[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2409-2410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1014]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Bureau of Land Management

[UT-930-08-1310-00]
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Utah.

ACTION: Notice of Adoption/Notice of Availability of Record of 
Decision.

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[[Page 2410]]

SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) plans to adopt the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) addressing oil and gas leasing for lands within 
Duchesne and Wasatch Counties, Utah, upon the Ashley and Uinta National 
Forests and of the availability of the BLM's Record of Decision (ROD).

DATES: The public has 30 days from the date of this notice to appeal 
this decision in accordance with the instructions provided in this 
Notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 102 of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), a Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) addressing oil and gas leasing for lands within 
Duchesne and Wasatch Counties upon the Ashley and Uinta National 
Forests has been prepared by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and BLM. 
National and local agreements between the two agencies identified the 
USFS as the lead agency for preparing the analysis with BLM 
participating as a cooperating agency as described in 40 CFR 1501.6.
    The FEIS addresses the potential impacts of leasing on lands within 
the Ashley and Uinta National Forests and identifies which areas are 
available for leasing and any stipulations that will be attached to 
leases. The two Forest Service Plans have been amended to be consistent 
with the decisions reached in the ROD. The Mineral Leasing Act on 1920, 
as amended, provides the Secretary of the Interior the authority to 
issue oil and gas leases on lands where the oil and gas rights are held 
by the Federal Government. This authority has been delegated to the 
BLM. The Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 
requires BLM to obtain the consent of the Secretary of Agriculture 
before issuing oil and gas leases on National Forest System lands. 
Authority to consent has been delegated to Forest Supervisors.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 1506.3(c). BLM is adopting the FEIS for 
the purpose of issuing oil and gas leases within Duchesne and Wasatch 
Counties of the Ashley and Uinta National Forests. BLM actively 
participated in the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS's and 
independently reviewed each document. Department of the Interior, as 
well as public comments and concerns, have been satisfactorily 
addressed in the FEIS. The FEIS complies with NEPA and meets the 
requirements of the regulations for implementing the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 CFR part 1600). BLM's preferred 
alternative is Alternative 3 as described in the FEIS (the USFS 
preferred alternative).
    Copies of the FEIS are available from the Ashley National Forest, 
355 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, Utah, 84078, and Uinta National 
Forest, 100 West 88 North, Provo, Utah, 84601. Public reading copies 
are available at the following BLM locations: Utah State Office, 324 
South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, and Vernal District 
Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, 84078.
    This decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land 
Appeals, Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations in 
43 CFR part 4. The Appellant has the burden of showing the decision 
appealed from is in error. If you wish to file a petition for a stay of 
the effectiveness of this decision during the time your appeal is being 
reviewed by the Board, the petition for stay must accompany your notice 
of appeal. If you request a stay, you have the burden of proof to 
demonstrate that a stay should be granted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Fouts, Bureau of Land Management, 
Utah State Office, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84145-0155, 
phone number 801-539-4044 or Jerry Kenczka, Bureau of Land Management, 
Vernal District Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, 84078, phone 
number 435-781-4494.

    Dated: January 8, 1998.
G. William Lamb,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-1014 Filed 1-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-M