83_FR_540 83 FR 537 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Monument Management Plan Amendment, Idaho

83 FR 537 - Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve Monument Management Plan Amendment, Idaho

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 3 (January 4, 2018)

Page Range537-538
FR Document2017-28392

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Monument Management Plan (MMP) for the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve located in south-central Idaho. The Idaho State Director signed the ROD on July 31, 2017, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved MMP effective immediately.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 537-538]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28392]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[17XL.LLIDT03100.L17110000.DF0000.241A00; 4500109142]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Craters of 
the Moon National Monument and Preserve Monument Management Plan 
Amendment, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Monument Management 
Plan (MMP) for the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve 
located in south-central Idaho. The Idaho State Director signed the ROD 
on July 31, 2017, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and 
makes the Approved MMP effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved MMP are available upon request 
from the Monument Manager, Shoshone Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 400 West F St., Shoshone, ID 83352, or online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/idaho/craters-of-moon. Copies of the ROD/Approved MMP are available for 
public inspection at the Shoshone Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Holly Crawford, BLM Monument Manager, 
telephone 208-732-7200; address 400 West F Street, Shoshone, ID 83352; 
email hcrawford@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 to to leave a message or question for Ms. Crawford. The FRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Craters of the Moon National 
Monument and Preserve (hereafter, Monument) Approved Management Plan 
Amendment and Record of Decision (MMPA/ROD) are now available. The BLM 
prepared this document in consultation with Cooperating Agencies and in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended 
(FLPMA), implementing regulations, the BLM Land Use Planning Handbook 
(H-1601-1), the BLM National Environmental Policy Act Handbook (H-1790-
1), and other applicable law and policy, including Instruction 
Memorandum No. 2016-105--Land Use Planning and Environmental Policy Act 
Compliance within Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management 
Plans and Plan Amendments Decision Area.
    The planning area comprises about 753,200 acres of land, which 
includes 275,100 acres managed by the BLM Shoshone, Burley, and Upper 
Snake Field Offices. Based on analysis in the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, the MMP is amended and will 
guide livestock grazing management on BLM-managed public lands within 
the Monument into the future.
    The Monument is part of the BLM's National Conservation Lands 
system and is jointly managed with the National Park Service. This 
Monument was created in 1924 and expanded to its current acreage in 
2000.
    The BLM completed a Final EIS to determine the appropriate 
management of livestock grazing on approximately 275,100 acres of BLM-
administered lands within the Monument. This Final EIS analyzed 
management options not previously addressed by the 2007 MMP as amended 
by the 2015 Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment 
(ARMPA). This Approved MMPA/ROD amends the 2007 plan but will not amend 
the ARMPA. Among the most important decisions the BLM made through this 
plan amendment are which lands should be available for livestock 
grazing and with what protections for Greater sage-grouse and their 
sagebrush habitat.
    The purpose of this Approved MMPA/ROD is to make the 2007 MMP's 
grazing management direction consistent with current laws, regulations, 
and policies regarding Greater sage-grouse habitat conservation. More 
specifically, it considers a range of FLPMA-compliant management 
options for livestock grazing and Greater sage-grouse on BLM-managed 
lands in the planning area in a manner that maintains the Monument 
values identified in Proclamation 7373. In addition, this Approved 
MMPA/ROD is needed to cure deficiencies in the 2007 MMP/EIS identified 
by the U.S. District Court for Idaho. The Court found that BLM had 
failed to adequately address current science and the agency's policies 
designed to protect sage-grouse habitat, primarily with regard to 
managing livestock grazing in the Monument.
    After the 2007 MMP/EIS was signed, the Greater sage-grouse was 
deemed warranted for listing, but was precluded from the Threatened and 
Endangered Species list. More recently, the BLM completed the Greater 
Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Plan ARMPA for Idaho and Southwestern 
Montana, which resulted in a determination that listing the Greater 
sage-grouse was not warranted. The ARMPA amended the 2007 MMP/EIS, 
thereby addressing several of the deficiencies identified by the Court 
with regard to Greater sage-grouse conservation in the Monument.
    The Final EIS for this plan amendment, prepared after release of 
the 2015 ARMPA, analyzed five alternatives that provide a range of 
livestock grazing availability and sage-grouse protections. Alternative 
C is the BLM's selected alternative.
    Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which would continue 
the management established in the 2007 MMP/EIS. Under this alternative, 
273,900 acres would be available for livestock grazing, with 38,187 
animal unit months (AUMs) available.
    Alternative B would reduce AUMs by 75 percent and close 5 areas to 
grazing: Little Park kipuka (an island of older land surrounded by lava 
flows), the North Pasture of Laidlaw Park Allotment, Larkspur Park 
kipuka, the North Pasture of Bowl Crater Allotment, and Park Field 
kipuka. This alternative would adjust two allotment boundaries and make 
21,000 acres unavailable for livestock grazing for the protection of 
sage-grouse and other Monument values.
    Alternative C, the Approved Plan, makes 273,600 acres available for 
livestock grazing and adjusts two allotment boundaries, which would set 
the maximum number of AUMs at 37,792. Where appropriate, livestock 
grazing will be used as a tool to improve and/or protect wildlife 
habitat. Guidelines for livestock grazing management will be set based 
on vegetation and wildlife habitat conditions and needs identified in 
the 2007 MMP and current agency guidance.

[[Page 538]]

    Alternative D would eliminate livestock grazing from BLM-managed 
lands within the Monument boundary and adjust two allotment boundaries. 
All livestock-related developments would be removed, and some fences 
would be required to exclude livestock from the Monument.
    Alternative E would reduce AUMs by approximately 50 percent and 
close Larkspur Park kipuka to grazing. This alternative would adjust 
two allotment boundaries and make 272,800 acres available for grazing. 
No net gain in livestock-related infrastructure would be allowed.
    The land use planning process was initiated on June 28, 2013, 
through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register (78 FR 
39009), notifying the public of a formal scoping period and soliciting 
public participation in the planning process. Four scoping meetings 
were held in July 2013 in the communities of Arco, Carey, Rupert, and 
American Falls. During the scoping period the public provided the BLM 
with input on relevant issues to consider in the planning process. 
Based on this input and the BLM's goals and objectives, the five 
alternatives described above were formulated for consideration and 
analysis in the Draft EIS. Because Area of Critical Environmental 
Concern (ACEC) nominations were previously analyzed in the 2007 MMP/
EIS, no new ACEC nominations were solicited during scoping.
    Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public, Cooperating 
Agencies, and through internal BLM review were considered and 
incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed Plan and Final EIS, 
published on May 26, 2017 (82 FR 24387). Public comments on the Draft 
EIS resulted in the addition of clarifying text but did not 
significantly change proposed land use plan decisions.
    Two protests were receieved on the Final EIS, and the issues raised 
have been resolved. As a result, only minor editorial modifications 
were made in preparing the Approved MMPA. These modifications provided 
further clarification of some of the decisions. The Idaho Governor's 
consistency review identified that the ARMPA is inconsistent with the 
State of Idaho Sage Grouse Plan but identified no inconsistences with 
the Approved MMPA. The Approved MMPA/ROD are in compliance with the 
current BLM policy on mitigation, but because the management actions 
are programmatic in nature, the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimize, 
or compensate) will be applied during site-specific NEPA analysis at 
the implementation stage following the ROD.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.

Peter J. Ditton,
Acting BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2017-28392 Filed 1-3-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AK-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 3 / Thursday, January 4, 2018 / Notices 537 permit issuance date by searching in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM area in a manner that maintains the www.regulations.gov under the permit Craters of the Moon National Monument Monument values identified in number listed in this document (e.g., and Preserve (hereafter, Monument) Proclamation 7373. In addition, this PRT–12345c). Approved Management Plan Approved MMPA/ROD is needed to Amendment and Record of Decision cure deficiencies in the 2007 MMP/EIS V. Authority (MMPA/ROD) are now available. The identified by the U.S. District Court for Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 BLM prepared this document in Idaho. The Court found that BLM had U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). consultation with Cooperating Agencies failed to adequately address current and in accordance with the National science and the agency’s policies Joyce Russell, Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as designed to protect sage-grouse habitat, Government Information Specialist, Branch amended, the Federal Land Policy and of Permits, Division of Management primarily with regard to managing Authority. Management Act of 1976, as amended livestock grazing in the Monument. (FLPMA), implementing regulations, the After the 2007 MMP/EIS was signed, [FR Doc. 2017–28498 Filed 1–3–18; 8:45 am] BLM Land Use Planning Handbook (H– the Greater sage-grouse was deemed BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 1601–1), the BLM National warranted for listing, but was precluded Environmental Policy Act Handbook from the Threatened and Endangered (H–1790–1), and other applicable law Species list. More recently, the BLM DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR and policy, including Instruction completed the Greater Sage-Grouse Bureau of Land Management Memorandum No. 2016–105—Land Use Approved Resource Plan ARMPA for Planning and Environmental Policy Act Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Compliance within Greater Sage-Grouse which resulted in a determination that [17XL.LLIDT03100.L17110000. Approved Resource Management Plans DF0000.241A00; 4500109142] listing the Greater sage-grouse was not and Plan Amendments Decision Area. warranted. The ARMPA amended the Notice of Availability of Record of The planning area comprises about 2007 MMP/EIS, thereby addressing Decision for the Craters of the Moon 753,200 acres of land, which includes several of the deficiencies identified by National Monument and Preserve 275,100 acres managed by the BLM the Court with regard to Greater sage- Monument Management Plan Shoshone, Burley, and Upper Snake grouse conservation in the Monument. Amendment, Idaho Field Offices. Based on analysis in the The Final EIS for this plan Final Environmental Impact Statement amendment, prepared after release of AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, (EIS) for the project, the MMP is the 2015 ARMPA, analyzed five Interior. amended and will guide livestock alternatives that provide a range of ACTION: Notice of availability. grazing management on BLM-managed livestock grazing availability and sage- public lands within the Monument into grouse protections. Alternative C is the SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land the future. The Monument is part of the BLM’s BLM’s selected alternative. Management (BLM) announces the Alternative A is the No Action availability of the Record of Decision National Conservation Lands system and is jointly managed with the alternative, which would continue the (ROD) for the Approved Monument management established in the 2007 Management Plan (MMP) for the Craters National Park Service. This Monument was created in 1924 and expanded to its MMP/EIS. Under this alternative, of the Moon National Monument and 273,900 acres would be available for Preserve located in south-central Idaho. current acreage in 2000. The BLM completed a Final EIS to livestock grazing, with 38,187 animal The Idaho State Director signed the ROD unit months (AUMs) available. on July 31, 2017, which constitutes the determine the appropriate management of livestock grazing on approximately Alternative B would reduce AUMs by final decision of the BLM and makes the 75 percent and close 5 areas to grazing: Approved MMP effective immediately. 275,100 acres of BLM-administered lands within the Monument. This Final Little Park kipuka (an island of older ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/ EIS analyzed management options not land surrounded by lava flows), the Approved MMP are available upon previously addressed by the 2007 MMP North Pasture of Laidlaw Park request from the Monument Manager, as amended by the 2015 Sage-Grouse Allotment, Larkspur Park kipuka, the Shoshone Field Office, Bureau of Land Approved Resource Management Plan North Pasture of Bowl Crater Allotment, Management, 400 West F St., Shoshone, Amendment (ARMPA). This Approved and Park Field kipuka. This alternative ID 83352, or online at https:// MMPA/ROD amends the 2007 plan but would adjust two allotment boundaries www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and- will not amend the ARMPA. Among the and make 21,000 acres unavailable for nepa/plans-in-development/idaho/ most important decisions the BLM made livestock grazing for the protection of craters-of-moon. Copies of the ROD/ through this plan amendment are which sage-grouse and other Monument Approved MMP are available for public lands should be available for livestock values. inspection at the Shoshone Field Office. grazing and with what protections for Alternative C, the Approved Plan, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greater sage-grouse and their sagebrush makes 273,600 acres available for Holly Crawford, BLM Monument habitat. livestock grazing and adjusts two Manager, telephone 208–732–7200; The purpose of this Approved allotment boundaries, which would set address 400 West F Street, Shoshone, ID MMPA/ROD is to make the 2007 MMP’s the maximum number of AUMs at 83352; email hcrawford@blm.gov. grazing management direction 37,792. Where appropriate, livestock Persons who use a telecommunications consistent with current laws, grazing will be used as a tool to improve ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES device for the deaf (TDD) may call the regulations, and policies regarding and/or protect wildlife habitat. Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800– Greater sage-grouse habitat Guidelines for livestock grazing 877–8339 to to leave a message or conservation. More specifically, it management will be set based on question for Ms. Crawford. The FRS is considers a range of FLPMA-compliant vegetation and wildlife habitat available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. management options for livestock conditions and needs identified in the You will receive a reply during normal grazing and Greater sage-grouse on 2007 MMP and current agency business hours. BLM-managed lands in the planning guidance. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:16 Jan 03, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1

538 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 3 / Thursday, January 4, 2018 / Notices Alternative D would eliminate analysis at the implementation stage blk. of W Long Sts., Princeton, livestock grazing from BLM-managed following the ROD. SG100001968 lands within the Monument boundary Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6. Princeton South Main Street—Courthouse and adjust two allotment boundaries. Square Historic District, Primarily 500 & All livestock-related developments Peter J. Ditton, 600 blks. of S Main St. & Courthouse Sq., would be removed, and some fences Acting BLM Idaho State Director. Princeton, SG100001969 would be required to exclude livestock [FR Doc. 2017–28392 Filed 1–3–18; 8:45 am] Cook County from the Monument. BILLING CODE 4310–AK–P Alternative E would reduce AUMs by Promontory Point, 5491 S Shore Dr., Chicago, approximately 50 percent and close SG100001970 Larkspur Park kipuka to grazing. This DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR IOWA alternative would adjust two allotment National Park Service Clarke County boundaries and make 272,800 acres available for grazing. No net gain in Osceola Commercial Historic District, S livestock-related infrastructure would [NPS–WASO–NRNHL–24753; Fillmore, N & S Main, E & W Jefferson & PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000] E & W Washington Sts., Osceola, be allowed. The land use planning process was SG100001971 National Register of Historic Places; initiated on June 28, 2013, through a Scott County Notification of Pending Nominations Notice of Intent published in the Davenport Bag and Paper Company Building, and Related Actions Federal Register (78 FR 39009), 301 E 2nd St., Davenport, SG100001972 notifying the public of a formal scoping AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. period and soliciting public MINNESOTA ACTION: Notice. participation in the planning process. Hennepin County Four scoping meetings were held in July SUMMARY: The National Park Service is Northrop Mall Historic District, Roughly 2013 in the communities of Arco, Carey, soliciting comments on the significance bounded by Pillsbury Drive SE, E River, & Rupert, and American Falls. During the of properties nominated before Union & Delaware Sts. SE, Minneapolis, scoping period the public provided the December 9, 2017, for listing or related SG100001973 BLM with input on relevant issues to actions in the National Register of consider in the planning process. Based Historic Places. Ramsey County on this input and the BLM’s goals and DATES: Comments should be submitted Schmidt, Jacob, Brewing Company Historic objectives, the five alternatives by January 19, 2018. District, Roughly bounded by line between described above were formulated for Lots 17 & 18 of Stinson & Ramsey’s ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent via subdiv., W James Ave, Toronto & W consideration and analysis in the Draft EIS. Because Area of Critical U.S. Postal Service and all other carriers Jefferson Sts., St Paul, SG100001974 Environmental Concern (ACEC) to the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St. PENNSYLVANIA nominations were previously analyzed in the 2007 MMP/EIS, no new ACEC NW, MS 7228, Washington, DC 20240. Allegheny County nominations were solicited during SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Boys’ Club of Pittsburgh, 212 45th St., scoping. The properties listed in this notice are Pittsburgh, SG100001976 Comments on the Draft EIS received being considered for listing or related UTAH from the public, Cooperating Agencies, actions in the National Register of and through internal BLM review were Historic Places. Nominations for their Carbon County considered and incorporated as consideration were received by the Great Hunt Panel, The, (Nine Mile Canyon, appropriate into the Proposed Plan and National Park Service before December Utah MPS), Nine Mile Canyon Rd., Price Final EIS, published on May 26, 2017 9, 2017. Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 vicinity, MP100001978 (82 FR 24387). Public comments on the CFR part 60, written comments are Davis County Draft EIS resulted in the addition of being accepted concerning the significance of the nominated properties Layton Oregon Short Line Railroad Station, clarifying text but did not significantly 200 S Main St., Layton, SG100001979 change proposed land use plan under the National Register criteria for decisions. evaluation. Salt Lake South East and North West Base Two protests were receieved on the Before including your address, phone Monuments (Salt Lake Base Line), 1002 S Final EIS, and the issues raised have number, email address, or other 3200 West & 209 South 4500 West, Layton been resolved. As a result, only minor personal identifying information in your vicinity, SG100001980 editorial modifications were made in comment, you should be aware that Utah County preparing the Approved MMPA. These your entire comment—including your Coddington, Thomas and Elizabeth, House, modifications provided further personal identifying information—may (American Fork, Utah MPS), 190 North 300 clarification of some of the decisions. be made publicly available at any time. East, American Fork, MP100001982 The Idaho Governor’s consistency While you can ask us in your comment review identified that the ARMPA is Herbert, James and Emily, House, (American to withhold your personal identifying Fork, Utah MPS), 388 W Main St., inconsistent with the State of Idaho information from public review, we American Fork, MP100001983 Sage Grouse Plan but identified no cannot guarantee that we will be able to inconsistences with the Approved do so. Singleton, Robert and Mary Ann, House, ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES MMPA. The Approved MMPA/ROD are Nominations submitted by State (American Fork, Utah MPS), 740 East 40 in compliance with the current BLM South, American Fork, MP100001984 Historic Preservation Officers: policy on mitigation, but because the Singleton, Thomas and Eliza Jane, House, ILLINOIS (American Fork, Utah MPS), 778 East 50 management actions are programmatic in nature, the mitigation hierarchy Bureau County South, American Fork, MP100001985 (avoid, minimize, or compensate) will Princeton North Main Street Historic District, A request for removal has been made for be applied during site-specific NEPA Primarily 900–1000 blks. of N Main & 000 the following resource: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:16 Jan 03, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\04JAN1.SGM 04JAN1


Document Created: 2018-01-04 02:02:14
Document Modified: 2018-01-04 02:02:14
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability.
ContactHolly Crawford, BLM Monument Manager,
FR Citation83 FR 537 
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