Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins Field Offices, WY, 30054-30055 [2010-12838]

Download as PDF 30054 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 103 / Friday, May 28, 2010 / Notices jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES would manage the 100 to 150 acres of freshwater wetland communities to support breeding marsh birds and native plant and animal communities, and control non-native invasive species and predators as necessary to support nesting focal species of conservation concern. We would create a habitat map for the refuge, and conduct inventories, research, and monitoring on rare and special concern species. Since no public use is allowed, we would increase visitor services programming off-site with environmental education and interpretation by developing partnerships with the Tribe, Town of Chilmark, and the Aquinnah Cultural Center. We would work with partners to conduct shoreline surveys for archeological resources at risk from erosion and develop protocols for collection and repository of artifacts and remains. We would increase refuge complex staff by three new positions—Biological, Visitor Services, and Law Enforcement. Under this alternative, we would focus on strengthening partnerships with the Tribe for ceremonial access. We would also increase access and management throughout the refuge with the cooperation of the DoN. Alternative C (Natural Processes Emphasis-Service Preferred Alternative) This alternative is the one we propose as the best way to manage this refuge over the next 15 years. It includes an array of less active management actions that, in our professional judgment, works best toward achieving the refuge purposes, our vision and goals, and the goals of other State and regional conservation plans. We also believe it most effectively addresses the key issues that arose during the planning process. Lastly, it is the most realistic, given the relatively modest increase in staffing and funding that is anticipated over the next 15 years. This alternative acknowledges that the refuge meets the minimum criteria for a WSA. Under this alternative, a Nomans Land Island WSA would be recommended as suitable for designation and inclusion in the NWPS. The analysis of environmental consequences is based on the assumption that Congress would accept the recommendation and designate Nomans Land Island NWR as wilderness. The Nomans Land Island WSA would be managed according to the provisions of the Wilderness Act and Service Wilderness Stewardship Policy (610 FW 1–3). The wilderness area would be managed to accomplish refuge purposes and the NWRS mission, VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:43 May 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 while also preserving wilderness character and natural values for future generations. Use of motorized vehicles, motorized equipment, mechanical transport on the island would be allowed for emergency purposes, and when necessary to meet minimum requirements for the administration of the area as wilderness, and to accomplish refuge purposes. The island would continue to be accessible by motorboat. The information and analyses in the CCP/EA would be used to compile a wilderness study report and legislative EIS to accompany the wilderness recommendation. Since Congress has reserved the authority to make final decisions on wilderness designation, the wilderness recommendation is a preliminary administrative determination that would receive further review and possible modification by the Director, the Secretary, or the President. We would conduct some survey, inventory, research, and monitoring of focal species such as common and roseate terns, and would implement necessary measures to protect any colonies larger than 50 pairs. We would work with partners on specific priority efforts, such as analyzing the feasibility of New England cottontail introduction. We would track vegetation changes and invasive species, and control those that threaten healthy ecosystems. Under Alternative C, we would primarily allow coastal processes of wind and wave action to shape the refuge habitats, but would consider using fire to maintain shrubland stopover habitat for migratory birds, if necessary. We would focus our efforts to provide quality habitat on the refuge for landbirds, including raptors, during fall migration. This alternative resembles Alternative A in its minimal management approach, refuge administration, and facilities. We would provide oversight and coordination to the DoN contaminant and UXO cleanup, pursue a partnership agreement with the Tribe that provides, in part, access to the refuge for ceremonial purposes, and work with partners on cultural resource protection. As with Alternative B, we would enhance visitor services to provide additional off-site opportunities for interpretation and communication, since no public access is allowed on the refuge. Staffing would remain the same as in Alternative A. Public Meetings The public will have the opportunity to provide input at one public meeting in Chilmark, Massachusetts. We will release mailings, news releases, and PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 announcements electronically and provide information about opportunities for public review and comment on our Web site and in local newspapers with the contact information below. You can obtain the schedule from the planning team leader or project leader (see ADDRESSES). You may also submit comments anytime during the planning process by mail, electronic mail, or facsimile (SEE ADDRESSES). For specific information, including dates, times, and locations, contact the planning team leader (see ADDRESSES) or visit our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/northeast/ planning/nomansland/ccphome.html. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, electronic mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information— may be made available to the public 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. Dated: April 26, 2010. James G. Geiger, Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, Massachusetts. [FR Doc. 2010–12669 Filed 5–27–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWY930000 L16100000.DS0000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins Field Offices, WY AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office intends to prepare Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendments with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and by this E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 103 / Friday, May 28, 2010 / Notices notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The RMP amendments will revise sage-grouse and sagebrush management direction in the existing Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins RMPs to incorporate policies set forth in BLM Wyoming Instruction Memoranda (IM) 2010–012 and 2010–013. The IMs may be accessed at the following Web address: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/ programs/wildlife.html. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP amendments with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until June 28, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media and the BLM Web site at: https:// www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/ Planning/amendments/ sage-grouse.html. In order to be included in the Draft RMP amendments, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft RMP amendments. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins RMP amendments by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/ st/en/programs/Planning/amendments/ sage-grouse.html; • E-mail: Sagegrouse_Amendment_WY@blm.gov; • Fax: (307) 352–0329; and • Mail: BLM Wyoming State Office (WY 930), 5353 Yellowstone Rd., Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins field offices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Bill Hill, Deputy State Director, Resources Policy and Management; at (307) 775–6113; 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003; email: Sagegrouse_Amendment_WY@blm.gov. This document provides notice that the BLM Wyoming State Office intends to prepare RMP amendments with an associated EIS for the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:43 May 27, 2010 Jkt 220001 Newcastle, and Rawlins RMPs, announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The planning area is located in Converse, Goshen, Natrona, and Platte counties (Casper Field Office); Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties (Kemmerer Field Office); Sublette, Lincoln, and Fremont counties (Pinedale Field Office); Albany, Carbon, Laramie, and Sweetwater counties (Rawlins Field Office); Sweetwater, Sublette and Fremont counties (Rock Springs Field Office); and Niobrara, Weston and Crook counties (Newcastle Field Office) in Wyoming. The planning area encompasses approximately 15 million acres of public land. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the planning process. Preliminary issues for the planning area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, state, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include: Sagebrush habitat management practices directly applicable to protection of the sage grouse, sagebrush habitat management science directly applicable to protection of the sage grouse, and the effects of sagebrush habitat management on other public land resources. Preliminary planning criteria include: Incorporation of sage-grouse policies in Wyoming IMs 2010–012 and 2010–013; incorporation of the policies established by the Wyoming Governor’s Executive Order on sage-grouse (Wyoming EO 2008–2), as appropriate; and consideration of and consistency with the BLM National Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy (November 2004). The RMP amendment process will comply with NEPA, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and other applicable laws and policies. You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing or orally to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, you should submit comments within 30 days after the last public meeting. 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30055 cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan amendments, and will place them into one of three categories: 1. Issues to be resolved in the amendments; 2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; or 3. Issues beyond the scope of these amendments. The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP amendments/EIS as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that should be addressed in the amendments. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the amendments in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2. Donald A. Simpson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2010–12838 Filed 5–27–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLMTB07200–L51100000.GN0000 LVEMCE070000 252X; MTM78300] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Graymont Western U.S., Inc. Proposed Mine Expansion, Broadwater County, MT 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, a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM 28MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30054-30055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12838]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWY930000 L16100000.DS0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, 
Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins Field Offices, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming 
State Office intends to prepare Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
amendments with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins 
Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and by this

[[Page 30055]]

notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit 
public comments and identify issues. The RMP amendments will revise 
sage-grouse and sagebrush management direction in the existing Casper, 
Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins RMPs to 
incorporate policies set forth in BLM Wyoming Instruction Memoranda 
(IM) 2010-012 and 2010-013. The IMs may be accessed at the following 
Web address: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/wildlife.html.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendments with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until June 28, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping 
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local 
media and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/amendments/sage-grouse.html. In order to be included in the 
Draft RMP amendments, all comments must be received prior to the close 
of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, 
whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft RMP amendments.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and 
Rawlins RMP amendments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/amendments/sage-grouse.html;
     E-mail: Sagegrouse_Amendment_WY@blm.gov;
     Fax: (307) 352-0329; and
     Mail: BLM Wyoming State Office (WY 930), 5353 Yellowstone 
Rd., Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Casper, 
Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, Newcastle, and Rawlins field offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Bill Hill, Deputy State 
Director, Resources Policy and Management; at (307) 775-6113; 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003; e-mail: Sagegrouse_Amendment_WY@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Wyoming State Office intends to prepare RMP amendments with an 
associated EIS for the Casper, Kemmerer, Pinedale, Rock Springs, 
Newcastle, and Rawlins RMPs, announces the beginning of the scoping 
process, and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The 
planning area is located in Converse, Goshen, Natrona, and Platte 
counties (Casper Field Office); Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties 
(Kemmerer Field Office); Sublette, Lincoln, and Fremont counties 
(Pinedale Field Office); Albany, Carbon, Laramie, and Sweetwater 
counties (Rawlins Field Office); Sweetwater, Sublette and Fremont 
counties (Rock Springs Field Office); and Niobrara, Weston and Crook 
counties (Newcastle Field Office) in Wyoming. The planning area 
encompasses approximately 15 million acres of public land. The purpose 
of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will 
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including 
alternatives, and guide the planning process. Preliminary issues for 
the planning area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, 
state, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include: 
Sagebrush habitat management practices directly applicable to 
protection of the sage grouse, sagebrush habitat management science 
directly applicable to protection of the sage grouse, and the effects 
of sagebrush habitat management on other public land resources. 
Preliminary planning criteria include: Incorporation of sage-grouse 
policies in Wyoming IMs 2010-012 and 2010-013; incorporation of the 
policies established by the Wyoming Governor's Executive Order on sage-
grouse (Wyoming EO 2008-2), as appropriate; and consideration of and 
consistency with the BLM National Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation 
Strategy (November 2004). The RMP amendment process will comply with 
NEPA, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and other 
applicable laws and policies. You may submit comments on issues and 
planning criteria in writing or orally to the BLM at any public scoping 
meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the methods 
listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, you should 
submit comments within 30 days after the last public meeting. 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 may 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. The minutes 
and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the 
public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who 
wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate 
identified issues to be addressed in the plan amendments, and will 
place them into one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the amendments;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of these amendments.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP amendments/EIS 
as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is 
also encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns 
that should be addressed in the amendments. The BLM will work 
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management 
decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs 
and concerns. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop 
the amendments in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland 
management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology, 
paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, 
soils, sociology, and economics.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-12838 Filed 5-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P

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