United States mining laws. New mining claims could be located and the BLM and USFS would continue to oversee and regulate locatable mineral exploration and development in accordance with existing programs, polices, and regulations. Under the State of Nevada alternative, 487,756 acres of lands in Nevada, that are part of the proposed action would not be withdrawn and 387,981.42 acres of priority Greater Sage-Grouse habitat located contiguous to but outside the SFAs in the State would be included in the withdrawal. Nevada suggested that this alternative be considered to reduce the anticipated economic effect of the proposed withdrawal to the State of Nevada while still meeting the purpose and need for the proposed action. Under the High Mineral Potential alternative, all areas within the SFAs that contain lands with high mineral potential, as defined by the Sagebrush Mineral-Resource Assessment prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey, would not be withdrawn. Under this alternative, 558,918 acres of high mineral potential lands in the six states that are part of the proposed action would not be withdrawn. Under the State of Idaho alternative, 538,742 acres of economically developable lands in the State of Idaho that are part of the proposed action would be excluded from the proposed withdrawal and left open to location and entry under the United States mining laws. The State of Idaho identified these areas as economically developable. No additional lands are being proposed for inclusion in the withdrawal under this alternative. Thirty-one agencies and two American Indian Tribes have entered into Cooperating Agency agreements with the BLM for this EIS effort. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal (40 CFR 1508.5). Cooperating agencies participate in the preparation of the NEPA analysis and documentation. Cooperating agency [[Page 96480]] status does not imply the agency supports the proposed action. The BLM also contacted 53 American Indian governments via letter or face-to-face meetings during scoping and prior to the release of the draft EIS. The governments were provided a project update, an offer to provide more information, and an offer for government-to-government consultation. In accordance with 36 CFR 800.3(a)(1), the BLM determined that the proposed SFA withdrawal is an undertaking that has no potential to affect historic properties, assuming such historic properties were present, and therefore the agency official has no further obligation under the National Historic Preservation Act. The BLM informed 53 American Indian governments; the Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming State Historic Preservation Offices; and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation of this determination of effect. The draft EIS is available at the following libraries and offices online at: https://www.blm.gov/node/3282. IDAHO BLM Offices Boise District Office, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705 Owyhee Field Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, ID 83639 Idaho Falls District Office, 1405 Hollipark Dr., Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Pocatello Field Office, 4350 South Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204 Twin Falls District Office, 2878 Addison Ave. E, Twin Falls, ID 83301 Shoshone Field Office, 400 West ``F'' Street, Shoshone, ID 83352 Salmon Field Office, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, ID 83467 Burley Field Office, 15 East 200 South, Burley, ID 83318 Challis Field Office, 1151 Blue Mountain Road, Challis, ID 83226 U.S. Forest Service Offices Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Salmon-Challis National Forest, 1206 S. Challis Street, Salmon, ID 83467 Sawtooth National Forest, 2647 Kimberly Road East, Twin Falls, ID 83301 Libraries Mountain Home Public Library, 790 N 10th E Street, Mountain Home, ID 83647 Boise Public Library, 715 S Capitol Boulevard, Boise, ID 83702 Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83301 Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 W Broadway Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402 MONTANA BLM Offices HiLine District Office, 1101 15th Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401 Glasgow Field Office, 5 Lasar Drive, Glasgow, MT 59230 Malta Field Office, 501 S. 2nd Street East, Malta, MT 59538 Central Montana District Office, 920 Northeast Main, Lewistown, MT 59457 Lewistown Field Office, 920 Northeast Main, Lewistown, MT 59457 Libraries Lewistown Public Library, 701 West Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457 Phillips County Library, P.O. Box 840, Malta, MT 59538 Glasgow City-County Library, 408 3rd Avenue South, Glasgow, MT 59230 NEVADA BLM Offices BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno NV 89502 Elko District Office, 3900 Idaho St., Elko, NV 89801 Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445 BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820 U.S. Forest Service Offices Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431 Libraries Humboldt County Library, US Highway 95, McDermitt, NV 89421 Humboldt County Library, 85 East 5th Street, Winnemucca, NV 89445 Elko County Library, 720 Court Street, Elko, NV 89801 Battle Mountain Branch Library, PO Box 141, NV 89820 Jackpot Branch Library, 2301 Progressive Road, Jackpot, NV 89825 Washoe County Library, PO Box 2151, Reno, NV 89801 OREGON BLM Offices Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West, Hines, OR 97738 Lakeview Field Office, 1301 South G. Street, Lakeview, OR 97630 Vale District Office, 100 Oregon St, Vale, OR 97918 U.S. Forest Service Offices Fremont-Winema National Forest, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630 Libraries Harney County Library, 80 West D Street, Burns OR 97720 Malheur County Library, 388 SW 2nd Avenue, Ontario, OR 97914 Lake County Library, County Courthouse, Lakeview, OR 97630 UTAH BLM Offices West Desert District Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Blvd., West Valley City, UT 84119 BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 U.S. Forest Service Offices Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 857 West South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095 Libraries Box Elder County Bookmobile Library, 80 W 50 S, Willard, UT 84340-0595 Cache County Library at Providence, 15 North Main, Providence, UT 84332 Rich County Library and Bookmobile, 20 N Main, Randolph, UT 84064 Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 WYOMING BLM Offices High Desert District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, WY 82901 Kemmerer Field Office, 430 North Highway 189, Kemmerer, WY 83101 Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office, 101 South 23rd, Worland, WY 82401 Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520 Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, WY 82941 Libraries Fremont County Library, 244 Amoretti Street, Lander, WY 82520 Rock Springs Library, 400 C Street, Rock Springs, WY 82901 Lincoln County Library, 519 Emerald Street, Kemmerer, WY 83101 Sublette County Library, 155 S Tyler Street, Pinedale, WY 82941 Specific comments or concerns about the proposed withdrawal will be most helpful to the BLM. Your comments should identify specific concerns with the potential environmental effects, reasonable alternatives, and measures to [[Page 96481]] avoid or lessen the proposed withdrawal's environmental impacts. The more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is important that the BLM receive your comments before March 28, 2017. After the comments are reviewed, any significant new issues will be investigated, modifications will be made to the draft EIS, and a final EIS will be published and distributed. The final EIS will contain the agency's responses to timely comments received on the draft EIS. In accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b)(2)(iv) and 40 CFR 1506.6(b), for a period until March 28, 2017, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal amendment as it relates to the lands in the six states and/or the draft EIS may present their views in writing to Mark Mackiewicz, BLM WO, C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, Utah 84501, or by email to: [email protected] or by attending one of the public meetings on the dates and times as noted below. Notice is also hereby given that public meetings in connection with the proposed withdrawal and the release of the draft EIS will be held on the following dates, times, and locations: Monday, February 13, 2017, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.--Great Northern Hotel, 2 South 1st Street, Malta, MT 59538 Tuesday, February 14, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--BLM West Desert District Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Dr., West Valley City, UT 84119 Wednesday, February 15, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Rock Springs BLM Office, 280 Hwy 191 N, Rock Springs, WY 82901 Thursday, February 16, 2017, from 5p.m. to 7 p.m.--Shiloh Suites Conference Hotel, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83402 Tuesday, February 21, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--The Nugget, 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431 Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Lakeview BLM District Office, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97720 Thursday, February 23, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Elko Conference Center, 724 Moren Way, Elko, NV 89801 Friday, February 24, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Best Western Vista Inn, 2645 Airport Way, Boise, ID 83709 The public will have an opportunity to provide oral and written comments at the meetings. All comments received will be considered before any recommendation concerning the proposed withdrawal is submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management for final action. Comments including names and street addresses of respondents will be available for public review at the BLM Washington Office at the address noted above, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, except Federal 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. Jenna Whitlock, Acting Deputy Director, Operations, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2016-31629 Filed 12-29-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
![96478 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 251 / Friday, December 30, 2016 / Notices
the Tribe’s fee-to-trust application and a Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as withdrawals@blm.gov. Please see the
secretarial determination pursuant to amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4345 et seq.), SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
Section 2719(b)(1)(A) of the Indian and the Department of the Interior an electronic link and office locations
Gaming Regulatory Act. The EIS will National Environmental Policy Act where specific legal descriptions and
identify and evaluate issues related to Implementation Policy (43 CFR part 46), maps of the lands may be reviewed.
these approvals, and will also evaluate and is in the exercise of authority FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
a range of reasonable alternatives. delegated to the Assistant Secretary— Mark A. Mackiewicz, BLM, by
Possible alternatives currently under Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8. telephone at 435–636–3616, or by email
consideration include: (1) An expanded Dated: December 22, 2016. at mmackiew@blm.gov. Persons using a
site alternative that involves acquiring telecommunications device for the deaf
Lawrence S. Roberts,
additional adjacent fee-land into trust (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
for the development of ancillary Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs. Service (FRS) at 800–877–8339. FRS is
infrastructure and overflow parking; (2) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
[FR Doc. 2016–31724 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am]
a reduced-intensity casino alternative; to leave a message or question. You will
(3) an alternate-use (non-casino) BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
receive a reply during normal business
alternative; and (4) an alternative hours.
involving expansion of the Tribe’s
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
existing casino. The range of issues and
September 24, 2015, a Notice of
alternatives may be expanded based on Bureau of Land Management Proposed Withdrawal was published in
comments received during the scoping
[LLWO350000.16X.L11100000.PI0000 the Federal Register (80 FR 57635), as
process.
Areas of environmental concern LXSISGMW0000] corrected (80 FR 63583), which
identified for analysis in the EIS include provided notice of the proposal to
land resources; water resources; air Notice of Amended Proposed withdraw the identified lands from
quality; noise; biological resources; Withdrawal, Release of Draft location and entry under the United
cultural/historical/archaeological Environmental Impact Statement, and States mining laws for 20 years, subject
resources; resource use patterns; traffic Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho, to valid existing rights. As a result of a
and transportation; public health and Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and request submitted by the State of
safety; hazardous materials and Wyoming Nevada, the BLM (applicant) petitioned
hazardous wastes; public services and the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Land and Minerals Management to
utilities; socioeconomics; environmental Interior.
justice; visual resources/aesthetics; and amend the original proposal through the
ACTION: Notice. addition of 387,981.42 acres of lands in
cumulative, indirect, and growth-
inducing effects. The range of issues and SUMMARY: This notice announces the that state. These lands represent a
alternatives to be addressed in the EIS amendment of the September 24, 2015, proposal by the State of Nevada to
may be expanded or reduced based on application by the Assistant Secretary of substitute for withdrawal 487,756 acres
comments received in response to this the Interior for Land and Minerals of high mineral development potential
notice and at the public scoping Management to withdraw areas in Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs)
meeting. Additional information, approximately 10 million acres of for areas adjacent to SFAs that contain
including a map of the proposed trust public and National Forest System lands high value habitat and identified Greater
property, is available by contacting the from location and entry under the Sage-Grouse populations. This petition
person listed in the FOR FURTHER United States mining laws to protect the also amends the original withdrawal
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The proposal by adjusting the boundary of
notice. amendment adds 387,981.42 acres in lands located in Idaho, Montana,
Public Comment Availability: the State of Nevada and refines the Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming as
Comments, including names and proposed withdrawal boundaries in a result of legal land description
addresses of respondents, will be Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, refinements that defined the proposed
available for public review at the BIA and Wyoming. In addition, this notice withdrawal boundaries utilizing the
address shown in the ADDRESSES announces the release of the draft public land survey system standards.
section, during regular business hours, 8 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) The boundary adjustments resulted in a
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through for public review, which analyzes and slight decrease in overall acres proposed
Friday, except holidays. Before discloses the impacts of the proposed for withdrawal, though refinements vary
including your address, telephone withdrawal. section-by-section.
number, email address, or other The Assistant Secretary of the Interior
personal identifying information in your DATES: Comments must be received by for Land and Minerals Management has
comment, you should be aware that March 28, 2017. Meetings will be held approved the BLM’s petition. This
your entire comment—including your to provide the public with an action therefore, constitutes a
personal identifying information—may opportunity to review and comment on withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of
be made publicly available at any time. the proposed withdrawal amendment the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1–3(e)).
While you can ask in your comment that and the draft EIS. Please see the Exhibit ‘‘A’’ of the application
your personal identifying information SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for amendment describes the proposed
be withheld from public review, the BIA the locations, dates, and times of the additional public lands in Nevada being
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
cannot guarantee that this will occur. scheduled public meetings. considered for withdrawal.
Authority: This notice is published in ADDRESSES: Written comments should Exhibit ‘‘B’’ describes all of the lands
accordance with sections 1503.1 and be sent to Mark Mackiewicz, Bureau of in both the original withdrawal
1506.6 of the Council on Environmental Land Management (BLM) WO, C/O application and the proposed
Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, withdrawal amendment under
through 1508) implementing the Price, UT 84501 or submitted consideration by the BLM and the U.S.
procedural requirements of the National electronically to sagebrush_ Forest Service (USFS). The withdrawal
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:18 Dec 29, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_96729/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 251 / Friday, December 30, 2016 / Notices 96481
avoid or lessen the proposed recommendation concerning the DATES: Comments must be received by
withdrawal’s environmental impacts. proposed withdrawal is submitted to the March 30, 2017. The date(s) and
The more specific your comments, the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for location(s) of meetings related to the
more useful they will be. To ensure Land and Minerals Management for application for withdrawal will be
consideration of your comments on the final action. announced at least 30 days in advance
proposal in the final EIS, it is important Comments including names and street of the meetings through local media,
that the BLM receive your comments addresses of respondents will be newspapers and the Federal Register.
before March 28, 2017. available for public review at the BLM
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
After the comments are reviewed, any Washington Office at the address noted
the BLM Oregon/Washington State
significant new issues will be above, during regular business hours,
Director, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR
investigated, modifications will be made Monday through Friday, except Federal
97208–2965.
to the draft EIS, and a final EIS will be holidays. Before including your address,
published and distributed. The final EIS phone number, email address, or other FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
will contain the agency’s responses to personal identifying information in your Jacob Childers, BLM Oregon/
timely comments received on the draft comment, you should be aware that Washington State Office, P.O. Box 2965,
EIS. your entire comment—including your Portland, OR 97208–2965 or by phone at
In accordance with the requirements personal identifying information—may 503–808–6225. Persons who use a
of 43 CFR 2310.3–1(b)(2)(iv) and 40 CFR be made publicly available at any time. telecommunications device for the deaf
1506.6(b), for a period until March 28, While you can ask us in your comment (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
2017, all persons who wish to submit to withhold your personal identifying Service at 1–800–877–8339 to contact
comments, suggestions, or objections in information from public review, we the above individual. The service is
connection with the proposed cannot guarantee that we will be able to available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
withdrawal amendment as it relates to do so. You will receive a reply during normal
the lands in the six states and/or the business hours.
Jenna Whitlock,
draft EIS may present their views in Acting Deputy Director, Operations, Bureau SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
writing to Mark Mackiewicz, BLM WO, of Land Management. applicant is the USFS. The application
C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600 [FR Doc. 2016–31629 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am]
requests the Secretary of the Interior
West, Price, Utah 84501, or by email to: withdraw for a period of 20 years,
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
sagebrush_withdrawals@blm.gov or by subject to valid existing rights, the
attending one of the public meetings on following described National Forest
the dates and times as noted below. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR System lands from settlement, sale,
Notice is also hereby given that public location, and entry under the public
meetings in connection with the Bureau of Land Management land laws, location and entry under the
proposed withdrawal and the release of United States mining laws, and
[LLOR936000.L14400000.ET0000 FUND.
the draft EIS will be held on the operation of the mineral and geothermal
17XL1109AF. WAOR068905 HAG17–0040]
following dates, times, and locations: leasing laws to protect the value of
Monday, February 13, 2017, from 2 p.m. Notice of Application for Withdrawal ecological and recreational resources of
to 4 p.m.—Great Northern Hotel, 2 and Opportunity for Public Meeting; the Methow Valley and to protect the
South 1st Street, Malta, MT 59538 Washington area while legislation to permanently
Tuesday, February 14, 2017, from 5 p.m. withdraw the lands is being considered.
to 7 p.m.—BLM West Desert District AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Recreation accounts for a substantial
Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Dr., West Interior. share of the Methow Valley
Valley City, UT 84119 ACTION: Notice. community’s economy while the
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, from 5 watershed provides habitat for several
p.m. to 7 p.m.—Rock Springs BLM SUMMARY: The United States Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) threatened and endangered species.
Office, 280 Hwy 191 N, Rock Springs, Legislation is currently pending in the
WY 82901 has filed an application with the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) requesting 114th Congress as S.2991 and identified
Thursday, February 16, 2017, from as the ‘‘Methow Headwaters Protection
5p.m. to 7 p.m.—Shiloh Suites that the Secretary of the Interior
withdraw, for a period of 20 years, Act of 2016.’’
Conference Hotel, 780 Lindsay Blvd.,
Idaho Falls, ID 83402 approximately 340,079 acres of National Okanogan National Forest
Tuesday, February 21, 2017, from 5 p.m. Forest System lands located in the
Willamette Meridian
to 7 p.m.—The Nugget, 1100 Nugget Methow Valley, Okanagan National
Forest. The purpose of the withdrawal T. 34 N., R. 20 E.,
Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431 Sec. 10, except that portion within the
Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 5 is to protect the area while Congress
Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness and
p.m. to 7 p.m.—Lakeview BLM considers legislation to permanently south of the ridge dividing Little Bridge
District Office, 1301 South G Street, withdraw the lands, and to protect the Creek and Wolf Creek;
Lakeview, OR 97720 value of ecological and recreational Sec. 11;
Thursday, February 23, 2017, from 5 resources of the Methow Valley. Secs. 14 and 15, those portions lying
p.m. to 7 p.m.—Elko Conference Publication of this notice segregates the northerly of the ridge dividing Little
Center, 724 Moren Way, Elko, NV lands, subject to valid existing rights, for Bridge Creek and Wolf Creek;
up to 2 years from settlement, sale, Tract 37;
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
89801
Friday, February 24, 2017, from 5 p.m. location, and entry under the public Protraction block 37;
land laws, location and entry under the Protraction blocks 38 and 39, except those
to 7 p.m.—Best Western Vista Inn, portions lying within the Lake Chelan-
2645 Airport Way, Boise, ID 83709 United States mining laws, and Sawtooth Wilderness;
The public will have an opportunity operation of the mineral and geothermal Protraction block 43, that portion lying
to provide oral and written comments at leasing laws. This notice also gives the westerly of the ridge beginning in the
the meetings. All comments received public an opportunity to comment on SW1⁄4 and termination in the NE1⁄4
will be considered before any the application for withdrawal. dividing Wolf Creek and Rader Creek;
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:18 Dec 29, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_96729/page/4.svg)
Document Created: 2016-12-30 05:16:12
Document Modified: 2016-12-30 05:16:12
| 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 | Comments must be received by March 28, 2017. Meetings will be held to provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed withdrawal amendment and the draft EIS. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the locations, dates, and times of the scheduled public meetings. | |
| Contact | Mark A. Mackiewicz, BLM, by telephone at 435-636-3616, or by email at [email protected] Persons using a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 96478 |
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