9694 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices 

Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a–j). 

The Federal money used to acquire 

conservation easements is primarily 

from the Land and Water Conservation 

Fund Act of 1965, as amended (16 

U.S.C. 460l–4 through 11) (derived 

primarily from oil and gas leases on the 

Outer Continental Shelf, motorboat fuel 

taxes, and the sale of surplus Federal 

property). Additional funding to acquire 

lands, water, or interests for fish and 

wildlife conservation purposes could be 

identified by Congress or donated by 

nonprofit organizations. The purchase 

of easements from willing sellers will be 

subject to available money. 

The Service has involved the public, 

agencies, partners, and legislators 

throughout the planning process for the 

easement program. At the beginning of 

the planning process, the Service 

initiated public involvement for the 

proposal to protect habitats primarily 

through acquisition of conservation 

easements for management as part of the 

Refuge System. The Service spent time 

discussing the proposed project with 

landowners; conservation organizations; 

Federal, State and county governments; 

tribes; and other interested groups and 

individuals. For initial public scoping, 

the Service held three open-house 

meetings, on November 30, December 1, 

and December 2, 2009, in Alma, 

Wichita, and Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, 

respectively. These open houses were 

announced in local media. 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Service 

prepared an environmental assessment 

(EA) that evaluated two alternatives and 

their potential impacts on the project 

area. The Service released the draft EA 

and land protection plan (LPP), on April 

14, 2010, for a 30-day public review 

period. The draft documents were made 

available to Federal elected officials and 

agencies, State elected officials and 

agencies, Native American tribes with 

aboriginal or tribal interests, and other 

members of the public that were 

identified during the scoping process. 

The Service held three additional openhouse public meetings to discuss the 

draft EA and land protection plan LPP, 

on April 21, 22, and 23, 2010—at El 

Dorado, Cottonwood Falls, and Alma, 

Kansas, respectively. These meetings 

were announced in advance in local 

media. Approximately 148 landowners, 

citizens, and elected representatives 

attended the meetings. The Service 

received 7 letters from agencies, 

organizations, and other entities, and 24 

general public comments. After all 

comments were received, they were 

reviewed and incorporated into the EA 

and administrative record. 

Based on the documentation 

contained in the EA, a Finding of No 

Significant Impact was signed on July 

30, 2010, for the establishment of the 

Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area. 

Dated: December 23, 2011. 

Noreen E. Walsh, 

Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie 

Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3756 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLAZ910000.L14300000.DB0000.

LXSS058A0000] 

Notice of Availability of the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Restoration Design Energy Project 

and Land Use Plan Amendments 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, as amended (NEPA); the Council 

on Environmental Quality and the 

Department of the Interior regulations 

implementing NEPA; and the Federal 

Land Policy and Management Act of 

1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) Arizona State Office 

has prepared a Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) for the 

Restoration Design Energy Project 

(RDEP) to evaluate proposed 

amendments to several Resource 

Management Plans (RMPs) to identify 

lands across Arizona that may be 

suitable for developing renewable solar 

and wind energy, and to establish a 

baseline set of environmental protection 

measures for such projects. By this 

notice, the BLM is announcing the 

beginning of a 90-day public review and 

comment period on the Draft EIS. 

DATES: To ensure comments will be 

considered, the BLM must receive 

written comments on the RDEP Draft 

EIS within 90 days following the date 

the Environmental Protection Agency 

publishes its Notice of Availability in 

the Federal Register. The BLM will 

announce future meetings or hearings 

and any other public involvement 

activities at least 15 days in advance 

through local media, newspapers, 

mailings, and the BLM Web site at: 

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en.html. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

on the RDEP Draft EIS by any of the 

following methods. 

• Email: az_arra_rdep@blm.gov. 

• Fax: Attn: Lane Cowger, (602) 417– 

9454; and 

• Mail or other delivery service: 

BLM–Arizona State Office, Attn: 

Restoration Design Energy Project, One 

North Central Avenue, Suite 800, 

Phoenix, AZ 85004–4427. 

Please be sure to include your name, 

any organization you represent, and 

return address with your comment. 

Copies of the Draft EIS are available 

at the BLM–Arizona State Office, One 

North Central Avenue, Suite 800, 

Phoenix, Arizona 85004, or it can be 

downloaded from the project Web site: 

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/ 

energy/arra_solar.htm. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kathy Pedrick, BLM Project Manager; 

Telephone: 602–417–9235; Mail: One 

North Central Avenue, Suite 800, 

Phoenix, Arizona 85004–4427; or email: 

az_arra_rdep@blm.gov. Persons who use 

a telecommunications device for the 

deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 

800–877–8339 to contact the above 

individual during normal business 

hours. The FIRS 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: The RDEP 

supports the Secretary of the Interior’s 

goals to build America’s new energy 

future and to protect and restore 

treasured landscapes. The purpose of 

the RDEP is to conduct statewide 

planning that fosters environmentally 

responsible production of solar and 

wind energy and allows the permitting 

of future solar and wind energy 

development projects to proceed in a 

more efficient and standardized manner. 

The RDEP would amend BLM land use 

plans to identify geographic areas in 

Arizona best suited for solar and wind 

energy development, including solar 

and wind technologies, and to establish 

a baseline set of environmental 

protection measures for such projects. 

The BLM is proposing to identify 

Renewable Energy Development Areas 

(REDAs), BLM-administered lands that 

may be suitable for the development of 

solar and wind facilities, and a Solar 

Energy Zone (SEZ) with a priority for 

utility-scale (greater than 20 megawatts) 

solar development. These areas include 

disturbed sites and lands with low 

resource sensitivity and few 

environmental conflicts. Through 

scoping and outreach activities, 

disturbed sites have been identified 

throughout Arizona, including former 

landfills, brownfields, mines, isolated 

BLM parcels, and Central Arizona 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices 9695 

Project canal rights-of-way areas. 

Additionally, the BLM proposes to 

establish unified management actions, 

design features, and best management 

practices applicable to solar and wind 

energy development on BLMadministered lands in Arizona. The 

REDAs would identify where solar and 

wind energy development is likely to be 

compatible with resource objectives and 

would be suitable for the development 

of utility- or distributed-scale solar and 

wind facilities. The SEZ would be 

prioritized for utility-scale (greater than 

20 megawatts) solar development. 

The Draft EIS evaluates six action 

alternatives and the No Action 

Alternative. Identifying lands as REDAs 

was an iterative process that provides a 

wide range of alternatives. Alternative 1 

identifies about 321,500 acres of REDAs 

on BLM-administered land that are 

formerly disturbed sites or lands with 

low resource sensitivity. It seeks to 

provide maximum flexibility for 

locating small- to large-scale projects 

without consideration of other physical 

constraints, such as distance to 

transmission or load. Alternative 2 seeks 

to reduce environmental impacts by 

only including the REDAs identified in 

Alternative 1 that are within 5 miles of 

designated utility corridors and existing 

or proposed transmission lines. Under 

Alternative 2, about 218,600 acres of 

BLM-administered land are identified as 

REDAs. Alternative 3 seeks to reduce 

disturbance and environmental impacts 

by identifying about 129,800 acres of 

REDAs that are near the point of 

demand, such as cities, towns, or 

industrial centers. Alternative 4 seeks to 

address potential water issues by 

instituting specific design features for 

321,500 acres of REDAs to avoid 

impacts on sensitive watersheds, 

groundwater supply, and water quality. 

Alternative 5 focuses on opportunities 

to facilitate solar and wind energy 

development through land tenure 

adjustments by identifying about 43,700 

acres of REDAs on BLM-administered 

land that have been identified through 

prior planning processes to be suitable 

for disposal. Alternative 6 was 

developed through a collaborative 

process and identifies about 237,100 

acres of REDAs within 5 miles of 

designated utility corridors and existing 

transmission lines or near a point of 

demand, includes design features to 

protect water resources, and provides 

for land tenure adjustment of lands 

previously identified for disposal. 

In addition to identifying REDAs, the 

RDEP is serving as a step-down process 

to the Solar Energy Development 

Programmatic EIS (Solar Programmatic 

EIS) for utility-scale solar development. 

In this regard, the BLM is also proposing 

to identify the Agua Caliente SEZ in 

eastern Yuma County to facilitate the 

development of utility-scale solar 

projects. The proposed SEZ was 

developed based on a screening process 

that included the following criteria: 

available large contiguous parcels of 

BLM land (greater than 2,500 acres); 

proximity to transmission; limited 

known environmental or cultural 

constraints; proximity to roads and 

infrastructure; and proximity to existing 

solar developments. Based on input 

from cooperating agencies and the 

public, the Draft EIS analyzes three 

footprints for the proposed Agua 

Caliente SEZ: 2,760 acres, 6,770 acres, 

and 20,600 acres. 

Alternative 6 with 237,100 acres of 

REDAs and a 6,770-acre SEZ is the 

agency’s preferred alternative because it 

is the result of extensive input from 

cooperating agencies and the public and 

best meets the stated purpose of the 

RDEP. The preferred alternative is the 

BLM’s preliminary preference but does 

not represent a final BLM decision. The 

preferred alternative could change 

between publication of the Draft EIS and 

Final EIS based on public comments; 

new information; or changes in laws, 

regulations, or BLM policies. 

The following BLM RMPs are 

proposed for amendment to incorporate 

the identification of REDAs and 

environmental protection measures, as 

appropriate: Bradshaw-Harquahala RMP 

(2010); Arizona Strip Field Office RMP 

(2008); Kingman Resource Area RMP 

(1995); Lake Havasu Field Office RMP 

(2007); Lower Gila South RMP (1988, as 

amended 2005); Lower Gila North 

Management Framework Plan (1983, as 

amended 2005); Phoenix RMP (1988); 

Safford District RMP (1991); and Yuma 

Field Office RMP (2010). Additionally, 

the Yuma Field Office RMP would be 

amended to identify the Agua Caliente 

SEZ and to change the Visual Resource 

Management class for portions of lands 

within the SEZ. 

This EIS will not eliminate the need 

for site-specific environmental review 

for future individual solar and wind 

energy development proposals; the BLM 

will make decisions on a case-by-case 

basis whether to authorize individual 

solar and wind energy development 

projects in conformance with the 

amended RMP on the basis of this EIS. 

The BLM retains the discretion to deny 

solar and wind right-of-way 

applications based on site-specific 

issues and concerns, even in those areas 

available or open for application in the 

existing land use plan. The RDEP is not 

proposing any new exclusion or 

avoidance areas. Solar and wind energy 

developments proposed outside of 

REDAs or a SEZ would be considered 

on a case-by-case basis using applicable 

State and national policy direction and 

guidance from existing land use plan 

decisions. 

The Draft EIS analyzes impacts of the 

alternatives on land use authorizations; 

military airspace; air quality; minerals/ 

geology and soils; farm lands (prime or 

unique); water quality and quantity; 

floodplains, wetlands, and riparian 

zones; vegetation (including invasive, 

nonnative species); wildlife; migratory 

birds; BLM-designated sensitive animal 

and plant species; cultural resources; 

Native American religious concerns; 

paleontological resources; visual 

resources; livestock grazing; recreation; 

special designations (including areas of 

critical environmental concern and 

wilderness); lands with wilderness 

characteristics; national scenic and 

historic trails; noise; public health and 

safety and fire management; hazardous 

or solid waste; social and economic 

values; and environmental justice. 

The Draft EIS is in conformance with 

other Federal, State, and local plans, 

including the ongoing Solar 

Programmatic EIS that is currently being 

prepared by the U.S. Department of 

Energy and the BLM. The Solar 

Programmatic EIS proposes to amend 

land use plans to identify SEZs for 

utility-scale production of solar energy 

and to establish national program 

guidance, mitigation measures, and 

management practices for utility-scale 

solar energy development on BLMadministered lands. Throughout 

development of the RDEP, the BLM has 

engaged eight cooperating agencies, 

State and local governments, tribes, the 

Arizona Resource Advisory Council, 

and stakeholders in order to obtain 

input on defining the REDAs and the 

future solar and wind energy footprint 

in Arizona. 

Please note that public comments and 

information submitted, including 

names, street addresses, and email 

addresses of persons who submit 

comments, will be available for public 

review and disclosure at the Bureau of 

Land Management Arizona State Office, 

One North Central Avenue Suite 800, 

Phoenix, Arizona, during regular 

business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 

Monday through Friday, except 

holidays. 

Before including your address, phone 

number, email 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 can ask us in your comment 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

9696 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2012 / Notices 

to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Authority: 40 CFR 1503.1, 1506.6, 1506.10, 

and 43 CFR 1610.2. 

Raymond Suazo, 

State Director. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3630 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLMT–06000–01–L10200000–PG0000] 

Notice of Public Meeting; Central 

Montana Resource Advisory Council 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act and the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) Central 

Montana Resource Advisory Council 

(RAC) will meet as indicated below. 

DATES: The meeting will be held March 

6 and 7, 2012. The March 6 meeting will 

begin at 10 a.m. with a 30-minute public 

comment period and will adjourn at 

5:30 p.m. The March 7 meeting will 

begin at 8 a.m. with a 30-minute public 

comment period at 10 a.m. and will 

adjourn at 12:30 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be in the 

Bureau of Land Management’s Central 

Montana District Office, at 920 NE Main 

Street, in Lewistown, MT. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15- 

member council advises the Secretary of 

the Interior on a variety of management 

issues associated with public land 

management in Montana. During these 

meetings the council will participate in/ 

discuss/act upon these topics/activities: 

Round-table discussion among council 

members, district managers’ updates, 

recent weed control efforts/ 

accomplishments, one-time permits on 

the Upper Missouri River, Northern 

Continental Divide Grizzly Bear 

Conservation Strategy, Judith Moccasin 

Travel Plan, amenity fee proposal, oil 

and gas fracking, presentation led by the 

council’s Category 2, reserved water 

rights compact commission process, and 

administrative details. 

All RAC meetings are open to the 

public. The public may present written 

comments to the RAC. Each formal RAC 

meeting will also have time allocated for 

hearing public comments. Depending on 

the number of persons wishing to 

comment and time available, the time 

for individual oral comments may be 

limited. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary 

L. ‘‘Stan’’ Benes, Lewistown District 

Manager, Lewistown Field Office, 920 

NE Main, Lewistown, MT 59457, (406) 

538–1900, gary_benes@blm.gov. Persons 

who use a telecommunications device 

for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 

800–677–8339 to contact the above 

individual during normal business 

hours. The FIRS 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. 

Gary L. ‘‘Stan’’ Benes, 

Lewistown District Manager. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3757 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLCO922000–L13100000–FI0000; 

COC30486] 

Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of 

Terminated Oil and Gas Lease 

COC30486 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Proposed 

Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and 

Gas Lease. 

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30 

U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 

3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) received a 

petition for reinstatement of oil and gas 

lease COC30486 from Encana Oil & Gas 

(USA) Inc., for lands in Mesa County, 

Colorado. The petition was filed on time 

and was accompanied by all the rentals 

due since the date the lease terminated 

under the law. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Milada Krasilinec, BLM Land Law 

Examiner, Fluid Minerals Adjudication, 

at (303) 239–3767. 

Persons who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

to contact the above individual during 

normal business hours. The FIRS 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: The lessee 

has agreed to the amended lease terms 

for rentals and royalties at rates of $5 

per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 

162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee 

has paid the required $500 

administrative fee and $163 to 

reimburse the Department for the cost of 

this Federal Register notice. The lessee 

has met all the requirements for 

reinstatement of the lease as set out in 

Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral 

Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 

188), and the BLM is proposing to 

reinstate lease COC30486 effective June 

1, 2011, under the original terms and 

conditions of the lease and the 

increased rental and royalty rates cited 

above. 

Helen M. Hankins, 

State Director. 

[FR Doc. 2012–3763 Filed 2–16–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLCO922000–L13100000–FI0000; 

COC68134] 

Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of 

Terminated Oil and Gas Lease 

COC68134 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Proposed 

Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and 

Gas Lease. 

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30 

U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 

3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) received a 

petition for reinstatement of oil and gas 

lease COC68134 from Western 

Operation Company, for lands in 

Morgan County, Colorado. The petition 

was filed on time and was accompanied 

by all the rentals due since the date the 

lease terminated under the law. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Milada Krasilinec, BLM Land Law 

Examiner, Fluid Minerals Adjudication, 

at (303) 239–3767. 

Persons who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

to contact the above individual during 

normal business hours. The FIRS 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: The lessee 

has agreed to the amended lease terms 

for rentals and royalties at rates of $10 

per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 

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