Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment and Associated Environmental Assessment for the Brothers/La Pine Planning Area in the Prineville District Office, Oregon, 48912-48913 [2015-20060]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48912-48913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20060]



[[Page 48912]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORP00000.L14400000.DU0000.15XL1116AF. HAG15-0187]


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment 
and Associated Environmental Assessment for the Brothers/La Pine 
Planning Area in the Prineville District Office, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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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) 
Prineville District Office, Prineville, Oregon, intends to prepare a 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in order to analyze the plan level 
decision to change the land tenure classification of approximately 18 
acres. The legal description of the affected public lands includes the 
BLM lands listed below:

Willamette Meridian, Oregon

T. 16 S., R. 18E., the N1/2 of the N1/2 of the NE1/4 of the SE1/4 of 
the NW 1/4 of section 8; the NW1/4 of the SE1/4 of the NW 1/4 of 
section 8; and the N1/2 of the SW1/4 of the SE1/4 of the NW1/4 of 
section 8, from Zone 1 (Retention) to Zone 3 (Suitable for 
Disposal), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The 
BLM intends to concurrently analyze a trespass resolution strategy 
for an unintentional occupancy developed on a portion of the 18 
acres in 1995. The trespass consists of a 2,500 square-foot log 
home, two barns, greenhouse, windmill, and a buried pipeline that 
transports water from a spring on private land to a water storage 
tank. The strategy will consider a range of alternatives including 
the direct sale of the entire 18 acres and issuance of a right-of-
way via an existing driveway, to the removal of all structures and 
rehabilitation of any disturbed sites.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment with associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until September 14, 2015. 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, Prineville District Web site 
at: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/index.php. 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. The District will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Direct Public Land Sale and Land Tenure Classification 
Plan Amendment EA by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/index.php
     Email: BLM_OR_PR_Front_Desk@blm.gov
     Fax: 1-541-416-6782
     Mail: Direct Public Land Sale and Land Tenure 
Classification Plan Amendment EA, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 
97754
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Prineville District Office, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Susie Manezes, Assistant 
Field Manager, telephone 1-541-416-6725; address Susie Manezes, 3050 
NE. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754; email smanezes@blm.gov. Persons 
who use a telecom-munications 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 
District Office, Prineville, Oregon, intends to prepare an RMP 
amendment with an associated EA for the Brothers/La Pine planning area, 
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input 
on issues and planning criteria. The affected portion of the Brothers/
La Pine planning area is an approximately 18-acre contiguous parcel of 
land located in Crook County in Oregon as follows:

    Willamette Meridian, Oregon: T. 16 S., R. 18 E., the N1/2 of the 
N1/2 of the NE1/4 of the SE1/4 of the NW 1/4 of section 8; the NW1/4 
of the SE1/4 of the NW 1/4 of section 8; and the N1/2 of the SW1/4 
of the SE1/4 of the NW1/4 of section 8.

    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the planning process. Preliminary 
issues for the plan amendment area have been identified by BLM 
personnel; Federal, state, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. 
The issues include: how would the proposed change in land tenure 
classification and an associated direct sale of 18 acres of public land 
along with the issuance of a road use right-of-way affect sage-grouse; 
and, how would the proposed land tenure classification change affect 
Native American spiritual and traditional uses. Preliminary planning 
criteria include: the plan will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, 
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal law, Executive orders, and 
management policies of the BLM; where existing planning decisions are 
still valid, those decisions may remain unchanged and be incorporated 
into the new amendment; the plan will recognize valid existing rights; 
and Native American tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy and tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration. The planning process will include the consideration of 
any impacts on Indian trust assets. 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 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 BLM will consult 
with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance 
with E. O. 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.
    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

[[Page 48913]]

cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The minutes and list of 
attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and 
open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to 
clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified 
issues to be addressed in the plan, and will place them into one of 
three categories:

    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative 
action; or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.

    The BLM will provide an explanation in the EA as to why an issue 
was placed in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to 
help identify any management questions and concerns that should be 
addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best 
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: rangeland 
management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, visual resource 
management, archeology, paleontology, wildlife, botany, lands and 
realty, hydrology, soils, sociology and economics.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Carol Benkosky,
Prineville District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2015-20060 Filed 8-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-33-P