Notice of Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statements for the North Dakota and South Dakota Field Offices, North Dakota and South Dakota, 39638-39640 [E7-13993]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 138 / Thursday, July 19, 2007 / Notices
whenever new recreation fee areas are
established under their respective
jurisdictions.
In May 2005, the BLM issued the
Decision for the Shepherd AH Nei OHV
Travel Management Plan, which
established roads, trails and areas as
open, closed, or limited with respect to
vehicular use in the Shepherd Ah Nei
OHV Area. This 2005 decision allows
for recreation opportunities, issuing of
use permits, and charging of fees for use
of the Shepherd Ah Nei OHV Area. The
establishment of a permit process, and
the collection of user fees were also
addressed in the Shepherd Ah Nei OHV
Business Plan, prepared pursuant to the
REA and BLM recreation fee program
policy. This Business Plan, in
conjunction with the Travel
Management Plan, establishes the
rationale for charging recreation fees. In
accordance with BLM recreation fee
program policy, the Business Plan
explains the fee collection process, and
outlines how the fees will be used at the
Shepherd Ah Nei OHV Area. The BLM
has notified and involved the public at
each stage of the planning process,
including the proposal to collect fees.
Fee amounts will be posted on-site and
at the Billings Field Office; copies of the
Business Plan will be available at the
Billings Field Office and the BLM
Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate
Drive, Billings, Montana 59101.
The BLM welcomes public comments
on this proposal. Before including your
address, phone number, e-mail address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, be
advised that your entire comment—
including your personal identifying
information—may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can ask
us in your comment to withhold from
public review your personal identifying
information, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 6803(b); 43 CFR
2932.13.
James M. Sparks,
Acting Field Manager, Billings Field Office.
[FR Doc. E7–13995 Filed 7–18–07; 8:45 am]
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BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT–039–1610–DO–059E]
Notice of Intent To Prepare Resource
Management Plans and Associated
Environmental Impact Statements for
the North Dakota and South Dakota
Field Offices, North Dakota and South
Dakota
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) North Dakota Field
Office (NDFO) and South Dakota Field
Office (SDFO) intend to prepare
Resource Management Plans with
associated Environmental Impact
Statements (RMP/EIS) for the NDFO and
SDFO planning areas. These RMPs will
replace the current North Dakota and
South Dakota RMPs.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process. Formal scoping will
end 60 days after publication of this
notice; however, collaboration with the
public will continue throughout the
process. Comments on issues and
planning criteria can be submitted in
writing to the address listed below. All
public meetings will be announced
through the local news media,
newsletters, and the BLM Web site:
(https://www.mt.blm.gov/ndfo/rmp and
https://www.mt.blm.gov/sdfo/rmp ) at
least 15 days prior to the event. The
minutes and list of attendees for each
meeting will be available to the public
and open for 30 days to any participant
who wishes to clarify the views they
expressed.
Written comments should
be sent or faxed to: John Hartley, BLM
RMP Project Manager, BLM North
Dakota Field Office, 99 23rd Avenue
West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601;
Fax—(701) 227–7701; or BLM South
Dakota Field Office, 310 Roundup
Street, Belle Fourche, SD 57717; Fax—
(605) 892–7015. Documents pertinent to
this proposal may be examined at either
the NDFO or SDFO. Respondents’
comments, including their names and
street addresses, will be available for
public review at the NDFO and SDFO
during regular business hours from 7:45
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays, and may be
published as part of the RMP/EIS.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so. 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: For
further information and/or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact
John Hartley, North Dakota Field Office,
at (701) 227–7700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
BLM’s North Dakota (ND) RMP/EIS
incorporates a planning area
administered by the NDFO located in
Dickinson, ND. The land area to be
covered under the ND RMP/EIS is
approximately 58,500 surface acres of
public lands and approximately 4.1
million subsurface acres of federal
minerals in North Dakota. The bulk of
this mineral acreage is federal coal
reserve only. Additional acres are
federal oil and gas reserves only; and
the remaining acres are made up of all
minerals, coal and oil and gas only, and
other combinations. The focus of the
NDFO has been mineral management on
split estate lands (fee surface/federal
minerals).
The BLM’s South Dakota (SD) RMP/
EIS incorporates a planning area
administered by the SDFO located in
Belle Fourche, SD. The land area to be
covered under the SD RMP/EIS is
approximately 278,000 subsurface acres
of BLM-administered public land
located in the western part of the state
in Brule, Butte, Custer, Fall River,
Haakon, Harding, Jackson, Lawrence,
Lyman, Meade, Pennington, Perkins,
and Stanley Counties. There are also
approximately 1.6 million subsurface
acres of federal minerals in South
Dakota.
The RMP/EIS revisions to be prepared
for the public lands administered by the
NDFO and SDFO will identify goals,
objectives, standards, and guidelines for
management of a variety of resources
and values. The scope of the RMP/EISs
will be comprehensive. The plans will
specify actions, constraints, and general
management practices necessary to
achieve desired conditions. The plans
will also identify any areas requiring
special management such as Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern. Certain
existing standards and guidelines and
other BLM plans/plan amendments will
be incorporated into the RMP/EISs.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 138 / Thursday, July 19, 2007 / Notices
The plans will fulfill the needs and
obligations set forth by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA), the National Energy
Policy Act of 2005, and all other related
acts, laws, and regulations associated
with land management planning and
BLM management policies. The BLM
will work collaboratively with the
public, local and State governments,
and Tribal governments to identify the
management decisions that are best
suited to local, regional, and national
needs and concerns. The public scoping
process will identify planning issues
and develop planning criteria, including
evaluation of the existing RMPs in the
context of the needs and interests of the
public.
The BLM’s decision to begin a new
planning effort for the public lands in
the NDFO and SDFO is based on public
and agency need for revised
management guidance to address
changing issues. Each RMP/EIS will
describe and analyze a range of
alternatives, including the No Action
alternative (continued management) and
a number of action alternatives that will
describe options for addressing the
major issues. Preliminary issues and
management concerns have been
identified by BLM personnel, other
agencies, and individuals and user
groups. The major issues that will be
addressed in the development of both
RMPs/EISs include the following:
1. Energy development—the
significant amount of oil and gas and
coal leasing, exploration, and
development throughout North Dakota
and increasing oil and gas leasing
interest in South Dakota;
2. Wildland-Urban Interface—increase
in recreational demand for BLM public
lands and increasing development
adjoining BLM public lands;
3. Management of vegetation;
4. Management of wildlife;
5. Conservation and recovery of
special status species;
6. Travel management and access to
public lands;
7. Availability and management of
public lands for commercial uses; and
8. Land tenure adjustments.
After gathering public comments on
what issues the plans should address,
the suggested issues will be placed in
one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plans;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues that are beyond the scope of
the plans.
Rationale will be provided for each
issue placed in categories two or three.
In addition to determining these major
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issues, the BLM will address a number
of management questions and concerns
in the plans. The public is encouraged
to help identify these questions and
concerns during the scoping phase.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to consider the variety of
resource issues and concerns identified.
Disciplines involved in the planning
process will include specialists with
expertise in minerals and geology,
forestry, range, fire and fuels, outdoor
recreation, archaeology, paleontology,
wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty,
hydrology, soils, sociology,
environmental justice, and economics.
The following planning criteria have
been proposed to guide development of
the plans, avoid unnecessary data
collection and analyses, and to ensure
the plan is tailored to the issues. Other
criteria may be identified during the
public scoping process. After gathering
comments on planning criteria, the BLM
will finalize the criteria and provide
feedback to the public on the criteria to
be used throughout the planning
process.
• The RMPs/EISs will recognize valid
existing rights.
• Planning decisions will only apply
to surface lands and subsurface lands
managed by the BLM.
• The ND RMP/EIS will incorporate
by reference the EIS Coal Lease ND
RMP/Amendment (October 1990); Big
Horn Sheep ND RMP Environmental
Assessment (EA)/Amendment (July
1991); Standards for Rangeland Health
and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing
Management for Montana, North
Dakota, and South Dakota (August
1997); Off-Highway Vehicle EIS and
Plan Amendment for Montana and the
Dakotas (June 2003); and the Fire/Fuels
Management Plan EA/Plan Amendment
for Montana and the Dakotas
(September 2003).
• The SD RMP/EIS will incorporate
by reference the Oil and Gas RMP/EIS
Amendment Miles City District Final
EIS (February 1994); Standards for
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for
Livestock Grazing Management for
Montana, North Dakota and South
Dakota (August 1997); Off-Highway
Vehicle EIS and Plan Amendment for
Montana and the Dakotas (June 2003);
and the Fire/Fuels Management Plan
EA/Plan Amendment for Montana and
the Dakotas (September 2003).
• Decisions in the plans will strive to
be compatible with the existing plans
and policies of affected local, state, and
federal agencies as long as the decisions
are consistent with the purposes,
policies, and programs of federal law,
and with regulations applicable to
public lands.
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39639
• The RMPs/EISs will recognize
states’ responsibilities and authorities to
manage wildlife. The BLM will consult
with the ND Game and Fish Department
and the SD Department of Game, Fish
and Parks, as necessary.
• The BLM and cooperating agencies/
governments will jointly develop
alternatives for resolution of resource
management issues.
• The State Historic Preservation
Offices will be consulted and involved
throughout the RMP/EIS process.
• Each RMP/EIS will emphasize the
protection and enhancement of the
planning areas’ biodiversity while, at
the same time, provide the public with
opportunities for compatible activities
on public lands.
• Lands acquired by the BLM will be
managed in the manner the RMPs/EISs
prescribe for adjacent public land,
subject to any constraints associated
with the acquisition.
• The RMPs/EISs will provide
management direction for lands
returned to BLM management through
revocation of withdrawals. The plans
will also address lands acquired through
other means.
• Lands already identified for
disposal will be reviewed to ensure
disposal is in the best interest of the
public.
• The National Sage Grouse Strategy
requires that impacts to sagebrush
habitat and sagebrush-dependent
wildlife species (including sage grouse)
be analyzed and considered in these
RMPs/EISs due to the presence of sage
grouse/sagebrush habitats in the
planning area.
• Forest management strategies will
be consistent with the Healthy Forests
Restoration Act and the Tribal Forest
Protection Act, where appropriate.
• Fire management strategies will be
consistent with the: 2001 Federal
Wildland Fire Policy, National Fire
Plan; Fire/Fuels Management Plan for
Montana and Dakotas; Prescribed Fire
Planning and Implementation
Procedures Reference Guide, and other
relevant policies.
• Geographic Information System
(GIS) and metadata information will
meet Federal Geographic Data
Committee (FGDC) standards, as
required by E.O. 12906 of April 11,
1994.
• All proposed management actions
will be based upon best available
scientific information, research and
technology, as well as existing inventory
and monitoring information.
• The RMPs/EISs will include
adaptive management criteria and
protocol to deal with future issues.
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39640
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 138 / Thursday, July 19, 2007 / Notices
• The RMPs/EISs will incorporate
Best Management Practices for surface
disturbing activities associated with
BLM-authorized activities on federal oil
and gas leases.
Gene R. Terland,
State Director, Montana State Office.
[FR Doc. E7–13993 Filed 7–18–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
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Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree
Under the Clean Air Act
Notice is hereby given that on July 10,
2007, a proposed Consent Decree in
United States v. Casper’s Electronics,
Inc., Civil Action No. 1:06-cv-03542
(N.D. Illinois), was lodged with the
United States District Court for the
Northern District of Illinois Eastern
Division. The proposed Consent Decree
resolves the United States’ claim under
the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et
seq., relating to the Defendant’s
manufacture and sale of oxygen sensor
simulators, an automobile emission
control defeat device. The Consent
Decree requires the Defendant: to pay
$74,383 to the United States in civil
penalties; to cease the manufacture or
sale of oxygen sensor simulators; to
issue a recall for oxygen sensor
simulators that it sold; and to destroy all
oxygen sensor simulators that it
possesses or obtains through the recall.
The Department of Justice will receive
for a period of thirty (30) days from the
date of this publication comments
relating to the proposed Consent Decree.
Comments should be addressed to the
Assistant Attorney General,
Environment and Natural Resources
Division, and either e-mailed to
pubcomment-ess.enrd@usdoj.gov or
mailed to P.O. Box 7611, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC
20044–7611, and should refer to United
States v. Casper’s Electronics, Inc., D.J.
Ref. 90–5–2–1–08630.
The proposed Consent Decree may be
examined at the Office of the United
States Attorney, 219 S. Dearborn St., 5th
Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60604. During
the public comment period, the Consent
Decree may also be examined on the
following Department of Justice Web
site, https://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/
Consent_Decrees.html. A copy of the
proposed Consent Decree may also be
obtained by mail from the Consent
Decree Library, P.O. Box 7611, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC
20044–7611 or by faxing or e-mailing a
request to Tonia Fleetwood
(tonia.fleetwood@usdoj.gov), fax no.
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15:31 Jul 18, 2007
Jkt 211001
(202) 514–0097, phone confirmation no.
(202) 514–1547. In requesting a copy
from the Consent Decree Library, please
enclose a check in the amount of $7.75
(25 cents per page reproduction cost)
payable to the ‘‘U.S. Treasury’’ or, if by
e-mail or fax, forward a check in that
amount to the Consent Decree Library at
the stated address.
Karen Dworkin,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement
Section, Environment and Natural Resources
Division.
[FR Doc. 07–3494 Filed 7–18–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–15–M
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree
Under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
Notice is hereby given that on June
25, 2007, a proposed Consent Decree in
U.S. v. CHEMCENTRAL Corporation, et.
al., Case No. 2:07–cv–12681 (DML), was
lodged with the United States District
Court in the Eastern District of
Michigan. The Consent Decree is with:
CHEMCENTRAL Corporation;
Reclamation Company, Inc.; American
Laboratories, Inc.; Estate of Morris I.
Sheikh; Maha Sheikh; BorgWarner Inc.
(formerly known as Borg-Warner
Automotive, Inc.); General Motors
Corporation; Ford Motor Company;
Kelsey Hayes Company (dba TRW
Automotive); and SPX Corporation
(collectively, the ‘‘Defendants’’). The
Consent Decree resolves claims of the
United States, on behalf of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency
(‘‘EPA’’), under the Comprehensive,
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(‘‘CERCLA’’), 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq., in
connection with the Reclamation Oil
Company Superfund Site in Detroit,
Michigan. Under the Consent Decree,
the Defendants will pay $3,574,112.37
toward EPA’s past costs.
For a period of thirty (30) days from
the date of this publication, the
Department of Justice will receive
comments relating to the Consent
Decree. Comments should be addressed
to the Acting Assistant Attorney
General, Environment and Natural
Resources Division, and either e-mailed
to pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.gov or
mailed to P.O. box 7611, U.S.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC
20044. Comments should refer to U.S. v.
CHEMCENTRAL Corporation, et al.,
Case No. 2:07–cv–12681 (DML), D.J. Ref.
No. 90–11–2–08019.
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The Consent Decree may be examined
at the Office of the United States
Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan,
211 Fort Street, Suite 2001, Detroit, MI
48225, and at the United States
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 5, 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago,
IL 60604. During the public comment
period, the Consent Decree may also be
examined on the following Department
of Justice Web site, https://
www.usdoj.gov/enrd/
ConsentlDecrees.html. A copy of the
Agreement may also be obtained by mail
from the Consent Decree Library, P.O.
Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice,
Washington, DC 20044, or by faxing or
e-mailing a request to Tonia Fleetwood
(tonia.fleetwood@usdoj.gov), fax number
(202) 514–0097, phone confirmation
number (202) 514–1547. In requesting a
copy from the Consent Decree Library,
please enclose a check in the amount of
$6.00 (25 cents per page reproduction
cost) payable to the United States
Treasury.
William D. Brighton,
Assistant Chief, Environmental Enforcement
Section, Environment and Natural Resources
Division.
[FR Doc. 07–3492 Filed 7–18–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–15–M
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Notice of Lodging Consent Decree
Under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
Notice is hereby given that on July 9,
2007, a proposed RD/RA Consent
Decree (‘‘Consent Decree’’) in United
States and State of Utah v. Kennecott
Utah Copper Corporation, Civil Action
No. 2:07cv00485 was lodged with the
United States District Court for the
District of Utah.
The Consent Decree resolves claims
by the United States and the State of
Utah against Kennecott Utah Copper
Corporation (‘‘KUCC’’) under Sections
106 and 107 of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act
(‘‘CERCLA’’), 42 U.S.C. 106 and 107, for
past response costs incurred at the
groundwater Operable Unit 2 portion of
the Kennecott South Zone Site, in Salt
Lake County, Utah. The Consent Decree
will require KUCC to perform response
actions at the Kennecott South Zone
Site consistent with the National
Contingency Plan, 40 CFR par 300 (as
amended) and will require KUCC to pay
the United States $5,007,200.16 in past
response costs and also pay the United
States’ future response costs. The
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 138 (Thursday, July 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39638-39640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13993]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-039-1610-DO-059E]
Notice of Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plans and
Associated Environmental Impact Statements for the North Dakota and
South Dakota Field Offices, North Dakota and South Dakota
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) North Dakota Field Office
(NDFO) and South Dakota Field Office (SDFO) intend to prepare Resource
Management Plans with associated Environmental Impact Statements (RMP/
EIS) for the NDFO and SDFO planning areas. These RMPs will replace the
current North Dakota and South Dakota RMPs.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Formal scoping
will end 60 days after publication of this notice; however,
collaboration with the public will continue throughout the process.
Comments on issues and planning criteria can be submitted in writing to
the address listed below. All public meetings will be announced through
the local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site: (https://
www.mt.blm.gov/ndfo/rmp and https://www.mt.blm.gov/sdfo/rmp ) at least
15 days prior to the event. The minutes and list of attendees for each
meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days to any
participant who wishes to clarify the views they expressed.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent or faxed to: John Hartley,
BLM RMP Project Manager, BLM North Dakota Field Office, 99 23rd Avenue
West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601; Fax--(701) 227-7701; or BLM South
Dakota Field Office, 310 Roundup Street, Belle Fourche, SD 57717; Fax--
(605) 892-7015. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at
either the NDFO or SDFO. Respondents' comments, including their names
and street addresses, will be available for public review at the NDFO
and SDFO during regular business hours from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of
the RMP/EIS. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. 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: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact John Hartley, North Dakota
Field Office, at (701) 227-7700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM's North Dakota (ND) RMP/EIS
incorporates a planning area administered by the NDFO located in
Dickinson, ND. The land area to be covered under the ND RMP/EIS is
approximately 58,500 surface acres of public lands and approximately
4.1 million subsurface acres of federal minerals in North Dakota. The
bulk of this mineral acreage is federal coal reserve only. Additional
acres are federal oil and gas reserves only; and the remaining acres
are made up of all minerals, coal and oil and gas only, and other
combinations. The focus of the NDFO has been mineral management on
split estate lands (fee surface/federal minerals).
The BLM's South Dakota (SD) RMP/EIS incorporates a planning area
administered by the SDFO located in Belle Fourche, SD. The land area to
be covered under the SD RMP/EIS is approximately 278,000 subsurface
acres of BLM-administered public land located in the western part of
the state in Brule, Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Harding,
Jackson, Lawrence, Lyman, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, and Stanley
Counties. There are also approximately 1.6 million subsurface acres of
federal minerals in South Dakota.
The RMP/EIS revisions to be prepared for the public lands
administered by the NDFO and SDFO will identify goals, objectives,
standards, and guidelines for management of a variety of resources and
values. The scope of the RMP/EISs will be comprehensive. The plans will
specify actions, constraints, and general management practices
necessary to achieve desired conditions. The plans will also identify
any areas requiring special management such as Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern. Certain existing standards and guidelines and
other BLM plans/plan amendments will be incorporated into the RMP/EISs.
[[Page 39639]]
The plans will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act (FLPMA), the National Energy Policy Act of 2005, and all
other related acts, laws, and regulations associated with land
management planning and BLM management policies. The BLM will work
collaboratively with the public, local and State governments, and
Tribal governments to identify the management decisions that are best
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The public
scoping process will identify planning issues and develop planning
criteria, including evaluation of the existing RMPs in the context of
the needs and interests of the public.
The BLM's decision to begin a new planning effort for the public
lands in the NDFO and SDFO is based on public and agency need for
revised management guidance to address changing issues. Each RMP/EIS
will describe and analyze a range of alternatives, including the No
Action alternative (continued management) and a number of action
alternatives that will describe options for addressing the major
issues. Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified
by BLM personnel, other agencies, and individuals and user groups. The
major issues that will be addressed in the development of both RMPs/
EISs include the following:
1. Energy development--the significant amount of oil and gas and
coal leasing, exploration, and development throughout North Dakota and
increasing oil and gas leasing interest in South Dakota;
2. Wildland-Urban Interface--increase in recreational demand for
BLM public lands and increasing development adjoining BLM public lands;
3. Management of vegetation;
4. Management of wildlife;
5. Conservation and recovery of special status species;
6. Travel management and access to public lands;
7. Availability and management of public lands for commercial uses;
and
8. Land tenure adjustments.
After gathering public comments on what issues the plans should
address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of three
categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plans;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues that are beyond the scope of the plans.
Rationale will be provided for each issue placed in categories two
or three. In addition to determining these major issues, the BLM will
address a number of management questions and concerns in the plans. The
public is encouraged to help identify these questions and concerns
during the scoping phase.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to consider the
variety of resource issues and concerns identified. Disciplines
involved in the planning process will include specialists with
expertise in minerals and geology, forestry, range, fire and fuels,
outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries,
lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology, environmental justice,
and economics.
The following planning criteria have been proposed to guide
development of the plans, avoid unnecessary data collection and
analyses, and to ensure the plan is tailored to the issues. Other
criteria may be identified during the public scoping process. After
gathering comments on planning criteria, the BLM will finalize the
criteria and provide feedback to the public on the criteria to be used
throughout the planning process.
The RMPs/EISs will recognize valid existing rights.
Planning decisions will only apply to surface lands and
subsurface lands managed by the BLM.
The ND RMP/EIS will incorporate by reference the EIS Coal
Lease ND RMP/Amendment (October 1990); Big Horn Sheep ND RMP
Environmental Assessment (EA)/Amendment (July 1991); Standards for
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for
Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota (August 1997); Off-Highway
Vehicle EIS and Plan Amendment for Montana and the Dakotas (June 2003);
and the Fire/Fuels Management Plan EA/Plan Amendment for Montana and
the Dakotas (September 2003).
The SD RMP/EIS will incorporate by reference the Oil and
Gas RMP/EIS Amendment Miles City District Final EIS (February 1994);
Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing
Management for Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota (August 1997);
Off-Highway Vehicle EIS and Plan Amendment for Montana and the Dakotas
(June 2003); and the Fire/Fuels Management Plan EA/Plan Amendment for
Montana and the Dakotas (September 2003).
Decisions in the plans will strive to be compatible with
the existing plans and policies of affected local, state, and federal
agencies as long as the decisions are consistent with the purposes,
policies, and programs of federal law, and with regulations applicable
to public lands.
The RMPs/EISs will recognize states' responsibilities and
authorities to manage wildlife. The BLM will consult with the ND Game
and Fish Department and the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks, as
necessary.
The BLM and cooperating agencies/governments will jointly
develop alternatives for resolution of resource management issues.
The State Historic Preservation Offices will be consulted
and involved throughout the RMP/EIS process.
Each RMP/EIS will emphasize the protection and enhancement
of the planning areas' biodiversity while, at the same time, provide
the public with opportunities for compatible activities on public
lands.
Lands acquired by the BLM will be managed in the manner
the RMPs/EISs prescribe for adjacent public land, subject to any
constraints associated with the acquisition.
The RMPs/EISs will provide management direction for lands
returned to BLM management through revocation of withdrawals. The plans
will also address lands acquired through other means.
Lands already identified for disposal will be reviewed to
ensure disposal is in the best interest of the public.
The National Sage Grouse Strategy requires that impacts to
sagebrush habitat and sagebrush-dependent wildlife species (including
sage grouse) be analyzed and considered in these RMPs/EISs due to the
presence of sage grouse/sagebrush habitats in the planning area.
Forest management strategies will be consistent with the
Healthy Forests Restoration Act and the Tribal Forest Protection Act,
where appropriate.
Fire management strategies will be consistent with the:
2001 Federal Wildland Fire Policy, National Fire Plan; Fire/Fuels
Management Plan for Montana and Dakotas; Prescribed Fire Planning and
Implementation Procedures Reference Guide, and other relevant policies.
Geographic Information System (GIS) and metadata
information will meet Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
standards, as required by E.O. 12906 of April 11, 1994.
All proposed management actions will be based upon best
available scientific information, research and technology, as well as
existing inventory and monitoring information.
The RMPs/EISs will include adaptive management criteria
and protocol to deal with future issues.
[[Page 39640]]
The RMPs/EISs will incorporate Best Management Practices
for surface disturbing activities associated with BLM-authorized
activities on federal oil and gas leases.
Gene R. Terland,
State Director, Montana State Office.
[FR Doc. E7-13993 Filed 7-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P
