83 FR 29134 - Notice of Intent To Amend a Portion of the Arizona Strip Field Office Resource Management Plan Related to the Kanab Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 121 (June 22, 2018)

Page Range		29134-29135
FR Document		2018-13432

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Strip Field Office, St. George, Utah, intends to amend a portion of the Arizona Strip Field Office (ASFO) Resource Management Plan (RMP) related to the Kanab Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The BLM will incorporate the analysis for the RMP amendment into a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lake Powell Pipeline Project. FERC is the lead agency and the BLM is a cooperating agency. FERC's EIS will analyze the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline Project and the proposed RMP amendment to consider allowing development of the Lake Powell Pipeline within the Kanab Creek ACEC. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues pursuant to BLM's land use planning regulations.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 121 (Friday, June 22, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29134-29135]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13432]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[16X.LLUT920000.L712200000.ER0000.LVTFJX496770.241A; AZA-34941]


Notice of Intent To Amend a Portion of the Arizona Strip Field 
Office Resource Management Plan Related to the Kanab Creek Area of 
Critical Environmental Concern, Arizona

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 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
Arizona Strip Field Office, St. George, Utah, intends to amend a 
portion of the Arizona Strip Field Office (ASFO) Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) related to the Kanab Creek Area of Critical Environmental 
Concern (ACEC). The BLM will incorporate the analysis for the RMP 
amendment into a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lake Powell Pipeline 
Project. FERC is the lead agency and the BLM is a cooperating agency. 
FERC's EIS will analyze the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline Project and 
the proposed RMP amendment to consider allowing development of the Lake 
Powell Pipeline within the Kanab Creek ACEC. By this notice the BLM is 
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues pursuant to BLM's land use planning 
regulations.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment with an associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted 
in writing until July 23, 2018. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local media, newspapers, and the BLM website at: http://www.blm.gov/arizona. In order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be 
received prior to the close of the 30-day public scoping period or 15 
days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will 
provide additional opportunities for public participation as 
appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Kanab Creek ACEC RMP amendment by any of the following 
methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 435-688-3258.
     Mail: BLM, Arizona Strip Field Office, Attention: Lorraine 
Christian/Kanab Creek ACEC RMP Amendment, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. 
George, Utah 84790-6714.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Arizona 
Strip Field Office at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorraine Christian, BLM Arizona Strip 
Field Manager, telephone: 435-688-3200; email: [email protected]. 
Contact Ms. Christian to have your name added to our 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 planning area is located in Coconino and 
Mohave Counties, Arizona. Only a small portion (900 acres) of the Kanab 
Creek ACEC would be affected by the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline 
route, but an RMP amendment is required in order to address 
inconsistencies between the management direction in the current RMP, 
the proposed route for the pipeline, and an existing utility corridor 
designated under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
    Approximately 1 mile of the proposed pipeline would run within an 
existing utility corridor, designated by the BLM pursuant to Section 
368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which overlaps a portion of the 
ACEC. Approximately 0.5 mile of the proposed pipeline would run inside 
the ACEC, but outside the existing utility corridor; this pipeline 
route is proposed due to steep rugged terrain which could be avoided by 
routing the pipeline outside of the utility corridor. The ASFO RMP 
encourages new utility rights-of-way (ROW) to be located within the 
utility corridor to the greatest extent possible. However, the ASFO RMP 
also established ACECs as ``avoidance areas'' for new ROWs. The BLM 
proposes to amend the ASFO RMP to: (1) Resolve the conflict between the 
designated Section 368 utility corridor and the ACEC decisions; and (2) 
Determine whether to allow the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline outside of 
the utility corridor, and if so, change the visual resource management 
class for that portion of the ACEC from Class II (where changes to the 
landscape should be low) to either Class III or Class IV in order to be 
compatible with utility 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 planning process. Preliminary 
issues for the RMP amendment area have been identified by BLM 
personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. 
These issues include: Cultural resources, specifically tribal resources 
and values; special status species; riparian habitat; visual resources; 
special designations (i.e., Kanab Creek ACEC); and lands and realty, 
specifically the existing designated utility corridor--Corridor No. 
113-116. The analysis will also consider mitigation.
    Preliminary planning criteria include: (1) The BLM will continue to 
manage the Kanab Creek ACEC in accordance with FLPMA and other 
applicable laws and regulations; (2) The BLM will continue to manage 
Utility Corridor No. 113-116 in accordance with FLPMA and other 
applicable laws and regulations; and (3) The amendment process will 
follow the FLPMA planning process.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
to the BLM at any ASFO RMP amendment public-scoping meeting, or you may 
submit them to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES 
section above. You should submit comments by the close of the 30-day 
scoping period or within 15 days after the last public meeting, 
whichever is later.
    The BLM will coordinate the processes of fulfilling requirements of 
NEPA and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 
U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local

[[Page 29135]]

agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed action that the BLM is 
evaluating, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if 
eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in the 
development of the environmental analysis 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 personally identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask the BLM in your comment to withhold your personally-identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be 
available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any 
participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. The 
BLM will evaluate all identified issues, and will place them into one 
of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the RMP amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this RMP amendment.
    An explanation will be provided in FERC's Draft EIS as to why an 
issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also 
encouraged to help identify any issues that should be addressed in the 
RMP. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to 
identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, 
regional, and national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the RMP 
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified, as well as to develop alternatives to the proposed 
RMP amendment. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines 
will be involved in the planning process: Archaeology and cultural 
resources, tribal issues, wildlife, visual resources, lands, realty, 
and special area designations.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Lorraine M. Christian,
Arizona Strip Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018-13432 Filed 6-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-32-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 121 / Friday, June 22, 2018 / Notices 29135

agencies, along with tribes and other DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR administered public lands. Within the
stakeholders that may be interested in or NPL project area, there are both unitized
affected by the proposed action that the Bureau of Land Management and non-unitized development areas.
BLM is evaluating, are invited to [LLWYD0100000 L13140000.NB0000 18X] Jonah Energy LLC, the current
participate in the scoping process and, operator after purchasing Encana Oil
if eligible, may request or be requested Notice of Availability of the Final and Gas Inc.’s leasehold interest in the
by the BLM to participate in the Environmental Impact Statement for project, is proposing up to 3,500
development of the environmental the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) directionally drilled wells (depth range
analysis as a cooperating agency. Natural Gas Development Project from 6,500 to 13,500 feet) over a 10-year
Before including your address, phone period. Under Jonah Energy’s proposal,
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
number, email address, or other most wells would be co-located on
Interior.
personal identifying information in your multi-well pads, with no more than four
ACTION: Notice of availability. well pads per 640 acres in areas outside
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your SUMMARY: In accordance with the of Greater Sage-grouse Priority Habitat
personally identifying information— National Environmental Policy Act of Management Areas (PHMA). There
may be made publicly available at any 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land would be only one disturbance per 640
time. While you can ask the BLM in Policy and Management Act of 1976, as acres inside PHMA. On average, each
your comment to withhold your amended, the Bureau of Land well pad would be 18 acres in size.
personally-identifying information from Management (BLM) has prepared the Regional gathering facilities would be
public review, we cannot guarantee that NPL Final Environmental Impact utilized instead of placing compressors
we will be able to do so. Statement (Final EIS) for the NPL at each well pad. Associated access
project in the BLM Pinedale and Rock roads, pipelines, and other ancillary
The minutes and list of attendees for
Springs Field Offices. facilities would be co-located where
each scoping meeting will be available
possible to further minimize surface
to the public and open for 30 days after DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
disturbance.
the meeting to any participant who decision on the proposal for a minimum
wishes to clarify the views he or she of 30 days after the date that the There are approximately 48,036 acres
expressed. The BLM will evaluate all Environmental Protection Agency of PHMA, 27,292 acres of Greater Sage-
identified issues, and will place them publishes its Notice of Availability grouse Winter Concentration Area
into one of three categories: (NOA) in the Federal Register. (WCA), and 1,259 acres of Sagebrush
Focal Areas (SFAs) within the NPL
1. Issues to be resolved in the RMP ADDRESSES: The NPL Final EIS is
project area. All of the SFA is within the
amendment; available for public review at the BLM
Rock Springs Field Office.
2. Issues to be resolved through policy Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine
Street, Pinedale, Wyoming; the BLM Cooperating agencies for this EIS
or administrative action; or include the State of Wyoming, with
High Desert District Office, 280
3. Issues beyond the scope of this Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, active participation from many state
RMP amendment. Wyoming; and the BLM Wyoming State agencies including the Wyoming Game
An explanation will be provided in Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, and Fish Department, State Historic
FERC’s Draft EIS as to why an issue was Cheyenne, Wyoming. The document Preservation Office, the Wyoming
placed in category two or three. The may also be reviewed online at http:// Department of Environmental Quality
public is also encouraged to help tinyurl.com/hloulms. and the Wyoming Department of
identify any issues that should be Agriculture. Local cooperating agencies
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
addressed in the RMP. The BLM will include Sweetwater, Lincoln and
Kellie Roadifer, NPL EIS Project
work collaboratively with interested Sublette Counties, and the Sublette
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, PO
parties to identify the management County Conservation District.
Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941, (307)
decisions that are best suited to local, 367–5309, kroadife@blm.gov. Persons The Notice of Intent to prepare the
regional, and national needs and who use telecommunications device for EIS was published on April 12, 2011 (70
concerns. the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal FR 20370), initiating a 30-day formal
Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 public scoping period. Public scoping
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
to contact the above individual during meetings were held in Pinedale, Rock
approach to develop the RMP
normal business hours. The FRS is Springs, and Marbleton, WY. Public
amendment in order to consider the
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week scoping comments were used to identify
variety of resource issues and concerns
to leave a message or question with the issues that informed the formulation of
identified, as well as to develop
above individual. You will receive a alternatives and framed the scope of
alternatives to the proposed RMP
reply during normal business hours. analysis for the NPL EIS.
amendment. Specialists with expertise
in the following disciplines will be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPL
A total of 1,238 scoping comments
involved in the planning process: project is located immediately south were received, with 29 resource issues
Archaeology and cultural resources, and west of the existing Jonah Gas Field identified. Key issues identified during
tribal issues, wildlife, visual resources, in Sublette County, Wyoming. The scoping informed the formulation of
lands, realty, and special area project area lies within the BLM alternatives and framed the scope of
designations. Wyoming High Desert District (HDD) analysis for the NPL Final EIS. The
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

and spans the Pinedale Field Office issues include:
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2. (PFO) in the north and Rock Springs D Air Quality: Potential project and
Field Office (RSFO) to the south. cumulative impacts on air quality,
Lorraine M. Christian, The project encompasses including air quality-related values.
Arizona Strip Field Manager. approximately 141,000 acres of public, D Regulatory Setting: Permits,
[FR Doc. 2018–13432 Filed 6–21–18; 8:45 am] State, and private lands. Approximately authorization, conformance with other
BILLING CODE 4310–32–P 96% of the project area is on BLM- plans, laws, policies and guidance.

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Document Created: 2018-11-06 09:50:47
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 09:50:47

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 of intent.
Dates		This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP amendment with an associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until July 23, 2018. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM website at: http://www.blm.gov/ arizona. In order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day public scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation as appropriate.
Contact		Lorraine Christian, BLM Arizona Strip Field Manager, telephone: 435-688-3200; email: [email protected] Contact Ms. Christian to have your name added to our 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.
FR Citation		83 FR 29134

83 FR 29134 - Notice of Intent To Amend a Portion of the Arizona Strip Field Office Resource Management Plan Related to the Kanab Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 121 (June 22, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management