Notice of Availability of the Proposed Bakersfield Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, California, 52054-52055 [2012-21154]

Download as PDF 52054 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2012 / Notices subject to administrative appeal (43 CFR 4.410(a) (3)). Mike Pool, Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2012–21170 Filed 8–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAC06000.L16100000.DQ0000. LXSS095B0000] Notice of Availability of the Proposed Bakersfield Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, California Bureau of Land Management. Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bakersfield Field Office, California, and by this notice is announcing its availability. DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions must file the protest within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bakersfield Proposed RMP/Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, and local agencies, Native American tribes, and to other interested parties. Copies of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Bakersfield Field Office (3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308) and California State Office (2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825). Interested persons may also review the Proposed RMP/Final EIS on the Internet at: www.blm.gov/ca/bakersfield. All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following addresses: Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024–1383. Overnight Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, 20 M srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:39 Aug 27, 2012 Sue Porter, Planning & Environmental Coordinator, Bakersfield Field Office, telephone: 661–391–6022; address: Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308; email: cacalrmp@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 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 Proposed RMP/Final EIS addresses public land and resources managed by the Bakersfield Field Office in an eightcounty, 17-million-acre region of central California in Kings, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, Madera, eastern Fresno, and western Kern counties. Upon approval, this land use plan will replace the 1997 Caliente RMP and the 1984 Hollister RMP, as amended, and provide updated management decisions regarding recreation, transportation and access, renewable and traditional energy development, mineral resources, land use authorizations, livestock grazing, biological resources, special designations, lands with wilderness characteristics, and other resource uses and considerations on approximately 404,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of Federal mineral estate. The Approved RMP will apply only to the BLM-administered public lands and Federal mineral estate in the planning area. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS analyzes five management alternatives: • The No Action alternative (Alternative A) would continue current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 Hollister RMP, as amended. • The Proposed Plan (Alternative B) strives to balance resource conservation and ecosystem health with the production of commodities and public use of the land. • Alternative C emphasizes conserving cultural and natural resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring natural systems that are degraded. • Alternative D follows Alternative C in all aspects except with regard to livestock grazing. Alternative D would eliminate livestock grazing from BLM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 ACTION: Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003–3503. Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 managed lands in the planning area for the life of this land use plan. • Alternative E emphasizes the production of natural resources and commodities while emphasizing public use opportunities. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS would establish 18 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, totaling approximately 99,500 acres, to provide special management for the protection of relevant and important biological, cultural, geologic, and paleontological resource values. The proposed plan would also apply protective management to approximately 3,470 acres of lands with wilderness characteristics in six different areas. Public lands available for energy development, land use authorizations, livestock grazing, systems of designated travel routes, and other uses would be provided for under the proposed plan, which would delineate and, as necessary, apply limitations on these uses. In addition, management parameters and prescriptions would be applied to a variety of natural and cultural resources, including air and atmospheric values, water quality, special status plant and animal species, and other components of the biological, physical, and cultural environment. The land use planning process was initiated on March 4, 2008, through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register (73 FR 11661). A Notice of Availability of the Draft RMP/ Draft EIS was published on September 9, 2011, in the Federal Register (76 FR 55941) to announce a 90-day public review and comment period. During that period, the BLM held public openhouse meetings in Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, Lake Isabella, Three Rivers, Taft, and Prather to assist the public in their review of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS and to solicit their comments. The Draft RMP/Draft EIS was sent to multiple Federal, State, and local government agencies and interested parties and was made publicly available for viewing at the Bakersfield Field Office, the California State Office, various public libraries, and on the Internet. During the comment period, the Bakersfield Field Office received 274 written comment submissions from comment forms, which were completed during one of the public open-house meetings, as well as comment letters and emails. Each submission was carefully reviewed to identify substantive comments in accordance with the implementing regulations of NEPA (40 CFR 1503.4). Comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS received from the public and internal E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2012 / Notices BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and minor revisions, but did not significantly change the proposed land use plan decisions. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP/Final EIS may be found in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ letter of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the emailed or faxed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct emails to Brenda_Hudgens-Williams@blm.gov and faxed protests to the attention of the BLM protest coordinator at 202–245– 0028. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your protest to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, and 43 CFR 1610.5–2. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources. [FR Doc. 2012–21154 Filed 8–23–12; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 4500037644] Notice of Public Meeting: Resource Advisory Council to the Boise District, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:39 Aug 27, 2012 Jkt 226001 Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting as indicated below. The meeting will be held September 13, 2012, at the Boise District Office, located at 3948 S. Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and adjourning at 4:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend. A public comment period will be held. 52055 Dated: August 16, 2012. Meagan Conry, Acting District Manager. [FR Doc. 2012–21165 Filed 8–27–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marsha Buchanan, Supervisory Administrative Specialist and RAC Coordinator, BLM Boise District, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705, Telephone (208) 384–3364. The 15member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in southwestern Idaho. Items on the agenda include a report about the two field trips RAC Members attended. A report on the wildland fires within Boise District and the region will be provided. The RAC Members will be briefed on the status of the Gateway West Proposed Transmission Line project. An update on the Paradigm Project will be provided by the District’s Fuels Program, and the environmental impact statement for renewal of 25 grazing permits in western Owyhee County. Implementation of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, Subpart F–Owyhee Public Land Management will be reviewed. Each field manager will discuss progress being made on priority actions in their offices. Agenda items and location may change due to changing circumstances. The public may present written or oral comments to members of the Council. At each full RAC meeting, time is provided in the agenda for hearing public comments. Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and time available, the time for individual oral comments may be limited. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance should contact the BLM Coordinator as provided above. 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: PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–11022; 2200–1100– 665] Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and repatriation to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. SUMMARY: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region at the address below by September 27, 2012. ADDRESSES: Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd., SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, telephone (505) 842–3238. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and under the control of the Coconino National Forest that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001. This notice is published as part of the National Park Service’s administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native American cultural item(s). The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. DATES: E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52054-52055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21154]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAC06000.L16100000.DQ0000.LXSS095B0000]


Notice of Availability of the Proposed Bakersfield Resource 
Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared the Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bakersfield Field Office, 
California, and by this notice is announcing its availability.

DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the 
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the Proposed 
RMP/Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions must file the protest 
within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes its Notice of Availability of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS in 
the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bakersfield Proposed RMP/Final EIS have been 
sent to affected Federal, State, and local agencies, Native American 
tribes, and to other interested parties. Copies of the Proposed RMP/
Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Bakersfield Field 
Office (3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308) and 
California State Office (2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 
95825). Interested persons may also review the Proposed RMP/Final EIS 
on the Internet at: www.blm.gov/ca/bakersfield. All protests must be in 
writing and mailed to one of the following addresses:

Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 
71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383.
Overnight Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, 20 M 
Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003-3503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Porter, Planning & Environmental 
Coordinator, Bakersfield Field Office, telephone: 661-391-6022; 
address: Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, 
California 93308; email: cacalrmp@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 
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 Proposed RMP/Final EIS addresses public 
land and resources managed by the Bakersfield Field Office in an eight-
county, 17-million-acre region of central California in Kings, San Luis 
Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, Madera, eastern Fresno, and 
western Kern counties. Upon approval, this land use plan will replace 
the 1997 Caliente RMP and the 1984 Hollister RMP, as amended, and 
provide updated management decisions regarding recreation, 
transportation and access, renewable and traditional energy 
development, mineral resources, land use authorizations, livestock 
grazing, biological resources, special designations, lands with 
wilderness characteristics, and other resource uses and considerations 
on approximately 404,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of 
Federal mineral estate. The Approved RMP will apply only to the BLM-
administered public lands and Federal mineral estate in the planning 
area.
    The Proposed RMP/Final EIS analyzes five management alternatives:
     The No Action alternative (Alternative A) would continue 
current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 
Hollister RMP, as amended.
     The Proposed Plan (Alternative B) strives to balance 
resource conservation and ecosystem health with the production of 
commodities and public use of the land.
     Alternative C emphasizes conserving cultural and natural 
resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring 
natural systems that are degraded.
     Alternative D follows Alternative C in all aspects except 
with regard to livestock grazing. Alternative D would eliminate 
livestock grazing from BLM managed lands in the planning area for the 
life of this land use plan.
     Alternative E emphasizes the production of natural 
resources and commodities while emphasizing public use opportunities.

The Proposed RMP/Final EIS would establish 18 Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern, totaling approximately 99,500 acres, to provide 
special management for the protection of relevant and important 
biological, cultural, geologic, and paleontological resource values. 
The proposed plan would also apply protective management to 
approximately 3,470 acres of lands with wilderness characteristics in 
six different areas. Public lands available for energy development, 
land use authorizations, livestock grazing, systems of designated 
travel routes, and other uses would be provided for under the proposed 
plan, which would delineate and, as necessary, apply limitations on 
these uses. In addition, management parameters and prescriptions would 
be applied to a variety of natural and cultural resources, including 
air and atmospheric values, water quality, special status plant and 
animal species, and other components of the biological, physical, and 
cultural environment.
    The land use planning process was initiated on March 4, 2008, 
through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register (73 FR 
11661). A Notice of Availability of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS was 
published on September 9, 2011, in the Federal Register (76 FR 55941) 
to announce a 90-day public review and comment period. During that 
period, the BLM held public open-house meetings in Bakersfield, San 
Luis Obispo, Lake Isabella, Three Rivers, Taft, and Prather to assist 
the public in their review of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS and to solicit 
their comments. The Draft RMP/Draft EIS was sent to multiple Federal, 
State, and local government agencies and interested parties and was 
made publicly available for viewing at the Bakersfield Field Office, 
the California State Office, various public libraries, and on the 
Internet.
    During the comment period, the Bakersfield Field Office received 
274 written comment submissions from comment forms, which were 
completed during one of the public open-house meetings, as well as 
comment letters and emails. Each submission was carefully reviewed to 
identify substantive comments in accordance with the implementing 
regulations of NEPA (40 CFR 1503.4).
    Comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS received from the public and 
internal

[[Page 52055]]

BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the 
Proposed RMP/Final EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of 
clarifying text and minor revisions, but did not significantly change 
the proposed land use plan decisions.
    Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM 
regarding the Proposed RMP/Final EIS may be found in the ``Dear 
Reader'' letter of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2. 
All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, 
as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed and faxed protests 
will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also 
provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail 
postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, 
the BLM will consider the emailed or faxed protest as an advance copy 
and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM 
with such advance notification, please direct emails to Brenda_Hudgens-Williams@blm.gov and faxed protests to the attention of the BLM 
protest coordinator at 202-245-0028. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you can ask us in your protest to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2, and 43 
CFR 1610.5-2.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2012-21154 Filed 8-23-12; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P

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