Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for a Possible Land Use Plan Amendment To Provide for a Proposed Direct Land Sale in Blaine County, ID, 70162-70163 [2011-29171]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70162-70163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29171]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDT03000-L14300000.EU0000; IDI-35249]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for a 
Possible Land Use Plan Amendment To Provide for a Proposed Direct Land 
Sale in Blaine County, ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Twin 
Falls District, Shoshone Field Office, Shoshone, Idaho intends to 
prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) that will analyze the 
amendment of the 1981 Sun Valley Management Framework Plan, and by this 
notice 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 land 
use plan amendment and associated EA. Comments on issues may be 
submitted in writing until December 12, 2011. The date(s) and 
location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days 
in advance through local media, mailings to interested parties, and on 
the BLM Idaho Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/nepa.html. 
In order to be included in the EA, all comments must be received prior 
to the close of the 30 day 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 on issues and planning criteria related to the land 
use plan amendment should be addressed to Ruth A. Miller, BLM Shoshone 
Field Manager, 400 West F Street, Shoshone, Idaho 83352.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara Hagen, Realty Specialist, BLM 
Shoshone Field Office, telephone: (208) 732-7205; address: 400 West F 
Street, Shoshone, Idaho 83352. Please contact Tara Hagen to have your 
name added to our mailing list. 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 with the above individual. 
You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The plan amendment and associated EA will 
address a proposed land sale in Blaine County, Idaho. The adjacent 
private landowner, Point of Rocks Ranch, has submitted a proposal to 
the BLM to consider disposing of the following-described land by direct 
sale, in accordance with Sections 203 and 209 of the FLPMA, as amended, 
(43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1714) and implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 
2700, at no less that the appraised fair market value:

Boise Meridian

T. 1 S., R. 20 E.,
    Sec. 15, that portion of public land in the NW\1/4\SW\1/4\ lying 
south of the North Picabo Road.

    The area described contains approximately 3.4 acres in Blaine 
County.
    On October 26, 2010, BLM published a Notice of Realty Action 
proposing a direct sale of the above-described land, which segregated 
the land from appropriation under the public land laws, including the 
mining laws, except the sale provisions of the FLPMA. The segregative 
effect will terminate upon issuance of a patent, publication in the 
Federal Register of a termination of the segregation, or October 26, 
2012, unless extended by the BLM State Director in accordance with 43 
CFR 2711.1-2(d) prior to the termination date. As part of its 
consideration of the proposed direct sale of this land, BLM will 
consider whether the Sun Valley Management Framework Plan should be 
amended to address the sale. To the extent possible, this land use 
planning process will be integrated with the ongoing NEPA process for 
the proposed sale. This notice initiates the public scoping process for 
the plan amendment and associated EA.
    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 process for developing the EA. 
The public is invited to provide scoping comments on the issues that 
should be addressed in the preparation of the plan amendment, 
including: Lands, wildlife, migratory birds, recreation, wilderness, 
range, minerals, cultural resources, watershed/soils, threatened/
endangered species, and hazardous materials. The BLM will use an 
interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan amendment 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, forestry, outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, 
wildlife and fisheries, land and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology 
and economics.
    Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.

[[Page 70163]]

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 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:  40 CFR 1501.7, 1508.22, and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Ruth A. Miller,
Shoshone Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-29171 Filed 11-9-11; 8:45 am]
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