Notice of Availability of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource Management Plans and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 70254-70256 [2015-28791]

Download as PDF 70254 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 219 / Friday, November 13, 2015 / Notices boundaries (C–Wild–S–05), due to higher presence of risk factors in the PMU as analyzed under Final EIS Alternative C. This change is being made in response to issues raised during the protest period and based on additional policy discussions. Concerns were raised by the public that the BLM action was not adequate to protect BSSG and its habitat. Disturbance levels identified in the Final EIS will require site-specific project mitigation to insure no unmitigated net loss of habitat. This requires assessing habitat availability at the landscape scale. Tall Structure Buffer—Proposed Change As part of the protest process, the BLM found that it needed to correct an error in the Proposed Plan Amendment and Final EIS. The BLM found that it should have identified the buffer distance for tall structures as 4 miles from active or pending leks. This is consistent with management prescriptions proposed by the USFS. Specifically, the BLM proposes to adopt the action from Alternative C which states that tall structures, which could serve as predator perches, will not be authorized within 4 miles of an active or pending lek (C–LUSU–S–04). The 4mile lek buffer accords with other prescriptions of surface disturbance in sage-grouse habitat and is consistent with best science available. jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES High-Voltage (≥120kV) Transmission Line—Proposed Change The BLM is designating exclusion areas for new high-power (≥120kV) transmission lines in BSSG habitat. Specifically, new high-power (≥120kV) transmission line corridors, rights-ofway, facilities, or construction areas in habitat (outside of existing corridors) will not be authorized (C–Min–S–09). This change is being made in response to issues raised during the protest period and based on additional policy discussions and was analyzed under Alternative C in the EIS. Connectivity Habitat—Proposed Change The BLM is clarifying language from Alternative C to provide for management of connectivity habitat. The BSSG landscape is fragmented by areas of agriculture and urbanization, as well as areas of naturally occurring and encroaching pinyon-juniper vegetation. Sage-grouse habitats within and between PMU are often separated by stretches of unsuitable areas that may inhibit sage-grouse movements across the landscape. Alternative C provides a limited amount of management VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:03 Nov 12, 2015 Jkt 238001 direction to maintain or enhance suitability of connective area. Alternative C includes a goal about habitat and movement and an objective of improving degraded habitat, including areas with conifer encroachment (i.e., pinyon-juniper). Actions and Best Management Practices relating to connectivity apply primarily to mineral uses. Alternative C states that where valid existing rights exist, in connective habitat areas, vegetation characteristics suitable to sage-grouse should be maintained to the extent technically feasible (C–Min–S–01). In addition, Alternative C provides additional direction not specific to connectivity which states, ‘‘Vegetation treatments and post-disturbance restoration should seed and/or transplant sagebrush to restore large patches of sagebrush cover and connect existing patches’’ (C–Wild–S–02). Given the fragmented nature of the bi-state landscape and the level of apparent isolation of subpopulations, additional management direction for connective habitat area is necessary to facilitate sage-grouse movement, reduce isolation, and increase genetic interchange between subpopulations. This change is being made in response to policy discussions. 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 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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 John F. Ruhs, Acting State Director, Nevada. [FR Doc. 2015–28876 Filed 11–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P PO 00000 Frm 00071 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCA932000.L13400000.DQ0000. LXSSB0020000.16X] Notice of Availability of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource Management Plans and Final Environmental Impact Statement Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. 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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). This LUPA would amend the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource Management Plans (RMPs). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the availability of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS. DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM’s Proposed LUPA/Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions and files a protest must do so within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the DRECP Proposed LUPA and Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies, affected tribal governments, and to other stakeholders. The Proposed LUPA and Final EIS are available for review online at www.drecp.org and www.blm.gov/ca/ drecp. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for a list of locations where copies of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS are available for public inspection. All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following addresses: Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024– 1383; Overnight Delivery: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicki Campbell, Program Manager, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1 jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 219 / Friday, November 13, 2015 / Notices DRECP, telephone 916–978–4401; address BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W–1623, Sacramento, CA; email vlcampbell@ blm.gov. To request a DVD, please send an email to drecp.info@energy.ca.gov or call 1–866–936–7477 to provide a mailing address. 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 developed the DRECP to: (1) Advance Federal and State natural resource conservation goals and other Federal land management goals; (2) Meet the requirements of the Federal Endangered Species Act, Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (OPLMA), California Endangered Species Act, Natural Community Conservation Planning Act, and FLPMA in the Mojave and Colorado/Sonoran desert region of Southern California; and (3) Facilitate the timely and streamlined permitting of renewable energy projects. The Draft DRECP includes a strategy that identifies and maps potential areas for renewable energy development and areas for long-term natural resource conservation. The Draft DRECP was published on September 26, 2014 (79 FR 57971), and comments were accepted until February 23, 2015. In March 2015, the DRECP partner agencies (the BLM, California Energy Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife) announced a phased approach to completing the DRECP. As part of this approach, the BLM’s component of the DRECP is being finalized first in Phase I, outlining important designations for conservation and renewable energy on public lands. The Proposed DRECP LUPA would amend the CDCA Plan for the entire CDCA, and the RMPs for portions of the Bishop and Bakersfield Field Offices, which includes the Mojave Desert and Colorado/Sonoran Desert ecoregion subareas in California. The DRECP Plan Area includes all or a portion of the following counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. The DRECP Plan Area covers approximately 22,585,000 acres, of which approximately 9,784,000 acres are BLM-administered lands. An additional 1,085,000 acres of BLMadministered lands are within the CDCA but outside of the DRECP Plan Area. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:03 Nov 12, 2015 Jkt 238001 The BLM’s objectives for the Proposed DRECP LUPA and Final EIS are to: • Conserve biological, physical, cultural, social, and scenic resources; • Promote renewable energy and transmission development, consistent with Federal renewable energy and transmission goals and policies, in consideration of State renewable energy targets; • Comply with all applicable Federal laws, including the BLM’s obligation to manage the public lands consistent with FLPMA; • ‘‘Preserve the unique and irreplaceable resources, including archaeological values, and conserve the use of the economic resources’’ of the CDCA (FLPMA 601(a)(6), 43 U.S.C. 1781(a)(6)); • Incorporate goals, objectives, and allowable uses on areas of the public lands managed for conservation purposes within the CDCA and which the BLM identifies as components of the National Landscape Conservation System, consistent with the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11); • Amend land use plans consistent with the criteria in FLPMA and the CDCA Plan; • Coordinate planning and management activities with other Federal, State, local, and tribal planning and management programs by considering the policies of approved land resource management programs, to the extent consistent with Federal law; and • Make some land use allocation decisions outside the DRECP area but within the CDCA, including Visual Resource Management Classes and land use allocations to replace multiple-use classes. Following the publication of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS, the BLM expects to issue a decision that will identify the public lands in the CDCA that Congress included in the National Landscape Conservation System under Section 2002(b)(2)(D) of Public Law 111–11. The Proposed LUPA and Final EIS would define the goals, objectives, and allowable uses within those lands. It would also identify areas suitable for renewable energy development (Development Focus Areas or DFAs); Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and Wildlife Allocation Areas; areas suitable for an emphasis on recreation (Special Recreation Management Areas and Extensive Recreation Management Areas), and areas that would continue to be managed for other uses. In addition, the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS contemplate modifications in the management of recreation (including the PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70255 establishment of Special Recreation Management Areas and Extensive Recreation Management Areas), allowing for continued exploration of mineral resources, establishment of Visual Resource Management Classes, and grazing. The Proposed LUPA and Final EIS also incorporate proposed mitigation measures to be considered in relation to future authorized uses on the public lands and activities on nonpublic lands that could adversely affect public land resources. The BLM consulted with tribes and carefully considered tribal comments when developing proposed DFAs and conservation areas and other elements of the proposed LUPA. The Proposed DRECP LUPA and Final EIS include the BLM’s proposed alternative, four additional action alternatives, and a no action alternative. Action alternatives analyzed in detail are the result of integrating varying locations and configurations for renewable energy and conservation on BLM-managed lands. These alternatives were developed through the interagency process that led to the development of the Draft DRECP. The preferred alternative in the draft DRECP/Draft EIS has been modified based on public comment. The alternatives differ in the following ways: • Areas suitable for renewable energy: The alternatives range from 81,000 acres of Development Focus Areas (Alternative 1) to 718,000 acres of Development Focus Areas (Alternative 2). Under the No Action Alternative, 2,804,000 acres would be open to some form of renewable energy development. The Proposed Alternative identifies 388,000 acres of Development Focus Areas. The alternatives include Conservation and Management Actions for development in these areas. • Conservation Designations: With respect to lands to be included in the National Landscape Conservation System, the alternatives range from 3,264,000 acres (Alternative 1) to 5,113,000 acres (Alternative 2). Under the No Action Alternative, no lands would be identified as National Conservation Lands, although 2,966,000 acres would remain as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. The Proposed Alternative would identify 3,856,000 acres of National Conservation Lands. The alternatives also analyze a range of management actions for National Conservation Lands. In addition, the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS would identify new and expanded Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. The Proposed Alternative would identify approximately 4,717,000 acres of E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1 jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 70256 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 219 / Friday, November 13, 2015 / Notices ACECs, although approximately 3,337,000 acres would overlap with proposed National Conservation Lands. • Recreation: The Proposed LUPA and Final EIS would identify Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) and Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs). The alternatives range from 2,537,000 acres of SRMA (Alternative 1) and 2,458,000 acres of SRMA (Proposed Alternative). The Proposed Alternative would also include 946,000 acres of ERMAs. Under the No Action Alternative, there would be zero acres of ERMA, 193,000 acres of SRMA, and 1,465,000 acres managed for recreation emphasis. Comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS received from the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the proposed plan. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but did not significantly change proposed land use plan decisions. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed LUPA/Final EIS may be found in the ‘‘Dear Reader’’ Letter of the DRECP Proposed LUPA and Final EIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original protest by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the emailed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct emails to: protest@blm.gov. Copies of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS are available for public inspection at the following locations: • BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W–1623, Sacramento, CA 95825; • BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553; • BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311; • BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243; • BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 S. Highway 95, Needles, CA 92363; • BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262; • BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555; • BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308; • BLM Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514; and VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:03 Nov 12, 2015 Jkt 238001 • FWS Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Electronic copies will also be available at public libraries throughout the Planning Area. See the project Web site above or contact the BLM for further information on other locations. Before including your phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your protest 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, 43 CFR 1610.5. Thomas Pogacnik, Deputy State Director, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2015–28791 Filed 11–12–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA– 19542;PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP15.R50000] Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Notice of Nomination Solicitation National Park Service, Interior. Notice of request for nominations. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service is seeking nominations for one member of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee). The Secretary of the Interior will appoint the member from nominations submitted by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional Native American religious leaders. The nominee need not be a traditional Indian religious leader. DATES: Nominations must be received by December 14, 2015. ADDRESSES: Melanie O’Brien, Program Manager, National NAGPRA Program (2253), National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240, or via email nagpra_dfo@nps.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Review Committee was established by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA), at 25 U.S.C. 3006, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The Review Committee is responsible for: 1. Monitoring the NAGPRA inventory and identification process; 2. reviewing and making findings related to the identity or cultural affiliation of cultural items, or the return of such items; 3. facilitating the resolution of disputes; 4. compiling an inventory of culturally unidentifiable human remains and developing a process for disposition of such remains; 5. consulting with Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations and museums on matters within the scope of the work of the Review Committee affecting such tribes or organizations; 6. consulting with the Secretary of the Interior in the development of regulations to carry out NAGPRA; and 7. making recommendations regarding future care of repatriated cultural items. The Review Committee consists of seven members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary may not appoint Federal officers or employees to the Review Committee. Three members are appointed from nominations submitted by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and traditional Native American religious leaders. At least two of these members must be traditional Indian religious leaders. Three members are appointed from nominations submitted by national museum or scientific organizations. One member is appointed from a list of persons developed and consented to by all of the other members. Members serve as Special Government Employees, which requires completion of annual ethics training. Members are appointed for 4-year terms and incumbent members may be reappointed for 2-year terms. The Review Committee’s work takes place during public meetings. The Review Committee normally meets in person two times per year, normally for two or three days. The Review Committee may also hold one or more public teleconferences of several hours duration. Review Committee members serve without pay but shall be reimbursed for each day the member participates in Review Committee meetings. Review Committee members are reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in association with Review Committee meetings (25 U.S.C. 3006(b)(4)). Additional information regarding the Review Committee, including the Review Committee’s charter, meeting protocol, and dispute resolution procedures, is available on the National NAGPRA E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70254-70256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28791]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCA932000.L13400000.DQ0000.LXSSB0020000.16X]


Notice of Availability of the Desert Renewable Energy 
Conservation Plan Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment to the California 
Desert Conservation Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource 
Management Plans and Final Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Desert Renewable Energy 
Conservation Plan (DRECP). This LUPA would amend the California Desert 
Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource 
Management Plans (RMPs). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the 
availability of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS.

DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the 
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's 
Proposed LUPA/Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions and files a 
protest must do so within 30 days of the date that the Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DRECP Proposed LUPA and Final EIS have been 
sent to affected Federal, State, and local government agencies, 
affected tribal governments, and to other stakeholders. The Proposed 
LUPA and Final EIS are available for review online at www.drecp.org and 
www.blm.gov/ca/drecp. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below 
for a list of locations where copies of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS 
are available for public inspection.
    All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following 
addresses: Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest 
Coordinator, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383; Overnight 
Delivery: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, 20 M 
Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicki Campbell, Program Manager,

[[Page 70255]]

DRECP, telephone 916-978-4401; address BLM California State Office, 
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, CA; email 
vlcampbell@blm.gov. To request a DVD, please send an email to 
drecp.info@energy.ca.gov">drecp.info@energy.ca.gov or call 1-866-936-7477 to provide a mailing 
address. 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 developed the DRECP to: (1) Advance 
Federal and State natural resource conservation goals and other Federal 
land management goals; (2) Meet the requirements of the Federal 
Endangered Species Act, Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 
(OPLMA), California Endangered Species Act, Natural Community 
Conservation Planning Act, and FLPMA in the Mojave and Colorado/Sonoran 
desert region of Southern California; and (3) Facilitate the timely and 
streamlined permitting of renewable energy projects. The Draft DRECP 
includes a strategy that identifies and maps potential areas for 
renewable energy development and areas for long-term natural resource 
conservation. The Draft DRECP was published on September 26, 2014 (79 
FR 57971), and comments were accepted until February 23, 2015.
    In March 2015, the DRECP partner agencies (the BLM, California 
Energy Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife) announced a phased approach to 
completing the DRECP. As part of this approach, the BLM's component of 
the DRECP is being finalized first in Phase I, outlining important 
designations for conservation and renewable energy on public lands.
    The Proposed DRECP LUPA would amend the CDCA Plan for the entire 
CDCA, and the RMPs for portions of the Bishop and Bakersfield Field 
Offices, which includes the Mojave Desert and Colorado/Sonoran Desert 
ecoregion subareas in California. The DRECP Plan Area includes all or a 
portion of the following counties: Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, 
Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. The DRECP Plan Area covers 
approximately 22,585,000 acres, of which approximately 9,784,000 acres 
are BLM-administered lands. An additional 1,085,000 acres of BLM-
administered lands are within the CDCA but outside of the DRECP Plan 
Area.
    The BLM's objectives for the Proposed DRECP LUPA and Final EIS are 
to:
     Conserve biological, physical, cultural, social, and 
scenic resources;
     Promote renewable energy and transmission development, 
consistent with Federal renewable energy and transmission goals and 
policies, in consideration of State renewable energy targets;
     Comply with all applicable Federal laws, including the 
BLM's obligation to manage the public lands consistent with FLPMA;
     ``Preserve the unique and irreplaceable resources, 
including archaeological values, and conserve the use of the economic 
resources'' of the CDCA (FLPMA 601(a)(6), 43 U.S.C. 1781(a)(6));
     Incorporate goals, objectives, and allowable uses on areas 
of the public lands managed for conservation purposes within the CDCA 
and which the BLM identifies as components of the National Landscape 
Conservation System, consistent with the Omnibus Public Land Management 
Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11);
     Amend land use plans consistent with the criteria in FLPMA 
and the CDCA Plan;
     Coordinate planning and management activities with other 
Federal, State, local, and tribal planning and management programs by 
considering the policies of approved land resource management programs, 
to the extent consistent with Federal law; and
     Make some land use allocation decisions outside the DRECP 
area but within the CDCA, including Visual Resource Management Classes 
and land use allocations to replace multiple-use classes.
    Following the publication of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS, the 
BLM expects to issue a decision that will identify the public lands in 
the CDCA that Congress included in the National Landscape Conservation 
System under Section 2002(b)(2)(D) of Public Law 111-11. The Proposed 
LUPA and Final EIS would define the goals, objectives, and allowable 
uses within those lands. It would also identify areas suitable for 
renewable energy development (Development Focus Areas or DFAs); Areas 
of Critical Environmental Concern and Wildlife Allocation Areas; areas 
suitable for an emphasis on recreation (Special Recreation Management 
Areas and Extensive Recreation Management Areas), and areas that would 
continue to be managed for other uses. In addition, the Proposed LUPA 
and Final EIS contemplate modifications in the management of recreation 
(including the establishment of Special Recreation Management Areas and 
Extensive Recreation Management Areas), allowing for continued 
exploration of mineral resources, establishment of Visual Resource 
Management Classes, and grazing. The Proposed LUPA and Final EIS also 
incorporate proposed mitigation measures to be considered in relation 
to future authorized uses on the public lands and activities on non-
public lands that could adversely affect public land resources. The BLM 
consulted with tribes and carefully considered tribal comments when 
developing proposed DFAs and conservation areas and other elements of 
the proposed LUPA.
    The Proposed DRECP LUPA and Final EIS include the BLM's proposed 
alternative, four additional action alternatives, and a no action 
alternative. Action alternatives analyzed in detail are the result of 
integrating varying locations and configurations for renewable energy 
and conservation on BLM-managed lands. These alternatives were 
developed through the interagency process that led to the development 
of the Draft DRECP. The preferred alternative in the draft DRECP/Draft 
EIS has been modified based on public comment.
    The alternatives differ in the following ways:
     Areas suitable for renewable energy: The alternatives 
range from 81,000 acres of Development Focus Areas (Alternative 1) to 
718,000 acres of Development Focus Areas (Alternative 2). Under the No 
Action Alternative, 2,804,000 acres would be open to some form of 
renewable energy development. The Proposed Alternative identifies 
388,000 acres of Development Focus Areas. The alternatives include 
Conservation and Management Actions for development in these areas.
     Conservation Designations: With respect to lands to be 
included in the National Landscape Conservation System, the 
alternatives range from 3,264,000 acres (Alternative 1) to 5,113,000 
acres (Alternative 2). Under the No Action Alternative, no lands would 
be identified as National Conservation Lands, although 2,966,000 acres 
would remain as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. The Proposed 
Alternative would identify 3,856,000 acres of National Conservation 
Lands. The alternatives also analyze a range of management actions for 
National Conservation Lands. In addition, the Proposed LUPA and Final 
EIS would identify new and expanded Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern. The Proposed Alternative would identify approximately 
4,717,000 acres of

[[Page 70256]]

ACECs, although approximately 3,337,000 acres would overlap with 
proposed National Conservation Lands.
     Recreation: The Proposed LUPA and Final EIS would identify 
Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) and Extensive Recreation 
Management Areas (ERMAs). The alternatives range from 2,537,000 acres 
of SRMA (Alternative 1) and 2,458,000 acres of SRMA (Proposed 
Alternative). The Proposed Alternative would also include 946,000 acres 
of ERMAs. Under the No Action Alternative, there would be zero acres of 
ERMA, 193,000 acres of SRMA, and 1,465,000 acres managed for recreation 
emphasis.
    Comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS received from the public and 
internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate 
into the proposed plan. Public comments resulted in the addition of 
clarifying text, but did not significantly change proposed land use 
plan decisions.
    Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM 
regarding the Proposed LUPA/Final EIS may be found in the ``Dear 
Reader'' Letter of the DRECP Proposed LUPA and Final EIS and at 43 CFR 
1610.5-2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate 
address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed protests 
will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also 
provides the original protest by either regular or overnight mail 
postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, 
the BLM will consider the emailed protest as an advance copy and it 
will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with 
such advance notification, please direct emails to: protest@blm.gov.
    Copies of the Proposed LUPA and Final EIS are available for public 
inspection at the following locations:
     BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-
1623, Sacramento, CA 95825;
     BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San 
Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553;
     BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 
92311;
     BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, 
CA 92243;
     BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 S. Highway 95, Needles, CA 
92363;
     BLM Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird 
Center Drive,
    Palm Springs, CA 92262;
     BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, 
Ridgecrest, CA 93555;
     BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, 
Bakersfield, CA 93308;
     BLM Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, 
CA 93514; and
     FWS Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 777 East 
Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
    Electronic copies will also be available at public libraries 
throughout the Planning Area. See the project Web site above or contact 
the BLM for further information on other locations.
    Before including your phone number, email address, or other 
personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware 
that your entire protest--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your protest 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, 43 CFR 
1610.5.

Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-28791 Filed 11-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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