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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104202-104203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30357]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[PO4820000251]

Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Tri-
State Fuel Breaks Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the Tri-state Fuel Breaks Project located in 
southeastern Oregon. The ROD constitutes the decision of the BLM.

DATES: The ROD was signed on December 13, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The ROD is available online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2034234/510.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larisa Bogardus, Public Affairs 
Specialist, telephone (541) 523-1407; address 100 Oregon Street Vale, 
OR 97918; email [email protected]. Individuals in the United States who 
are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may 
dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM has determined that the analysis 
contained within the FEIS is adequate to reach an informed decision 
regarding implementation of the Project in Oregon. The BLM selects 
Alternative 5, with minor route segments selected from other 
alternatives as described in the FEIS, for construction and maintenance 
of approximately 26,585 acres of fuel breaks, along approximately 552 
miles of roads and within approximately 332 miles of the roadbed 
through mechanical, chemical, and/or biological (i.e., targeted 
grazing) treatments on BLM-administered lands in Oregon. Alternative 5 
was developed in response to public comments. Individually, 
Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 each primarily benefit a single resource. 
Alternative 5 blends elements of Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 to provide a 
strategic benefit to firefighters while minimizing disturbance to 
natural and cultural resources. A phased implementation of actions will 
occur to provide opportunity to review treatment

[[Page 104203]]

effectiveness and adapt subsequent implementation actions and will also 
provide an opportunity for additional coordination with Oregon 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) prior to fuel break construction 
along less-traveled roads. During the first phase, the BLM will focus 
on well-traveled routes in order to further enhance the knowledge base 
on successful treatment timing and techniques, ecological impacts of 
treatments, and adaptive management responses. Treatments and methods 
in Oregon will be the same as those identified and analyzed in the 
FEIS. Up to four new mineral material sites will be developed as the 
first phase of fuel break development is nearing completion.
    All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from 
the Project that were analyzed in the FEIS have been adopted in this 
decision and are included as appendices. Design features provide 
implementation timing restrictions and other protections to minimize 
impacts to wildlife. These features include buffers for sensitive plant 
occurrences from non-native seeded species, mechanical treatment 
avoidance buffers to protect riparian resources, and treatment buffers 
no more than 200 feet from either side of centerline along roads to 
conform to the 2024 Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan 
Amendment, which established 250-foot setbacks for Wilderness Study 
Areas.
    The Project includes a robust monitoring and adaptive management 
plan to manage invasive annual species and noxious weeds within fuel 
breaks, collect ecological trend data to provide information on the 
ecological effects of vegetative treatments, and outline appropriate 
management responses. The Project also includes management direction 
and required design features from the 2015 Oregon Greater Sage-grouse 
Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment, as described in Appendix 3 
to the ROD. A programmatic agreement (Appendix 4 to the ROD) describes 
how BLM will meet its responsibilities under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act and avoid or minimize adverse 
impacts to cultural resources during Project implementation and 
maintenance.
    There have been no changes made to the selected alternative between 
the publication of the FEIS and the ROD.
    The Department of the Interior has approved the BLM's decision. 
Approval of the Record of Decision therefore constitutes the final 
decision of the Department of the Interior and is not subject to appeal 
under Departmental regulations at 43 CFR part 4.

Barry R. Bushue,
BLM Oregon/Washington State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-30357 Filed 12-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-24-P
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