Notice of Intent To Incorporate Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation Measures Into the Bureau of Land Management Land Use Plans, Colorado and Utah and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 42033-42035 [2014-16819]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 138 / Friday, July 18, 2014 / Notices
location listed in the ADDRESSES section
during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday except for legal holidays. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address or other personally
identifiable information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personally identifiable information—
may be made publicly available at any
time. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personally
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 1076–0153.
Title: Certificate of Degree of Indian or
Alaska Native Blood.
Brief description of collection:
Submission of this information allows
BIA to verify the applicant’s Indian
ancestry and to determine the
applicant’s degree of Indian blood. The
applicant will provide information,
such as birth certificates, death
certificates, and probates to document
the applicant’s descent from an Indian
ancestor(s). BIA uses historic roll(s) or
other documents that list the ancestors’
name, gender, date of birth, date of
death, blood degree and other
identifying information to verify the
applicant’s descent. After the
information and supporting
documentation has been verified, BIA
will issue a CDIB to the applicant. The
applicant may use the CDIB to help
document their eligibility for BIA
programs and services. Other agencies
may also rely on a CDIB as proof of
eligibility for certain programs and
services. CDIBs do not establish
membership in an Indian tribe. A CDIB
is not an enrollment document. The
collection of this information is
voluntary. Response is required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Type of Review: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents: Individuals.
Number of Respondents: 154,980 per
year, on average.
Number of Responses: 154,980 per
year, on average.
Frequency of Response: Once.
Estimated Time per Response: 1.5
hours.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden:
232,470 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour
Dollar Cost: $6,199,200.
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42033
Bureau of Land Management
• Fax: 303–239–3699.
• Mail: Colorado State Office, 2850
Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Colorado State
Office (see address above); the Colorado
Southwest District Office, 2465 South
Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO
81401; and Utah Canyon County District
Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT
84532.
[LLCO910000 L11100000.DO0000]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: July 14, 2014.
Christine Cho,
Acting Assistant Director for Information
Resources—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014–16967 Filed 7–17–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–4J–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent To Incorporate
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation
Measures Into the Bureau of Land
Management Land Use Plans,
Colorado and Utah and Prepare an
Associated Environmental Impact
Statement
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLMPA) of 1976, as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
intends to incorporate Gunnison SageGrouse Conservation Measures into
Resource Management Plans (RMPs)
within the range of the species and
prepare an associated Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). By this notice,
the BLM is announcing the beginning of
the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. Comments
on issues may be submitted in writing
until August 18, 2014. The date(s) and
location(s) of any scoping meetings will
be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local news media,
newspapers and the BLM Web site at:
https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_
Programs/wildlife/sage-grouse/
GUSG.html. In order to be included in
the analysis, 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.
Comments that are specific to a
particular area or land use plan should
be identified as such. We 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 Gunnison Sage-Grouse planning
effort by any of the following methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/co/st/
en/BLM_Programs/wildlife/sage-grouse/
GUSG.html; Email: gusg_amend@
blm.gov.
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
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Leigh D. Espy, Project Manager, via
telephone: 303–239–3801; at the
Colorado State Office (see address
above); or via email: lespy@blm.gov.
You may contact Ms. Espy 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, seven days a week, to leave a
message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January
2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) published its proposed listing
and proposed critical habitat decision
for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse indicating
that listing of the species as
‘‘Endangered’’ was warranted. The
inadequacy of regulatory mechanisms to
conserve the Gunnison Sage-Grouse and
its habitat was identified as a significant
threat in the FWS preliminary finding
on the petition to list the Gunnison
Sage-Grouse as an endangered species.
The FWS has proposed conservation
measures to be included in RMPs as the
principal mechanism to assure adequate
conservation of the Gunnison SageGrouse and its habitat on public lands.
In view of the identified threats to the
Gunnison Sage-Grouse, the BLM
proposes incorporating consistent
objectives and conservation measures to
protect Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its
habitat into RMPs by July 2016. The
BLM plans to prepare an EIS to analyze
proposed amendments within the range
of the species for the following RMPs:
• Colorado
Æ San Luis RMP (1991)
Æ Gunnison RMP (1993)
Æ San Juan/San Miguel RMP (1985)
(currently under revision in the Tres
Rios and Uncompahgre RMPs)
Æ Uncompahgre Basin RMP (1989)
(currently under revision in the
Dominquez-Escalante National
Conservation Area [NCA] RMP and
Uncompahgre RMP)
Æ Grand Junction RMP (1987)
(Currently under revision in the Grand
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 138 / Friday, July 18, 2014 / Notices
Junction RMP and the DominquezEscalante NCA RMP)
Æ Gunnison Gorge NCA RMP (2004)
Æ Canyons of the Ancients National
Monument RMP (2010)
• Utah
Æ Moab RMP (2008)
Æ Monticello RMP (2008)
Where an ongoing plan revision or
amendment may not be completed by
July 2016, the date of the underlying
completed RMP is also listed, as it may
be amended as part of this EIS effort.
This amendment may modify planning
decisions in the NCAs and/or the
National Monument listed above,
consistent with the designation.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
relating to the conservation of the
Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its habitat
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for
developing the EIS. The BLM and FWS
identified preliminary issues for the
planning areas, including sagebrush
habitat management practices, science
directly applicable to protection of the
Gunnison Sage-Grouse, and the effects
of sagebrush habitat management on
other public land resources including:
Fluid minerals, coal mining, hard rock
mining, mineral materials, renewable
energy development, rights-of-way
(including transmission), invasive
species, livestock grazing, vegetation
management, fire, land tenure, offhighway vehicle management, and
recreation. Additionally, as part of this
EIS and planning process, the BLM
intends to identify and apply
appropriate mitigation objectives and
management actions to meet
conservation objectives for the
Gunnison Sage-Grouse. These objectives
and management actions could include
on-site and regional mitigation
measures. Preliminary planning criteria
include:
• The BLM will consider allocative
and/or prescriptive standards to
conserve Gunnison Sage-Grouse and
their habitat on public land, as well as
habitat objectives and management
actions designed to restore or enhance
proposed Gunnison Sage-Grouse
unoccupied proposed critical habitat.
• The BLM will use the Gunnison
Sage-Grouse Rangewide Conservation
Plan (Rangewide Steering Committee,
2005), and any other appropriate
resources to identify Gunnison SageGrouse habitat requirements and best
management practices.
• The BLM will consider FWSdeveloped Gunnison Sage-Grouse
conservation measures.
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• The planning effort will comply
with FLPMA; NEPA; Council on
Environmental Quality regulations at 40
CFR parts 1500–1508; Department of the
Interior Regulations at 43 CFR part 46
and 43 CFR part 1600; the BLM H–1601
Land Use Planning Handbook,
‘‘Appendix C: Program-Specific and
Resource-Specific Decision Guidance
Requirements’’ for affected resource
programs; the 2008 BLM NEPA
Handbook (H–1790–1); and all other
applicable BLM policies and guidance.
• The planning effort will be limited
to making land use planning decisions
specific to the conservation of Gunnison
Sage-Grouse and its habitat.
• The BLM will consider land use
allocations and/or prescriptive
standards to conserve Gunnison SageGrouse habitat, as well as objectives and
management actions to restore, enhance
and improve Gunnison Sage-Grouse
habitat.
• The planning effort will recognize
valid existing rights.
• Lands addressed in the RMP
amendments/revisions will be public
lands (including split-estate lands)
managed by the BLM in Gunnison SageGrouse occupied and unoccupied
habitats. Decisions in the RMP
amendments/revisions will apply only
to Federal lands and minerals
administered by the BLM.
• The BLM will use a collaborative
and multi-jurisdictional approach,
where appropriate, to determine the
goals and objectives of public lands for
the conservation of Gunnison SageGrouse and their habitat.
• The BLM will consider a reasonable
range of alternatives, including
appropriate management prescriptions
that focus on the relative values of
resources while contributing to the
conservation of the Gunnison SageGrouse and sage-grouse habitat.
• The BLM will address
socioeconomic impacts of the
alternatives developed. Socioeconomic
analyses will use an accepted inputoutput quantitative model such as
Impact Analysis for Planning or
Regional Input-Output Modeling
System.
• The BLM will use current scientific
information, research, technologies, and
results of inventory, monitoring, and
coordination to determine appropriate
local and regional management
strategies that will enhance or restore
Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat.
• Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat
management that intersects with
Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) on
public lands administered by the BLM
will be guided by the BLM Manual
Section—6330 Management of
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Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Wilderness Study Areas. Land use
allocations made for WSAs must be
consistent with laws, regulations and
policies related to WSA management.
• For BLM-administered lands, all
activities and uses within Gunnison
Sage-Grouse habitat will follow existing
land health standards. Standards and
guidelines for livestock grazing and
other applicable programs will be
applicable to all alternatives for BLM
lands.
• The BLM will consult with Indian
tribes to identify sites, areas and
objectives important to their cultural
and religious heritage within Gunnison
Sage-Grouse habitat.
• The BLM will coordinate and
communicate with state, local and tribal
governments to ensure the BLM
considers provisions of pertinent plans;
seek to resolve inconsistencies between
state, local and tribal plans; and provide
ample opportunities for state, local and
tribal governments to comment on the
development of amendments or
revisions.
• The planning effort will be based on
the principles of Adaptive Management.
• The most current approved BLM
corporate spatial data will be supported
by current metadata and will be used to
ascertain Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat
extent and quality. Data will be
consistent with the principles of the
Information Quality Act of 2000.
• The BLM will use the FWS and
appropriate State game and fish
agencies’ Gunnison Sage-Grouse data
and expertise to the fullest extent
practicable in making management
determinations on Federal lands. The
BLM recognizes State game and fish
agencies’ jurisdiction as the primary
management agencies for species not
managed under the Endangered Species
Act.
You may submit comments on issues
and planning criteria 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 30-day scoping
period or within 15 days after the last
public meeting, whichever is later.
The public is also invited to nominate
or recommend areas on public lands for
Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its habitat
within the planning areas identified
above to be considered as Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern as a
part of this planning process (BLM
Manual 1613.3.31).
Parties interested in leasing and
development of Federal coal in the
planning areas should provide coal
resources data for their area(s) of
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 138 / Friday, July 18, 2014 / Notices
interest. Specifically, information is
requested on the location, quality and
quantity of Federal coal with
development potential, and on surface
resource values related to the 20 coal
unsuitability criteria described in 43
CFR part 3461. This information will be
used for any necessary updating of coal
screening determinations (43 CFR
3420.1–4) in the Decision Area and in
the environmental analysis.
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 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 evaluate identified
issues to be addressed in the plan
amendments/revisions, 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 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 amendments/revisions. 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
amendments in order to consider the
variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in
the following disciplines will be
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involved in the planning process:
Rangeland management, minerals and
geology, vegetation management, fire,
outdoor recreation, wildlife, 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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2.
David McCormack,
Acting BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014–16819 Filed 7–17–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L12200000. MA0000/LLUTY00000]
Notice of Proposed Supplementary
Rules for Public Lands Managed by the
Moab and Monticello Field Offices in
Grand and San Juan Counties, UT
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed
Supplementary Rules.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Records of Decision (ROD) for the Moab
and Monticello Field Office Approved
Resource Management Plans (RMP) and
associated Environmental Impact
Statements (EIS), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is proposing
supplementary rules and requesting
comments. The proposed rules address
conduct on BLM public land in Grand
County and San Juan County, Utah. The
conduct addressed includes the
operation of motorized or mechanized
vehicles, camping and campfires,
firewood and petrified wood collection,
and the use of glass containers.
DATES: Comments on the proposed
supplementary rules must be received
or postmarked by September 16, 2014 to
be assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by mail, hand delivery, or
email to the BLM Canyon Country
District Office, Attention: Jason Moore,
82 East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, UT
84532, or jdmoore@blm.gov. The
proposed supplementary rules and
SUMMARY:
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42035
approved RMPs are available for
inspection at the BLM Moab Field
Office, located at 82 East Dogwood
Avenue, Moab, UT; the BLM Monticello
Field Office, located at 435 North Main
Street, Monticello, UT; and, on the BLM
Moab and Monticello Field Office Web
sites: https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/
moab.html and https://www.blm.gov/ut/
st/en/fo/monticello.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jason Moore, Supervisory Staff Law
Enforcement Ranger, 82 East Dogwood
Avenue, Moab, UT 84532, 435–259–
2109, or jdmoore@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 leave a message or
question with the above individual. The
FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week. You will receive a reply during
normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Comment Procedures
II. Background
III. Discussion
IV. Procedural Matters
V. Proposed Supplementary Rules for the
BLM Moab Field Office and the
Monticello Field Office
I. Public Comment Procedures
Written comments on the proposed
supplementary rules must be sent in
accordance with the information
outlined in the DATES and ADDRESSES
sections of this notice. The BLM is not
obligated to consider comments that are
received after the close of the comment
period (see DATES), unless they are
postmarked or electronically dated
before the deadline; or if the comments
are delivered to an address other than
that listed above in ADDRESSES.
Comments should be specific, confined
to issues pertinent to the proposed
supplementary rules, and should
explain the reason for any
recommended change. Where possible,
comments should reference the specific
section or paragraph of the rule that the
comment is addressing.
Comments, including names,
addresses, and other contact
information of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BLM
Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood
Avenue, Moab, UT 84532, during
regular business hours (7:45 a.m.–4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays). Before including an
address, telephone number, email
address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, be aware
that the entire comment, including
personal identifying information, may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask in your comment to
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 138 (Friday, July 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42033-42035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16819]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCO910000 L11100000.DO0000]
Notice of Intent To Incorporate Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation
Measures Into the Bureau of Land Management Land Use Plans, Colorado
and Utah and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: 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
(FLMPA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
intends to incorporate Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation Measures into
Resource Management Plans (RMPs) within the range of the species and
prepare an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). By this
notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until August 18, 2014.
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through local news media, newspapers and
the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/wildlife/sage-grouse/GUSG.html. In order to be included in the
analysis, 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. Comments that are specific to a particular area or land use
plan should be identified as such. We 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 Gunnison Sage-Grouse planning effort by any of the following
methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/wildlife/sage-grouse/GUSG.html; Email: gusg_amend@blm.gov.
Fax: 303-239-3699.
Mail: Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street,
Lakewood, CO 80215.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the
Colorado State Office (see address above); the Colorado Southwest
District Office, 2465 South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401; and
Utah Canyon County District Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leigh D. Espy, Project Manager, via
telephone: 303-239-3801; at the Colorado State Office (see address
above); or via email: lespy@blm.gov. You may contact Ms. Espy 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, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) published its proposed listing and proposed critical
habitat decision for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse indicating that listing
of the species as ``Endangered'' was warranted. The inadequacy of
regulatory mechanisms to conserve the Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its
habitat was identified as a significant threat in the FWS preliminary
finding on the petition to list the Gunnison Sage-Grouse as an
endangered species. The FWS has proposed conservation measures to be
included in RMPs as the principal mechanism to assure adequate
conservation of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its habitat on public
lands. In view of the identified threats to the Gunnison Sage-Grouse,
the BLM proposes incorporating consistent objectives and conservation
measures to protect Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its habitat into RMPs by
July 2016. The BLM plans to prepare an EIS to analyze proposed
amendments within the range of the species for the following RMPs:
Colorado
[cir] San Luis RMP (1991)
[cir] Gunnison RMP (1993)
[cir] San Juan/San Miguel RMP (1985) (currently under revision in
the Tres Rios and Uncompahgre RMPs)
[cir] Uncompahgre Basin RMP (1989) (currently under revision in the
Dominquez-Escalante National Conservation Area [NCA] RMP and
Uncompahgre RMP)
[cir] Grand Junction RMP (1987) (Currently under revision in the
Grand
[[Page 42034]]
Junction RMP and the Dominquez-Escalante NCA RMP)
[cir] Gunnison Gorge NCA RMP (2004)
[cir] Canyons of the Ancients National Monument RMP (2010)
Utah
[cir] Moab RMP (2008)
[cir] Monticello RMP (2008)
Where an ongoing plan revision or amendment may not be completed by
July 2016, the date of the underlying completed RMP is also listed, as
it may be amended as part of this EIS effort. This amendment may modify
planning decisions in the NCAs and/or the National Monument listed
above, consistent with the designation.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues relating to the conservation of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its
habitat that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.
The BLM and FWS identified preliminary issues for the planning areas,
including sagebrush habitat management practices, science directly
applicable to protection of the Gunnison Sage-Grouse, and the effects
of sagebrush habitat management on other public land resources
including: Fluid minerals, coal mining, hard rock mining, mineral
materials, renewable energy development, rights-of-way (including
transmission), invasive species, livestock grazing, vegetation
management, fire, land tenure, off-highway vehicle management, and
recreation. Additionally, as part of this EIS and planning process, the
BLM intends to identify and apply appropriate mitigation objectives and
management actions to meet conservation objectives for the Gunnison
Sage-Grouse. These objectives and management actions could include on-
site and regional mitigation measures. Preliminary planning criteria
include:
The BLM will consider allocative and/or prescriptive
standards to conserve Gunnison Sage-Grouse and their habitat on public
land, as well as habitat objectives and management actions designed to
restore or enhance proposed Gunnison Sage-Grouse unoccupied proposed
critical habitat.
The BLM will use the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Rangewide
Conservation Plan (Rangewide Steering Committee, 2005), and any other
appropriate resources to identify Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat
requirements and best management practices.
The BLM will consider FWS-developed Gunnison Sage-Grouse
conservation measures.
The planning effort will comply with FLPMA; NEPA; Council
on Environmental Quality regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508;
Department of the Interior Regulations at 43 CFR part 46 and 43 CFR
part 1600; the BLM H-1601 Land Use Planning Handbook, ``Appendix C:
Program-Specific and Resource-Specific Decision Guidance Requirements''
for affected resource programs; the 2008 BLM NEPA Handbook (H-1790-1);
and all other applicable BLM policies and guidance.
The planning effort will be limited to making land use
planning decisions specific to the conservation of Gunnison Sage-Grouse
and its habitat.
The BLM will consider land use allocations and/or
prescriptive standards to conserve Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat, as
well as objectives and management actions to restore, enhance and
improve Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat.
The planning effort will recognize valid existing rights.
Lands addressed in the RMP amendments/revisions will be
public lands (including split-estate lands) managed by the BLM in
Gunnison Sage-Grouse occupied and unoccupied habitats. Decisions in the
RMP amendments/revisions will apply only to Federal lands and minerals
administered by the BLM.
The BLM will use a collaborative and multi-jurisdictional
approach, where appropriate, to determine the goals and objectives of
public lands for the conservation of Gunnison Sage-Grouse and their
habitat.
The BLM will consider a reasonable range of alternatives,
including appropriate management prescriptions that focus on the
relative values of resources while contributing to the conservation of
the Gunnison Sage-Grouse and sage-grouse habitat.
The BLM will address socioeconomic impacts of the
alternatives developed. Socioeconomic analyses will use an accepted
input-output quantitative model such as Impact Analysis for Planning or
Regional Input-Output Modeling System.
The BLM will use current scientific information, research,
technologies, and results of inventory, monitoring, and coordination to
determine appropriate local and regional management strategies that
will enhance or restore Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat.
Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat management that intersects
with Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) on public lands administered by the
BLM will be guided by the BLM Manual Section--6330 Management of
Wilderness Study Areas. Land use allocations made for WSAs must be
consistent with laws, regulations and policies related to WSA
management.
For BLM-administered lands, all activities and uses within
Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat will follow existing land health
standards. Standards and guidelines for livestock grazing and other
applicable programs will be applicable to all alternatives for BLM
lands.
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes to identify sites,
areas and objectives important to their cultural and religious heritage
within Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat.
The BLM will coordinate and communicate with state, local
and tribal governments to ensure the BLM considers provisions of
pertinent plans; seek to resolve inconsistencies between state, local
and tribal plans; and provide ample opportunities for state, local and
tribal governments to comment on the development of amendments or
revisions.
The planning effort will be based on the principles of
Adaptive Management.
The most current approved BLM corporate spatial data will
be supported by current metadata and will be used to ascertain Gunnison
Sage-Grouse habitat extent and quality. Data will be consistent with
the principles of the Information Quality Act of 2000.
The BLM will use the FWS and appropriate State game and
fish agencies' Gunnison Sage-Grouse data and expertise to the fullest
extent practicable in making management determinations on Federal
lands. The BLM recognizes State game and fish agencies' jurisdiction as
the primary management agencies for species not managed under the
Endangered Species Act.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 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 30-day
scoping period or within 15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later.
The public is also invited to nominate or recommend areas on public
lands for Gunnison Sage-Grouse and its habitat within the planning
areas identified above to be considered as Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern as a part of this planning process (BLM Manual
1613.3.31).
Parties interested in leasing and development of Federal coal in
the planning areas should provide coal resources data for their area(s)
of
[[Page 42035]]
interest. Specifically, information is requested on the location,
quality and quantity of Federal coal with development potential, and on
surface resource values related to the 20 coal unsuitability criteria
described in 43 CFR part 3461. This information will be used for any
necessary updating of coal screening determinations (43 CFR 3420.1-4)
in the Decision Area and in the environmental analysis.
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 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 evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan
amendments/revisions, 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 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 amendments/revisions. 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
amendments 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, vegetation management, fire, outdoor
recreation, wildlife, 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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
David McCormack,
Acting BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-16819 Filed 7-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
