Notice of Amendment to the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, Including Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, and San Diego Counties; and Possible Land Use Plan Amendments, 20409-20411 [2012-8101]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 4, 2012 / Notices
Conservation Needs, which are
announced annually by AFWA at the
same time as its request for proposals.
Further, applicants must provide
certification that no activities conducted
under a Multistate Conservation grant
will promote or encourage opposition to
regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife
or to regulated angling or taking of fish.
Eligible project proposals are
reviewed and ranked by AFWA
Committees and interested
nongovernmental organizations that
represent conservation organizations,
sportsmen’s and women’s organizations,
and industries that support or promote
fishing, hunting, trapping, recreational
shooting, bowhunting, or archery.
AFWA’s Committee on National Grants
recommends a final list of priority
projects to the directors of State fish and
wildlife agencies for their approval by
20409
majority vote. By statute, AFWA then
must transmit the final approved list to
the FWS for funding under the
Multistate Conservation Grant program
by October 1 of the fiscal year.
This year, we received a list of 12
recommended projects from AFWA. We
recommend all of them for funding in
fiscal year 2012. The list follows:
MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM—FY 2012 CYCLE RECOMMENDED PROJECTS
PR funding 1
DJ funding 2
Total 2012
grant request
ID
Title
Submitter
12–034 ......
Multistate Conservation Grant Program
Coordination.
Coordination of Farm Bill Program Implementation to Optimize Fish and Wildlife
Benefits to the States.
Coordination of the Industry, Federal and
State Agency Coalition.
State Fish and Wildlife Agency Coordination and Administration.
State Fish and Wildlife Agency Director
Travel Coordination and Administration.
2011 Economic Impacts of Sportfishing ....
The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Program 75th Anniversary.
Investigating Factors Related to Hunting
and Fishing License Sales Increases.
Longitudinal Evaluation of Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Recruitment/Retention Programs.
Organizational Development Training for
Fish Habitat Partnerships to Increase
Capacity.
Trailblazer Adventure Program ..................
AFWA ...........................................
$145,260.00
$145,260.00
$290,520.00
AFWA ...........................................
156,600.00
52,200.00
208,800.00
AFWA ...........................................
152,775.00
50,925.00
203,700.00
AFWA ...........................................
299,359.80
299,359.80
598,719.60
AFWA ...........................................
64,075.00
64,075.00
128,150.00
American Sportfishing Association
Wildlife Management Institute ......
0.0
50,000.00
82,503.00
50,000.00
82,503.00
100,000.00
American Sportfishing Association
92,886.15
92,886.15
185,772.30
173,172.38
173,172.38
346,344.76
National Fish Habitat Action Plan
Board.
0
100,000.00
100,000.00
U.S. Sportsman Alliance Foundation.
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission.
40,000.00
40,000.00
80,000.00
0
261,440.38
261,440.38
1,174,128.33
1,411,821.71
2,585,950.04
12–001 ......
12–008 ......
12–028 ......
12–029 ......
12–010 ......
12–022 ......
12–011 ......
12–017 ......
12–033 ......
12–021 ......
12–030 ......
1 PR
2 DJ
Conserving Fish Habitat from Whitewater
to Bluewater.
National Wild Turkey Federation
Funding: Pitman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds.
Funding: Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration funds.
Dated: December 28, 2011.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCA9300000 L13400000.DS0000]
[FR Doc. 2012–7998 Filed 4–3–12; 8:45 am]
Notice of Amendment to the Notice of
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Proposed
Desert Renewable Energy
Conservation Plan, Including Kern, Los
Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo,
Riverside, Imperial, and San Diego
Counties; and Possible Land Use Plan
Amendments
emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
SUMMARY:
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Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Central California District, Sacramento,
California and California Desert District,
Moreno Valley, California intend to
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) which may include
amendments to the California Desert
Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, Bishop
Resource Management Plan (RMP),
Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern
San Diego County RMP for the areas that
are within the planning boundary of the
proposed Desert Renewable Energy
Conservation Plan (DRECP). These
potential plan amendments will be
analyzed in the DRECP Draft EIS and
CDCA Plan Amendment (PA), as
noticed in the Federal Register on
November 20, 2009 (74 FR 60291) and
August 29, 2011 (76 FR 45606). By this
notice, the BLM is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
20410
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 65 / Wednesday, April 4, 2012 / Notices
solicit public comments and identify
issues related to the proposed RMP
amendments.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS and possible
RMP amendments. Comments on issues
may be submitted in writing until May
4, 2012. In order to be included in the
Draft EIS/PA, all comments must be
received prior to the close of the scoping
period. We will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
upon publication of the Draft EIS/PA.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
in writing on issues and planning
criteria related to the Bishop, Caliente/
Bakersfield, or Eastern San Diego plan
amendments as addressed in the DRECP
Draft EIS/PA by any of the following
methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/
en/fo/cdd.html.
• Email: DRECP@blm.gov or
docket@energy.state.ca.us (include
‘‘Docket No. 09–RENEW EO–01/
Scoping’’ in the subject line).
• Fax: (916) 978–4657 or (916) 654–
4421 (Attn: Kristy Chew).
• Mail: ATTN: Vicki Campbell,
DRECP Program Manager, BLM
California State Office, 2800 Cottage
Way, Suite W–1623, Sacramento,
California 95825, or California Energy
Commission, Dockets Office, MS–4,
Docket No. 09–RENEW E0–01, Scoping
Comments, 1516 Ninth St., Sacramento
California 95814–5512.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the BLM California
State Office (see ADDRESSES above);
BLM California Desert District office,
22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos,
Moreno Valley, California 92553–9046;
BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801
Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California
93308; or the BLM Bishop Field Office,
351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop,
California 93514.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information and/or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact
Vicki Campbell, DRECP Program
Manager, telephone (916) 978–4320;
address BLM California State Office,
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W–1623,
Sacramento, California 95825; email
DRECP@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 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 BLM,
along with the California Department of
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15:28 Apr 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
Fish and Game, the California Energy
Commission, and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service propose to amend the
CDCA Plan, Bishop RMP, Caliente/
Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego
RMP within the DRECP planning area.
The DRECP will advance State and
Federal conservation goals in the desert
regions of California while also
facilitating the timely permitting of
renewable energy projects under
applicable State and Federal laws, and
is intended to complement the Solar
Programmatic EIS, which is currently
under environmental review as well.
Thus far, the agencies have identified
the need to: provide conservation and
management of identified species in the
planning area, along with the natural
communities and ecosystems that
support these species, build on the
Competitive Renewable Energy Zones
identified by the State’s Renewable
Energy Transmission Initiative, while
identifying the most appropriate
locations in the planning area for
development of utility scale renewable
energy projects that will not burden
existing resources, standardize
mitigation and compensation
requirements for energy activities in the
planning area, and to streamline the
permitting process of energy projects
that results in greater conservation
values than current methods.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives for the RMP areas and to
guide the process for developing the
Draft EIS/PA. The BLM has identified
the following preliminary issues: special
status species, mitigation measures for
special status species, vegetation
communities, cultural resources, special
area designations, and areas of high
potential for renewable energy
development. These issues along with
interagency guidance and cooperation
have helped frame preliminary planning
criteria, which will work to define the
scope of the planning area. These
criteria include:
• The plan amendments will be
completed in compliance with FLPMA,
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal
law, implementing regulations,
Executive Orders, Secretarial Orders,
and management policies of the
Department of Interior and the BLM.
• The plan amendment will recognize
BLM’s responsibility to manage for
multiple use and sustained yield
throughout the planning area.
• Although the plan amendments will
only apply to BLM-managed lands, the
BLM will develop and analyze in its
range of alternatives, potential land use
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Sfmt 4703
plan decisions that address a larger,
landscape context, which will include
considerations of private lands.
• The California Desert Conservation
Area Plan Amendment will recognize
the unique values and resources in the
California Desert, as found by Congress
in Sec. 601 of FLPMA.
• The plan amendments will be
consistent with the California Natural
Communities Conservation Planning
Act, to the extent that the decisions
reached in the NCCP are consistent with
Federal law, regulation, and BLM
policies regarding management of
public lands.
• The plan amendment will comply
with the Memorandums of
Understanding between the Department
of the Interior (including those
agreements signed by BLM–CA) and the
State of California (including those
agreements signed by state agencies and
commissions) and the DRECP Planning
Agreement, to the extent that the
direction in those documents is
consistent with Federal law, regulation,
and BLM policies regarding the
management public lands.
• Native American Tribal
consultation will be conducted in
accordance with Federal law,
regulation, and policy, and Tribal
concerns will be given due
consideration.
• Plan amendment decisions will
strive to be compatible with the existing
plans and policies of adjacent local,
state, tribal, and federal agencies, or
with changes to those policies and plans
contemplated as part of the DRECP, as
long as the decisions are in conformance
with Federal law, regulation, and BLM
policies on management of public lands.
Authorization of this proposal will
require amendments of the CDCA Plan,
Bishop RMP, Caliente/Bakersfield RMP,
and Eastern San Diego RMP. By this
notice, the BLM is complying with
requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c) to
notify the public of potential
amendments to land use plans
predicated on the findings of the
environmental review process. The BLM
is integrating the land use plan
amendment process with the NEPA
process for this project.
The BLM will use and coordinate the
NEPA commenting process to help
fulfill the public involvement process
under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C.
470(f)) as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal
consultations will be conducted in
accordance with policy, and Tribal
concerns will be given due
consideration, including potential
impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal,
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
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emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
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state, and local agencies, along with
tribes and 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. Before including
your address, phone number, email
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.
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, and will place them into one of
three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan
amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan
amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation
in the Draft RMP/Draft 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 plan. 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 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, outdoor recreation,
paleontology, archaeology, wildlife,
lands and realty, hydrology, soils,
sociology and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–8101 Filed 4–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
[LLNM930000 L51010000.ER0000
LVRWG11G0790 NMNM124104]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Southline Transmission
Line Project in New Mexico and
Arizona (DOE/EIS–0474) and Possible
Land Use Plan Amendments
Bureau of Land Management,
U.S. Department of the Interior; Western
Area Power Administration, U.S.
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las
Cruces District Office, Las Cruces, New
Mexico, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
analyzing the impacts of the proposed
Southline Transmission Line Project
(Project), a 345-kilovolt (kV) and 230-kV
transmission line, and addressing
associated potential land use plan
amendments. This notice announces the
beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify
issues. Western Area Power
Administration (Western) is a joint lead
agency with BLM for preparing the EIS.
Western is a power-marketing agency
within the Department of Energy (DOE)
and is proposing to participate in the
Project with the applicant, Southline
Transmission, LLC (Southline).
DATES: This notice initiates a 60-day
public scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues,
opportunities, and concerns that should
be considered in the preparation of a
Draft EIS. During the scoping process,
the BLM will also evaluate the need for
any land use plan amendments to any
of the affected Resource Management
Plans (RMPs). The scoping period will
end on June 4, 2012, or 15 days after the
date of the last public scoping meeting,
whichever is later. In order to ensure
consideration in the Draft EIS, all
comments must be received prior to the
close of the scoping period. The BLM
and Western will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
upon publication of the Draft EIS. The
public will be notified in advance of
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
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20411
future opportunities for participation as
the EIS is prepared.
To provide the public with an
opportunity to review the proposal and
project information, the BLM and
Western expect to hold six public
meetings at various locations in New
Mexico and Arizona during the public
scoping period. The BLM will announce
public scoping meetings through local
news media, newsletters, and posting on
the BLM Web site at https://
www.blm.gov/nm/southline at least 15
days prior to each meeting.
ADDRESSES: Comments related to the
proposed Project may be submitted by
any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/
southline.
Fax: (575) 525–4412.
Mail: BLM, Las Cruces District Office,
Southline Transmission Project,
Attention: Frances Martinez, Realty
Specialist, 1800 Marquess Street, Las
Cruces, New Mexico 88005.
Email: fmartine@blm.gov.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Las Cruces
District Office or on the above Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Hurshman, BLM National Project
Manager; telephone (970) 240–5345;
email: thurshma@blm.gov.
For information about Western’s
involvement, contact Mark Wieringa,
Western NEPA Document Manager;
telephone (800) 336–7288 or (720) 962–
7448; email: wieringa@wapa.gov. For
general information on DOE NEPA
(42 U.S.C. 4321–4347) review
procedures or on the status of a NEPA
review, contact Carol M. Borgstrom,
Director of NEPA Policy and
Compliance, GC–54, U.S. Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585–0119,
telephone (202) 586–4600 or toll free at
(800) 472–2756, fax (202) 586–7031.
People who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at (800) 877–8339 during normal
business hours to contact the BLM
Project Manager listed above. 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: Southline
has filed a right-of-way (ROW)
application with the BLM pursuant to
Title V of FLPMA proposing to
construct, operate, maintain, and
eventually decommission a highvoltage, alternating current electric
transmission line. The proposed Project
would consist of two segments. The first
segment would be the construction of a
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20409-20411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8101]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCA9300000 L13400000.DS0000]
Notice of Amendment to the Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Desert Renewable Energy
Conservation Plan, Including Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Inyo,
Riverside, Imperial, and San Diego Counties; and Possible Land Use Plan
Amendments
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Central California District, Sacramento, California and California
Desert District, Moreno Valley, California intend to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which may include amendments to
the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, Bishop Resource
Management Plan (RMP), Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego
County RMP for the areas that are within the planning boundary of the
proposed Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). These
potential plan amendments will be analyzed in the DRECP Draft EIS and
CDCA Plan Amendment (PA), as noticed in the Federal Register on
November 20, 2009 (74 FR 60291) and August 29, 2011 (76 FR 45606). By
this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process
to
[[Page 20410]]
solicit public comments and identify issues related to the proposed RMP
amendments.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS and
possible RMP amendments. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing
until May 4, 2012. In order to be included in the Draft EIS/PA, all
comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period. We
will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS/PA.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments in writing on issues and planning
criteria related to the Bishop, Caliente/Bakersfield, or Eastern San
Diego plan amendments as addressed in the DRECP Draft EIS/PA by any of
the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/cdd.html.
Email: DRECP@blm.gov or docket@energy.state.ca.us (include
``Docket No. 09-RENEW EO-01/Scoping'' in the subject line).
Fax: (916) 978-4657 or (916) 654-4421 (Attn: Kristy Chew).
Mail: ATTN: Vicki Campbell, DRECP Program Manager, BLM
California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento,
California 95825, or California Energy Commission, Dockets Office, MS-
4, Docket No. 09-RENEW E0-01, Scoping Comments, 1516 Ninth St.,
Sacramento California 95814-5512.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM
California State Office (see ADDRESSES above); BLM California Desert
District office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley,
California 92553-9046; BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus
Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308; or the BLM Bishop Field Office,
351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, California 93514.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Vicki Campbell, DRECP
Program Manager, telephone (916) 978-4320; address BLM California State
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, California 95825;
email DRECP@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 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 BLM, along with the California
Department of Fish and Game, the California Energy Commission, and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service propose to amend the CDCA Plan, Bishop
RMP, Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego RMP within the
DRECP planning area. The DRECP will advance State and Federal
conservation goals in the desert regions of California while also
facilitating the timely permitting of renewable energy projects under
applicable State and Federal laws, and is intended to complement the
Solar Programmatic EIS, which is currently under environmental review
as well. Thus far, the agencies have identified the need to: provide
conservation and management of identified species in the planning area,
along with the natural communities and ecosystems that support these
species, build on the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones identified by
the State's Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative, while identifying
the most appropriate locations in the planning area for development of
utility scale renewable energy projects that will not burden existing
resources, standardize mitigation and compensation requirements for
energy activities in the planning area, and to streamline the
permitting process of energy projects that results in greater
conservation values than current methods.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives for the RMP areas and to guide the process for
developing the Draft EIS/PA. The BLM has identified the following
preliminary issues: special status species, mitigation measures for
special status species, vegetation communities, cultural resources,
special area designations, and areas of high potential for renewable
energy development. These issues along with interagency guidance and
cooperation have helped frame preliminary planning criteria, which will
work to define the scope of the planning area. These criteria include:
The plan amendments will be completed in compliance with
FLPMA, NEPA, and all other relevant Federal law, implementing
regulations, Executive Orders, Secretarial Orders, and management
policies of the Department of Interior and the BLM.
The plan amendment will recognize BLM's responsibility to
manage for multiple use and sustained yield throughout the planning
area.
Although the plan amendments will only apply to BLM-
managed lands, the BLM will develop and analyze in its range of
alternatives, potential land use plan decisions that address a larger,
landscape context, which will include considerations of private lands.
The California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment
will recognize the unique values and resources in the California
Desert, as found by Congress in Sec. 601 of FLPMA.
The plan amendments will be consistent with the California
Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act, to the extent that the
decisions reached in the NCCP are consistent with Federal law,
regulation, and BLM policies regarding management of public lands.
The plan amendment will comply with the Memorandums of
Understanding between the Department of the Interior (including those
agreements signed by BLM-CA) and the State of California (including
those agreements signed by state agencies and commissions) and the
DRECP Planning Agreement, to the extent that the direction in those
documents is consistent with Federal law, regulation, and BLM policies
regarding the management public lands.
Native American Tribal consultation will be conducted in
accordance with Federal law, regulation, and policy, and Tribal
concerns will be given due consideration.
Plan amendment decisions will strive to be compatible with
the existing plans and policies of adjacent local, state, tribal, and
federal agencies, or with changes to those policies and plans
contemplated as part of the DRECP, as long as the decisions are in
conformance with Federal law, regulation, and BLM policies on
management of public lands.
Authorization of this proposal will require amendments of the CDCA
Plan, Bishop RMP, Caliente/Bakersfield RMP, and Eastern San Diego RMP.
By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land use
plans predicated on the findings of the environmental review process.
The BLM is integrating the land use plan amendment process with the
NEPA process for this project.
The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to help
fulfill the public involvement process under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f)) as provided for
in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal consultations will be
conducted in accordance with policy, and Tribal concerns will be given
due consideration, including potential impacts on Indian trust assets.
Federal,
[[Page 20411]]
state, and local agencies, along with tribes and 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. Before including your address, phone number, email
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.
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, and
will place them into one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft 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 plan. 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 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, outdoor recreation, paleontology,
archaeology, wildlife, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology
and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-8101 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P