Notice of Intent To Amend the Snake River Resource Management Plan for the Pinedale Field Office and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment; and Notice of Realty Action: Classification and Direct Sale of Public Land in Teton County, WY, 17227-17229 [2013-06331]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17227-17229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06331]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYD10000.L14300000.EU0000; WYW-161972; WYW-176935]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Snake River Resource Management 
Plan for the Pinedale Field Office and Prepare an Associated 
Environmental Assessment; and Notice of Realty Action: Classification 
and Direct Sale of Public Land in Teton County, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTIONS: Notice of Intent and Notice of Realty Action.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Pinedale Field Office, Pinedale, Wyoming, intends to prepare a Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental 
assessment (EA) for the Snake River RMP and by this notice is 
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues. Three parcels of public land in Teton 
County, Wyoming, are being classified as suitable for disposal under 
the provisions of Section 203 of FLPMA and are being proposed for 
direct sale at no less than the appraised fair market value.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment with the associated EA and segregates the three parcels from 
operation of the public land laws as described below. Comments 
regarding the proposed amendment, classification, or sale must be 
received by the BLM at the address below no later than May 6, 2013. The 
date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through local news media and newspapers. In 
order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the 45-day scoping period or 30 days after the 
last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the plan amendment and realty action by any of the following 
methods:
     Mail: Field Manager, Pinedale Field Office, P.O. Box 768, 
1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, WY 82941.
     Email: WYMail@blm.gov with ``Snake River Amendment'' in 
the subject line. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined 
at the Pinedale Field Office at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Hoover, Realty Specialist, BLM 
Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, WY 82941; 
telephone 307-367-5342; email thoover@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: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Wyoming Pinedale Field Office intends to prepare an RMP amendment with 
an associated EA for the Snake River RMP, announces the beginning of 
the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and planning 
criteria. The three parcels are located in Teton County, Wyoming, and 
encompass approximately 2.01 acres of public land. 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 planning process. Preliminary issues for 
the plan

[[Page 17228]]

amendment area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, state 
and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include: 
revision of disposal language to include private individuals as well as 
governmental entities.
    The BLM is proposing to amend the April 5, 2004 Snake River RMP to 
identify and allow for the direct sale of three surveyed parcels of 
public land totaling 2.01 acres located in Teton County, Wyoming, near 
Jackson. The three parcels that comprise the subject of the plan 
amendment and are described as:

Sixth Principal Meridian

T. 40 N., R. 116 W., (Parcel 1, 0.13 acres)
    sec. 34, lot 14.
T. 40 N., R. 117 W., (Parcel 2, 0.82 acres)
    sec. 25, lot 14.
T. 41 N., R 117 W., (Parcel 3, 1.06 acres)
    Tract 46B.

    Under Section 203 of the FLPMA, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1713), if the 
BLM determines that the three parcels of public land are suitable for 
disposal, then the BLM may propose to offer them for direct sale at the 
appraised fair market value.
    To resolve unintentional unauthorized uses, including residences 
and agricultural buildings, Parcel 1 is proposed for direct sale to 
adjacent landowner Sewell Partners and 2 is proposed for direct sale to 
adjacent landowner Evans Land & Cattle Company. These parcels are the 
minimum size possible to ensure that all the improvements are included, 
but also to ensure that the parcels cannot be resold or used as 
building sites unto themselves. The appraised fair market value for 
Parcel 1 is $4,200 and Parcel 2 is $3,500. Parcel 3 is proposed for 
direct sale to TSR Limited because its inaccessible location makes it 
difficult and uneconomical for the BLM to manage and it is not suitable 
for management by another agency. An appraisal will be completed on 
Parcel 3 at a later date.
    A direct sale to resolve unintentional trespass is consistent with 
the objectives, goals and decision of the BLM Snake River RMP. A direct 
sale to dispose of a tract of land that is difficult and uneconomical 
for the BLM to manage, and is not suitable for management by another 
government agency, is also consistent with the objectives, goals and 
decision of the BLM Snake River RMP.
    In accordance with 43 CFR 2710.0-6(c)(3)(iii) and 43 CFR 2711.3-
3(a), direct sale procedures are appropriate to resolve an inadvertent, 
unauthorized occupancy of the land or to protect existing equities in 
the land. The sales, when completed, would protect the improvements 
involved and resolve the inadvertent encroachment on two parcels and 
eliminate a difficult management situation on another. The three 
parcels of land are not required for other Federal purposes and do not 
contain other known public values. Conveyance of the identified public 
lands will be subject to valid existing rights and encumbrances of 
record, including, but not limited to, rights-of-way for roads and 
public utilities. The patent will include an appropriate 
indemnification claim protecting the United States from claims arising 
out of the patentee's use occupancy or occupations on the patented 
lands. No warranty of any kind, express or implied, is given by the 
United States as to the title, physical condition, or potential uses of 
the parcels of land proposed for sale. The BLM will retain all mineral 
rights.
    Upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the lands 
will be segregated from all forms of appropriation under the public 
land laws, including the general mining laws, except for conveyance 
under the FLPMA and leasing under the mineral leasing laws. Until 
completion of the sale, the BLM will no longer accept land use 
applications affecting the identified public land, except applications 
for the amendment of previously filed right-of-way applications or 
existing authorizations to increase the term of the grants, in 
accordance with 43 CFR 2807.15 and 2886.15. This segregative effect 
will end upon issuance of the patent, publication in the Federal 
Register of a termination of the segregation, or March 20, 2015, unless 
extended by the BLM State Director in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.1-
2(d) prior to the termination date.
    The following reservations, rights, and conditions would be 
included in the patent that may be issued for the above parcels of 
public land:
    1. A reservation of all minerals to the United States;
    2. A right-of-way thereon for ditches or canals constructed by the 
authority of the United States pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1890 
(43 U.S.C. 945); and
    3. All valid existing rights of record, including those documented 
on the official public land records at the time of patent issuance.
    Detailed information concerning these actions is available for 
review at the address above during normal business hours, 7:45 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria regarding 
the RMP amendment process, as well as written comments concerning the 
lands being considered for sale, including notification of any 
encumbrances or other claims relating to the identified lands in 
writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit 
them to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES 
section above. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the 
close of the 45-day scoping period or within 30 days after the last 
public meeting, whichever is later.
    The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about 
historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by 
the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating 
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 
of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, state, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
as a cooperating agency. 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 Amendment/
Draft EA 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

[[Page 17229]]

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, forestry, outdoor recreation, 
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, 
hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics.
    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. Any adverse comments will be reviewed by the State 
Director, who may sustain, vacate, or modify this realty action. In the 
absence of timely filed objections, this realty action will become the 
final determination of the Department of the Interior.

    Authority:  43 CFR 2711.1-2(a), 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2

    Dated: January 10, 2013.
Donald A. Simpson,
State Director, Wyoming.
[FR Doc. 2013-06331 Filed 3-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P