Notice of Availability of Additional Information on Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Associated Resource Use Limitations Identified in the Draft Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska, 52-53 [2014-30598]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 52 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 2015 / Notices • Effects on wildlife habitat, plants, and animals including threatened, endangered, and sensitive species (especially sage-grouse) • Potential effects to JBLM YTC military training operations • Effects to visual resources and existing view sheds • Effects to cultural resources • Effects to soils and water from surface-disturbing activities • Social and economic effects • Management and control of invasive plant species • Public health and safety The Supplemental Draft EIS analysis identified several advantages associated with the New Northern Route Alternative and they include: • Reduced overall transmission line length; approximately 22-miles shorter than the DEIS Agency Preferred Alternative. The reduced transmission line length provides reduced resource impacts for several issues compared to the original DEIS Agency Preferred Alternative. • Reduced overall transmission line length across non-federal lands; The New Northern Route Alternative occurs primarily on federal lands and therefore has less impacts on land use, public health and safety, and other issues compared to the DEIS Agency Preferred Alternative. • Reduced overall disturbance footprint; the New Northern Route Alternative is consolidated in an existing transmission line corridor (approximately 200-foot centerline-tocenterline separation) for the majority of the proposed routing. The reduced disturbance foot-print thus reduced resource impacts such as impacts to wildlife habitat (especially SageGrouse), military training, soils, water resources, invasive species spread, and others issues compared to the DEIS Agency Preferred Alternative. 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. Please note that public comments and information submitted, including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments, will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:50 Dec 31, 2014 Jkt 235001 Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Daniel C. Picard, Spokane District Manager. [FR Doc. 2014–30597 Filed 12–31–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–33–P DEPARMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [14XLLAKF02000.L16100000. DQ0000.LXSS094L0000] Notice of Availability of Additional Information on Proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Associated Resource Use Limitations Identified in the Draft Eastern Interior Resource Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: On February 24, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Eastern Interior Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP)/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review and comment in the Federal Register. BLM planning regulations require the BLM to notify the public of proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and specify the resource use limitations which would occur if the ACECs were formally designated through approval of the Eastern Interior RMP. Based on public comment on the Draft RMP, the BLM proposes the reconfiguration of the Fortymile ACEC and proposes a new ACEC on the Mosquito Flats. These specific proposed ACEC boundaries were not noticed in the Draft RMP/EIS. Thus, the BLM is providing this notice and public comment period for these two proposed ACECs. DATES: You may submit comments related to the new ACEC information in this notice until March 3, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the new ACEC information by any of the following methods: • Email: easterninterior@blm.gov. • Fax: 907–474–2282. • Mail: Eastern Interior Field Office, Attention—Eastern Interior RMP, Bureau of Land Management, 1150 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanie Cole, telephone 907–474–2340 or email j05cole@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS received from the public and internal BLM analyses on ACECs were reviewed and considered for incorporation into the proposed plan. As a result, the BLM now proposes the addition of the 30,000 acre Mosquito Flats ACEC and reconfiguration of the Fortymile ACEC to 685,000 acres. It is unnecessary to issue a supplement to the Draft EIS pursuant to 40 CFR 1502.9 because the proposed land management direction for these ACECs was within the spectrum of alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS. The following description details the information for these two proposed ACECs. Maps of both ACECs are available on the BLM’s Eastern Interior RMP Web site at www.blm.gov/ ak/eirmp. Mosquito Flats ACEC (30,000 Acres) During the public comment period for the Eastern Interior RMP, the BLM received two nominations for an ACEC on the Mosquito Flats. The proposed Mosquito Flats ACEC is a large wetland complex unique to BLM lands in the planning area; it consists of a wetland basin situated in the upper portion of the drainage, at relatively high elevation (∼2250 ft), and surrounded by mountains. Mosquito Flats provides unique wetland and aquatic habitats and supports a variety of wildlife species. The proposed ACEC is comprised of a complex of floating bog wetland vegetation partially surrounded by mountains. The Mosquito Fork River flows over continuous sand beds that are uncharacteristically clean, light colored, well-sorted, and low in organics. These sand beds provide unique aquatic habitat essential for maintaining diverse species within the planning area. Mosquito Flats is an important moose calving area and summer habitat for the regional moose population. The area also supports short-eared owls and nesting trumpeter swans, both BLMAlaska sensitive species. It may also support other BLM-sensitive species, including olive-sided flycatcher, rusty blackbird, and blackpoll warbler. Proposed Use Limitations: Closed to locatable mineral entry and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights. Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use is E:\FR\FM\02JAN1.SGM 02JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 2015 / Notices limited by season with no summer use, except by permit. Fortymile ACEC (685,000 Acres) asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Authority: 43 CFR 1610.7–2 [FR Doc. 2014–30598 Filed 12–31–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:50 Dec 31, 2014 Jkt 235001 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2014–0077] The BLM proposes modifying the boundary of the Fortymile ACEC that was presented in Alternative B in the Draft RMP/EIS to improve manageability by including additional small parcels between the calving/postcalving distribution and the Fortymile National Wild and Scenic River Corridor. The Fortymile ACEC is proposed to maintain effective caribou and Dall sheep habitat and mineral licks. The Fortymile caribou herd is an important subsistence resource in interior Alaska and calving and postcalving habitats are considered the most sensitive seasonal habitats. Proposed Use Limitations: Closed to locatable mineral entry and mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights. Limited OHV designation: Seasonal limitation on uses within 1 mile of mineral licks. Consistent with 43 CFR 1610.7–2, the BLM is providing this notice and public comment period for these two proposed ACECs. (Supplemental information can be found in the original Notice of Availability (NOA) published in the Federal Register and on the Eastern Interior RMP Web site at www.blm.gov/ ak/eirmp). You may submit comments related to the new ACEC information on this notice until March 3, 2014 using any of the methods listed in the DATES section above. 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. Bud C. Cribley, State Director. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Extension of Comment Period on the Environmental Assessment for Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Virginia 53 HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170– 4817. Comments must be received or postmarked no later than January 16, 2015. All written comments received or postmarked during the comment period will be made available to the public. Comments already submitted in response to the December 2, 2014, notice do not need to be resubmitted. Authority: This notice is published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305. AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Extension of comment period. Dated: December 22, 2014. Walter D. Cruickshank, Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. BOEM is extending the comment period on an Environmental Assessment (EA) that considers the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences associated with approval of wind energy-related research activities offshore Virginia as proposed by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME). BOEM is seeking public input on the EA, including comments on the completeness and adequacy of the environmental analysis. BOEM will consider public comments on the EA in determining whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), or conduct additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. DATES: Comments on the EA will now be accepted until January 16, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170, (703) 787–1340 or Michelle.Morin@boem.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please refer to the notice published in the Federal Register (79 FR 71446) on December 2, 2014, for further information. The notice and the EA can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/ VOWTAP/. Comments: You may submit your comments by one of two methods: 1. Electronically: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the entry entitled, ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter BOEM–2014–0077, and then click ‘‘search.’’ Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials for this notice. 2. In written form, delivered by hand or by mail, enclosed in an envelope labeled ‘‘Approval of the Virginia Offshore Wind Technology Advancement Project on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Virginia’’ to: Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 381 Elden Street, [FR Doc. 2014–30767 Filed 12–31–14; 8:45 am] SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Notice of Permits Issued Under the Antarctic Conservation Act National Science Foundation. Notice of permits issued Under the Antarctic Conservation of 1978, Public Law 95–541. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permits issued under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. This is the required notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Li Ling Hamady, ACA Permit Officer, Division of Polar Programs, Rm. 755, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22230. Or by email: ACApermits@nsf.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 25, 2014 the National Science Foundation published a notice in the Federal Register of a permit application received. The permit was issued on December 25, 2014 to: Ashley Perrin, Permit No. 2015–016. SUMMARY: Nadene G. Kennedy, Polar Coordination Specialist, Division of Polar Programs. [FR Doc. 2014–30730 Filed 12–31–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7555–01–P NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2014–0276] General Use of Locks in Protection and Control of Facilities and Special Nuclear Materials, Classified Matter, and Safeguards Information Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Draft regulatory guide; request for comment. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\02JAN1.SGM 02JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 1 (Friday, January 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52-53]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30598]


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DEPARMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[14XLLAKF02000.L16100000. DQ0000.LXSS094L0000]


Notice of Availability of Additional Information on Proposed 
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Associated Resource Use 
Limitations Identified in the Draft Eastern Interior Resource 
Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: On February 24, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
published a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Eastern Interior Draft 
Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
public review and comment in the Federal Register. BLM planning 
regulations require the BLM to notify the public of proposed Areas of 
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and specify the resource use 
limitations which would occur if the ACECs were formally designated 
through approval of the Eastern Interior RMP. Based on public comment 
on the Draft RMP, the BLM proposes the reconfiguration of the Fortymile 
ACEC and proposes a new ACEC on the Mosquito Flats. These specific 
proposed ACEC boundaries were not noticed in the Draft RMP/EIS. Thus, 
the BLM is providing this notice and public comment period for these 
two proposed ACECs.

DATES: You may submit comments related to the new ACEC information in 
this notice until March 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the new ACEC information 
by any of the following methods:
     Email: easterninterior@blm.gov.
     Fax: 907-474-2282.
     Mail: Eastern Interior Field Office, Attention--Eastern 
Interior RMP, Bureau of Land Management, 1150 University Avenue, 
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanie Cole, telephone 907-474-2340 or 
email j05cole@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: Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS received from 
the public and internal BLM analyses on ACECs were reviewed and 
considered for incorporation into the proposed plan. As a result, the 
BLM now proposes the addition of the 30,000 acre Mosquito Flats ACEC 
and reconfiguration of the Fortymile ACEC to 685,000 acres. It is 
unnecessary to issue a supplement to the Draft EIS pursuant to 40 CFR 
1502.9 because the proposed land management direction for these ACECs 
was within the spectrum of alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS. The 
following description details the information for these two proposed 
ACECs. Maps of both ACECs are available on the BLM's Eastern Interior 
RMP Web site at www.blm.gov/ak/eirmp.

Mosquito Flats ACEC (30,000 Acres)

    During the public comment period for the Eastern Interior RMP, the 
BLM received two nominations for an ACEC on the Mosquito Flats. The 
proposed Mosquito Flats ACEC is a large wetland complex unique to BLM 
lands in the planning area; it consists of a wetland basin situated in 
the upper portion of the drainage, at relatively high elevation (~2250 
ft), and surrounded by mountains. Mosquito Flats provides unique 
wetland and aquatic habitats and supports a variety of wildlife 
species.
    The proposed ACEC is comprised of a complex of floating bog wetland 
vegetation partially surrounded by mountains. The Mosquito Fork River 
flows over continuous sand beds that are uncharacteristically clean, 
light colored, well-sorted, and low in organics. These sand beds 
provide unique aquatic habitat essential for maintaining diverse 
species within the planning area.
    Mosquito Flats is an important moose calving area and summer 
habitat for the regional moose population. The area also supports 
short-eared owls and nesting trumpeter swans, both BLM-Alaska sensitive 
species. It may also support other BLM-sensitive species, including 
olive-sided flycatcher, rusty blackbird, and blackpoll warbler.
    Proposed Use Limitations: Closed to locatable mineral entry and 
mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights. Off-Highway Vehicle 
(OHV) use is

[[Page 53]]

limited by season with no summer use, except by permit.

Fortymile ACEC (685,000 Acres)

    The BLM proposes modifying the boundary of the Fortymile ACEC that 
was presented in Alternative B in the Draft RMP/EIS to improve 
manageability by including additional small parcels between the 
calving/post-calving distribution and the Fortymile National Wild and 
Scenic River Corridor. The Fortymile ACEC is proposed to maintain 
effective caribou and Dall sheep habitat and mineral licks. The 
Fortymile caribou herd is an important subsistence resource in interior 
Alaska and calving and postcalving habitats are considered the most 
sensitive seasonal habitats.
    Proposed Use Limitations: Closed to locatable mineral entry and 
mineral leasing, subject to valid existing rights. Limited OHV 
designation: Seasonal limitation on uses within 1 mile of mineral 
licks.
    Consistent with 43 CFR 1610.7-2, the BLM is providing this notice 
and public comment period for these two proposed ACECs. (Supplemental 
information can be found in the original Notice of Availability (NOA) 
published in the Federal Register and on the Eastern Interior RMP Web 
site at www.blm.gov/ak/eirmp).
    You may submit comments related to the new ACEC information on this 
notice until March 3, 2014 using any of the methods listed in the DATES 
section above.
    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.

Bud C. Cribley,
State Director.

    Authority:  43 CFR 1610.7-2

[FR Doc. 2014-30598 Filed 12-31-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P

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