Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2011 / Notices 20369 

• Few restoration projects integrate 

an interdisciplinary scientific approach 

into project implementation, limiting 

the opportunities to learn restoration. 

In 2004, following approval of 

CALFED Bay-Delta Program grant 

funding, River Partners and an 

interdisciplinary team began studies to 

examine measures to protect the 

PCGID–PID pumping plant and fish 

screen facility and develop restoration 

options for the Llano Seco Riparian 

Sanctuary Unit. 

River Partners initiated a cooperative 

process with the Service and the 

PCGID–PID to address complex and 

potentially controversial issues 

associated with restoration activities 

and pumping plant and fish screen 

facility protection measures. MBK 

Engineers completed the Llano Seco 

Unit Sacramento River Mile 178 

Pumping Plant Protection Feasibility 

Study in August 2005 to identify 

alternatives that meet the PCGID–PID’s 

pumping plant and fish screen 

protection objectives. 

In 2005, River Partners prepared a 

Riparian Feasibility Study for the Llano 

Seco Riparian Sanctuary Unit to 

investigate the feasibility of restoration 

and other management options for this 

area. Approximately 500 acres of the 

site was found to be dominated by 

nonnative plants, with poor wildlife 

habitat values, and suitable for 

restoration. 

In 2010, Ayres Associates refined the 

alternatives identified in the MBK 

study, identifying the most feasible 

alternatives that should be considered 

for protection of the PCGID–PID facility. 

Summary of Alternatives 

No Action Alternative 

Under the No Action alternative, only 

the ongoing removal and management of 

invasive plant species would occur at 

the Riparian Sanctuary. No active 

restoration of native plants would occur. 

Maintenance activities for the PCGID– 

PID pumping plant and fish screens 

would continue, but no new actions 

would be taken to prevent river 

meander. 

Action Alternatives 

A full range of reasonable alternatives 

will be developed based on the River 

Partners 2005 feasibility study, the 2010 

Ayres feasibility study, and public input 

received during this scoping period. The 

2005 River Partners study identified 

restoration measures consisting of full 

plantings or site-specific plantings of 

the Llano Seco Riparian Sanctuary Unit. 

The 2010 Ayres feasibility study 

identified the following measures to 

protect the PCGID–PID pumping plant 

and fish screen facility: Construction of 

spur dikes, traditional riprap revetment, 

traditional riprap with a low berm, and 

traditional riprap with removal of 

existing revetment. A combination of 

these measures will be used to develop 

a range of alternatives. 

Public Comment 

We are furnishing this notice in 

accordance with section 1501.7 of the 

NEPA implementing regulations to 

obtain suggestions and information from 

other agencies and the public on the 

scope of issues to be addressed in the 

EIS/EIR. We invite written comments 

from interested parties to ensure 

identification of the full range of issues. 

Written comments we receive become 

part of the public record associated with 

this action. Before including your 

address, phone number, e-mail address, 

or other personal identifying 

information in your comment, you 

should be aware that the entire 

comment—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. 

Public Scoping Meeting 

In addition to providing written 

comments, the public is encouraged to 

attend a public scoping meeting to 

provide us with suggestions and 

information on the scope of issues and 

alternatives to consider when drafting 

the EIS/EIR. A public scoping meeting 

will be held on the date shown in the 

DATES section. 

Persons needing reasonable 

accommodations in order to attend and 

participate in the public meeting should 

contact us at the address listed in the 

ADDRESSES section no later than 1 week 

before the public meeting. Information 

regarding this proposed action is 

available in alternative formats upon 

request. We will accept both oral and 

written comments at the scoping 

meeting. 

NEPA Compliance 

Information gathered through this 

scoping process will assist us in 

developing a range of alternatives to 

address restoration of the Llano Seco 

Riparian Sanctuary Unit and protection 

of the PCGID–PID pumping plant and 

fish screen facility. A detailed 

description of the proposed action and 

alternatives will be included in the EIS/ 

EIR. The EIS/EIR will identify the 

direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts 

of the alternatives on biological 

resources, cultural resources, land use, 

air quality, water quality, water 

resources, and other environmental 

resources. It will also identify 

appropriate mitigation measures for 

adverse environmental effects. 

We will conduct environmental 

review in accordance with the 

requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing 

regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), 

other applicable regulations, and our 

procedures for compliance with those 

regulations. The environmental 

document will be prepared to meet both 

the requirements of NEPA and the 

California Environmental Quality Act 

(CEQA). The CDFG is the CEQA lead 

agency. We anticipate that a draft EIS/ 

EIR will be available for public review 

in the fall of 2011. 

Dated: April 6, 2011. 

Alexandra Pitts, 

Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. 

[FR Doc. 2011–8664 Filed 4–11–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLMT921000–11–L13200000–EL0000–P; 

MTM 101687–MTM 101688] 

Notice of Invitation–Coal Exploration 

License Applications MTM 101687 and 

MTM 101688 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Members of the public are 

hereby invited to participate with the 

Spring Creek Coal Company on a pro 

rata cost sharing basis in a program for 

the exploration of coal deposits owned 

by the United States of America in lands 

located in Big Horn County, Montana, 

encompassing a combined 9,011.61 

acres. 

DATES: Any party seeking to participate 

in this exploration program must send 

written notice to both the Bureau of 

Land Management and Spring Creek 

Coal Company as provided in the 

‘‘ADDRESSES’’ section below no later than 

May 12, 2011 or 10 calendar days after 

the last publication of this Notice in the 

Sheridan Press newspaper, whichever is 

later. This Notice will be published 

once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in 

the Sheridan Press, Sheridan, Wyoming. 

Such written notice must refer to serial 

numbers MTM 101687 or MTM 101688. 

ADDRESSES: The proposed exploration 

license and plan are available for review 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
20370 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 70 / Tuesday, April 12, 2011 / Notices 

from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, in the public room at the BLM 

Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate 

Drive, Billings, Montana. 

A written notice to participate in the 

exploration licenses should be sent to 

the State Director, BLM Montana State 

Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, 

Montana 59101–4669 and Spring Creek 

Coal Company, P.O. Box 67, Decker, 

Montana 59025–0067. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Giovanini by telephone at 406– 

896–5084 or by e-mail at 

rgiovani@blm.gov; or Connie Schaff by 

telephone at 406–896–5060 or by e-mail 

at cschaff@blm.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

exploration activities will be performed 

pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of 

1920, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 201(b), and 

to the regulations at 43 CFR part 3410. 

The purpose of the exploration program 

is to gain additional geologic knowledge 

of the coal underlying the exploration 

area for the purpose of assessing the 

coal resources. The exploration program 

is fully described and will be conducted 

pursuant to an exploration license and 

plan approved by the BLM. The 

exploration plan may be modified to 

accommodate the legitimate exploration 

needs of persons seeking to participate. 

The lands to be explored for coal 

deposits in exploration license MTM 

101687 are described as follows: 

Principal Meridian, Montana 

T. 8 S., R. 38 E., 

Sec. 24, E1⁄2SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 25, E1⁄2NE1⁄4 and NE1⁄4SE1⁄4. 

T. 8 S., R. 39 E., 

Sec. 4, S1⁄2; 

Sec. 5, lots 13 thru 26, inclusive, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, 

and SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 8, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, E1⁄2, and 

E1⁄2W1⁄2; 

Sec. 9; 

Sec. 13, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, 

N1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, 

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, 

SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, 

NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 17, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, E1⁄2, and 

E1⁄2W1⁄2; 

Sec. 20, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, E1⁄2, and 

E1⁄2W1⁄2; 

Sec. 21, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2N1⁄2, and S1⁄2; 

Sec. 22, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, 

NW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, 

NW1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, 

S1⁄2NW1⁄4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, 

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, 

SW1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, and SW1⁄4SW1⁄4; 

Sec. 27, W1⁄2NW1⁄4 and W1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4; 

Sec. 28, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and NW1⁄4SW1⁄4; 

Sec. 29, N1⁄2NE1⁄4 and NE1⁄4NW1⁄4. 

Containing 5,260.16 acres. 

The Federal coal within the lands 

described for exploration license MTM 

101667 is currently unleased for 

development of Federal coal reserves. 

The lands to be explored for coal 

deposits in exploration license MTM 

101688 are described as follows: 

Principal Meridian, Montana 

T. 8 S., R. 39 E., 

Sec. 26, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4; 

Sec. 27, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, 

NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and 

S1⁄2SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 35, E1⁄2, E1⁄2W1⁄2, and NW1⁄4NW1⁄4. 

T. 9 S., R. 39 E., 

Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, W1⁄2E1⁄2, 

and W1⁄2; 

Sec. 2, E1⁄2 and E1⁄2W1⁄2; 

Sec. 11, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and 

N1⁄2SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 12, lots 1 thru 4, inclusive, W1⁄2E1⁄2, 

NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SW1⁄4. 

T. 9 S., R. 40 E., 

Sec. 6, lots 5–7, inclusive, S1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, 

E1⁄2SW1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, 

NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and 

S1⁄2SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 7, lots 1–4, inclusive, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2W1⁄2, 

N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4. 

Containing 3,751.45 acres. 

The Federal coal within the lands 

described for exploration license MTM 

101668 is currently unleased for 

development of Federal coal reserves. 

The Spring Creek Coal Company has 

requested that the BLM’s decision 

associated with exploration license 

MTM 101688 be deferred for 

approximately 9 months after the 

decision on exploration license MTM 

101687. 

Phillip C. Perlewitz, 

Chief, Branch of Solid Minerals. 

[FR Doc. 2011–8685 Filed 4–11–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLWYD010000–L13110000–EJ0000] 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Proposed Normally Pressured 

Lance Natural Gas Development 

Project, Sublette County, WY 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the 

Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the 

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 

Pinedale Field Office (PFO), Pinedale, 

Wyoming, and the BLM Rock Springs 

Field Office (RSFO), Rock Springs, 

Wyoming, intend to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

for the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) 

Natural Gas Development Project and by 

this notice are announcing the 

beginning of the scoping process to 

solicit public comments and identify 

issues. 

DATES: This notice initiates the public 

scoping process for the EIS. Comments 

on issues may be submitted in writing 

until May 12, 2011. The dates and 

locations of any scoping meetings will 

be announced at least 15 days in 

advance through local news media 

outlets and through the BLM Web site 

at: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/ 

NEPA/pfodocs/npl.html. In order to be 

included in the Draft EIS, all comments 

must be received prior to the close of 

the scoping period or 15 days after the 

last public meeting, whichever is later. 

Additional opportunities for public 

participation will be provided on 

publication of the Draft EIS. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

related to the NPL Natural Gas 

Development Project by any of the 

following methods: 

• E-mail: NPL_EIS_WY@blm.gov; 

• Mail: P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, WY 

82941; or 

• Hand delivery: 1625 W. Pine Street, 

Pinedale, Wyoming. 

Before including your address, phone 

number, e-mail address, or other 

personal identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you may 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kellie Roadifer, Planning and 

Environmental Coordinator, Pinedale 

Field Office, 1625 W. Pine Street, P.O. 

Box 768, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941; 

307–367–5309; Kellie_Roadifer@

blm.gov. Documents pertinent to this 

proposal may be examined at the 

Pinedale Field Office and will be posted 

online at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/

info/NEPA/pfodocs/npl.html. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPL 

encompasses an area of 141,080 acres 

located immediately south and west of 

the existing Jonah Infill Natural Gas 

Field. It is located within the BLM PFO 

and RSFO, High Desert District, in 

Sublette County, Wyoming. EnCana Oil 

& Gas (USA) Inc. (EnCana) currently 

owns leasehold interests on more than 

70 percent of this area and proposes to 

develop up to 3,500 wells ranging from 

a depth of 6,500 to 13,500 feet and 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES