Notice of Availability of Coeur d'Alene Field Office, Idaho, Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 2269-2270 [06-286]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices determining program eligibility of American Indian and Alaska Native students for educational services. These forms are authorized pursuant to Blood Quantum Act, Public Law 99–228; the Snyder Act, Chapter 115, Public Law 67–85; and, the Indian Appropriations of the 48th Congress, Chapter 180, page 91, For Support of Schools, July 4, 1884. hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES II. Request for Comments A 60-day notice requesting comments was published on July 11, 2005 (70 FR 39787). There were no comments received regarding that notice. You are invited to comment on the following items to the Desk Officer at OMB at the citation in ADDRESSES section: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including the hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumption used; (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or other forms of information technology. We will not request nor sponsor a collection of information, and you need not respond to such a request, if there is no valid Office of Management and Budget Control Number. III. Data Title: Application for Admission to Haskell Indian Nations University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. OMB Control Number: 1076–0114. Type of Review: Renewal. Brief Description of Collection: These eligibility application forms are necessary to determine a student’s eligibility for educational services. Respondents: Students attending, or seeking admission to, Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI). Number of Respondents: 3,943. Estimated Time per Response: Approximately 30 minutes per application for SIPI, and 40 minutes per application for HINU. Frequency of Response: At the time of enrollment. Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 2,214 hours. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 Filing fee: $10 per application for HINU; no fee for SIPI. Dated: December 29, 2005 Michael D. Olsen, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. E6–337 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–6W–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Notice of Availability of Coeur d’Alene Field Office, Idaho, Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/ EIS) for the Coeur d’Alene Field Office. DATES: To assure that they will be considered, BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities through public notices, news media released, and/or mailings, and on the BLM Web site (https://www.blm.gov/ rmp/id/cda/). ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-mail: ID_CDA_RMP@blm.gov. • Mail: BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Office, ATTN: RMP, 1808 North Third Street, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814–3407. • Fax: (208) 769–5050. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Pavey at the Coeur d’Alene Field PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2269 Office (see above address), telephone (208) 769–5059. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of the Draft RMP/EIS is available for review via the Internet Web site at https://www.blm.gov/rmp/id/cda/. You may also obtain a copy on CD–ROM, or paper copy at the BLM Coeur d’Alene Field Office at the address listed above, or by contacting Scott Pavey at (208) 769–5059. The planning area covers approximately 96,770 acres of public lands within the following Idaho Counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, and Shoshone. The RMP will provide future broad-scale management direction for use and protection of resources managed by the Coeur d’Alene Field Office. The Draft RMP/EIS was developed through a collaborative planning process and considers four alternatives. The primary issues addressed include: recreational travel management, management of forest products and protection of other resources, adjustments to Federal land ownership, invasive plants, protection of property from wildfire, and protection and restoration of watersheds and riparian areas. The preferred alternative proposes designation of five areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs), four of which would become Research Natural Areas (RNAs): Hideaway Islands RNA— 76 acres (existing); Lund Creek RNA— 3,206 acres (2,905 acres existing); Farnham Forest RNA—33 acres; Windy Bay RNA—16 acres; and Pulaski Tunnel ACEC—27 acres. The preferred alternative specifies a no surface occupancy stipulation on future mineral leases within all ACECs/RNAs. Additionally, BLM would recommend Pulaski Tunnel ACEC for withdrawal from the mining laws. All of the RNAs would be designated as right-of-way exclusion areas and would have restrictions for vegetation treatments and timber harvests. The Farnham Forest RNA would be closed to motorized vehicles. Motorized use in all other areas would be limited to designated roads and trails. Sixteen other ACECs were considered under other alternatives, but were not included in the preferred alternative: Constitution Mine and Millsite ACEC— 6 acres; Gamlin Lake ACEC—59 acres; Hecla-Star Tailings Piles ACEC—22 acres; Killarney Lake ACEC—69 acres; Kootenai River Front ACEC—533 acres; Liberal King Millsite ACEC—2 acres; Little North Fork Clearwater River ACEC—9,592 acres; Morton Slough ACEC—119 acres; Mother Load Mine ACEC—0.8 acres; Nabob Millsite E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1 2270 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2006 / Notices ACEC—8 acres; Rex Millsite Tailings Pile ACEC—6 acres; Rochat Divide ACEC—11,653 acres; Sidney Mine and Millsite ACEC—6 acres; Wallace Landfill ACEC—0.3 acres; We-Like Mine ACEC—0.3 acres; Wolf Lodge Bay ACEC—1,094 acres. Restrictions on use of public lands within these areas would vary, depending on the alternative and the values identified for protection, but would include limitations on mining, off-highway vehicle use, and vegetation treatments. The preferred alternative also recommends four suitable segments of river for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River system: Little North Fork Clearwater River—2.5 miles wild classification and 1.1 miles recreation classification; Lost Lake Creek—3.0 miles wild classification and 0.3 miles scenic classification; Little Lost Lake Creek—3.0 miles wild classification; and Lund Creek—3.9 miles wild classification. A segment of the Kootenai River (14 miles) was found eligible, but under the preferred alternative, suitability determination would be deferred until the Idaho Panhandle National Forest (the primary land owner along this segment) makes a suitability determination on adjacent segments. Dated: November 16, 2005. Eric R. Thomson, Coeur d’Alene Field Office Manager. [FR Doc. 06–286 Filed 1–12–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WY–100–06–1310–DB] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, WY Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that evaluates, analyzes, and discloses to the public direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of a proposal to further develop the Jonah natural gas field through infill drilling in Sublette County, Wyoming. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:41 Jan 12, 2006 Jkt 208001 A copy of the FEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies, and to interested parties. An electronic copy of the FEIS may be viewed or downloaded from the BLM Web site at https://www.wy.blm.gov/ nepa/nepadocs.htm. Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection at the following BLM office locations: • Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming. • Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Stiewig, Project Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941. Mr. Stiewig may also be reached at (307) 367–5363. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a proposal submitted by EnCana Oil and Gas (USA), Inc. (EnCana), BP America Production Company (BP), and other companies, referred to collectively as the Companies, the BLM published in the March 13, 2003, Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published in February 2005. On April 14, 2005, the BLM notified the public of its intent to prepare supplemental air quality information and that comments on the DEIS Air Quality information would continue to be accepted until the supplemental information was completed. On August 9, 2005, the BLM announced the availability of the JIDP DEIS supplemental air quality information and summary and a 60 day review period during which BLM would accept comments. The Jonah Infill Drilling Project Area (JIDPA) covers approximately 30,500 acres in Townships 28 and 29 North, Ranges 107, 108, and 109 West, 6th Principal Meridian, approximately 32 miles southeast of Pinedale, Sublette County, Wyoming. The FEIS analyzes a proposal by the Companies to infill drill and develop Federal natural gas resources in an area known as the Jonah Field. The Companies’ proposal includes drilling 3,100 additional natural gas wells and constructing associated ancillary transportation and transmission facilities within the JIDPA. The proposed life of the project (LOP) is approximately 76 years, with the majority of drilling and development activities to occur within the first 12 years following approval of the BLM ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Record of Decision (ROD). The total 30,500 acre project area comprises approximately 28,580 acres of Federal surface and mineral estate administered by the BLM, 1,280 acres of State of Wyoming surface and mineral, and 640 acres of split estate (private surface/ Federal mineral) lands. To offset expected impacts from closely spaced infill drilling, EnCana has volunteered varying levels of off-site compensatory mitigation based on the level of new surface disturbance authorized in the ROD for this project. The FEIS describes in detail and analyzes the impacts of five alternatives, including the No Action Alternative and the Companies’ Proposed Action. The following is a summary of the alternatives: 1. Proposed Action—Up to 3100 new gas wells would be drilled and developed, with associated ancillary facilities, on up to 16,200 acres of new surface disturbance. Bottom-hole well spacing is expected to range from 16 wells per 640-acre section (40-acre spacing) to 128 wells per section (5-acre well spacing). Additionally, compensatory (off-site) mitigation has been volunteered by EnCana. 2. No Action Alternative—The no action alternative means that the project as proposed would not be approved. 3. Alternative A—This alternative proposes to maximize economic recovery of gas resources. New surface disturbance would be comparable to the Proposed Action, but many of the existing BLM Conditions of Approval, stipulations and mitigations would be exempted. 4. Alternative B—This alternative proposes to minimize surface disturbance by requiring directional drilling from existing well pads. This alternative requires expansion of existing well pads but results in the least amount of new surface disturbance while still providing for a higher level of resource recovery. 5. Alternative C (Agency Preferred)— This alternative proposes to achieve high levels of natural gas recovery approaching that of the Proposed Action, while minimizing resource impacts by the use of outcome-based performance objectives, mitigation, and Best Management Practices. This alternative manages surface disturbance on a field-wide level, not to exceed 46 percent at any given time. Once interim reclamation meets BLM standards, credit would be applied to the allowable surface disturbance acreage limits. Maximum cumulative surface disturbance or number of wells would not exceed those of the proposed action. E:\FR\FM\13JAN1.SGM 13JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2269-2270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-286]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Availability of Coeur d'Alene Field Office, Idaho, 
Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Coeur d'Alene Field 
Office.

DATES: To assure that they will be considered, BLM must receive written 
comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings 
and any other public involvement activities through public notices, 
news media released, and/or mailings, and on the BLM Web site (https://
www.blm.gov/rmp/id/cda/).

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: ID--CDA--RMP@blm.gov.
     Mail: BLM Coeur d'Alene Field Office, ATTN: RMP, 1808 
North Third Street, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814-3407.
     Fax: (208) 769-5050.
    Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
withhold your name or street address from public review or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests 
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Pavey at the Coeur d'Alene Field 
Office (see above address), telephone (208) 769-5059.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A copy of the Draft RMP/EIS is available for 
review via the Internet Web site at https://www.blm.gov/rmp/id/cda/. You 
may also obtain a copy on CD-ROM, or paper copy at the BLM Coeur 
d'Alene Field Office at the address listed above, or by contacting 
Scott Pavey at (208) 769-5059.
    The planning area covers approximately 96,770 acres of public lands 
within the following Idaho Counties: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, 
Kootenai, and Shoshone. The RMP will provide future broad-scale 
management direction for use and protection of resources managed by the 
Coeur d'Alene Field Office. The Draft RMP/EIS was developed through a 
collaborative planning process and considers four alternatives. The 
primary issues addressed include: recreational travel management, 
management of forest products and protection of other resources, 
adjustments to Federal land ownership, invasive plants, protection of 
property from wildfire, and protection and restoration of watersheds 
and riparian areas.
    The preferred alternative proposes designation of five areas of 
critical environmental concern (ACECs), four of which would become 
Research Natural Areas (RNAs): Hideaway Islands RNA--76 acres 
(existing); Lund Creek RNA--3,206 acres (2,905 acres existing); Farnham 
Forest RNA--33 acres; Windy Bay RNA--16 acres; and Pulaski Tunnel 
ACEC--27 acres. The preferred alternative specifies a no surface 
occupancy stipulation on future mineral leases within all ACECs/RNAs. 
Additionally, BLM would recommend Pulaski Tunnel ACEC for withdrawal 
from the mining laws. All of the RNAs would be designated as right-of-
way exclusion areas and would have restrictions for vegetation 
treatments and timber harvests. The Farnham Forest RNA would be closed 
to motorized vehicles. Motorized use in all other areas would be 
limited to designated roads and trails.
    Sixteen other ACECs were considered under other alternatives, but 
were not included in the preferred alternative: Constitution Mine and 
Millsite ACEC--6 acres; Gamlin Lake ACEC--59 acres; Hecla-Star Tailings 
Piles ACEC--22 acres; Killarney Lake ACEC--69 acres; Kootenai River 
Front ACEC--533 acres; Liberal King Millsite ACEC--2 acres; Little 
North Fork Clearwater River ACEC--9,592 acres; Morton Slough ACEC--119 
acres; Mother Load Mine ACEC--0.8 acres; Nabob Millsite

[[Page 2270]]

ACEC--8 acres; Rex Millsite Tailings Pile ACEC--6 acres; Rochat Divide 
ACEC--11,653 acres; Sidney Mine and Millsite ACEC--6 acres; Wallace 
Landfill ACEC--0.3 acres; We-Like Mine ACEC--0.3 acres; Wolf Lodge Bay 
ACEC--1,094 acres. Restrictions on use of public lands within these 
areas would vary, depending on the alternative and the values 
identified for protection, but would include limitations on mining, 
off-highway vehicle use, and vegetation treatments.
    The preferred alternative also recommends four suitable segments of 
river for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River system: 
Little North Fork Clearwater River--2.5 miles wild classification and 
1.1 miles recreation classification; Lost Lake Creek--3.0 miles wild 
classification and 0.3 miles scenic classification; Little Lost Lake 
Creek--3.0 miles wild classification; and Lund Creek--3.9 miles wild 
classification. A segment of the Kootenai River (14 miles) was found 
eligible, but under the preferred alternative, suitability 
determination would be deferred until the Idaho Panhandle National 
Forest (the primary land owner along this segment) makes a suitability 
determination on adjacent segments.

    Dated: November 16, 2005.
Eric R. Thomson,
Coeur d'Alene Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 06-286 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
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