Notice of Availability of the Northern Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Final Environmental Impact Statement, 66747-66748 [2011-27752]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2011 / Notices
Findings and Certifications
Environmental Impact
In accordance with 40 CFR 1508.4 of
the regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality and 24 CFR
50.19(c)(6) of HUD’s regulations, the
policies and procedures contained in
this notice provide for the establishment
of fiscal requirements or procedures that
do not constitute a development
decision affecting the physical
condition of specific project areas or
building sites. Therefore, they are
categorically excluded from the
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act, except for
extraordinary circumstances, and no
Finding of No Significant Impact is
required.
Federalism Impact
Executive Order 13132 (entitled
‘‘Federalism’’) prohibits an agency from
publishing any policy document that
has federalism implications if the
document either imposes substantial
direct compliance costs on state and
local governments and is not required
by statute, or the document preempts
state law, unless the agency meets the
consultation and funding requirements
of section 6 of the executive order. This
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required under Section 42 of the IRC, as
amended, for the use by political
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the LIHTC. This notice also details the
technical methodology used in making
such designations. As a result, this
notice is not subject to review under the
order.
Dated: October 20, 2011.
Raphael W. Bostic,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development
and Research.
[FR Doc. 2011–27817 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZ910000.L14300000.ET0000.
LXSIURAM0000 241A; AZA–35138]
wreier-aviles on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Notice of Availability of the Northern
Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Final
Environmental Impact Statement
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:47 Oct 26, 2011
Jkt 226001
Act (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Northern Arizona Proposed
Withdrawal and by this notice is
announcing its availability.
DATES: The Final EIS will be distributed
and made available to the public for a
minimum of 30 days following the
publication of a Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register by the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). As the decision maker in this
matter, the Secretary of the Interior will
not issue a final decision on the
proposal for a minimum of 30 days after
the date that the EPA publishes this
notice in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Northern
Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Final EIS
are available for public inspection at:
Bureau of Land Management, Arizona
Strip District Office, 345 East Riverside
Drive, St. George, Utah 84790; Bureau of
Land Management, Arizona State Office,
One North Central Avenue, Suite 800,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004–4427; and U.S.
Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest,
800 South 6th Street, Williams, Arizona
86046. Interested persons may also
review the Final EIS on the Internet at
https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/
mining/timeout.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris Horyza, Project Manager, Bureau
of Land Management, Arizona State
Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite
800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004–4427,
(602) 417–9446, e-mail
chris_horyza@blm.gov. Persons who use
a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
(800) 877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The service is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July
21, 2009, the U.S. Department of the
Interior published notice of a proposal
to withdraw (Proposed Withdrawal)
approximately 1 million acres of Federal
locatable minerals in northern Arizona
from location and entry under the
Mining Law of 1872, (30 U.S.C. 22–54)
(Mining Law), subject to valid existing
rights, by the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary).
Under Section 204 of FLPMA,
publication of the Federal Register
notice of the Proposed Withdrawal had
the effect of segregating the lands
involved for up to 2 years from the
location and entry of new mining
claims, subject to valid existing rights.
PO 00000
Frm 00066
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
66747
For detailed information pertaining to
the location of the Proposed
Withdrawal, refer to the map dated
August 11, 2011, posted on the Internet
at: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/
mining/timeout.html. This map is also
on file at the Arizona Strip District
Office at the address above and can be
viewed there upon request. Detailed
legal descriptions of each withdrawal
alternative are included as Appendix C
in the Northern Arizona Proposed
Withdrawal Final EIS. On June 27, 2011,
the Secretary published a Public Land
Order withdrawing, under the
Secretary’s emergency withdrawal
authority in Section 204(e) of FLPMA,
the same Federal lands from location
and entry under the Mining Law,
subject to valid existing rights. The
emergency withdrawal was effective on
July 21, 2011, and expires on January
20, 2012. The BLM has completed an
Environmental Analysis of the Proposed
Withdrawal in accordance with NEPA.
The Proposed Action analyzed in the
Final EIS is the withdrawal of 1,006,545
acres of Federal lands near Grand
Canyon National Park from location and
entry under the Mining Law for a period
of 20 years. This has also been selected
as the Preferred Alternative. The
purpose of the action is to protect the
natural, cultural, and social resources in
the Grand Canyon watershed from the
possible adverse effects of the
reasonably foreseeable locatable mineral
exploration and mining that could occur
in the area proposed for withdrawal.
The need for action is based on a
history of hardrock mining activities in
the Grand Canyon watershed dating
back to the 1860s. In some cases, these
mining activities have left lasting
impacts within the watershed, primarily
associated with older copper and
uranium mines. These historical
impacts and the recent increase in the
number and extent of mining claims
located in the area, particularly for
uranium, have raised concerns that
future hardrock mining activities in the
Grand Canyon watershed could result in
adverse effects to resources.
Public scoping for this project began
on August 26, 2009 (74 FR 43152), with
publication of a Notice of Intent in the
Federal Register, and closed on October
30, 2009. During that time, 83,525
comment letters were received.
Important issues identified during
scoping include:
• Change in geologic conditions and
availability of uranium resources;
• Dewatering of perched aquifers and
changes in water availability in deep
aquifers;
• Contamination of both ground and
surface water;
E:\FR\FM\27OCN1.SGM
27OCN1
wreier-aviles on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
66748
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 208 / Thursday, October 27, 2011 / Notices
• Effects to endangered, threatened,
and special status plants and animal
species;
• Visual intrusions to Grand Canyon
National Park visitors;
• Noise disruptions to Grand Canyon
National Park visitors;
• Effects to cultural resources and
Traditional Cultural Properties;
• Potential public health effects due
to exposure to uranium; and
• Effects to the local, regional, or
national economy.
A Draft EIS was released for public
review and comment on February 18,
2011. The Draft EIS considered these
issues in its analysis of four alternatives.
Alternative A was the No Action
Alternative, under which no lands
would be withdrawn and mineral
exploration and mining would continue
throughout the Proposed Withdrawal
area in accordance with existing laws,
regulations, and land use plans.
Alternative B, which was the Proposed
Action, was a withdrawal for 20 years,
subject to valid existing rights, of
approximately 1,010,776 acres in three
parcels from location and entry under
the 1872 Mining Law, but not the
mineral leasing, geothermal leasing,
mineral materials, or public land laws.
Two of the three parcels are north of
Grand Canyon National Park on BLMmanaged Arizona Strip lands and the
North Kaibab Ranger District of the
Kaibab National Forest, and the
remaining parcel is south of the Grand
Canyon on the Tusayan Ranger District
of the Kaibab National Forest.
Alternative C was a withdrawal of
approximately 652,986 acres from the
1872 Mining Law for 20 years, subject
to valid existing rights. This alternative
would withdraw the largest contiguous
area identified on resource location
maps with concentrations of cultural,
hydrologic, recreational, visual, and
biological resources which could be
adversely affected by locatable mineral
exploration and mining. As with the
Proposed Action, Alternative C would
not prevent any other development
under the mineral leasing, geothermal
leasing, mineral materials, or public
land laws. Alternative D was a
withdrawal of 300,681 acres from the
1872 Mining Law for 20 years, subject
to valid existing rights. This alternative
would withdraw the contiguous area
identified on resource location maps
where there is the highest concentration
of overlapping cultural, hydrologic,
recreational, visual, and biological
resources, which could be adversely
affected by locatable mineral
exploration and mining. As with the
Proposed Action, Alternative D would
not prevent any other development
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:47 Oct 26, 2011
Jkt 226001
under the mineral leasing, geothermal
leasing, mineral materials, or public
land laws.
The Draft EIS analyzed the potential
effects of the alternatives on resources
within, and in the vicinity of, the
potential withdrawal areas as well as
within, and in the vicinity of, the Grand
Canyon National Park. Analysis was
conducted for potential effects to air
quality, geology and minerals, ground
and surface water resources, soil
resources, vegetation resources, fish and
wildlife in general, special status plant
and animal species, including those
listed as threatened or endangered,
visual resources, soundscapes, cultural
resources, American Indian resources,
wilderness, recreation, social, and
economic conditions.
The public comment period was
originally set for 45 days, and was
subsequently extended for 30 days,
resulting in a 75-day comment period
concluding on May 4, 2011. During the
public comment period, 296,339
comment submittals were received.
From these comment letters,
approximately 1,400 individual
substantive comments were extracted.
In accordance with Council on
Environmental Quality regulations (40
CFR 1503.4) and BLM procedures in
Handbook H–1790–1, substantive public
comments have been responded to in
the Final EIS and appropriate revisions
have been made. Chapter 5 of the Final
EIS contains details of the public review
and comment process and responses to
substantive comments received during
the public comment period.
Revisions to the EIS from Draft to
Final were primarily editorial or to
improve the document’s clarity.
Changes to the EIS Include
• Identification of the Proposed
Action as the Preferred Alternative;
• An adjustment to the boundary of
the North Parcel to exclude the Kanab
Creek Wilderness Area, which is already
withdrawn by Congress. Acreage
calculations were adjusted in each
withdrawal alternative to account for
the boundary change. In the Final EIS,
the North Parcel has been adjusted to
549,995 acres that would be withdrawn
in Alternative B, 351,965 acres that
would be withdrawn in Alternative C,
and 102,581 acres that would be
withdrawn in Alternative D;
• An adjustment to the South Parcel
Boundary excluding 40 acres within the
Navajo Nation that was erroneously
included. In addition, more current
Federal mineral data may also cause
adjusted acreage figures. Acreage
calculations were adjusted for
Alternative B in the Final EIS to 322,096
PO 00000
Frm 00067
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
acres that would be withdrawn, 206,603
acres that would be withdrawn in
Alternative C, and 133,273 acres that
would be withdrawn in Alternative D;
• Due to the above boundary changes
and acreage recalculations, the total
acres of Federal minerals that would be
withdrawn in each withdrawal
alternative has changed. Alternative B
would withdraw a total of 1,006,545,
Alternative C would withdraw a total of
648,802, and Alternative D would
withdraw a total of 292,086 acres;
• Detailed legal descriptions of the
withdrawal alternatives by Parcel have
been included in Appendix C;
• Numerous edits to improve the
clarity of the analysis; and
• A further refined economic
analysis.
Twelve agencies and two American
Indian tribes have valid Cooperating
Agency agreements with the BLM,
including the U.S. Forest Service,
Kaibab National Forest; National Park
Service, Grand Canyon National Park;
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S.
Geological Survey; Arizona Game and
Fish Department; Arizona Geological
Survey; Arizona State Lands
Department; Hualapai Tribe; Kaibab
Band of Paiute Indians; Coconino
County, Arizona; Mohave County,
Arizona; Kane County, Utah; San Juan
County, Utah; and Washington County,
Utah.
Comments on the Draft EIS received
from the public and internal review
were considered and incorporated as
appropriate into the Final EIS. Public
comments resulted in the addition of
clarifying text and some refined
analysis.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR
1506.10, 43 CFR 2091.5.
Raymond Suazo,
Acting Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011–27752 Filed 10–26–11; 8:45 am]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation Nos. 701–TA–481 and 731–
TA–1190 (Preliminary)]
Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells
and Modules From China; Institution of
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ACTION: Notice.
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notice of the institution of investigations
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27OCN1.SGM
27OCN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66747-66748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27752]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZ910000.L14300000.ET0000.LXSIURAM0000 241A; AZA-35138]
Notice of Availability of the Northern Arizona Proposed
Withdrawal Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Northern Arizona Proposed
Withdrawal and by this notice is announcing its availability.
DATES: The Final EIS will be distributed and made available to the
public for a minimum of 30 days following the publication of a Notice
of Availability in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). As the decision maker in this matter, the Secretary of
the Interior will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a
minimum of 30 days after the date that the EPA publishes this notice in
the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Northern Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Final EIS
are available for public inspection at: Bureau of Land Management,
Arizona Strip District Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George,
Utah 84790; Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Office, One North
Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4427; and U.S. Forest
Service, Kaibab National Forest, 800 South 6th Street, Williams,
Arizona 86046. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on the
Internet at https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/mining/timeout.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Horyza, Project Manager, Bureau
of Land Management, Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue,
Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4427, (602) 417-9446, e-mail chris_horyza@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
(800) 877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business
hours. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave
a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 21, 2009, the U.S. Department of the
Interior published notice of a proposal to withdraw (Proposed
Withdrawal) approximately 1 million acres of Federal locatable minerals
in northern Arizona from location and entry under the Mining Law of
1872, (30 U.S.C. 22-54) (Mining Law), subject to valid existing rights,
by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary).
Under Section 204 of FLPMA, publication of the Federal Register
notice of the Proposed Withdrawal had the effect of segregating the
lands involved for up to 2 years from the location and entry of new
mining claims, subject to valid existing rights. For detailed
information pertaining to the location of the Proposed Withdrawal,
refer to the map dated August 11, 2011, posted on the Internet at:
https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/mining/timeout.html. This map is also
on file at the Arizona Strip District Office at the address above and
can be viewed there upon request. Detailed legal descriptions of each
withdrawal alternative are included as Appendix C in the Northern
Arizona Proposed Withdrawal Final EIS. On June 27, 2011, the Secretary
published a Public Land Order withdrawing, under the Secretary's
emergency withdrawal authority in Section 204(e) of FLPMA, the same
Federal lands from location and entry under the Mining Law, subject to
valid existing rights. The emergency withdrawal was effective on July
21, 2011, and expires on January 20, 2012. The BLM has completed an
Environmental Analysis of the Proposed Withdrawal in accordance with
NEPA.
The Proposed Action analyzed in the Final EIS is the withdrawal of
1,006,545 acres of Federal lands near Grand Canyon National Park from
location and entry under the Mining Law for a period of 20 years. This
has also been selected as the Preferred Alternative. The purpose of the
action is to protect the natural, cultural, and social resources in the
Grand Canyon watershed from the possible adverse effects of the
reasonably foreseeable locatable mineral exploration and mining that
could occur in the area proposed for withdrawal.
The need for action is based on a history of hardrock mining
activities in the Grand Canyon watershed dating back to the 1860s. In
some cases, these mining activities have left lasting impacts within
the watershed, primarily associated with older copper and uranium
mines. These historical impacts and the recent increase in the number
and extent of mining claims located in the area, particularly for
uranium, have raised concerns that future hardrock mining activities in
the Grand Canyon watershed could result in adverse effects to
resources.
Public scoping for this project began on August 26, 2009 (74 FR
43152), with publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register,
and closed on October 30, 2009. During that time, 83,525 comment
letters were received. Important issues identified during scoping
include:
Change in geologic conditions and availability of uranium
resources;
Dewatering of perched aquifers and changes in water
availability in deep aquifers;
Contamination of both ground and surface water;
[[Page 66748]]
Effects to endangered, threatened, and special status
plants and animal species;
Visual intrusions to Grand Canyon National Park visitors;
Noise disruptions to Grand Canyon National Park visitors;
Effects to cultural resources and Traditional Cultural
Properties;
Potential public health effects due to exposure to
uranium; and
Effects to the local, regional, or national economy.
A Draft EIS was released for public review and comment on February
18, 2011. The Draft EIS considered these issues in its analysis of four
alternatives. Alternative A was the No Action Alternative, under which
no lands would be withdrawn and mineral exploration and mining would
continue throughout the Proposed Withdrawal area in accordance with
existing laws, regulations, and land use plans. Alternative B, which
was the Proposed Action, was a withdrawal for 20 years, subject to
valid existing rights, of approximately 1,010,776 acres in three
parcels from location and entry under the 1872 Mining Law, but not the
mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, mineral materials, or public land
laws. Two of the three parcels are north of Grand Canyon National Park
on BLM-managed Arizona Strip lands and the North Kaibab Ranger District
of the Kaibab National Forest, and the remaining parcel is south of the
Grand Canyon on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National
Forest. Alternative C was a withdrawal of approximately 652,986 acres
from the 1872 Mining Law for 20 years, subject to valid existing
rights. This alternative would withdraw the largest contiguous area
identified on resource location maps with concentrations of cultural,
hydrologic, recreational, visual, and biological resources which could
be adversely affected by locatable mineral exploration and mining. As
with the Proposed Action, Alternative C would not prevent any other
development under the mineral leasing, geothermal leasing, mineral
materials, or public land laws. Alternative D was a withdrawal of
300,681 acres from the 1872 Mining Law for 20 years, subject to valid
existing rights. This alternative would withdraw the contiguous area
identified on resource location maps where there is the highest
concentration of overlapping cultural, hydrologic, recreational,
visual, and biological resources, which could be adversely affected by
locatable mineral exploration and mining. As with the Proposed Action,
Alternative D would not prevent any other development under the mineral
leasing, geothermal leasing, mineral materials, or public land laws.
The Draft EIS analyzed the potential effects of the alternatives on
resources within, and in the vicinity of, the potential withdrawal
areas as well as within, and in the vicinity of, the Grand Canyon
National Park. Analysis was conducted for potential effects to air
quality, geology and minerals, ground and surface water resources, soil
resources, vegetation resources, fish and wildlife in general, special
status plant and animal species, including those listed as threatened
or endangered, visual resources, soundscapes, cultural resources,
American Indian resources, wilderness, recreation, social, and economic
conditions.
The public comment period was originally set for 45 days, and was
subsequently extended for 30 days, resulting in a 75-day comment period
concluding on May 4, 2011. During the public comment period, 296,339
comment submittals were received. From these comment letters,
approximately 1,400 individual substantive comments were extracted.
In accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40
CFR 1503.4) and BLM procedures in Handbook H-1790-1, substantive public
comments have been responded to in the Final EIS and appropriate
revisions have been made. Chapter 5 of the Final EIS contains details
of the public review and comment process and responses to substantive
comments received during the public comment period.
Revisions to the EIS from Draft to Final were primarily editorial
or to improve the document's clarity.
Changes to the EIS Include
Identification of the Proposed Action as the Preferred
Alternative;
An adjustment to the boundary of the North Parcel to
exclude the Kanab Creek Wilderness Area, which is already withdrawn by
Congress. Acreage calculations were adjusted in each withdrawal
alternative to account for the boundary change. In the Final EIS, the
North Parcel has been adjusted to 549,995 acres that would be withdrawn
in Alternative B, 351,965 acres that would be withdrawn in Alternative
C, and 102,581 acres that would be withdrawn in Alternative D;
An adjustment to the South Parcel Boundary excluding 40
acres within the Navajo Nation that was erroneously included. In
addition, more current Federal mineral data may also cause adjusted
acreage figures. Acreage calculations were adjusted for Alternative B
in the Final EIS to 322,096 acres that would be withdrawn, 206,603
acres that would be withdrawn in Alternative C, and 133,273 acres that
would be withdrawn in Alternative D;
Due to the above boundary changes and acreage
recalculations, the total acres of Federal minerals that would be
withdrawn in each withdrawal alternative has changed. Alternative B
would withdraw a total of 1,006,545, Alternative C would withdraw a
total of 648,802, and Alternative D would withdraw a total of 292,086
acres;
Detailed legal descriptions of the withdrawal alternatives
by Parcel have been included in Appendix C;
Numerous edits to improve the clarity of the analysis; and
A further refined economic analysis.
Twelve agencies and two American Indian tribes have valid
Cooperating Agency agreements with the BLM, including the U.S. Forest
Service, Kaibab National Forest; National Park Service, Grand Canyon
National Park; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Geological Survey;
Arizona Game and Fish Department; Arizona Geological Survey; Arizona
State Lands Department; Hualapai Tribe; Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians;
Coconino County, Arizona; Mohave County, Arizona; Kane County, Utah;
San Juan County, Utah; and Washington County, Utah.
Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public and internal
review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final
EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and
some refined analysis.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 2091.5.
Raymond Suazo,
Acting Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-27752 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P