Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Wind Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) and Associated Land Use Plan Amendments, 1768-1769 [E6-157]
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1768
ACTION:
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2006 / Notices
Notice of correction.
SUMMARY: On Monday, December 12,
2005, the Bureau of Land Management
published a Notice of Availability of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Atlantic Rim Natural Gas
Development Project in the Federal
Register [Vol. 70, No. 237, p. 73482].
The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION on
alternatives analyzed in detail contained
naming errors. The correct information
is as follows:
The Atlantic Rim DEIS analyzed four
alternatives in detail:
1. The Proposed Action Alternative;
2. Alternative A, the No Action
Alternative, which means the project as
proposed would be rejected by the BLM;
3. Alternative B—Phased
development; and,
4. Alternative C—Special protection
of sensitive of sensitive resources.
‘‘The agency’s preferred alternative is
a combination of Alternative B and C.’’
These corrected alternative names
also correct references to the
alternatives for the remainder of the
notice.
Mr.
David Simons, Project Lead or Mr. Mark
Storzer, Field Manager, BLM Rawlins
Field Office. Mr. Simons and Mr.
Storzer may be reached at (307) 328–
4200.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: December 27, 2005.
Robert A. Bennett,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E6–158 Filed 1–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO–350–1430–PN]
Notice of Availability of the Record of
Decision for the Wind Energy
Development Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement
(PEIS) and Associated Land Use Plan
Amendments
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Record
of Decision (ROD).
rmajette on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act (FLPMA), and Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) procedures,
the BLM announces the availability of
the ROD to implement a Wind Energy
Development Program and amend BLM
land use plans. The decision is hereby
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:20 Jan 10, 2006
Jkt 208001
made to implement a comprehensive
Wind Energy Development Program to
administer the development of wind
energy resources on BLM-administered
public lands in 11 western states,
excluding Alaska. In addition, this
decision amends 52 BLM land use plans
in 9 states to adopt the new program.
The Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty
and Resource Protection and the
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources
and Planning jointly signed the ROD on
December 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Wind Energy
Development Program ROD are
available upon request from Scott
Powers, Montana State Office, Bureau of
Land Management, 5001 Southgate Dr.,
Billings, Montana 59107 or via the
Internet at https://windeis.anl.gov.
Copies will also be available at each of
the following BLM offices: Arizona State
Office, 222 N. Central Ave., Phoenix;
California State Office, 2800 Cottage
Way, Suite W–1834, Sacramento;
Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield
St., Lakewood; Idaho State Office, 1387
S. Vinnell Way, Boise; Montana State
Office, 5001 Southgate Dr., Billings;
Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial
Blvd., Reno; New Mexico State Office,
1474 Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe; Oregon State
Office, 333 SW. 1st Ave., Portland; Utah
State Office, 440 West 200 South, Salt
Lake City; Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Rd., Cheyenne; and BLM
Washington Office, Public Affairs
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Powers, at 406–896–5319, (or email at scott_powers@blm.gov), Montana
State Office, Bureau of Land
Management, 5001 Southgate Dr.,
Billings, Montana 59107.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wind
Energy Development Program ROD was
developed through preparation of the
Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement on Wind Energy
Development on BLM-Administered
Lands in the Western United States. The
elements of the Wind Energy
Development Program and the
associated land use plan amendments
were evaluated through this PEIS,
which was prepared in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and the FLPMA. The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) cooperated
in the preparation of the PEIS in support
of the BLM’s proposed action.
The Wind Energy Development
Program will be implemented in 11
western states: Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming. The Program establishes
policies and best management practices
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(BMPs) for the administration of wind
energy development activities and
establishes minimum requirements for
mitigation measures. The policies and
BMPs, included in Attachment A of the
ROD, address the mitigation of potential
impacts to all natural and cultural
resources that could occur during any
phase of development. These include
impacts such as the use of geologic and
water resources; creation or increase of
geologic hazards or soil erosion; water
quality degradation; localized
generation of airborne dust; generation
of noise; alteration or degradation of
wildlife habitat or sensitive or unique
habitat; interference with resident or
migratory fish or wildlife species,
including protected species; alteration
or degradation of plant communities,
including the occurrence of invasive
vegetation; land use changes; alteration
of visual resources; release of hazardous
materials or wastes; increased traffic;
increased human health and safety
hazards; and destruction or loss of
paleontological or cultural resources.
With the decision to implement the
Wind Energy Development Program, the
BLM Interim Wind Energy Policy, dated
October 16, 2002, will be replaced by a
new policy that incorporates the
programmatic policies and BMPs
evaluated in the PEIS. Elements of the
Interim Policy addressing applications,
authorizations, competitive interests,
and due diligence will not be changed
by the new program requirements.
In addition, this decision amends 52
BLM land use plans in 9 of the states in
the study area: Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon,
Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The
land use plan amendments, identified in
Attachment B of the ROD, include the
adoption of the Wind Energy
Development Program policies and
BMPs and, in a few instances, the
identification of specific areas where
wind energy development will be
excluded.
Public involvement in preparation of
the Wind Energy Development PEIS was
extensive, as documented in the PEIS
and the ROD. The 30-day public protest
period resulted in no protests. In
addition, results of the 90-day
Governors Consistency Review of the
PEIS, required by BLM planning
regulations, were favorable in that none
of the Governors objected to the
proposed plan amendments.
On May 18, 2001, the President issued
Executive Order (E.O.) 13212, ‘‘Actions
to Expedite Energy-Related Projects,’’
which established a policy that federal
agencies should take appropriate
actions, to the extent consistent with
applicable law, to expedite projects to
E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM
11JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 2006 / Notices
increase the production, transmission,
or conservation of energy. In that same
month, the President’s National Energy
Policy Development Group
recommended to the President, as part
of the National Energy Policy, that the
Departments of the Interior, Energy,
Agriculture, and Defense work together
to increase renewable energy
production. On August 8, 2005, the
President signed into law the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–58).
Section 211 of the Act states, ‘‘It is the
sense of the Congress that the Secretary
of the Interior should, before the end of
the 10-year period beginning on the date
of enactment of this Act, seek to have
approved non-hydropower renewable
energy projects located on the public
lands with a generation capacity of at
least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.’’
Implementation of the Wind Energy
Development Program and the
amendment of multiple land use plans
to adopt the program will effectively
support the directives of E.O. 13212, the
recommendations of the 2001 National
Energy Policy, and congressional
direction provided in the Energy Policy
Act of 2005 regarding renewable energy
development on public lands.
Dated: December 19, 2005.
Ray Brady,
Team Lead, Energy Policy Act
Implementation Team.
[FR Doc. E6–157 Filed 1–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[ID–200–1120–PH]
Notice of February Resource Advisory
Council Meeting To Be Held in Twin
Falls District, ID
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
rmajette on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Interior.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
intent to hold a Resource Advisory
Council (RAC) meeting in the Twin
Falls District of Idaho on Tuesday,
February 7, 2006. The meeting will be
held at the Red Lion Canyon Springs
Hotel, 1357 Blue Lakes Boulevard, in
Twin Falls, Idaho.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Twin
Falls District Resource Advisory
Council consists of the standard fifteen
members residing throughout south
central Idaho. Meeting agenda items
will include updates on sub-committee
efforts, Cotterell Mountain Wind Power
Plant EIS status, SEMPRA coal plant
proposal, Recreation RAC status and
pending decisions and more.
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14:20 Jan 10, 2006
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1769
Sky
Buffat, Twin Falls District, Idaho, 2536
Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho
83301, (208)735–2068.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Dated: January 4, 2006.
Bill Baker,
Twin Falls District Associate Manager.
[FR Doc. E6–144 Filed 1–10–06; 8:45 am]
[OR–936–1430–ET; HAG–06–0012; WAOR–
59196]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
Bureau of Land Management
Public Land Order No. 7651;
Withdrawal of Public Land, Hot Lake
Natural Area; Washington
AGENCY:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
ACTION:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
[WY–920–1310–01; WYW141204]
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of proposed
reinstatement of terminated oil and gas
lease.
AGENCY:
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 from Antelope
Coal Company of competitive oil and
gas lease WYW141204 for lands in
Converse County, Wyoming. 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:
Bureau of Land Management, Pamela J.
Lewis, Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals
Adjudication, at (307) 775–6176.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee
has agreed to the amended lease terms
for rentals and royalties at rates of
$10.00 per acre or fraction thereof, per
year and 162⁄3 percent, respectively. The
lessee has paid the required $500
administrative fee and $166 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 Bureau of Land
Management is proposing to reinstate
lease WYW141204 effective March 1,
2005, under the original terms and
conditions of the lease and the
increased rental and royalty rates cited
above. BLM has not issued a valid lease
affecting the lands.
Pamela J. Lewis,
Chief, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication.
[FR Doc. E6–150 Filed 1–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
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Public land order.
SUMMARY: This order withdraws 80 acres
of public land from location and entry
under the United States mining laws for
a period of 20 years for the Bureau of
Land Management to protect the Hot
Lake Natural Area.
DATES:
Effective January 11, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Schurger, Bureau of Land
Management, Wenatchee Field Office,
509–665–2116, or Charles R. Roy,
Bureau of Land Management Oregon/
Washington State Office, 503–808–6189.
The
Bureau of Land Management will
manage the lands to protect the unique
educational, scientific, and research
values of the Hot Lake Natural Area.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Order
By virtue of the authority vested in
the Secretary of the Interior by Section
204 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C.
1714 (2000), it is ordered as follows:
1. Subject to valid existing rights, the
following described public land is
hereby withdrawn from location and
entry under the United States mining
laws, (30 U.S.C. Ch. 2 (2000)), for the
Bureau of Land Management to protect
the unique educational, scientific and
research values of the Hot Lake Natural
Area:
Willamette Meridian
Hot Lake Natural Area
T. 40 N., R. 27 E.,
Sec. 7, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 18, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4.
The area described contains 80 acres in
Okanogan County.
2. This withdrawal will expire 20
years from the effective date of this
order unless, as a result of a review
conducted before the expiration date
pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f)(2000), the
Secretary determines that the
withdrawal shall be extended.
E:\FR\FM\11JAN1.SGM
11JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1768-1769]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-157]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-350-1430-PN]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Wind
Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)
and Associated Land Use Plan Amendments
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Record of Decision (ROD).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) procedures, the BLM announces the availability
of the ROD to implement a Wind Energy Development Program and amend BLM
land use plans. The decision is hereby made to implement a
comprehensive Wind Energy Development Program to administer the
development of wind energy resources on BLM-administered public lands
in 11 western states, excluding Alaska. In addition, this decision
amends 52 BLM land use plans in 9 states to adopt the new program. The
Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Resource Protection and the
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning jointly signed the
ROD on December 15, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Wind Energy Development Program ROD are
available upon request from Scott Powers, Montana State Office, Bureau
of Land Management, 5001 Southgate Dr., Billings, Montana 59107 or via
the Internet at https://windeis.anl.gov. Copies will also be available
at each of the following BLM offices: Arizona State Office, 222 N.
Central Ave., Phoenix; California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite
W-1834, Sacramento; Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield St.,
Lakewood; Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise; Montana State
Office, 5001 Southgate Dr., Billings; Nevada State Office, 1340
Financial Blvd., Reno; New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Rd., Santa
Fe; Oregon State Office, 333 SW. 1st Ave., Portland; Utah State Office,
440 West 200 South, Salt Lake City; Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Rd., Cheyenne; andBLM Washington Office, Public Affairs
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Powers, at 406-896-5319, (or e-
mail at scott_powers@blm.gov), Montana State Office, Bureau of Land
Management, 5001 Southgate Dr., Billings, Montana 59107.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wind Energy Development Program ROD was
developed through preparation of the Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement on Wind Energy Development on BLM-Administered Lands
in the Western United States. The elements of the Wind Energy
Development Program and the associated land use plan amendments were
evaluated through this PEIS, which was prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the FLPMA. The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) cooperated in the preparation of the PEIS in
support of the BLM's proposed action.
The Wind Energy Development Program will be implemented in 11
western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Program
establishes policies and best management practices (BMPs) for the
administration of wind energy development activities and establishes
minimum requirements for mitigation measures. The policies and BMPs,
included in Attachment A of the ROD, address the mitigation of
potential impacts to all natural and cultural resources that could
occur during any phase of development. These include impacts such as
the use of geologic and water resources; creation or increase of
geologic hazards or soil erosion; water quality degradation; localized
generation of airborne dust; generation of noise; alteration or
degradation of wildlife habitat or sensitive or unique habitat;
interference with resident or migratory fish or wildlife species,
including protected species; alteration or degradation of plant
communities, including the occurrence of invasive vegetation; land use
changes; alteration of visual resources; release of hazardous materials
or wastes; increased traffic; increased human health and safety
hazards; and destruction or loss of paleontological or cultural
resources.
With the decision to implement the Wind Energy Development Program,
the BLM Interim Wind Energy Policy, dated October 16, 2002, will be
replaced by a new policy that incorporates the programmatic policies
and BMPs evaluated in the PEIS. Elements of the Interim Policy
addressing applications, authorizations, competitive interests, and due
diligence will not be changed by the new program requirements.
In addition, this decision amends 52 BLM land use plans in 9 of the
states in the study area: Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The land use plan amendments,
identified in Attachment B of the ROD, include the adoption of the Wind
Energy Development Program policies and BMPs and, in a few instances,
the identification of specific areas where wind energy development will
be excluded.
Public involvement in preparation of the Wind Energy Development
PEIS was extensive, as documented in the PEIS and the ROD. The 30-day
public protest period resulted in no protests. In addition, results of
the 90-day Governors Consistency Review of the PEIS, required by BLM
planning regulations, were favorable in that none of the Governors
objected to the proposed plan amendments.
On May 18, 2001, the President issued Executive Order (E.O.) 13212,
``Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects,'' which established a
policy that federal agencies should take appropriate actions, to the
extent consistent with applicable law, to expedite projects to
[[Page 1769]]
increase the production, transmission, or conservation of energy. In
that same month, the President's National Energy Policy Development
Group recommended to the President, as part of the National Energy
Policy, that the Departments of the Interior, Energy, Agriculture, and
Defense work together to increase renewable energy production. On
August 8, 2005, the President signed into law the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (Pub. L. 109-58). Section 211 of the Act states, ``It is the sense
of the Congress that the Secretary of the Interior should, before the
end of the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this
Act, seek to have approved non-hydropower renewable energy projects
located on the public lands with a generation capacity of at least
10,000 megawatts of electricity.'' Implementation of the Wind Energy
Development Program and the amendment of multiple land use plans to
adopt the program will effectively support the directives of E.O.
13212, the recommendations of the 2001 National Energy Policy, and
congressional direction provided in the Energy Policy Act of 2005
regarding renewable energy development on public lands.
Dated: December 19, 2005.
Ray Brady,
Team Lead, Energy Policy Act Implementation Team.
[FR Doc. E6-157 Filed 1-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
