83 FR 3766 - Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Decision for Proposed Land Exchange Between the Bureau of Land Management and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, California
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 18 (January 26, 2018)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 18 (January 26, 2018)
| Page Range | 3766-3767 | |
| FR Document | 2018-01437 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 3766-3767] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-01437] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAD06800.L17110000.KD0000.16X] Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Decision for Proposed Land Exchange Between the Bureau of Land Management and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, California AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and decision. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office announces the availability of an abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed land exchange between the BLM and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Tribe). The BLM will issue the ROD concurrently with the Final EIS, but will not implement the ROD until after the 45-day protest period (43 CFR 2201.7-1). The Environmental Protection Agency's 30-day ``cooling off'' period will run concurrently with the protest period. The Decision approving the land exchange was issued by Douglas J. Herrema, Field Manager, BLM-Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office on January 18, 2018. DATES: A Decision to complete an exchange is subject to protest for 45 days beginning on the first day of publication of this Notice. Thereby, all protests must be written and received by the BLM at the address below, no later than March 12, 2018. Protests related to NEPA documentation or other content of the decision document will be considered by the BLM. Verbal protests will not be accepted. ADDRESSES: You may submit a protest of the proposed ROD by either of the following methods:Email: AguaCalienteExchange@blm.gov. Mail: Field Manager, BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92262. Copies of the proposed ROD and Final EIS for the proposed land exchange are available for public review in the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at the above address, during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Monday through Friday (except holidays), or on the internet at https://goo.gl/qyjNJa. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Adams, Monument Manager, telephone 760-833-7100; address BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262; email amadams@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The Service 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: Approval of the proposed land exchange transfers 2,560 acres of Federal lands, appraised in the amount of $795,000, to the Tribe in exchange for 1,471.24 acres of tribally-owned properties, appraised in the amount of $845,000. Since the appraised value of the offered Tribal lands exceeds the appraised valued of the selected Federal lands, the BLM will make a cash payment of $50,000 to the Tribe in order to equalize values. The selected Federal lands and offered Tribal lands all occur within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (Monument). Federal land to be patented to the Tribe: San Bernardino and Base Meridian, California T. 5 S., R. 4 E. Sections 16, 21, 27, and 29. The area described aggregates 2,560 acres. The patent that conveys the Federal lands will reserve a Right-of- Way for ditches and canals constructed by the authority of the United States pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C. 945). Non-Federal land to be conveyed to the United States: [[Page 3767]] San Bernardino and Base Meridian, California T. 5 S., R. 5 E., Section 7, Section 19, Section 20, W1/2W1/2. The area described aggregates 1,471.24 acres. The purpose of the land exchange is to reduce the extent of ``checkerboard'' land ownership, thereby providing the BLM and the Tribe with more effective and efficient land management responsibilities within the Monument. The public interest will be well served by making this exchange. Lands acquired by the BLM will be managed in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, as well as the California Desert Conservation Area Plan, as amended, and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Management Plan. Lands acquired by the Tribe will be managed in accordance with its Land Use Ordinance, Indian Canyons Master Plan, and Tribal Habitat Conservation Plan. In 2008, the proposed land exchange was announced in a Notice of Exchange Proposal (NOEP), which included a 45-day public comment period. In 2010, an Environmental Assessment was released for public review, which allowed for a 30-day comment period. Based on their findings, the BLM determined that preparation of an EIS was necessary. In 2012, the BLM initiated a public scoping process and subsequently released a Draft EIS with a 90-day public comment period, which concluded on March 29, 2015. Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS. The BLM concluded that changes to the Draft EIS were minor, and as a result, an abbreviated Final EIS was completed. Those changes were primarily related to the exchange value equalization efforts based on a current appraisal. As a result, the amount of trails that were identified for disposal by the BLM were reduced. Before including your phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the BLM in your protest 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, 43 CFR 2200 Douglas J. Herrema, Field Manager, Palm Springs--South Coast Field Office. [FR Doc. 2018-01437 Filed 1-25-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
![3766 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 18 / Friday, January 26, 2018 / Notices
Comments that you submit in An agency may not conduct or considered by the BLM. Verbal protests
response to this notice are a matter of sponsor and a person is not required to will not be accepted.
public record. We will include or respond to a collection of information ADDRESSES: You may submit a protest of
summarize each comment in our request unless it displays a currently valid OMB the proposed ROD by either of the
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before control number. following methods:
including your address, phone number, The authority for this action is the • Email: AguaCalienteExchange@
email address, or other personal Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 blm.gov.
identifying information in your U.S.C. 3501 et seq). • Mail: Field Manager, BLM Palm
comment, you should be aware that Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201
Jean Sonneman,
your entire comment—including your Bird Center Dr., Palm Springs, CA,
personal identifying information—may Senior Regulatory Analyst, Bureau of Land
Management. 92262.
be made publicly available at any time.
[FR Doc. 2018–01436 Filed 1–25–18; 8:45 am] Copies of the proposed ROD and Final
While you can ask us in your comment
BILLING CODE 4310–01–P EIS for the proposed land exchange are
to withhold your personal identifying
available for public review in the Palm
information from public review, we
Springs-South Coast Field Office at the
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR above address, during regular business
do so.
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Monday through
Abstract: This collection of Bureau of Land Management Friday (except holidays), or on the
information enables the BLM to process
internet at https://goo.gl/qyjNJa.
assignments of record title interest and
[LLCAD06800.L17110000.KD0000.16X] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
transfers of operating rights in a lease
for oil and gas or geothermal resources. Ashley Adams, Monument Manager,
Notice of Availability of Final telephone 760–833–7100; address BLM
Each assignment or transfer is a contract Environmental Impact Statement and
between private parties but, by law, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office,
Notice of Decision for Proposed Land 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs
must be approved by the Secretary. The Exchange Between the Bureau of Land
BLM uses information about CA 92262; email amadams@blm.gov.
Management and Agua Caliente Band Persons who use a telecommunications
assignments and transfers to prevent of Cahuilla Indians, California
unlawful extraction of mineral device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
resources, to ensure prompt payment of AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–
rentals and royalties for the rights Interior. 8339 to contact the above individual
obtained under a Federal lease, and to ACTION: Notice of availability and
during normal business hours. The
ensure that leases are not encumbered decision. Service is available 24 hours a day, 7
with agreements that cause the minerals days a week, to leave a message or
to be uneconomical to produce, SUMMARY: In accordance with the question with the above individual. You
resulting in lost revenues to the Federal National Environmental Policy Act will receive a reply during normal
Government. The information also (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and business hours.
enables the BLM to ensure the assignee pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Approval
or transferee is in compliance with the Land Policy and Management Act of the proposed land exchange transfers
bonding requirements, when necessary, (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the 2,560 acres of Federal lands, appraised
before approval of the transfer or Bureau of Land Management (BLM)- in the amount of $795,000, to the Tribe
assignment. Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office in exchange for 1,471.24 acres of
Title of Collection: Oil, Gas, and announces the availability of an tribally-owned properties, appraised in
Geothermal Resources: Transfers and abbreviated Final Environmental Impact the amount of $845,000. Since the
Assignments. Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision appraised value of the offered Tribal
OMB Control Number: 1004–0034. (ROD) for the proposed land exchange lands exceeds the appraised valued of
Form Numbers: 3000–3 and 3000–3a. between the BLM and the Agua Caliente the selected Federal lands, the BLM will
Type of Review: Revision of a Band of Cahuilla Indians (Tribe). The make a cash payment of $50,000 to the
currently approved collection. BLM will issue the ROD concurrently Tribe in order to equalize values. The
Respondents/Affected Public: with the Final EIS, but will not selected Federal lands and offered
Assignors and assignees of record title implement the ROD until after the 45- Tribal lands all occur within the Santa
interest in a lease for oil and gas or day protest period (43 CFR 2201.7–1). Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
geothermal resources; and transferors The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Monument (Monument).
and transferees of operating rights 30-day ‘‘cooling off’’ period will run Federal land to be patented to the
(sublease) in a lease for oil and gas or concurrently with the protest period. Tribe:
geothermal resources. The Decision approving the land
San Bernardino and Base Meridian,
Total Estimated Number of Annual exchange was issued by Douglas J.
California
Respondents: 17,626. Herrema, Field Manager, BLM-Palm
Springs-South Coast Field Office on T. 5 S., R. 4 E.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Sections 16, 21, 27, and 29.
Responses: 17,626. January 18, 2018.
The area described aggregates 2,560 acres.
Estimated Completion Time per DATES: A Decision to complete an
Response: 30 minutes. exchange is subject to protest for 45 The patent that conveys the Federal
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Total Estimated Number of Annual days beginning on the first day of lands will reserve a Right-of-Way for
Burden Hours: 8,813. publication of this Notice. Thereby, all ditches and canals constructed by the
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to protests must be written and received by authority of the United States pursuant
obtain or retain a benefit. the BLM at the address below, no later to the Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion. than March 12, 2018. Protests related to 945).
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour NEPA documentation or other content Non-Federal land to be conveyed to
Burden Cost: $1,674,470. of the decision document will be the United States:
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 18 / Friday, January 26, 2018 / Notices 3767
San Bernardino and Base Meridian, Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, Documents pertinent to this proposal
California 43 CFR 2200 may be examined at the following
T. 5 S., R. 5 E., Douglas J. Herrema, offices:
Section 7, • BLM Casper Field Office, 2987
Field Manager, Palm Springs—South Coast
Section 19, Field Office. Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604;
Section 20, W1/2W1/2. • USFS Douglas Ranger District
[FR Doc. 2018–01437 Filed 1–25–18; 8:45 am]
The area described aggregates 1,471.24 Office, 2250 East Richards Street,
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
acres. Douglas, WY 82633; and
• BLM Wyoming State Office, 5353
The purpose of the land exchange is Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 82009.
to reduce the extent of ‘‘checkerboard’’
land ownership, thereby providing the Bureau of Land Management Interested persons may also view the
BLM and the Tribe with more effective documents online at: http://bit.ly/
and efficient land management [LLWYP06000.LL13100000.DB0000.17X] 2oxHxeq.
responsibilities within the Monument. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The public interest will be well served Notice of Availability of the Draft Mike Robinson, Project Manager,
by making this exchange. Environmental Impact Statement for telephone: 307–261–7520; address: 2987
Lands acquired by the BLM will be the Converse County Oil and Gas Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604;
managed in accordance with applicable Project, Converse County, Wyoming email: blm_wy_casper_wymail@blm.gov.
statutes and regulations, as well as the Persons who use a telecommunications
AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management,
California Desert Conservation Area device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Interior.
Plan, as amended, and the Santa Rosa Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–
and San Jacinto Mountains National ACTION: Notice of availability. 877–8339 to contact the above person
Monument Management Plan. Lands SUMMARY: In accordance with the during normal business hours. The FRS
acquired by the Tribe will be managed National Environmental Policy Act of is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
in accordance with its Land Use 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of week, to leave a message or question
Ordinance, Indian Canyons Master Plan, Land Management (BLM) as the lead with the above individual. You will
and Tribal Habitat Conservation Plan. Federal agency, and the United States receive a reply during normal business
In 2008, the proposed land exchange Forest Service (USFS), participating as a hours.
was announced in a Notice of Exchange cooperating agency, have prepared a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An
Proposal (NOEP), which included a 45- Draft Environmental Impact Statement Operator Group (OG) comprised of
day public comment period. In 2010, an (Draft EIS) that evaluates, analyzes, and Anadarko Petroleum Company,
Environmental Assessment was released discloses to the public direct, indirect, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Devon
for public review, which allowed for a and cumulative environmental impacts Energy, EOG Resources, Inc., and SM
30-day comment period. Based on their of a proposal to develop oil and natural Energy, proposes to develop oil and gas
findings, the BLM determined that gas in Converse County, Wyoming. This leases within the Converse County
preparation of an EIS was necessary. notice announces a 45-day public Project Area (CCPA) in Converse
comment period to meet the County, Wyoming.
In 2012, the BLM initiated a public The CCPA encompasses
scoping process and subsequently requirements of NEPA and section 106
of the National Historic Preservation approximately 1.5 million acres of land,
released a Draft EIS with a 90-day of which approximately 88,466 surface
public comment period, which Act.
acres (6 percent of the CCPA) are public
concluded on March 29, 2015. DATES: To ensure that comments will be lands administered by the BLM and
Comments on the Draft EIS received considered, the BLM must receive approximately 63,911 surface acres (4
from the public and internal BLM written comments on the Converse percent of the CCPA) are administered
review were considered and County Oil and Gas Project Draft EIS by the USFS. The remaining surface
incorporated as appropriate into the within 45 days following the date the estate consists of approximately 101,012
Final EIS. The BLM concluded that Environmental Protection Agency surface acres (7 percent) administered
changes to the Draft EIS were minor, publishes its Notice of Availability in by the State of Wyoming and
and as a result, an abbreviated Final EIS the Federal Register. The BLM will approximately 1,247,477 surface acres
was completed. Those changes were announce future meetings and any other (83 percent) that are privately owned.
primarily related to the exchange value public involvement activities at least 15 The BLM administers approximately
equalization efforts based on a current days in advance through public notices, 964,525 acres of mineral estate (64
appraisal. As a result, the amount of media releases, mailings, and/or at the percent) within the CCPA. Split estate
trails that were identified for disposal BLM website http://bit.ly/2oxHxeq. lands, lands with private surface and
by the BLM were reduced. ADDRESSES: Comments on the Converse Federal mineral ownership, comprise
Before including your phone number, County Oil and Gas Project may be approximately 812,189 acres of those
email address, or other personal submitted by any of the following 964,525 acres (54 percent of the 64
identifying information in your protest, methods: percent) of the Federal mineral
you should be aware that your entire • Website: http://bit.ly/2oxHxeq. ownership of land within the CCPA.
protest—including your personal • Email: blm_wy_casper_wymail@ The Draft EIS describes and analyzes
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
identifying information—may be made blm.gov. the impacts of the OG’s Proposed Action
publicly available at any time. While • Fax: 307–261–7587. (Alternative B) and two alternatives, the
you can ask the BLM in your protest to • Mail or hand delivery: Converse No Action Alternative (Alternative A)
withhold your personal identifying County Oil and Gas Project EIS, BLM and Alterative C. Additional alternatives
information from public review, we Casper Field Office, Attn: Mike were considered, but eliminated from
cannot guarantee that we will be able to Robinson, Project Manager, 2987 detailed analysis. All alternatives
do so. Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604. incorporate best management practices
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Document Created: 2018-10-26 10:07:23
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 10:07:23
| 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 availability and decision. | |
| Dates | A Decision to complete an exchange is subject to protest for 45 days beginning on the first day of publication of this Notice. Thereby, | |
| Contact | Ashley Adams, Monument Manager, | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 3766 |
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