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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 11 (Friday, January 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5986-5987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01198]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[PO #4820000251]

Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan 
Amendments for Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning

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 Records of Decision (RODs) for the Approved Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) Amendments for Greater Sage-Grouse Rangewide Planning in 
Colorado and Oregon. The BLM's Principal Deputy Director signed the 
RODs, which constitute the decisions of the BLM to approve the RMP 
Amendments.

ADDRESSES: The RODs/Approved RMP Amendments are available online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2016719/510. Printed 
copies of the RODs/Approved RMP Amendments can be provided upon request 
by contacting [email protected].
    A copy of the Protest Resolution Report is available at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports.

[[Page 5987]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Deibert, BLM National Sage-Grouse 
Conservation Coordinator; telephone: (720)-447-8107; address: 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY, 82009; 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 for contacting Dr. Deibert. 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 RODs/Approved RMP Amendments update how 
the BLM manages public lands in Colorado and Oregon that support 
Western communities and enhance conservation for Greater Sage-Grouse 
and more than 350 other wildlife species. The plan amendments in these 
two States are part of a rangewide approach, developed with 10 States, 
Tribes, local communities, and the public to enhance conservation for 
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. While the Governors of Colorado 
and Oregon did not identify any inconsistencies with the plans, 
policies, or programs of their States or potential inconsistencies were 
resolved, the BLM made minor changes from the Proposed RMP to these 
RODs/Approved RMP Amendments to resolve potential inconsistencies 
raised by other States. The BLM made these minor changes to maintain a 
consistent rangewide approach to Greater Sage-Grouse management and 
promote coordination between the BLM and the States. The minor changes 
include clarifying that areas identified as Priority Habitat Management 
Areas with limited exceptions under the Proposed RMP will be identified 
only as Priority Habitat Management Areas. A further explanation of 
this and other changes can be found in the Oregon and Colorado RODs/
Approved RMP Amendments.
    The States of North Dakota, South Dakota, and California did not 
submit any administrative protests or identify any inconsistencies with 
State plans, policies, or programs, so the BLM has completed the 
administrative process for finalizing those plans, and is prepared to 
issue RODs for those three States. The BLM continues to work closely 
with wildlife managers in five other States to finalize decisions to 
conserve and improve habitat across the Greater Sage-Grouse's range. 
Until new RODs are signed, the BLM will continue to manage Greater 
Sage-Grouse habitat on public lands in those eight States under the 
2015 Greater Sage-Grouse RMP decisions.
    This Greater Sage-Grouse planning process builds on existing 
direction related to Greater Sage-Grouse conservation, established in 
earlier planning efforts, responds to updated scientific information 
and changing land uses, and provides for consistent and effective 
rangewide conservation based on biological information that is 
responsive to locally relevant habitat variability. Upon finalization, 
these RMP Amendments update or will update goals, objectives, 
allocations, and management direction in 77 resource management plans 
in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, 
South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
    The BLM provided the Proposed RMP Amendments for public protest on 
November 15, 2024, for a 30-day protest period and received 60 unique 
protest letters. The BLM resolved all protests, compiling and 
documenting responses to protest issues in a Protest Resolution Report 
(see ADDRESSES). Through its review, the BLM determined that no changes 
from the Proposed RMP Amendments/Final EISs were necessary, although 
the BLM made minor changes for clarification and to improve 
implementation as described in the Oregon and Colorado RODs/Approved 
RMP Amendments.
    The BLM provided the Proposed RMP Amendments to the Governors of 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, 
South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming for 60-day Governor's consistency 
reviews. As discussed above, the Governors of California, North Dakota, 
South Dakota, and Colorado did not identify any inconsistencies with 
State plans, policies, or programs. The BLM resolved all potential 
inconsistencies identified by the Governor of Oregon to the Governor's 
satisfaction. The BLM is continuing to work with Idaho, Montana, 
Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming to resolve any remaining asserted 
inconsistencies.
    The BLM's Principal Deputy Director signed the RODs/Approved RMP 
Amendments, which are in effect upon signature.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 43 CFR 1610.5-1)

Nada Wolff Culver,
Principal Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2025-01198 Filed 1-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-27-P
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