83 FR 39116 - Notice of Intent for Potential Amendment to the Resource Management Plan for the Bakersfield Field Office, California, and To Prepare an Associated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)

Page Range		39116-39117
FR Document		2018-16957

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a potential Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment for the Bakersfield Field Office Resource Management Plan. The supplemental EIS will analyze the impacts of hydraulic fracturing technology on BLM-administered public land and mineral estate in the Bakersfield Field Office Planning Area exclusive of the California Coastal National Monument and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. This effort is in response to a settlement agreement in case No. 2:15-cv-04378-MWF/JEM, filed with, and approved by, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on May 3, 2017. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39116-39117]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16957]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[(LLCAC06000.L13100000.DS0000.LXSIAREV0000.18XL1109AF) MO# 450012099]


Notice of Intent for Potential Amendment to the Resource 
Management Plan for the Bakersfield Field Office, California, and To 
Prepare an Associated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare a 
supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a potential 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment for the Bakersfield Field 
Office Resource Management Plan. The supplemental EIS will analyze the 
impacts of hydraulic fracturing technology on BLM-administered public 
land and mineral estate in the Bakersfield Field Office Planning Area 
exclusive of the California Coastal National Monument and the Carrizo 
Plain National Monument. This effort is in response to a settlement 
agreement in case No. 2:15-cv-04378-MWF/JEM, filed with, and approved 
by, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on 
May 3, 2017. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process 
to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the 
Supplemental EIS and potential RMP amendment. Comments on issues may be 
submitted in writing until September 7, 2018. In order to be included 
in the analysis, all scoping comments must be submitted in writing and 
received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period. We will 
provide additional opportunities for public participation as 
appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to this Supplemental EIS and potential RMP amendment by any of 
the following methods:
     Email: blm_ca_bkfo_oil_gas_update@blm.gov.
     Mail: Bakersfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 
Attn: Bakersfield RMP Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis, 3801 Pegasus 
Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined during regular 
business hours at: Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office, 
3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural 
Resources Specialist, telephone 661-391-6000; address Bureau of Land 
Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308; email 
blm_ca_bkfo_oil_gas_update@blm.gov. Contact Ms. Summers 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. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare a 
supplemental EIS and potential RMP amendment for the 2014 Bakersfield 
Field Office RMP Planning Area. Furthermore, this document announces 
the beginning of the scoping process and seeks public input on issues 
and planning criteria related to hydraulic fracturing. The planning 
area is located in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa 
Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties in California and encompasses 
approximately 400,000 acres of public land and an additional 1.2 
million acres of Federal mineral estate (i.e., split estate). The 
purpose of the supplemental EIS is to analyze the environmental effects 
of the use of hydraulic fracturing technology in oil and gas 
development on new leases within the planning area and to determine 
whether changes are needed to the fluid minerals decisions in the 
Bakersfield Field Office RMP. The need to develop the supplemental EIS 
is established by the settlement agreement in case No. 2:15-cv-04378-
MWF/JEM, filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of 
California on May 3, 2017. The purpose of the public scoping process is 
to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the 
environmental analysis, including alternatives if necessary, and guide 
the planning process. Preliminary issues for the supplemental EIS have 
been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; 
and other stakeholders. The issues include: Air and atmospheric values; 
water quality and quantity; seismicity; special status species; mineral 
resources (oil and gas); and socioeconomics. Preliminary planning 
criteria include:
    1. Only those portions of the existing plan that need to be updated 
to respond to the issues and management concerns identified in the 
court order and settlement agreement will be reviewed.
    2. The planning process will be completed in compliance with the 
FLPMA and all other applicable laws.
    3. The planning process will include a Supplemental EIS that will 
comply with NEPA standards.
    4. The scope of analysis will be consistent with the level of 
analysis in approved plans and in accordance with Bureau-wide standards 
and program guidance.
    5. Public comments will be addressed during the planning process.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section 
above. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the close of 
the 30-day scoping period.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government

[[Page 39117]]

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 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.
    The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the 
plan, and will place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the analysis;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of the Supplemental EIS and potential 
RMP amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft Supplemental EIS 
as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is 
also encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns 
that should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively 
with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are 
best suited to local, regional, national needs, and concerns. The BLM 
will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the Supplemental EIS 
and, if necessary, RMP amendment, in order to consider the variety of 
resource issues and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in 
the following disciplines will be involved in the planning process: 
Hydrology, air, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife biology, oil and 
gas, geology, sociology and economics.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personally identifiable information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personally 
identifiable information--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personally 
identifiable information from public review, we cannot guarantee that 
we will be able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Jerome E. Perez,
BLM California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-16957 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Notices 39117

basis in accordance with Executive DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Before including your address, phone
Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal number, email address, or other
concerns, including impacts on Indian Bureau of Land Management personal identifying information in your
trust assets and potential impacts to [LLIDB00100 L17110000.PH0000 comments, please be aware that your
cultural resources, will be given due LXSS024D0000 45001222254] entire comment, including your
consideration. Federal, State, and local personal identifying information, may
agencies, along with tribes and other Notice of Public Meeting, Boise District be made publicly available at any time.
stakeholders that may be interested in or Resource Advisory Council, Idaho While you can ask us in your comment
affected by the proposed action that the to withhold your personal identifying
BLM is evaluating, are invited to AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, information from public review, we
participate in the scoping process and, Interior. cannot guarantee that we will be able to
if eligible, may request or be requested ACTION: Notice of public meeting. do so.
by the BLM to participate in the Individuals who plan to attend and
SUMMARY: In accordance with the need special assistance, such as sign
development of the environmental
Federal Land Policy and Management language interpretation, tour
analysis as a cooperating agency.
Act of 1976, the Federal Advisory transportation or other reasonable
The BLM will evaluate identified Committee Act of 1972, the U.S.
issues to be addressed in the plan, and accommodations, should contact the
Department of the Interior, Bureau of BLM as provided above.
will place them into one of three Land Management (BLM) Boise District
categories: Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will (Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–2)
1. Issues to be resolved in the meet as indicated below. Lara Douglas,
analysis; DATES: The Boise District RAC will meet District Manager.
2. Issues to be resolved through policy September 13, 2018. The meeting will [FR Doc. 2018–16968 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am]
or administrative action; or begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. BILLING CODE 4310–AK–P
3. Issues beyond the scope of the The public comment period will take
Supplemental EIS and potential RMP place from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
amendment. ADDRESSES: The Boise District RAC will DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The BLM will provide an explanation meet at the BLM Boise District Office,
in the Draft Supplemental EIS as to why 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho National Park Service
an issue was placed in category two or 83705. [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0025952;
three. The public is also encouraged to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000]
help identify any management questions Michael Williamson, BLM Boise
and concerns that should be addressed District, Idaho, 3948 Development Notice of Inventory Completion:
in the plan. The BLM will work Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705, 208–384– Binghamton University, State
collaboratively with interested parties to 3393, email mwilliamson@blm.gov. University of New York, Binghamton,
identify the management decisions that Persons who use a telecommunications NY
are best suited to local, regional, device for the deaf (TDD) may contact AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
national needs, and concerns. The BLM Mr. Williamson by calling the Federal ACTION: Notice.
will use an interdisciplinary approach Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877–8339.
to develop the Supplemental EIS and, if The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 SUMMARY: The Binghamton University
necessary, RMP amendment, in order to days a week, to leave a message or has completed an inventory of human
consider the variety of resource issues question with Mr. Williamson. You will remains and associated funerary objects,
and concerns identified. Specialists receive a reply during normal business in consultation with the appropriate
with expertise in the following hours. Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
disciplines will be involved in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15- organizations, and has determined that
planning process: Hydrology, air, member RAC advises the Secretary of there is a cultural affiliation between the
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife the Interior, through the BLM, on a human remains and associated funerary
biology, oil and gas, geology, sociology variety of planning and management objects and present-day Indian Tribes or
and economics. issues associated with public land Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal
Before including your address, phone management in Idaho. During the descendants or representatives of any
number, email address, or other September 13, 2018 meeting, the Boise Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
personally identifiable information in District RAC will have a briefing on the organization not identified in this notice
your comment, you should be aware Boise District’s wild horse program, Tri- that wish to request transfer of control
that your entire comment—including State fuel breaks project, travel of these human remains and associated
your personally identifiable management planning, and other Field funerary objects should submit a written
information—may be made publicly Office updates. Additional topics may request to the Binghamton University. If
available at any time. While you can ask be added and will be included in local no additional requestors come forward,
us in your comment to withhold your media announcements. transfer of control of the human remains
personally identifiable information from RAC meetings are open to the public. and associated funerary objects to the
public review, we cannot guarantee that The public may present written lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or
we will be able to do so. comments to the Council at the address Native Hawaiian organizations stated in
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR provided above. Each formal Council this notice may proceed.
1610.2. meeting will also have time allocated for DATES: Lineal descendants or
hearing public comments. Depending on representatives of any Indian Tribe or
Jerome E. Perez, the number of persons wishing to Native Hawaiian organization not
BLM California State Director. comment and time available, the time identified in this notice that wish to
[FR Doc. 2018–16957 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] for individual oral comments may be request transfer of control of these
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P limited. human remains and associated funerary

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Document Created: 2018-08-08 02:04:43
Document Modified: 2018-08-08 02:04:43

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 Supplemental EIS and potential RMP amendment. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until September 7, 2018. In order to be included in the analysis, all scoping comments must be submitted in writing and received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation as appropriate.
Contact		Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural
FR Citation		83 FR 39116

83 FR 39116 - Notice of Intent for Potential Amendment to the Resource Management Plan for the Bakersfield Field Office, California, and To Prepare an Associated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management