Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Tropic To Hatch (Garkane) 138 kV Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement and the Approved Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan Amendment, 56791-56792 [2011-23485]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 178 / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / Notices (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare an amendment to the 1997 Caliente Resource Management Plan (RMP) and an Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify three parcels of public land totaling 83.02 acres for possible direct sale. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until October 14, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through the local news media. In order to be included in the EA, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the EA. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Tim Smith, BLM Bakersfield Field Manager, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308. Documents pertinent to this notice will be available for public review at this address during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) Monday through Friday, except holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: And/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Diane Simpson, Realty Specialist, BLM Bakersfield Field Office, telephone (661) 391–6125; address 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM has received requests from the City of Maricopa, the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, and ARC Vineyards, LLC to purchase the following public lands, respectively, by direct sale, under the authority of Section 203 of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1713): Parcel 1, requested by the City of Maricopa, is described as: San Bernardino Meridian T. 11 N., R. 23 W., Sec. 7, lot 3 in the NW1/4. VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:00 Sep 13, 2011 Jkt 223001 The area described contains 15.81 acres in Kern County. Parcel 2, requested by the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, is described as: Mount Diablo Meridian T. 17 S., R. 28 E, Sec. 4, lots 3 and 4. The area described contains 61.28 acres in Tulare County. Parcel 3, requested by ARC Vineyards, LLC, is described as: San Bernardino Meridian T. 9 N., R. 33 W., Sec. 20, lot 1. The area described contains 5.93 acres in Santa Barbara County. Parcels one and two are located in the Valley Management Area and the South Sierra Management Area, respectively, of the Caliente RMP. The Caliente RMP identifies parcels one and two for land tenure adjustment through land exchanges to consolidate natural resource values. Under the Caliente RMP, public lands identified for land tenure adjustment may also be disposed of by sale, but sales were to be considered infrequently and limited to those small parcels where the value would not warrant inclusion of the parcel in a land exchange process. Parcel three is located in the Coast Management Area of the Caliente RMP, but does not appear on the RMP maps as public land due to an error in mapping. The Caliente RMP provides that newly recognized public lands would be managed consistent with adjacent public lands, if any, and may be suitable for land tenure adjustment. All public lands in the Coast Management Area were identified as possibly being suitable for management by other agencies (e.g., for conservation purposes) or land tenure adjustment in the Caliente RMP. This plan amendment will be limited to an analysis of whether the public lands described above meet the Section 203 sales criteria of FLPMA. The proposed amendment would allow for the sale of the lands described above, regardless of their potential value in any land exchange to consolidate natural resource values. This notice initiates the public scoping process to identify specific issues related to the proposed amendment and associated environmental analysis. The BLM anticipates that the EA will consider both a plan amendment and the subsequent sale of the land and has identified the following preliminary issues of concern: Mineral resources, special status species, and cultural resources. The BLM anticipates that the EA will include input from the PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56791 disciplines of geology, biology and archaeology as a minimum. The planning process begins with the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The BLM will follow its planning regulations (43 CFR 1600) in processing this plan amendment. 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 indentifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2(c). Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources. [FR Doc. 2011–23481 Filed 9–13–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUT0300000 L17110000 DT0000 24 1A] Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Tropic To Hatch (Garkane) 138 kV Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement and the Approved Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument Management Plan Amendment Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Tropic to Hatch (Garkane) 138 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Approved Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument Management Plan (MMP) Amendment located in Garfield County, Utah. The Utah State Director signed the ROD on September 8, 2011, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved MMP Amendment effective immediately. The ROD also indicates the BLM’s intent to issue a right-of-way to Garkane Energy, Inc. (Applicant) to construct and maintain the transmission line. ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/ Approved MMP Amendment are available upon request from the BLM’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Office, 190 East Center SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 56792 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 178 / Wednesday, September 14, 2011 / Notices Kanab, Utah 84741, or via the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/ fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html; or from the Kanab Field Office, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 84741, or at the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ ut/st/en/fo/kanab/. Copies of the ROD/Approved MMP Amendment are available for public inspection at either BLM office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Betenson, Assistant Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument Manager for Planning and Support Services, telephone (435) 644–4309; 190 East Center, Kanab, Utah 84741; e-mail Matt_Betenson@blm.gov. You may also contact Harry Barber, Kanab Field Office Manager, telephone (435) 644–4600; 190 East Center, Kanab, Utah 84741; e-mail Harry_Barber@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individuals during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After extensive environmental analysis, collaborative public processes, consideration of public comments, and application of pertinent Federal laws and policies, it is the decision of the BLM to issue a right-of-way grant to Garkane Energy, Inc. for the construction, operation, and maintenance of approximately 7.1 miles of a 138 kV transmission line and access routes for the construction of the project across public lands administered by the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Office (3.7 miles) and the Kanab Field Office (3.4 miles); and to amend the Grand Staircase-Escalante National MMP to provide for such action. The right-of-way grant will authorize the use of public lands for the project for a term of 30 years, which is subject to renewal. The Approved MMP Amendment allows for the issuance of this right-of-way grant by changing a zoning decision in the MMP from Primitive Zone to a 300-foot-wide Passage Zone to accommodate an existing transmission line and route, as well as the Applicant’s proposed power line. The MMP Amendment also changes the Visual Resource Management classification from a Class II to a Class III to allow for additional modifications to the landscape within the 300-foot-wide zone. Amendment of the MMP and granting the right-of-way will have minimal effect on the VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:00 Sep 13, 2011 Jkt 223001 landforms, cultural features, or other important values specifically enumerated in the Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument Proclamation, as they would be minimized through implementation of mitigation described in the ROD. The U.S. Forest Service, Dixie National Forest, was the lead Federal agency for completion of the EIS, with the BLM and the National Park Service serving as cooperating agencies. The agencies sought participation from the public, tribes, and local, state, and Federal agencies throughout the EIS process. In addition to the 7.1 miles of power line located on public land, the proposal, in total, encompasses another 22.3 miles of power line that traverse U.S. Forest Service, private, and state lands. A separate ROD was issued by the U.S. Forest Service in April, 2011 for granting of the special use permit across U.S. Forest Service lands. The selected alternative avoids construction of the power line across National Park Service lands. The U.S. Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) each published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Draft MMP Amendment for public review and comment in the Federal Register. The U.S. Forest Service published the NOA of the Draft EIS/Draft MMP Amendment on December 8, 2009 and the EPA published the NOA of the Draft EIS/ Draft MMP Amendment on December 11, 2009, which initiated a 90-day public comment period. The comment period ended on March 12, 2010. The Federal agencies received 19 submittals containing comments from government and non-governmental organizations and private citizens. The comments in each submittal were identified, analyzed, and addressed in the Final EIS. The Draft EIS analyzed four transmission line route alternatives and disclosed impacts associated with these alternatives, including: Alternative A— the Proposed Action; Alternative B—a route that paralleled the existing 69 kV route through Bryce Canyon National Park; Alternative C—the Cedar Forks Southern Route; and the No Action Alternative. The Final EIS was an abbreviated EIS that summarized the impacts of combining portions of Alternatives A and C as the Agency Preferred Alternative, and responded to public comments. The BLM’s decision authorizes issuance of a right-of-way grant to Garkane Energy, Inc. for the Agency’s Preferred Alternative on BLM administered lands, as analyzed in the Final EIS.The U.S. Forest Service and PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 EPA published an NOA of the Final EIS/ Proposed MMP Amendment for public review and comment in the Federal Register on April 8, 2011. After publication of the Final EIS/Proposed MMP Amendment, there were no protests received on the MMP Amendment during the 30-day protest period beginning April 8, 2011, and ending on May 8, 2011, pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.5–2. The Utah Governor’s Office did not identify any inconsistencies between the Final EIS/ Proposed MMP Amendment and state or local plans, policies, and programs during the 60-day Governor’s Consistency Review, in accordance with planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3– 2(e). As a result of the Governor’s Consistency Review, no changes were made in preparing the Approved MMP Amendment. Any party adversely affected by the decision on the right-of-way application may appeal by October 14, 2011, pursuant to 43 CFR part 4 subpart E, and 43 CFR 2801.10. If you wish to file a petition for a stay of effectiveness of the right-of-way decision during the time your appeal is being reviewed by the Interior Board of Appeals, the petition for a stay must accompany your Notice of Appeal (43 CFR 4.21 or 2801.10). The appeal and petition for a stay, if requested, must be filed with the Utah State Director at BLM, Utah State Office, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84145–0155, by October 14, 2011. The appeal should state the specific decision(s) in the ROD which is being appealed. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR part 4, subpart E) for further appeal requirements. Jeff Rawson Associate State Director. [FR Doc. 2011–23485 Filed 9–13–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLMT926000–L19100000–BJ0000– LRCME0R03462] Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey; Montana Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of survey. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Montana State Office, Billings, Montana, on October 14, 2011. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56791-56792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23485]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUT0300000 L17110000 DT0000 24 1A]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Tropic To 
Hatch (Garkane) 138 kV Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement 
and the Approved Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management 
Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Tropic to Hatch (Garkane) 138 
kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
and the Approved Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management 
Plan (MMP) Amendment located in Garfield County, Utah. The Utah State 
Director signed the ROD on September 8, 2011, which constitutes the 
final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved MMP Amendment 
effective immediately. The ROD also indicates the BLM's intent to issue 
a right-of-way to Garkane Energy, Inc. (Applicant) to construct and 
maintain the transmission line.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/Approved MMP Amendment are available upon 
request from the BLM's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 
Office, 190 East Center

[[Page 56792]]

Kanab, Utah 84741, or via the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/grand_staircase-escalante.html; or from the Kanab Field 
Office, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 84741, or at the following Web 
site: https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/kanab/.
    Copies of the ROD/Approved MMP Amendment are available for public 
inspection at either BLM office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Betenson, Assistant Grand 
Staircase-Escalante National Monument Manager for Planning and Support 
Services, telephone (435) 644-4309; 190 East Center, Kanab, Utah 84741; 
e-mail Matt_Betenson@blm.gov. You may also contact Harry Barber, Kanab 
Field Office Manager, telephone (435) 644-4600; 190 East Center, Kanab, 
Utah 84741; e-mail Harry_Barber@blm.gov.
    Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individuals during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After extensive environmental analysis, 
collaborative public processes, consideration of public comments, and 
application of pertinent Federal laws and policies, it is the decision 
of the BLM to issue a right-of-way grant to Garkane Energy, Inc. for 
the construction, operation, and maintenance of approximately 7.1 miles 
of a 138 kV transmission line and access routes for the construction of 
the project across public lands administered by the Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument Office (3.7 miles) and the Kanab Field 
Office (3.4 miles); and to amend the Grand Staircase-Escalante National 
MMP to provide for such action. The right-of-way grant will authorize 
the use of public lands for the project for a term of 30 years, which 
is subject to renewal. The Approved MMP Amendment allows for the 
issuance of this right-of-way grant by changing a zoning decision in 
the MMP from Primitive Zone to a 300-foot-wide Passage Zone to 
accommodate an existing transmission line and route, as well as the 
Applicant's proposed power line. The MMP Amendment also changes the 
Visual Resource Management classification from a Class II to a Class 
III to allow for additional modifications to the landscape within the 
300-foot-wide zone. Amendment of the MMP and granting the right-of-way 
will have minimal effect on the landforms, cultural features, or other 
important values specifically enumerated in the Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument Proclamation, as they would be minimized 
through implementation of mitigation described in the ROD. The U.S. 
Forest Service, Dixie National Forest, was the lead Federal agency for 
completion of the EIS, with the BLM and the National Park Service 
serving as cooperating agencies. The agencies sought participation from 
the public, tribes, and local, state, and Federal agencies throughout 
the EIS process. In addition to the 7.1 miles of power line located on 
public land, the proposal, in total, encompasses another 22.3 miles of 
power line that traverse U.S. Forest Service, private, and state lands. 
A separate ROD was issued by the U.S. Forest Service in April, 2011 for 
granting of the special use permit across U.S. Forest Service lands. 
The selected alternative avoids construction of the power line across 
National Park Service lands.
    The U.S. Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) each published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Draft MMP Amendment for public 
review and comment in the Federal Register. The U.S. Forest Service 
published the NOA of the Draft EIS/Draft MMP Amendment on December 8, 
2009 and the EPA published the NOA of the Draft EIS/Draft MMP Amendment 
on December 11, 2009, which initiated a 90-day public comment period. 
The comment period ended on March 12, 2010. The Federal agencies 
received 19 submittals containing comments from government and non-
governmental organizations and private citizens. The comments in each 
submittal were identified, analyzed, and addressed in the Final EIS. 
The Draft EIS analyzed four transmission line route alternatives and 
disclosed impacts associated with these alternatives, including: 
Alternative A--the Proposed Action; Alternative B--a route that 
paralleled the existing 69 kV route through Bryce Canyon National Park; 
Alternative C--the Cedar Forks Southern Route; and the No Action 
Alternative. The Final EIS was an abbreviated EIS that summarized the 
impacts of combining portions of Alternatives A and C as the Agency 
Preferred Alternative, and responded to public comments. The BLM's 
decision authorizes issuance of a right-of-way grant to Garkane Energy, 
Inc. for the Agency's Preferred Alternative on BLM administered lands, 
as analyzed in the Final EIS.The U.S. Forest Service and EPA published 
an NOA of the Final EIS/Proposed MMP Amendment for public review and 
comment in the Federal Register on April 8, 2011. After publication of 
the Final EIS/Proposed MMP Amendment, there were no protests received 
on the MMP Amendment during the 30-day protest period beginning April 
8, 2011, and ending on May 8, 2011, pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.5-2. The 
Utah Governor's Office did not identify any inconsistencies between the 
Final EIS/Proposed MMP Amendment and state or local plans, policies, 
and programs during the 60-day Governor's Consistency Review, in 
accordance with planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e). As a result 
of the Governor's Consistency Review, no changes were made in preparing 
the Approved MMP Amendment.
    Any party adversely affected by the decision on the right-of-way 
application may appeal by October 14, 2011, pursuant to 43 CFR part 4 
subpart E, and 43 CFR 2801.10. If you wish to file a petition for a 
stay of effectiveness of the right-of-way decision during the time your 
appeal is being reviewed by the Interior Board of Appeals, the petition 
for a stay must accompany your Notice of Appeal (43 CFR 4.21 or 
2801.10). The appeal and petition for a stay, if requested, must be 
filed with the Utah State Director at BLM, Utah State Office, P.O. Box 
45155, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84145-0155, by October 14, 2011. The 
appeal should state the specific decision(s) in the ROD which is being 
appealed. Please consult the appropriate regulations (43 CFR part 4, 
subpart E) for further appeal requirements.

Jeff Rawson
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-23485 Filed 9-13-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P

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