Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Planning Area and an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 45266-45268 [2013-17981]
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45266
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 144 / Friday, July 26, 2013 / Notices
Comments may be
submitted to the Bureau of Land
Management, Southeastern States Field
Office, 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404,
Jackson, MS 39206 or via email:
gtaylor@blm.gov or via fax: 918–621–
4130.
ADDRESSES:
Gary
Taylor or Randall Mills, Southeastern
States Field Office at 601–977–5400 or
by email at gtaylor@blm.gov or
ramills@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 coal
lease application, filed by Best Coal,
Inc., is located in Jefferson County,
Alabama. The lease application area is
approximately 5 miles north of Mt.
Olive, Alabama, on Glovers Bend Road.
The proposed lease area, totaling 160
acres, is described as follows:
Township 15 South, Range 4 West,
Huntsville Meridian
Section 24, SW1/4NW1/4, N1/2SW1/
4, SE1/2SW1/4.
The applicant proposes to mine the
Federal coal in the lease application
area by surface methods. The surface
estate overlying the lease application
area is privately owned. The BLM has
the responsibility to address coal lease
applications on Federal mineral estate
under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920,
as amended. The Office of Surface
Mining, in coordination with the State
of Alabama, has responsibility to issue
Mine Permits under the Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act.
An interdisciplinary team will
prepare the RMP Amendment and
associated EA for the lease application.
Preliminary issues, subject to change as
a result of public input, are (1) Potential
impacts of coal development on the
surface and subsurface resources; and
(2) Consideration of restrictions on lease
rights to protect surface resources.
Preliminary planning criteria
developed to guide the preparation of
the planning analysis, subject to change
as a result of public input, are as
follows:
1. Land use planning and
environmental analysis will be
conducted in accordance with laws,
regulations, executive orders and
manuals. Planning will be conducted for
the Federal coal mineral estate (Federal
leasable mineral estates such as coal are
under the administration of the BLM).
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2. A mine plan scenario will be
prepared for the Federal coal resource as
an analytical tool to inform the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
analysis.
3. Resource data needed to evaluate
the impacts of coal mining will be
collected.
4. The planning team will work
cooperatively with (a) Federal, State,
county, and local governments and
agencies; (b) Tribal governments; (c)
Groups and organizations; and (d)
Individuals. Comments relating to the
preliminary issues and planning criteria
should be submitted in writing to the
address provided above.
An individual, business entity, or
public body may participate in this
process by providing information
regarding coal or other resource
information to assist in determining
conflicts that may result from issuance
of the coal lease. For other resource
information, participants are asked to
identify the particular resource value, to
provide the reason that the resource
would conflict with coal development
and provide a map (minimal scale
1:24,000) showing the location of the
resource.
The information available to the
interdisciplinary team will be
considered in addressing the specific
resources and uses identified in the 20
Unsuitability Criteria listed at 43 CFR
subpart 3461. Screening of the Federal
coal lands in the application area
through the Unsuitable Criteria will
result in a determination as to which
lands are (1) Acceptable for further
leasing consideration with standard
stipulations; (2) Acceptable for further
leasing consideration with special
stipulations; or (3) Unacceptable for
further consideration for leasing.
Written comments should address one
or more of the following: (1) Issues to be
considered; (2) Whether the preliminary
planning criteria are adequate for the
issues; (3) Feasible and reasonable
alternatives to examine; or (4) Relevant
coal or other resource information.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA commenting process to satisfy
the public involvement process for
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as
provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
Native American tribal consultations
were 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
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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.
Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2(c).
John Lyon,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–17977 Filed 7–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GJ–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNM004410.L16100000.DO0000.LXSSG0
690000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource
Management Plan for the Oklahoma,
Kansas, and Texas Planning Area and
an Associated Environmental Impact
Statement
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCIES:
In compliance 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)
Oklahoma Field Office, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, intends to prepare a
Resource Management Plan (RMP) with
an associated Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Oklahoma,
Kansas, and Texas planning area. This
notice announces the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues. The RMP
will replace the existing Oklahoma RMP
(1994), the Kansas RMP (1991), and the
Texas RMP (1996), and the associated
EIS for the RMP will also analyze
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
management decisions for lands and
minerals managed by the BIA in the
three states.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the RMP with an
associated EIS. Comments on issues
may be submitted in writing until
August 26, 2013]. The dates and
locations of any scoping meetings will
be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM
26JYN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 144 / Friday, July 26, 2013 / Notices
newspapers, and the BLM Web site at
https://www.blm.gov/nm/oktrmp. In
order to be included in the Draft EIS, 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 Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues and planning criteria related
to the Oklahoma/Kansas/Texas RMP by
any of the following methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/
oktrmp.
• Email:
BLM_NM_OKTRMP@blm.gov.
• Fax: 918–621–4130; Attention:
Laurence Levesque.
• Mail: Oklahoma Field Office, BLM,
7906 East 33rd Street, Suite 101, Tulsa,
OK 74145; Attention: RMP Comments.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Oklahoma Field
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurence Levesque, Planning and
Environmental Specialist; telephone
918–621–4136; address 7906 East 33rd
Street, Suite 101, Tulsa, OK 74145;
email BLM_NM_OKTRMP@blm.gov.
Contact Mr. Levesque 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: This
document provides notice that the BLM
Oklahoma Field Office, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, intends to prepare an RMP
with an associated EIS for the
Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas planning
area RMP; announces the beginning of
the scoping process; and seeks public
input on issues and planning criteria.
The EIS for the RMP will also analyze
decisions for Indian mineral interests
administered by the BIA Eastern
Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regional
Offices. The BLM will be the lead
agency in the RMP development effort,
and the BIA will participate as a
cooperating agency and sign a separate
Record of Decision for management
decisions for Indian mineral interests
administered by the BIA Eastern
Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regional
Offices.
The planning area encompasses about
100,000 acres of public land; 5,863,000
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acres of Federal mineral interests; and
670,000 acres of Indian mineral
interests. The BLM and the BIA will
work collaboratively with interested
parties to identify the management
decisions that are best suited to local,
regional, and national needs and
concerns. 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 planning
area have been identified by the BLM
and BIA personnel; Federal, State, and
local agencies; and other stakeholders.
The issues include:
1. How should the BLM and the BIA
facilitate energy development, both
renewable and non-renewable, while
allowing for multiple uses and
appropriate protection of public lands
and resources?
2. What management actions, best
management practices, and mitigation
measures are necessary to protect or
enhance resources, such as, visual, air
quality, groundwater, watersheds and
riparian areas, recreational areas,
vegetation, soils, cultural sites, special
designations, wildlife and special status
species habitat, and rangeland health?
3. Where are helium resources located
and how can these reserves, as well as
the Federal Helium Plant, be best
managed for the public?
4. How should the BLM address longterm grassland pasture facilities for wild
horses and burros transferred from
western rangelands?
5. Which public lands should be
identified for retention, proposed for
withdrawal, disposal, or acquisition to
facilitate more efficient land
management?
6. Which public lands should be
identified as open, limited, or closed to
motorized vehicle travel to meet
resource and recreational demands?
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. The RMP will be in compliance
with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other
applicable laws and regulations.
2. Land use decisions in the RMP will
apply to the surface and subsurface
estate managed by the BLM and the BIA.
The BLM will not make any
recommendations or decisions that
affect Federal mineral estate beyond its
explicit authority under applicable laws
and regulations.
3. Public participation and
collaboration will be an integral part of
the planning process.
4. The BLM and the BIA will work
cooperatively and collaboratively with
cooperating agencies and all other
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45267
interested groups, agencies, and
individuals.
5. The RMP will incorporate, where
applicable, management decisions
brought forward from existing planning
documents.
6. Identification of any lands for
further consideration for coal leasing
will be limited to any areas with
development potential.
7. Final title analysis has not yet been
conducted for all Federal mineral
ownership. Although the BLM will plan
for these tracts, it will not lease, transfer
or otherwise authorize any action(s)
prior to verification of title for the
properties.
You may submit comments on issues
and planning criteria in writing to the
BLM at any public scoping meeting, or
by using one of the methods listed in
the ‘‘ADDRESSES’’ section above. To be
most helpful, you should submit
comments by the close of the 30-day
scoping period or within 15 days after
the last public meeting, whichever is
later. 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 BLM will evaluate identified
issues and will place them into one of
three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this
plan.
The BLM will provide an explanation
in the Draft RMP/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 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
E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM
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45268
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 144 / Friday, July 26, 2013 / Notices
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 BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the plan 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: minerals and geology,
archaeology, wildlife and fisheries,
lands and realty, hydrology, soils,
livestock grazing, recreation, sociology,
and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2
Jesse J. Juen,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–17981 Filed 7–25–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD07000,
L51010000.FX0000.LVRWB10B4050]
Notice of Availability of the San Diego
Gas & Electric Ocotillo Sol Solar
Project Final Environmental Impact
Statement and Proposed California
Desert Conservation Area Plan
Amendment, CA
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a
Proposed California Desert Conservation
Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment and
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the San Diego Gas & Electric
(SDG&E) Ocotillo Sol Solar Project in
Imperial County, California, and by this
notice is announcing its availability.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:54 Jul 25, 2013
Jkt 229001
BLM planning regulations state
that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the
regulations may protest the Proposed
CDCA Plan Amendment. A person who
meets the conditions and files a protest
must file the protest within 30 days of
the date that the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes its notice
of availability for the EIS in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Ocotillo Sol
Solar Project Final EIS/Proposed CDCA
Plan Amendment have been sent to
affected Federal, State, and local
government agencies and to other
stakeholders, including tribal
governments. Copies are also available
in the BLM California Desert District
Office at 22835 Calle San Juan de los
Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553 and at
the El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th
Street, El Centro, CA 92243.
Interested persons may also review
the Final EIS/Proposed CDCA Plan
Amendment on the Internet at https://
www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/
nepa/ocotillosol.html. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Noel
Ludwig, Project Manager, telephone
951–697–5368; address 22835 Calle San
Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA
92553; or email CA_BLM_Ocotillo_Sol_
Comments@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 BLM
has received a right-of-way (ROW)
application from SDG&E to construct,
operate, maintain, and decommission
the Ocotillo Sol Solar Project, a solar
photovoltaic (PV) power plant facility,
on approximately 115 acres of BLMadministered public lands in Imperial
County, California. The site for the solar
facility would be adjacent to the existing
Imperial Valley Substation (IVS), 4
miles south of Interstate 8,
approximately 5 miles north of the
United States-Mexico border, 5 miles
south of Seeley, 9 miles southwest of El
Centro, and 82 miles east of San Diego.
DATES:
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The proposed project site is located
within the BLM’s CDCA, the BLM’s
Yuha Basin Area of Critical
Environmental Concern, and the Yuha
Desert Management Area for flat-tailed
horned lizard. A portion of the northsouth running Juan Bautista de Anza
National Historic Trail lies
approximately 5 miles southwest of the
project site at its closest point. The
Jacumba Mountains Wilderness lies 11.7
miles to the west of the project site.
All proposed project components,
including a temporary 15-acre
construction laydown area, would be
located on BLM-administered lands.
The proposed Ocotillo Sol project
components would include the PV
modules and mounting structures, a
maintenance building with an
associated parking area, internal roads,
inverters, transformers, and the
combining switchgear. An existing road
to the IVS would provide access to the
proposed project site. New minor
internal roads would be constructed
between the module rows. The
interconnection to the IVS would be via
underground trench. Once approved
and operational, the proposed Ocotillo
Sol project is expected to have an
average generating capacity of 15 to 18
megawatts (MW), depending on the
specific technology chosen, with a peak
output of up to 20 MW.
In connection with its decision on the
proposed Ocotillo Sol project, the BLM
will also include potential amendments
to the CDCA Plan, as analyzed in the
Final EIS. The CDCA Plan, while
recognizing the potential compatibility
of solar energy facilities on public lands,
requires that all sites associated with
power generation or transmission not
identified in the Plan be considered
through the land use plan amendment
process. The BLM is deciding whether
to amend the CDCA Plan to identify the
Ocotillo Sol project site as suitable or
unsuitable for solar energy
development.
The Final EIS describes the following
three alternatives: (1) A No Action/No
CDCA Plan Amendment; (2) The
Applicant’s Proposed Project to
construct, operate, maintain, and
decommission a 100-acre solar PV
facility on BLM-managed lands under
an authorized ROW, plus utilization of
a 15-acre temporary ROW for
construction laydown; and (3) A
Reduced Footprint Alternative which
would retain the 100-acre facility but
reduce the laydown area from 15 acres
to 2 acres. All of the alternatives except
the No Action/No CDCA Plan
Amendment would include an
amendment to the CDCA Plan.
E:\FR\FM\26JYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45266-45268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17981]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNM004410.L16100000.DO0000.LXSSG0690000]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the
Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Planning Area and an Associated
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance 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)
Oklahoma Field Office, Tulsa, Oklahoma, intends to prepare a Resource
Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas planning area. This notice
announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues. The RMP will replace the existing
Oklahoma RMP (1994), the Kansas RMP (1991), and the Texas RMP (1996),
and the associated EIS for the RMP will also analyze Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) management decisions for lands and minerals managed by
the BIA in the three states.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
with an associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing
until August 26, 2013]. The dates and locations of any scoping meetings
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media,
[[Page 45267]]
newspapers, and the BLM Web site at https://www.blm.gov/nm/oktrmp. In
order to be included in the Draft EIS, 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 Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Oklahoma/Kansas/Texas RMP by any of the following
methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/oktrmp.
Email: BLM_NM_OKTRMP@blm.gov.
Fax: 918-621-4130; Attention: Laurence Levesque.
Mail: Oklahoma Field Office, BLM, 7906 East 33rd Street,
Suite 101, Tulsa, OK 74145; Attention: RMP Comments.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Oklahoma
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurence Levesque, Planning and
Environmental Specialist; telephone 918-621-4136; address 7906 East
33rd Street, Suite 101, Tulsa, OK 74145; email BLM_NM_OKTRMP@blm.gov.
Contact Mr. Levesque 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: This document provides notice that the BLM
Oklahoma Field Office, Tulsa, Oklahoma, intends to prepare an RMP with
an associated EIS for the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas planning area
RMP; announces the beginning of the scoping process; and seeks public
input on issues and planning criteria. The EIS for the RMP will also
analyze decisions for Indian mineral interests administered by the BIA
Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regional Offices. The BLM will be
the lead agency in the RMP development effort, and the BIA will
participate as a cooperating agency and sign a separate Record of
Decision for management decisions for Indian mineral interests
administered by the BIA Eastern Oklahoma and Southern Plains Regional
Offices.
The planning area encompasses about 100,000 acres of public land;
5,863,000 acres of Federal mineral interests; and 670,000 acres of
Indian mineral interests. The BLM and the BIA will work collaboratively
with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are
best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. 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 planning area have been identified by
the BLM and BIA personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and
other stakeholders. The issues include:
1. How should the BLM and the BIA facilitate energy development,
both renewable and non-renewable, while allowing for multiple uses and
appropriate protection of public lands and resources?
2. What management actions, best management practices, and
mitigation measures are necessary to protect or enhance resources, such
as, visual, air quality, groundwater, watersheds and riparian areas,
recreational areas, vegetation, soils, cultural sites, special
designations, wildlife and special status species habitat, and
rangeland health?
3. Where are helium resources located and how can these reserves,
as well as the Federal Helium Plant, be best managed for the public?
4. How should the BLM address long-term grassland pasture
facilities for wild horses and burros transferred from western
rangelands?
5. Which public lands should be identified for retention, proposed
for withdrawal, disposal, or acquisition to facilitate more efficient
land management?
6. Which public lands should be identified as open, limited, or
closed to motorized vehicle travel to meet resource and recreational
demands?
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. The RMP will be in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other
applicable laws and regulations.
2. Land use decisions in the RMP will apply to the surface and
subsurface estate managed by the BLM and the BIA. The BLM will not make
any recommendations or decisions that affect Federal mineral estate
beyond its explicit authority under applicable laws and regulations.
3. Public participation and collaboration will be an integral part
of the planning process.
4. The BLM and the BIA will work cooperatively and collaboratively
with cooperating agencies and all other interested groups, agencies,
and individuals.
5. The RMP will incorporate, where applicable, management decisions
brought forward from existing planning documents.
6. Identification of any lands for further consideration for coal
leasing will be limited to any areas with development potential.
7. Final title analysis has not yet been conducted for all Federal
mineral ownership. Although the BLM will plan for these tracts, it will
not lease, transfer or otherwise authorize any action(s) prior to
verification of title for the properties.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing
to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or by using one of the
methods listed in the ``ADDRESSES'' section above. To be most helpful,
you should submit comments by the close of the 30-day scoping period or
within 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
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 BLM will evaluate identified issues and will place
them into one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/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 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
[[Page 45268]]
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 BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan
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: minerals and geology,
archaeology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology,
soils, livestock grazing, recreation, sociology, and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2
Jesse J. Juen,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-17981 Filed 7-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
