83 FR 16117 - Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment With Associated Environmental Assessment and Notice of Segregation for the Proposed Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area, Clark County, NV

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 72 (April 13, 2018)

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Vegas Field Office (LVFO), intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area (DLA), approximately 10 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and east of the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone. Through this Notice the BLM is segregating the public lands located within the proposed DLA from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for a period of up to 2 years from the date of publication of this Notice. Publication of this Notice initiates the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 72 (Friday, April 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16117-16118]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07736]



[[Page 16117]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVS01000. L13400000.PQ0000.18X; N-95554; MO #4500116808]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment 
With Associated Environmental Assessment and Notice of Segregation for 
the Proposed Dry Lake East Designated Leasing Area, Clark County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Vegas 
Field Office (LVFO), intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan 
Amendment and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Dry Lake 
East Designated Leasing Area (DLA), approximately 10 miles northeast of 
Las Vegas, Nevada, and east of the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone. Through 
this Notice the BLM is segregating the public lands located within the 
proposed DLA from appropriation under the public land laws, including 
the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for 
a period of up to 2 years from the date of publication of this Notice. 
Publication of this Notice initiates the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process and segregation 
period for the public lands within the proposed DLA. Comments on issues 
may be submitted in writing until May 14, 2018. The date(s) and 
location(s) of any meetings will be announced at least 15 days in 
advance through local news media and the BLM website at: https://go.usa.gov/xnbdU. In order for comments to be fully considered in the 
BLM's Resource Management Plan Amendment/EA, all comments must be 
received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the 
last public meeting, whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments related to the project by any of the 
following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     E-planning: https://go.usa.gov/xnbdU.
     Fax: (702) 515-5010, attention Nicollee Gaddis.
     Mail: BLM, Las Vegas Field Office, Attn: Nicollee Gaddis, 
4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicollee Gaddis, Planning & 
Environmental Coordinator, at telephone (702) 515-5136; or address 4701 
North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130-2301; or email 
[email protected]. Contact Ms. Gaddis to have your name added to the 
mailing list. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS 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 proposed Dry Lake East DLA would be 
located on approximately 1,800 acres of lands managed by the BLM, 
located approximately 10 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada and east 
of the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone. Designation of the proposed DLA 
would allow the BLM to conduct a competitive lease auction for solar 
development.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the 
Resource Management Plan Amendment/EA. At present, the BLM has 
identified the following preliminary issues: Threatened and endangered 
species, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, visual resource 
impacts, surface water, recreation, socioeconomic effects, and 
cumulative impacts.
    The BLM will consult with Native American tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Native American tribal consultation will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian Trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project, are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.
    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.
    Segregation: In accordance with 43 CFR 2091.3-1(e) and 43 CFR 
2804.25(f), the BLM is segregating the public lands within the proposed 
DLA from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining 
Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or the Material Sales Acts, for a 
period of up to 2 years in order to promote the orderly administration 
of the public lands. This segregation is subject to valid existing 
mining claims located before this segregation notice. There are 
currently no mining claims in the identified area. Licenses, permits, 
cooperative agreements, or discretionary land use authorizations of a 
temporary nature which would not impact lands identified in this Notice 
may be allowed with the approval of an authorized officer of the BLM. 
The segregation period may not exceed 2 years, unless the State 
Director determines and documents in writing, prior to the expiration 
of the segregation period, that an extension is necessary for the 
orderly administration of the public lands. If the State Director 
determines that an extension is necessary, the BLM will extend the 
segregation for up to 2 years by publishing a Notice in the Federal 
Register, prior to the expiration of the initial segregation period.
    The lands segregated under this Notice are legally described as 
follows:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Clark County, Nevada

T. 17 S., R. 64 E.,
    Sec. 32, those portions lying east of the right-of-way boundary 
of NEV 045565 and west of the right-of way boundary of CC 0360.
T. 18 S., R. 64 E.,
    Sec. 5, those portions lying west of the right-of way boundary 
of CC 0360;
    Sec. 6, those portions lying east of the right-of-way boundary 
of NEV 045565;
    Sec. 7, lots 12, 18, 19, 20, and 29, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/
4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\ and 
N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, those portions lying west of the right-of way boundary 
of CC 0360.

    Termination of the segregation occurs on the earliest of the 
following dates: Upon issuance of a decision by the authorized officer 
granting, granting with modifications, or denying the application for a 
Right of Way; automatically at the end of the segregation; or upon 
publication of a Federal Register Notice of termination of the 
segregation.

[[Page 16118]]

    Upon termination of segregation of these lands, all lands subject 
to this segregation would automatically reopen to appropriation under 
the public land laws and location under the Mining Law of 1872 (30 
U.S.C. 22 et seq.).

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 
1610.5, 43 CFR 2091.3-1, and 43 CFR 2804.25(f).

Gayle Marrs-Smith,
Las Vegas Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018-07736 Filed 4-12-18; 8:45 am]
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