83 FR 63528 - Notice of Availability of the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse 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 | 63528-63529 | |
| FR Document | 2018-26703 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 63528-63529] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-26703] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO200000.Ll 1100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000.18X.HAG 18-0089] Notice of Availability of the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse 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 Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation for the Nevada and Northeastern California 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 and Final EIS. 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/uz89cT. Click the Documents and Report link on the left side of the screen to find the electronic version of these materials. Hard copies of the Proposed RMP Amendment\Final EIS are available for public inspection at the BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada 89502, and the BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way # W1623, Sacramento, California 95825. 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: Matthew Magaletti, Sage-Grouse Lead, telephone, 775-861-6472; address, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, Nevada 89502; 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 Mr. Magaletti. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Mr. Magaletti. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Nevada and Northeastern California 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 [[Page 63529]] 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 the Governors' Offices in Nevada and California, 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 the FLPMA, the BLM proposes amending land use plans that address Greater Sage- Grouse management to improve alignment with State of Nevada and State of California plans and 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 the 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 Nevada and Northeastern California boundaries. The current management decisions for resources are described in the following RMPs:Alturas RMP (2008) Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon NCA RMP (2004) Carson City Consolidated RMP (2001) Eagle Lake RMP (2008) Elko RMP (1987) Ely RMP (2008) Shoshone-Eureka RMP (1986) Surprise RMP (2008) Tonopah RMP (1997) Wells RMP (1985) Winnemucca RMP (2015) The planning area includes approximately 70.3 million acres of BLM, National Park Service, United States Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State, local, and private lands located in Nevada and Northeastern California, in 17 counties: Churchill, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lassen, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Modoc, Nye, Pershing, Plumas, Sierra, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine. Within the decision area, the BLM administers approximately 45.4 million acres of public lands, providing approximately 20.5 million acres of 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 this 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 Nevada and Northeastern California held public scoping meetings in Alturas, California on November 3, 2017; Reno/Sparks, Nevada on November 7, 2017; Elko, Nevada on November 8, 2017; and Ely, Nevada on November 9, 2017. The Notice of Availability for the Draft RMP Amendment/EIS was published on May 4, 2018 (83 FR 19800), and the BLM accepted public comments on the range of alternatives, effects analysis, and Draft RMP Amendment/EIS for 90 days, ending on August 2, 2018. During the public comment period public meetings were held in Alturas, California on June 29, 2018; Reno/Sparks, Nevada on June 26, 2018; Elko, Nevada on June 28, 2018; and Ely, Nevada on June 27, 2018. The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS focused on the issue of Sagebrush Focal Area designations, mitigation, adjustments to habitat management area designations to reflect new information, reversing adaptive management responses when the BLM determines that resource conditions no longer warrant those responses (in addition to addressing updates to the adaptive management strategy based on best available science), allocation exception processes, seasonal timing restrictions, modifying habitat objectives when best available science is available, and through plan clarification: Modifying lek buffers, requirements for required design features, and removal and/or modification to three livestock grazing management decisions in order to comply with 43 CFR 4160.1. The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS evaluated two alternatives in detail, including the No-Action Alternative and one action alternative, the Management Alignment Alternative. Comments on the Draft RMP Amendment/EIS received from the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the proposed plan amendment. The No-Action Alternative would retain the current management goals, objectives, and direction specified in the current RMPs, as amended in 2015, for each field office. The Management Alignment Alternative 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5. Brian C. Amme, BLM Nevada Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2018-26703 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-33-P
![63528 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Notices
Amendment/EIS was published, and the submitted electronically through the conditions as described in the
BLM accepted public comments on the BLM ePlanning project website as regulations may protest the BLM’s
range of alternatives, effects analysis described above. Protests submitted Proposed RMP Amendment and Final
and Draft RMP Amendment/EIS for 90 electronically by any means other than EIS. A person who meets the conditions
days, ending on August 2, 2018. During the ePlanning project website protest outlined in 43 CFR 1610.5–2 and wishes
the public comment period public section will be invalid unless a protest to file a protest must do so within 30
meetings were held in the following is also submitted in hard copy. Protests days of the date that the Environmental
locations in Utah: June 26, 2018, in submitted by fax will also be invalid Protection Agency publishes its Notice
Cedar City, Utah; June 27, 2018 in unless also submitted either through of Availability in the Federal Register.
Vernal, Utah; and June 28, 208, in ePlanning project website protest A protest regarding the Proposed RMP
Randolph, Utah. section or in hard copy. Amendment announced with this notice
The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS Before including your address, phone must be filed by January 9, 2019.
focused on the following issues: number, email address, or other ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMP
Sagebrush focal area designation; personal identifying information in your Amendment and Final EIS is available
disturbance and density caps; protest, please be aware that your entire on the BLM ePlanning project website at
mitigation; modification of habitat protest, including your personal https://goo.gl/uz89cT. Click the
objectives; changes to fluid mineral identifying information, may be made Documents and Report link on the left
leasing waivers, exceptions and publicly available at any time. While side of the screen to find the electronic
modification criteria; the need for you can ask us in your comment to version of these materials. Hard copies
General Habitat Management Areas; withhold your personal identifying of the Proposed RMP Amendment\Final
exceptions to Greater Sage-Grouse information from public review, we EIS are available for public inspection at
management within non-habitat cannot guarantee that we will be able to the BLM Nevada State Office, 1340
portions of Priority Habitat Management do so. Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada
Areas; lek buffers; reversing adaptive 89502, and the BLM California State
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
management responses when the BLM Office, 2800 Cottage Way # W1623,
43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5
determines that resource conditions no
Sacramento, California 95825.
longer warrant those responses; Edwin L. Roberson,
All protests must be in writing (43
prioritization of mineral leasing; land BLM Utah State Director. CFR 1610.5–2(a)(1)) and filed with the
disposals and exchanges; predation; [FR Doc. 2018–26698 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am] BLM Director, either as a hard copy or
burial of transmission lines; decisions BILLING CODE 4310–33–P electronically via the BLM’s ePlanning
that require analysis of specific project website listed previously. To
alternatives during implementation;
submit a protest electronically, go to the
adjustment of habitat boundaries to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ePlanning project website and follow
reflect new information; grazing systems
the protest instructions highlighted at
and prioritization of grazing permits; Bureau of Land Management
the top of the home page.
water developments management in If submitting a protest in hard copy,
[LLWO200000.Ll
relation to water rights; travel and 1100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000.18X.HAG it must be mailed to one of the following
transportation management planning; 18–0089] addresses:
and surface coal mining. The Draft RMP U.S. Postal Service Mail: BLM
Amendment/EIS evaluated two Notice of Availability of the Nevada Director (210), Attention: Protest
alternatives in detail, including the No- and Northeastern California Greater Coordinator, WO–210, P.O Box 71383,
Action Alternative and one action Sage-Grouse Proposed Resource Washington, DC 20024–1383.
alternative, the Management Alignment Management Plan Amendment and Overnight Delivery: BLM Director
Alternative. Comments on the Draft Final Environmental Impact Statement (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator,
RMP Amendment/EIS received from the WO–210, 20 M Street SE, Room
public and internal BLM review were AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior. 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003.
considered and incorporated as
ACTION: Notice of availability. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
appropriate into the Proposed RMP
Amendment and Final EIS. The No- Matthew Magaletti, Sage-Grouse Lead,
Action Alternative would retain the SUMMARY: In accordance with the telephone, 775–861–6472; address, 1340
management goals, objectives, and National Environmental Policy Act of Financial Blvd., Reno, Nevada 89502;
direction specified in the current RMPs, 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the email, mmagalet@blm.gov. Persons who
as amended in 2015, for each field Federal Land Policy and Management use a telecommunications device for the
office. The Management Alignment Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Alternative has been identified as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
BLM’s Preferred Alternative. prepared the Nevada and Northeastern contact Mr. Magaletti. The FRS is
Identification of this alternative, California Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
however, does not represent final Resource Management Plan (RMP) to leave a message or question with Mr.
agency direction. Amendment and Final Environmental Magaletti. You will receive a reply
Instructions for filing a protest with Impact Statement (EIS) for Greater Sage- during normal business hours.
the Director of the BLM regarding the Grouse Conservation for the Nevada and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS Northeastern California Greater Sage- prepared the Nevada and Northeastern
may be found online at https:// Grouse Sub-Region, and by this notice is California Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed
www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and- announcing its availability and the RMP Amendment and Final EIS to
nepa/public-participation/filing-a-plan- opening of a protest period concerning enhance cooperation with the States by
protest and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All the Proposed RMP Amendment and improving alignment with state
protests must be in writing and mailed Final EIS. management plans and strategies for
to the appropriate address, as set forth DATES: The BLM planning regulations Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing
in the ADDRESSES section above or state that any person who meets the to conserve, enhance, and restore
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Notices 63529
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The Storey, Washoe, and White Pine. Within Management Alignment Alternative has
Proposed RMP Amendment and Final the decision area, the BLM administers been identified as the BLM’s Preferred
EIS also addresses the issues remanded approximately 45.4 million acres of Alternative. Identification of this
to the agency by a March 31, 2017 Order public lands, providing approximately alternative, however, does not represent
by the United States District Court for 20.5 million acres of Greater Sage- final agency direction.
the District of Nevada, which Grouse habitat. Surface management Instructions for filing a protest with
determined that the BLM had violated decisions made as a result of this the Director of the BLM regarding the
the NEPA when it finalized the 2015 Proposed RMP Amendment and Final Proposed RMP Amendment and Final
Nevada plan. EIS will apply only to BLM EIS may be found online at https://
The BLM developed the proposed administered lands in the decision area. www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-
land use plan amendment in The formal public scoping process for nepa/public-participation/filing-a-plan-
collaboration with the Governors’ this RMP Amendment and EIS began on protest and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All
Offices in Nevada and California, state October 11, 2017, with publication of a protests must be in writing and mailed
wildlife managers, and other concerned Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to the appropriate address, as set forth
organizations and individuals, largely (82 FR 47248) and ended on December in the ADDRESSES section above or
through the Western Governors 1, 2017. The BLM in Nevada and submitted electronically through the
Association’s Sage-Grouse Task Force. Northeastern California held public BLM ePlanning project website as
Using its discretion and authority under scoping meetings in Alturas, California described above. Protests submitted
the FLPMA, the BLM proposes on November 3, 2017; Reno/Sparks, electronically by any means other than
amending land use plans that address Nevada on November 7, 2017; Elko, the ePlanning project website protest
Greater Sage-Grouse management to Nevada on November 8, 2017; and Ely, section will be invalid unless a protest
improve alignment with State of Nevada Nevada on November 9, 2017. The is also submitted in hard copy. Protests
and State of California plans and Notice of Availability for the Draft RMP submitted by fax will also be invalid
management strategies, in accordance Amendment/EIS was published on May unless also submitted either through
with the BLM’s multiple use and 4, 2018 (83 FR 19800), and the BLM ePlanning project website protest
sustained yield mission. accepted public comments on the range section or in hard copy.
This Proposed RMP Amendment and of alternatives, effects analysis, and Before including your address, phone
Final EIS is one of six separate planning Draft RMP Amendment/EIS for 90 days, number, email address, or other
efforts that are being undertaken in ending on August 2, 2018. During the personal identifying information in your
response to the Secretary’s Order (SO) public comment period public meetings protest, please be aware that your entire
3353 (Greater Sage-grouse Conservation were held in Alturas, California on June protest, including your personal
and Cooperation with Western States) 29, 2018; Reno/Sparks, Nevada on June identifying information, may be made
and in accordance with SO 3349 26, 2018; Elko, Nevada on June 28, publicly available at any time. While
(American Energy Independence). The 2018; and Ely, Nevada on June 27, 2018. you can ask us in your comment to
proposed plans refine the previous The Draft RMP Amendment/EIS withhold your personal identifying
management plan adopted in 2015 and focused on the issue of Sagebrush Focal
information from public review, we
aims to strike a regulatory balance and Area designations, mitigation,
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
build greater trust among neighboring adjustments to habitat management area
do so.
interests in Western communities. The designations to reflect new information,
reversing adaptive management Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
Proposed RMP Amendment and Final 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5.
EIS proposes to amend the RMPs for responses when the BLM determines
field offices on BLM-administered lands that resource conditions no longer Brian C. Amme,
within BLM Nevada and Northeastern warrant those responses (in addition to BLM Nevada Acting State Director.
addressing updates to the adaptive
California boundaries. The current [FR Doc. 2018–26703 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am]
management strategy based on best
management decisions for resources are BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
available science), allocation exception
described in the following RMPs:
• Alturas RMP (2008) processes, seasonal timing restrictions,
• Black Rock Desert-High Rock modifying habitat objectives when best DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Canyon NCA RMP (2004) available science is available, and
• Carson City Consolidated RMP through plan clarification: Modifying Bureau of Land Management
(2001) lek buffers, requirements for required
design features, and removal and/or [LLWO200000.18X
• Eagle Lake RMP (2008) L11100000.PH0000.LXSCPL000000]
• Elko RMP (1987) modification to three livestock grazing
• Ely RMP (2008) management decisions in order to Notice of Availability of the Idaho
• Shoshone-Eureka RMP (1986) comply with 43 CFR 4160.1. The Draft Proposed Resource Management Plan
• Surprise RMP (2008) RMP Amendment/EIS evaluated two Amendment and Final Environmental
• Tonopah RMP (1997) alternatives in detail, including the No- Impact Statement
• Wells RMP (1985) Action Alternative and one action
• Winnemucca RMP (2015) alternative, the Management Alignment AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
The planning area includes Alternative. Comments on the Draft Interior.
approximately 70.3 million acres of RMP Amendment/EIS received from the ACTION: Notice of Availability.
BLM, National Park Service, United public and internal BLM review were
States Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of considered and incorporated as SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Reclamation, State, local, and private appropriate into the proposed plan National Environmental Policy Act of
lands located in Nevada and amendment. The No-Action Alternative 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
Northeastern California, in 17 counties: would retain the current management Federal Land Policy and Management
Churchill, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, goals, objectives, and direction specified Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
Lander, Lassen, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, in the current RMPs, as amended in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
Modoc, Nye, Pershing, Plumas, Sierra, 2015, for each field office. The prepared the Idaho Proposed Resource
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Dec 07, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM 10DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_63764/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-12-08 00:21:29
Document Modified: 2018-12-08 00:21:29
| 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 | Matthew Magaletti, Sage-Grouse Lead, | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 63528 |
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