83 FR 63525 - Notice of Availability of the Wyoming Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 236 (December 10, 2018)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 236 (December 10, 2018)
| Page Range | 63525-63527 | |
| FR Document | 2018-26700 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 63525-63527] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-26700] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO200000.Ll 1100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000.18X.HAG 18-0089] Notice of Availability of the Wyoming Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) has prepared the Wyoming Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation for the Wyoming Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region and by this notice is announcing its availability and the opening of a protest period concerning the Proposed RMP Amendment. DATES: The BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions outlined in 43 CFR 1610.5-2 and wishes to file a protest must do so within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. A protest regarding the Proposed RMP Amendment announced with this notice must be filed by January 9, 2019. ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS is available on the BLM ePlanning project website at https://goo.gl/FoqAn9. Click the Documents and Report link on the left [[Page 63526]] side of the screen to find the electronic version of these materials. Hard copies of the Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Wyoming State Office. All protests must be in writing (43 CFR 1610.5-2(a)(1)) and filed with the BLM Director, either as a hard copy or electronically via the BLM's ePlanning project website listed previously. To submit a protest electronically, go to the ePlanning project website and follow the protest instructions highlighted at the top of the home page. If submitting a protest in hard copy, it must be mailed to one of the following addresses: U.S. Postal Service Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO-210, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383. Overnight Delivery: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, WO-210, 20 M Street SE, Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenny Marzluf, Greater Sage-grouse Implementation Coordinator by telephone, 307-775-6090; at the address above; or by email, [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Ms. Marzluf. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Ms. Marzluf. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Wyoming Greater Sage- Grouse Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS to enhance cooperation with the States by improving alignment with state management plans and strategies for Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing to conserve, enhance, and restore Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS also addresses the issues remanded to the agency by a March 31, 2017 Order by the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, which determined that the BLM had violated the NEPA when it finalized the 2015 Nevada plan. The BLM developed the proposed land use plan amendment in collaboration with Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, state wildlife managers, and other concerned organizations and individuals, largely through the Western Governors Association's Sage-Grouse Task Force. Using its discretion and authority under FLPMA, the BLM proposes amending land use plans that address Greater Sage-Grouse management to improve alignment with individual state plans or management strategies, in accordance with the BLM's multiple use and sustained yield mission. This Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS is one of six separate planning efforts that are being undertaken in response to Secretary's Order (SO) 3353 (Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation and Cooperation with Western States) and in accordance with SO 3349 (American Energy Independence). The proposed plans refine the previous management plan adopted in 2015 and aims to strike a regulatory balance and build greater trust among neighboring interests in Western communities. The Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS proposes to amend the RMPs for field offices on BLM-administered lands within BLM Wyoming boundaries. The current management decisions for resources are described in the following RMPs:Buffalo RMP (2015) Casper RMP (2007) Cody RMP (2015) Kemmerer RMP (2010) Lander RMP (2014) Newcastle RMP (2000) Pinedale RMP (2008) Rawlins RMP (2008) Green River RMP (1997) Worland RMP (2015) The planning area includes approximately 60 million acres of BLM, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State, local, and private lands located in Wyoming, in 20 counties: Albany, Bighorn, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Niobrara, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta, Washakie, and Weston. Within the decision area, the BLM administers approximately 18 million acres of public land, providing approximately 17 million acres of Priority and General Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Surface management decisions made as a result of this Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS will apply only to BLM-administered lands in the decision area. The formal public scoping process for the RMP Amendment and EIS began on October 11, 2017, with publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (82 FR 47248) and ended on December 1, 2017. The BLM in Wyoming held public scoping meetings in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Pinedale, Wyoming in November of 2017. The Notice of Availability for the Draft Supplemental EIS was published on May 4, 2018, and the BLM accepted public comments on the range of alternatives, effects analysis and draft RMP amendments for 90 days, ending on August 2, 2018. During the public comment period, two public meetings were held, one in Cheyenne and one in Pinedale. The Wyoming Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS focused on the issues of designation of sagebrush focal areas, mitigation standards, clarification of habitat objectives tables, adjustments to habitat boundaries to reflect new information, and reversing adaptive management responses when the BLM determines that resource conditions no longer warrant those responses. The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS evaluated two alternatives in detail, including the No Action Alternative (Alternative A) and one action alternative (Alternative B). Comments on the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS received from the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the proposed plan amendment. Alternative A would retain the current management goals, objectives, and direction specified in the current RMPs, as amended, for each field office. Alternative B has been identified as the BLM's Preferred Alternative. Identification of this alternative, however, does not represent final agency direction. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS may be found online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/filing-a-plan-protest and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above or submitted electronically through the BLM ePlanning project website as described above. Protests submitted electronically by any means other than the ePlanning project website protest section will be invalid unless a protest is also submitted in hard copy. Protests submitted by fax will also be invalid unless also submitted either through ePlanning project website protest section or in hard copy. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, please be aware that your entire protest, 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. [[Page 63527]] Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5 Duane Spencer, Acting BLM Wyoming State Director. [FR Doc. 2018-26700 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Notices 63525
a week, to leave a message or question acres of public lands, all of which is that your entire comment—including
with Mr. Regan-Vienop. You will Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Surface your personally identifiable
receive a reply during normal business management decisions made as a result information—may be made publicly
hours. of this Proposed RMP Amendment/ available at any time. While you can ask
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Final EIS will apply only to lands the BLM in your comment to withhold
prepared the Oregon Greater SageGrouse administered by the BLM in the your personally identifiable information
Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS to decision area. from public review, we cannot
enhance cooperation with States by The formal public scoping process for guarantee that we will be able to do so.
improving alignment with State the RMP Amendment/EIS began on Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
management plans and strategies for October 11, 2017, with publication of a 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5
Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing Notice of Intent in the Federal Register
(82 FR 47248), and ended on December Christopher J. McAlear,
to conserve, enhance, and restore
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The 1, 2017. The BLM held one public Acting State Director, Oregon/Washington,
scoping meeting in Burns, Oregon on Bureau of Land Management.
Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS
also addresses a legal vulnerability, November 7, 2017. [FR Doc. 2018–26701 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am]
The Oregon Draft RMP Amendment/ BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
which was exposed when a Federal
Draft EIS focused on the availability or
District Court in Nevada determined
unavailability of livestock grazing in 13
that the BLM had violated the NEPA
key Research Natural Areas and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
when it finalized the 2015 plans.
mitigation. Research Natural Areas are a
The BLM developed the proposed Bureau of Land Management
subset type of Areas of Critical
land use plan amendment in Environmental Concern. The Draft RMP
collaboration with Oregon Governor [LLWO200000.Ll
Amendment/Draft EIS evaluated two 1100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000.18X.HAG
Kate Brown, State wildlife managers, alternatives in detail, including the No 18–0089]
and other concerned organizations and Action Alternative (Alternative A) and
individuals, largely through the Western one action alternative (Alternative B, Notice of Availability of the Wyoming
Governors Association’s Sage-Grouse Management Alignment Alternative). Proposed Resource Management Plan
Task Force. Using its discretion and Comments on the Draft RMP Amendment and Final Environmental
authority under the FLPMA, the BLM Amendment/Draft EIS received from the Impact Statement
proposes amending land use plans that public and internal BLM review were
address Greater Sage-Grouse AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
considered and incorporated as Interior.
management to improve alignment with appropriate into the proposed RMP
State of Oregon plans and management ACTION: Notice of Availability.
Amendment/Final EIS. Alternative A
strategies, in accordance with the BLM’s would retain the current management
multiple use and sustained yield SUMMARY: In accordance with the
goals, objectives, and direction specified National Environmental Policy Act of
mission. This Proposed RMP in the current RMPs, as amended, for
Amendment/Final EIS is one of six 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the
each field office. Alternative B was Federal Land Policy and Management
separate planning efforts that are being identified as the BLM’s preferred
undertaken in response to the Act of 1976, as amended, (FLPMA) the
alternative in the Draft RMP Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
Secretary’s Order (SO) 3353 (Greater Amendment/Draft EIS for the purposes
Sage-grouse Conservation and prepared the Wyoming Proposed
of public comment and review. Resource Management Plan (RMP)
Cooperation with Western States) and in Identification of this alternative,
accordance with SO 3349 (American Amendment and Final Environmental
however, does not represent final Impact Statement (EIS) for Greater Sage-
Energy Independence). The proposed agency direction.
plans refine the previous management Grouse Conservation for the Wyoming
Instructions for filing a protest with Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region and by
plan adopted in 2015 and aims to strike the Director of the BLM regarding the
a regulatory balance and build greater this notice is announcing its availability
Proposed RMPA/Final EIS may be and the opening of a protest period
trust among neighboring interests in found online at https://www.blm.gov/
Western communities. The Proposed concerning the Proposed RMP
programs/planning-and-nepa/public-
RMP Amendment/Final EIS proposes to Amendment.
participation/filing-a-plan-protest and
amend the RMPs for field offices on at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All protests must be DATES: The BLM planning regulations
BLM-administered lands within Oregon. in writing and mailed to the appropriate state that any person who meets the
The current management decisions for address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES conditions as described in the
resources are described in the following section above or submitted regulations may protest the BLM’s
RMPs: electronically through the BLM proposed RMP Amendment and Final
• Andrews (2005) ePlanning project website as described EIS. A person who meets the conditions
• Baker (1989) above. Protests submitted electronically outlined in 43 CFR 1610.5–2 and wishes
• Brothers/La Pine (1989) by any means other than the ePlanning to file a protest must do so within 30
• Lakeview (2003) project website protest section will be days of the date that the Environmental
• Southeastern Oregon (2002) invalid unless a protest is also Protection Agency publishes its Notice
• Steens (2005) submitted in hard copy. Protests of Availability in the Federal Register.
• Three Rivers (1992) submitted by fax will also be invalid A protest regarding the Proposed RMP
• Upper Deschutes (2005) unless also submitted either through Amendment announced with this notice
The planning area includes ePlanning project website protest must be filed by January 9, 2019.
approximately 60,649 acres of lands section or in hard copy. ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMP
administered by the BLM in three Before including your address, phone Amendment and Final EIS is available
Oregon counties: Harney, Lake, and number, email address, or other on the BLM ePlanning project website at
Malheur. Within the decision area, the personally identifiable information in https://goo.gl/FoqAn9. Click the
BLM administers approximately 21,959 your comment, you should be aware Documents and Report link on the left
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Notices 63527
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, Coordinator, WO–210, P.O. Box 71383, EIS proposes to amend the (RMPs) for
43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5 Washington, DC 20024–1383. field offices on BLM-administered lands
Duane Spencer, Overnight Delivery: BLM Director within BLM Utah boundaries. The
Acting BLM Wyoming State Director.
(210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, current management decisions for
WO–210, 20 M Street SE, Room resources are described in the following
[FR Doc. 2018–26700 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am]
2134LM, Washington, DC 20003. RMPs:
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: • Box Elder Resource Management
Quincy Bahr, Greater Sage-Grouse RMP Plan (1986)
Project Manager; telephone 801–539– • Cedar/Beaver/Garfield/Antimony
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Resource Management Plan (1986)
4122; address 440 West 200 South, Suite
500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; or by • Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Bureau of Land Management Monument Management Plan (2000)
email qfbahr@blm.gov. Persons who use
[LLWO200000.18X • House Range Resource Management
a telecommunications device for the
L11100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000] Plan (1987)
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay • Kanab Resource Management Plan
Notice of Availability of the Utah Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to (2008)
Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed contact Mr. Bahr. The FRS is available • Park City Management Framework
Resource Management Plan 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave Plan (1975)
Amendment and Final Environmental a message or question with Mr. Bahr. • Pinyon Management Framework
Impact Statement, Utah You will receive a reply during normal Plan (1978)
business hours. • Pony Express Resource
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Management Plan (1990)
Interior. prepared the Proposed RMP • Price Resource Management Plan
ACTION: Notice of availability. Amendment and Final EIS to analyze a (2008)
range of alternatives that will continue • Randolph Management Framework
SUMMARY: In accordance with the conserving, enhancing, and restoring Plan (1980)
National Environmental Policy Act of Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat, • Richfield Resource Management
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land while improving alignment with state Plan (2008)
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as management strategies for Greater Sage- • Salt Lake District Isolated Tracts
amended, the Bureau of Land Grouse. The plan also addresses a legal Planning Analysis (1985)
Management (BLM) has prepared the • Vernal Resource Management Plan
vulnerability, which was exposed when
Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed (2008)
a Federal District Court in Nevada • Warm Springs Resource
Resource Management Plan (Proposed determined that the BLM had violated
RMP) Amendment and Final Management Plan (1987)
the National Environmental Policy Act The planning area includes
Environmental Impact Statement (Final when it finalized the 2015 plans.
EIS) for the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse approximately 48,158,700 acres of BLM,
The BLM developed the proposed National Park Service, United States
Sub-Region. By this Notice, the BLM is land use plan amendment in
announcing the opening of a protest Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of
collaboration with Utah Governor Gary Reclamation, State, local, and private
period concerning the Proposed RMP Herbert, state wildlife managers, and
Amendment and Final EIS. lands located in Utah, in 27 counties:
other concerned organizations and Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon,
DATES: A protest regarding the Proposed individuals, largely through the Western Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery,
RMP Amendment announced with this Governors Association’s Sage-Grouse Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane,
notice must be filed by January 9, 2019. Task Force. Using its discretion and Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake,
ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMP authority under the Federal Land Policy Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele,
Amendment/Final EIS is available on and Management Act, the BLM proposes Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Wayne, and
the BLM ePlanning project website at amending its land use plans that Weber. Within the decision area, which
https://go.usa.gov/xP8xc. Click the address Greater Sage-Grouse is limited to the portions of the planning
Documents and Report link on the left management to improve alignment with area where the decisions from this
side of the screen to find the electronic the State of Utah’s plan, in accordance process may apply, the BLM
version of these materials. Hard copies with the BLM’s multiple use and administers approximately 4 million
of the Proposed RMP Amendment and sustained yield mission. Under the acres of public land, providing
Final EIS are available for public Federal Land Policy and Management approximately 3.4 million acres of
inspection at the BLM Utah State Office, Act, the BLM is required by law to work Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Surface
440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt cooperatively with states on land-use management decisions made as a result
Lake City, UT 84101 or on the project plans and amendments. of this Proposed RMP Amendment and
website listed above. This Proposed RMP Amendment/ Final EIS will apply only to BLM-
All protests must be in writing (43 Final EIS is one of six separate planning administered lands in the decision area.
CFR 1610.5–2(a)(1)) and filed with the efforts that are being undertaken in The formal public scoping process for
BLM Director, either as a hard copy or response to the Secretary’s Order (SO) the RMP Amendment/EIS began on
electronically via the BLM’s ePlanning 3353 (Greater Sage-grouse Conservation October 11, 2017, with publication of a
project website listed previously. To and Cooperation with Western States) Notice of Intent in the Federal Register
submit a protest electronically, go to the and in accordance with SO 3349 (82 FR 47248) and ended on December
ePlanning project website and follow (American Energy Independence). The 1, 2017. The BLM Utah held public
the protest instructions highlighted at proposed plans refine the previous scoping meetings on November 14,
the top of the home page. If submitting management plan adopted in 2015 and 2017, in Vernal, Utah; on November 15,
a protest in hard copy, it must be mailed aims to strike a regulatory balance and 2017, in Cedar City, Utah; and on
to one of the following addresses: build greater trust among neighboring November 16, 2017, in Snowville, Utah.
U.S. Postal Service Mail: BLM interests in Western communities. The On May 4, 2018, the Notice of
Director (210), Attention: Protest Proposed RMP Amendment and Final Availability for the Draft RMP
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Document Created: 2018-12-08 00:22:44
Document Modified: 2018-12-08 00:22:44
| 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. | |
| Dates | The BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's proposed RMP Amendment and Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions outlined in 43 CFR 1610.5-2 and wishes to file a protest must do so within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. A protest regarding the Proposed RMP Amendment announced with this notice must be filed by January 9, 2019. | |
| Contact | Jenny Marzluf, Greater Sage-grouse | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 63525 |
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