Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2017/01/06/2016-31976.html
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 23:11:35
Document Index: 614012381

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1610', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 1610', 'art 4', 'art 4']

Notice of Availability of Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Four Subunits of the Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 1753-1754 [2016-31976] :: Department Of The Interior :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of The Interior Notice of Availability of Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Four Subunits of the Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 1753-1754 [2016-31976]
Notice of Availability of Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Four Subunits of the Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 1753-1754 [2016-31976]
Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2017 / Notices should contact Thomas Leeman at (916) 414–6600 as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to process requests, please call at least one week before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in alternative formats upon request. Authority We publish this notice under the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22), as well as in compliance with section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: December 29, 2016. Alexandra Pitts, Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California. [FR Doc. 2017–00002 Filed 1–5–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [17X.LLAKF02000.L16100000.DR0000. LXSS094L0000] Notice of Availability of Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Four Subunits of the Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Records of Decision (RODs) for the Approved Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for the Fortymile, Draanjik, Steese, and White Mountains planning areas located in Eastern Interior Alaska. The Alaska State Director signed the RODs on December 30, 2016, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMPs effective immediately. ADDRESSES: Copies of the RODs/ Approved RMPs are available upon request from the Field Manager, Eastern Interior Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 or via the internet at https://www.blm.gov/ programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-indevelopment/alaska/eastern-interiorrmp. Copies of the RODs/Approved RMPs are available for public inspection at the Fairbanks District Office, 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:06 Jan 05, 2017 Jkt 241001 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanie Cole; telephone: 907–474–2340; address: 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709; email: j05cole@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS 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 Eastern Interior planning process resulted in four RODs and Approved RMPs covering approximately 6.5 million acres of BLM-administered lands in interior Alaska: 1.8 million acres under the Fortymile Approved RMP (including the Fortymile Wild and Scenic River); 1.3 million acres under the Steese Approved RMP (including the Steese National Conservation Area and Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River); 2.4 million acres under the Draanjik Approved RMP; and 1 million acres under the White Mountains Approved RMP (including the White Mountains National Recreation Area and Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River). The Approved RMPs describe the actions and landscape-level conservation and management needed to meet desired resource conditions and objectives for upland and riparian vegetation, fish and wildlife habitats, cultural resources, water and wetland resources, wilderness characteristics, recreation, and mineral development. The Approved RMPs designate three Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs): the Salmon Fork ACEC in the Draanjik Approved RMP, and the Fortymile ACEC and the Mosquito Flats ACEC in the Fortymile Approved RMP. Additionally, four Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are carried forward as valid existing administrative designations in the Steese and White Mountains Approved RMPs: Big Windy Hot Springs (Steese), Mount Prindle (Steese and White Mountains), Limestone Jags (White Mountains), and Serpentine Slide (White Mountains) RNAs. The Eastern Interior Field Office used the wild and scenic river inventory conducted for the Eastern Interior planning process to identify outstandingly remarkable values for Birch Creek, Beaver Creek, and Fortymile wild and scenic rivers because these values were not identified in the designating legislation. Section 2.1.3 of each Approved RMP identifies outstandingly Remarkable Values. PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1753 Values for Birch Creek are scenic, recreation, and fisheries; values for Beaver Creek are scenic, recreation, geologic, fisheries, and wildlife; values for the Fortymile River vary by segment and include scenic, recreation, geologic, historic, and wildlife. The Eastern Interior RMP/EIS was subject to extensive public review. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Availability for the Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS in the Federal Register on March 2, 2012 (77 FR 12835), beginning a 150day public comment period that was later extended pending publication of a supplemental EIS. The EPA published the Notice of Availability of the supplemental EIS, Hardrock Mineral Leasing in the White Mountains National Recreation Area for the Eastern Interior Draft RMP (Supplement), in the Federal Register on January 11, 2013 (78 FR 2397), beginning a 90-day public comment period on the Supplement. The comment period for both the Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS and the Hardrock Mineral Leasing Supplement closed on April 11, 2013. The BLM published a Notice of Availability of Additional Information on Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) (80 FR 52) in the Federal Register on January 2, 2015, beginning a 60-day comment period on two proposed ACECs. That comment period closed on March 3, 2015. The preferred alternative in the Draft RMP/EIS was Alternative C. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS added Alternative E as the Proposed RMP. This Alternative E was a revised version of Alternative C, based on public comment and tribal consultation. Alternative E represented the mix and variety of actions that the BLM believed best resolved the issues and management concerns in consideration of all values and programs. Alternative E was a minor variation of the alternatives analyzed in the Draft RMP/EIS and was within the spectrum of alternatives analyzed in the Draft. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS considered five rivers to be eligible for potential designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers, but the RODs do not determine them to be suitable for designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers, instead protecting them through other means. The EPA published a Notice of Availability for the Eastern Interior Proposed RMP/Final EIS in the Federal Register on July 29, 2016. The BLM provided a 30-day protest period for the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in accordance with 43 CFR part 1610.5–2. The BLM Director received nine protest letters. E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM 06JAN1 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 1754 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2017 / Notices Concurrent with the protest period, the BLM made the Proposed RMP/Final EIS available to the Governor of Alaska for a 60-day consistency review as required by 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e). The Alaska Department of Natural Resources responded on behalf of the Governor with four issues. The BLM Alaska State Director determined that one of these points was within the scope of the Governor’s Consistency Review Process. The BLM Alaska State Director did not find the Proposed RMP inconsistent with state or local plans, policies, or programs. On November 8, 2016, the Governor appealed the BLM Alaska State Director’s decision to not accept his recommendations to the BLM Director. In the Governor’s appeal letter, the State of Alaska requested the BLM Director to reconsider the issues and recommendations raised in the Governor’s Consistency Review letter. The BLM Director issued a final response to the Governor affirming the State Director’s decision. As a result of protests and internal reviews, the BLM made minor modifications, corrections, and clarifications in preparing the Approved RMPs. These modifications provide further clarification of some of the decisions and future monitoring efforts. Clarifications correct typographical errors in the Proposed RMP and clarify language of some decisions. The following decisions are appealable under 43 CFR, part 4: Draanjik ROD: Draanjik Travel Management Plan and limitations on placement of bait and wildlife lures (Appendix E and sections 2.2.20, and 2.2.21 of the RMP); White Mountains ROD: Designate trails and areas for UTV use, change weight limitations from gross vehicle weight rating to curb weight, allow for use of hovercraft and airboats, and limitations on placement of bait and wildlife lures (sections 2.2.16, 2.2.20, and 2.2.21 of the RMP); Steese ROD: change weight limitations from gross vehicle weight rating to curb weight, allow for use of hovercraft and airboats, and limitations on placement of bait and wildlife lures (sections 2.2.16, 2.2.20, and 2.2.21 of the RMP); Fortymile ROD: Establish width and weight limits on use of OHVs outside of the Fortymile WSR corridor; change weight limitations from gross vehicle weight rating to curb weight; allow for use of motorboats, hovercraft, and airboats within the Fortymile WSR; and limitations on placement of bait and wildlife lures (sections 2.2.15, 2.2.19, and 2.2.20 of the RMP). Any party adversely affected by these proposed VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:06 Jan 05, 2017 Jkt 241001 decisions may appeal within 30 days of publication of this Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E. The appeal should state the specific items on which the decision is being appealed. The appeal must be filed with the Eastern Interior Field Manager at the above listed address. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR, part 4, subpart E) for further appeal requirements. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6. Bud Cribley, State Director . [FR Doc. 2016–31976 Filed 1–5–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCA948000.L16100000.PP0000.15XL1 109AF.LXSILITI0000] Notice of Availability of the Draft Central Coast Resource Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development, California Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development for the Central Coast Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Draft Central Coast RMP Amendment and Draft EIS for Oil and Gas Leasing by any of the following methods: • Email: BLM_CA_OGEIS@blm.gov • Fax: 916–978–4388 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Mail: BLM, California State Office; Attn: CCFO O&G Leasing DEIS; 2800 Cottage Way, Rm. W–1623; Sacramento, CA 95825 Copies of the Central Coast Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS for Oil and Gas Leasing are available in the Central Coast Field Office, formerly the Hollister Field Office, at 940 2nd Avenue, Marina, CA 93933; the California State Office at 2800 Cottage Way, Rm. W–1623, Sacramento, CA 95825; and at the BLM’s Web site www.blm.gov/ca/eis-og. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melinda Moffitt, Project Manager, telephone: 916–978–4376; address: 2800 Cottage Way, Room W–1618, Sacramento, CA 95825; email: mmoffitt@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 Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS describe and analyze alternatives for the planning and management of oil and gas leasing and development on public lands and Federal mineral estate administered by the BLM, Central Coast Field Office (CCFO). The former Hollister Field Office (HFO) moved to a new location in Marina, California and is now called the Central Coast Field Office. The Planning Area is located in central California and comprises approximately 6.8 million acres of land. Within the Planning Area, the BLM administers approximately 284,000 acres of surface estate and 793,000 acres of Federal mineral estate. Planning decisions in the RMP will apply only to the BLM-administered public lands and Federal mineral estate in the Planning Area. Through this RMP Amendment, the BLM is revising the existing HFO Resource Management Plan for the Southern Diablo Mountain Range and Central Coast of California (2007) to analyze the effects of alternative oil and gas management approaches on lands with Federal mineral estate. New circumstances and information regarding oil and gas exploration and development, including unconventional reservoirs and well stimulation techniques, have prompted the BLM to prepare this Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS. In 2014, the BLM conducted scoping to solicit input from the public and E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM 06JAN1
[Pages 1753-1754]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31976]
[17X.LLAKF02000.L16100000.DR0000.LXSS094L0000]
Notice of Availability of Records of Decision and Approved
Resource Management Plans for the Four Subunits of the Eastern Interior
of the Records of Decision (RODs) for the Approved Resource Management
Plans (RMPs) for the Fortymile, Draanjik, Steese, and White Mountains
planning areas located in Eastern Interior Alaska. The Alaska State
Director signed the RODs on December 30, 2016, which constitutes the
final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMPs effective
ADDRESSES: Copies of the RODs/Approved RMPs are available upon request
from the Field Manager, Eastern Interior Field Office, Bureau of Land
Management, 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709 or via the
internet at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/alaska/eastern-interior-rmp. Copies of the RODs/Approved
RMPs are available for public inspection at the Fairbanks District
Office, 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanie Cole; telephone: 907-474-2340;
address: 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709; email:
j05cole@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Eastern Interior planning process
resulted in four RODs and Approved RMPs covering approximately 6.5
million acres of BLM-administered lands in interior Alaska: 1.8 million
acres under the Fortymile Approved RMP (including the Fortymile Wild
and Scenic River); 1.3 million acres under the Steese Approved RMP
(including the Steese National Conservation Area and Birch Creek Wild
and Scenic River); 2.4 million acres under the Draanjik Approved RMP;
and 1 million acres under the White Mountains Approved RMP (including
the White Mountains National Recreation Area and Beaver Creek Wild and
Scenic River). The Approved RMPs describe the actions and landscape-
level conservation and management needed to meet desired resource
conditions and objectives for upland and riparian vegetation, fish and
wildlife habitats, cultural resources, water and wetland resources,
wilderness characteristics, recreation, and mineral development. The
Approved RMPs designate three Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACECs): the Salmon Fork ACEC in the Draanjik Approved RMP, and the
Fortymile ACEC and the Mosquito Flats ACEC in the Fortymile Approved
RMP. Additionally, four Research Natural Areas (RNAs) are carried
forward as valid existing administrative designations in the Steese and
White Mountains Approved RMPs: Big Windy Hot Springs (Steese), Mount
Prindle (Steese and White Mountains), Limestone Jags (White Mountains),
and Serpentine Slide (White Mountains) RNAs.
The Eastern Interior Field Office used the wild and scenic river
inventory conducted for the Eastern Interior planning process to
identify outstandingly remarkable values for Birch Creek, Beaver Creek,
and Fortymile wild and scenic rivers because these values were not
identified in the designating legislation. Section 2.1.3 of each
Approved RMP identifies outstandingly Remarkable Values. Values for
Birch Creek are scenic, recreation, and fisheries; values for Beaver
Creek are scenic, recreation, geologic, fisheries, and wildlife; values
for the Fortymile River vary by segment and include scenic, recreation,
geologic, historic, and wildlife.
The Eastern Interior RMP/EIS was subject to extensive public
review. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of
Availability for the Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS in the
Federal Register on March 2, 2012 (77 FR 12835), beginning a 150-day
public comment period that was later extended pending publication of a
supplemental EIS. The EPA published the Notice of Availability of the
supplemental EIS, Hardrock Mineral Leasing in the White Mountains
National Recreation Area for the Eastern Interior Draft RMP
(Supplement), in the Federal Register on January 11, 2013 (78 FR 2397),
beginning a 90-day public comment period on the Supplement. The comment
period for both the Eastern Interior Draft RMP/Draft EIS and the
Hardrock Mineral Leasing Supplement closed on April 11, 2013. The BLM
published a Notice of Availability of Additional Information on
Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) (80 FR 52) in
the Federal Register on January 2, 2015, beginning a 60-day comment
period on two proposed ACECs. That comment period closed on March 3,
The preferred alternative in the Draft RMP/EIS was Alternative C.
The Proposed RMP/Final EIS added Alternative E as the Proposed RMP.
This Alternative E was a revised version of Alternative C, based on
public comment and tribal consultation. Alternative E represented the
mix and variety of actions that the BLM believed best resolved the
issues and management concerns in consideration of all values and
programs. Alternative E was a minor variation of the alternatives
analyzed in the Draft RMP/EIS and was within the spectrum of
alternatives analyzed in the Draft. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS
considered five rivers to be eligible for potential designation as Wild
and Scenic Rivers, but the RODs do not determine them to be suitable
for designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers, instead protecting them
The EPA published a Notice of Availability for the Eastern Interior
Proposed RMP/Final EIS in the Federal Register on July 29, 2016. The
BLM provided a 30-day protest period for the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in
accordance with 43 CFR part 1610.5-2. The BLM Director received nine
protest letters.
[[Page 1754]]
Concurrent with the protest period, the BLM made the Proposed RMP/Final
EIS available to the Governor of Alaska for a 60-day consistency review
as required by 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e). The Alaska Department of Natural
Resources responded on behalf of the Governor with four issues. The BLM
Alaska State Director determined that one of these points was within
the scope of the Governor's Consistency Review Process. The BLM Alaska
State Director did not find the Proposed RMP inconsistent with state or
local plans, policies, or programs.
On November 8, 2016, the Governor appealed the BLM Alaska State
Director's decision to not accept his recommendations to the BLM
Director. In the Governor's appeal letter, the State of Alaska
requested the BLM Director to reconsider the issues and recommendations
raised in the Governor's Consistency Review letter. The BLM Director
issued a final response to the Governor affirming the State Director's
As a result of protests and internal reviews, the BLM made minor
modifications, corrections, and clarifications in preparing the
Approved RMPs. These modifications provide further clarification of
some of the decisions and future monitoring efforts. Clarifications
correct typographical errors in the Proposed RMP and clarify language
of some decisions.
Draanjik ROD: Draanjik Travel Management Plan and limitations on
placement of bait and wildlife lures (Appendix E and sections 2.2.20,
and 2.2.21 of the RMP); White Mountains ROD: Designate trails and areas
for UTV use, change weight limitations from gross vehicle weight rating
to curb weight, allow for use of hovercraft and airboats, and
limitations on placement of bait and wildlife lures (sections 2.2.16,
2.2.20, and 2.2.21 of the RMP);
Steese ROD: change weight limitations from gross vehicle weight
rating to curb weight, allow for use of hovercraft and airboats, and
Fortymile ROD: Establish width and weight limits on use of OHVs
outside of the Fortymile WSR corridor; change weight limitations from
gross vehicle weight rating to curb weight; allow for use of
motorboats, hovercraft, and airboats within the Fortymile WSR; and
limitations on placement of bait and wildlife lures (sections 2.2.15,
2.2.19, and 2.2.20 of the RMP). Any party adversely affected by these
proposed decisions may appeal within 30 days of publication of this
Notice of Availability pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E.
The appeal should state the specific items on which the decision is
being appealed. The appeal must be filed with the Eastern Interior
Field Manager at the above listed address. Please consult the
appropriate regulations (43 CFR, part 4, subpart E) for further appeal