Notice of Availability of the Southeastern States Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 64832-64833 [2014-25693]

Download as PDF 64832 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 211 / Friday, October 31, 2014 / Notices (ROD) has been prepared. The ROD documents decisions by the Trustees under OPA: (1) Selection of the Preferred Alternative for the Programmatic Early Restoration Plan; and (2) selection of 44 projects for the Final Phase III Early Restoration Plan, subject to completing remaining permitting and consultation requirements, as specifically identified in Section 9 of the ROD. The Trustees’ selection of the 44 early restoration projects for the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS continues the process of using early restoration funding to restore natural resources, and ecological services, and to compensate for recreational use services injured or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These projects are not intended to, and do not fully address all injuries caused by the spill or provide the extent of restoration needed to make the public and the environment whole. The Trustees anticipate that additional early restoration projects will be proposed as the early restoration process continues. Administrative Record An Administrative Record has been established and can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/ deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord/ index.cfm. Authorities The authorities for this action are the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), the implementing Natural Resource Damage Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR part 990, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Framework Agreement. Debora L. McClain, Deputy DOI Deepwater Horizon NRDAR Case Manager. [FR Doc. 2014–25794 Filed 10–30–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [LLES002000 L16100000 DP0000 LXSS051M0000] Notice of Availability of the Southeastern States Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement 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 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Oct 30, 2014 Jkt 235001 Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Southeastern States Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the Draft RMP/EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Southeastern States Draft RMP and Draft EIS by any of the following methods: • Email: SSFO_RMP@blm.gov. • Fax: 601–977–5440. • Mail: BLM Southeastern States Field Office, 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson, MS 39206. Copies of the Southeastern States Draft RMP/EIS are available in the Southeastern States Field Office, at the above address, or may be viewed at https://www.blm.gov/es/st/en/fo/ Jackson_Home_Page/planning/ southeastern_rmp.html. A limited number of hard copies and DVD copies are available upon request while supplies last. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Taylor, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, telephone 601–977–5413; address 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson, MS 39206; email, gtaylor@ 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 Mr. Taylor during normal business hours. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for Mr. Taylor. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area for the Southeastern States Draft RMP/EIS includes the States of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The RMP will replace previous BLM plans including the Florida RMP (1995), the Arkansas Planning Analysis (2002), the Louisiana Planning Analysis (2002), and the Meadowood Farm (Virginia) Planning Analysis (2003). PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Within the planning area, the decision-making scope of the RMP is limited to the decision area. The decision area includes 2,991 acres of BLM-administered surface land. In addition to BLM-administered surface land, the BLM is generally responsible for administration of Federal mineral estate, including mineral estate underlying other Federal agencies’ lands. Within the planning area there are approximately 19 million acres of Federal land ownership, including approximately 10.3 million acres administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), 3.7 million acres by the National Park Service (NPS), 2.4 million acres by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and 2.5 million acres by the Department of Defense (DOD). The RMP will not make mineral leasing decisions for USFS lands, except to say that leasing of mineral estate underlying National Forests would be conducted by the BLM consistent with USFS land use plans and leasing analyses. Within the planning area there are 28 National Forests, all of which are covered by existing Forest Plans. These plans include mineral leasing decisions where potential for mineral development was identified, and typically deferred mineral leasing decisions if there was no potential for mineral development. Forest Plans are revised, as needed; BLM is currently a Cooperating Agency on three Forest Plan revisions. The BLM will not make mineral leasing decisions in this RMP for BLM mineral estate in areas identified as having no reasonably foreseeable development potential, based on Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenario (RFDS) analyses completed by the BLM prior to the planning effort. Therefore, the decision area includes 742,505 subsurface acres where the surface is administered by other Federal agencies (mostly DOD, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and mineral development is reasonably foreseeable. The decision area also includes 280,680 acres of Federal mineral estate where the surface is nonFederal (i.e. State or local government, or private ownership). The total decision area includes 1,026,176 acres of subsurface with BLMadministered surface on 2,991 of those acres. There is no decision area acreage in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina, as these states have no BLM-administered surface acreage and the RFDS showed no reasonably foreseeable development of Federal minerals in these states. On October 8, 2008, the BLM issued a Notice of Intent in the Federal E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 211 / Friday, October 31, 2014 / Notices Register to prepare the Southeastern States RMP (73 FR 58976), which initiated public scoping. Planning issues identified during scoping include management of energy and mineral resources and land ownership adjustments. During scoping, the BLM requested input from federally recognized tribes that have ancestral tribal homelands within the planning area. Four alternatives were developed in response to the issues identified during the planning process. The ‘‘No Action’’ alternative represents current management, and is identified as Alternative A. Alternative B is the BLM’s Preferred Alternative; it provides opportunities to use and develop Federal minerals while providing protection of natural resources. Alternative C places more emphasis on the protection of natural resources, and Alternative D emphasizes Federal mineral development. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this notice also announces the public comment period on proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). The Draft RMP/EIS evaluates and proposes designation for three ACECs. The resource use limitations which would apply to these areas, if formally designated, are described below. The existing ACEC designation of 54.33 acres on the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area would continue in Alternative A. Alternatives B, C and D propose increasing the size of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area ACEC to 85.83 acres. Values associated with this proposed ACEC include threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife and plants, rare vegetation communities, and Native American and maritime cultural resources. The resource use limitations which would occur are as follows: Closed to mining, mineral leasing and mineral material sale; right-of-way avoidance area; limit travel to designated routes; and Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class III. Alternatives B and C propose designating The Lathrop Bayou tract ACEC (183.03 acres). This proposed ACEC is a peninsula with adjacent small islands containing upland longleaf pine and slash pine forests and habitat for red cockaded woodpecker, among other species. Values associated with this proposed ACEC include threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife and plants, and rare vegetation communities. The resource-use limitations which would occur if this proposed ACEC is formally designated are as follows: Closed to mining, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:51 Oct 30, 2014 Jkt 235001 mineral leasing and mineral material sale; right-of-way avoidance area; limit travel to designated routes. Alternatives B and C propose designating the Egmont Key tract ACEC (55 acres). This proposed ACEC is the northern end of the key, located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, and contains beach transitioning to vegetated uplands with a lighthouse and remnants of an historic fort. Values associated with this proposed ACEC include threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife and plants, and historic cultural resources. The resource use limitations which would occur if this proposed ACEC is formally designated are as follows: Closed to mining, mineral leasing and mineral material sale; right-of-way avoidance area; limit travel to designated routes; and VRM Class III. The BLM will respond to each substantive comment received during the public review and comment period by making appropriate revisions to the document, or explaining why the comment did not warrant a change. Notice of the availability of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS will be posted in the Federal Register. In order to reduce the use of paper and control costs, the BLM strongly encourages the public to submit comments electronically via email. Comments submitted must include the commenter’s name and street address. Whenever possible, please include reference to either the page or section in the Draft RMP/EIS to which the comment applies. 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2. Bruce Dawson, Manager, Southeastern States Field Office. [FR Doc. 2014–25693 Filed 10–30–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GJ–P PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64833 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [15X 1109AF LLUT980300– L11500000.PH0000–24–1A] Utah Recreation Resource Advisory Council Meeting/Conference Call Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting/conference call. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Utah Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RecRAC) will host a meeting/conference call. DATES: The BLM-Utah RecRAC will host a meeting/conference call on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, from 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m., Mountain Standard Time. ADDRESSES: Those attending in person must meet at the BLM-Utah State Office, Monument A Conference Room, 440 West 200 South, Fifth Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you wish to listen to the teleconference, orally present material during the teleconference, or submit written material for the RecRAC to consider during the teleconference, please notify Sherry Foot, Special Programs Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101; phone (801) 539– 4195; or, sfoot@blm.gov no later than Friday, Nov. 21. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda topics will consist of the Amended Business Plan for the San Juan River (proposes moving the San Juan River non-commercial boating permit lottery and reservation system to www.recreation.gov to improve customer service and permitting efficiency) and the Draft Business Plan for Recreation Use Permits in the BLMRichfield Field Office (proposes to modify camping fees at Starr Spring, McMillan Spring, and Lonesome Beaver Campgrounds). A half-hour public comment period will take place from 10:30–11:00 a.m. The meeting is open to the public; however, transportation, lodging, and meals are the responsibility of the participating individuals. 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 for the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64832-64833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25693]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLES002000 L16100000 DP0000 LXSS051M0000]


Notice of Availability of the Southeastern States Draft Resource 
Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: 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 
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Southeastern States Planning Area and by this 
notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the Draft RMP/EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will 
announce future meetings or hearings and any other public participation 
activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media 
releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Southeastern States 
Draft RMP and Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
     Email: SSFO_RMP@blm.gov.
     Fax: 601-977-5440.
     Mail: BLM Southeastern States Field Office, 411 Briarwood 
Drive, Suite 404, Jackson, MS 39206.
    Copies of the Southeastern States Draft RMP/EIS are available in 
the Southeastern States Field Office, at the above address, or may be 
viewed at https://www.blm.gov/es/st/en/fo/Jackson_Home_Page/planning/southeastern_rmp.html. A limited number of hard copies and DVD copies 
are available upon request while supplies last.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Taylor, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, telephone 601-977-5413; address 411 
Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson, MS 39206; email, gtaylor@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 Mr. Taylor during normal business hours. The service is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
for Mr. Taylor. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area for the Southeastern 
States Draft RMP/EIS includes the States of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and 
Virginia. The RMP will replace previous BLM plans including the Florida 
RMP (1995), the Arkansas Planning Analysis (2002), the Louisiana 
Planning Analysis (2002), and the Meadowood Farm (Virginia) Planning 
Analysis (2003).
    Within the planning area, the decision-making scope of the RMP is 
limited to the decision area. The decision area includes 2,991 acres of 
BLM-administered surface land. In addition to BLM-administered surface 
land, the BLM is generally responsible for administration of Federal 
mineral estate, including mineral estate underlying other Federal 
agencies' lands.
    Within the planning area there are approximately 19 million acres 
of Federal land ownership, including approximately 10.3 million acres 
administered by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), 3.7 million acres by 
the National Park Service (NPS), 2.4 million acres by the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS), and 2.5 million acres by the Department of 
Defense (DOD). The RMP will not make mineral leasing decisions for USFS 
lands, except to say that leasing of mineral estate underlying National 
Forests would be conducted by the BLM consistent with USFS land use 
plans and leasing analyses. Within the planning area there are 28 
National Forests, all of which are covered by existing Forest Plans. 
These plans include mineral leasing decisions where potential for 
mineral development was identified, and typically deferred mineral 
leasing decisions if there was no potential for mineral development. 
Forest Plans are revised, as needed; BLM is currently a Cooperating 
Agency on three Forest Plan revisions.
    The BLM will not make mineral leasing decisions in this RMP for BLM 
mineral estate in areas identified as having no reasonably foreseeable 
development potential, based on Reasonably Foreseeable Development 
Scenario (RFDS) analyses completed by the BLM prior to the planning 
effort. Therefore, the decision area includes 742,505 subsurface acres 
where the surface is administered by other Federal agencies (mostly 
DOD, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and mineral 
development is reasonably foreseeable. The decision area also includes 
280,680 acres of Federal mineral estate where the surface is non-
Federal (i.e. State or local government, or private ownership).
    The total decision area includes 1,026,176 acres of subsurface with 
BLM-administered surface on 2,991 of those acres. There is no decision 
area acreage in the states of Georgia, North Carolina, or South 
Carolina, as these states have no BLM-administered surface acreage and 
the RFDS showed no reasonably foreseeable development of Federal 
minerals in these states.
    On October 8, 2008, the BLM issued a Notice of Intent in the 
Federal

[[Page 64833]]

Register to prepare the Southeastern States RMP (73 FR 58976), which 
initiated public scoping. Planning issues identified during scoping 
include management of energy and mineral resources and land ownership 
adjustments. During scoping, the BLM requested input from federally 
recognized tribes that have ancestral tribal homelands within the 
planning area.
    Four alternatives were developed in response to the issues 
identified during the planning process. The ``No Action'' alternative 
represents current management, and is identified as Alternative A. 
Alternative B is the BLM's Preferred Alternative; it provides 
opportunities to use and develop Federal minerals while providing 
protection of natural resources. Alternative C places more emphasis on 
the protection of natural resources, and Alternative D emphasizes 
Federal mineral development.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice also announces the 
public comment period on proposed Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern (ACECs). The Draft RMP/EIS evaluates and proposes designation 
for three ACECs. The resource use limitations which would apply to 
these areas, if formally designated, are described below.
    The existing ACEC designation of 54.33 acres on the Jupiter Inlet 
Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area would continue in Alternative A. 
Alternatives B, C and D propose increasing the size of the Jupiter 
Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area ACEC to 85.83 acres. Values 
associated with this proposed ACEC include threatened, endangered, and 
sensitive wildlife and plants, rare vegetation communities, and Native 
American and maritime cultural resources. The resource use limitations 
which would occur are as follows: Closed to mining, mineral leasing and 
mineral material sale; right-of-way avoidance area; limit travel to 
designated routes; and Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class III.
    Alternatives B and C propose designating The Lathrop Bayou tract 
ACEC (183.03 acres). This proposed ACEC is a peninsula with adjacent 
small islands containing upland longleaf pine and slash pine forests 
and habitat for red cockaded woodpecker, among other species. Values 
associated with this proposed ACEC include threatened, endangered, and 
sensitive wildlife and plants, and rare vegetation communities. The 
resource-use limitations which would occur if this proposed ACEC is 
formally designated are as follows: Closed to mining, mineral leasing 
and mineral material sale; right-of-way avoidance area; limit travel to 
designated routes.
    Alternatives B and C propose designating the Egmont Key tract ACEC 
(55 acres). This proposed ACEC is the northern end of the key, located 
at the mouth of Tampa Bay, and contains beach transitioning to 
vegetated uplands with a lighthouse and remnants of an historic fort. 
Values associated with this proposed ACEC include threatened, 
endangered, and sensitive wildlife and plants, and historic cultural 
resources. The resource use limitations which would occur if this 
proposed ACEC is formally designated are as follows: Closed to mining, 
mineral leasing and mineral material sale; right-of-way avoidance area; 
limit travel to designated routes; and VRM Class III.
    The BLM will respond to each substantive comment received during 
the public review and comment period by making appropriate revisions to 
the document, or explaining why the comment did not warrant a change. 
Notice of the availability of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS will be posted 
in the Federal Register.
    In order to reduce the use of paper and control costs, the BLM 
strongly encourages the public to submit comments electronically via 
email. Comments submitted must include the commenter's name and street 
address. Whenever possible, please include reference to either the page 
or section in the Draft RMP/EIS to which the comment applies.
    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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Bruce Dawson,
Manager, Southeastern States Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2014-25693 Filed 10-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P
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