Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Tres Rios Field Office and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment, Colorado, 11587-11589 [2016-04805]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2016 / Notices
wfo.html. In order to be included in the
Draft EIS, 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. We
will provide additional opportunities
for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Marigold Mine—Mackay
Optimization Project by any of the
following methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/
en/fo/wfo.html
• Email: wfoweb@blm.gov. Include
Marigold Mine EIS Comments in the
subject line.
• Fax: 775–623–1503.
• Mail: BLM Winnemucca District,
Humboldt River Field Office, 5100 E.
Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV
89445.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Humboldt River
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeanette Black, telephone 775–623–
1500; address BLM Winnemucca
District, Humboldt River Field Office,
5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd.,
Winnemucca, NV 89445; email jblack@
blm.gov. Contact Ms. Black 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, 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
applicant, Marigold Mining Company, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Silver
Standard Resources Inc., has requested
to modify its approved Plan of
Operations by expanding its operations
at the existing Marigold Mine, which is
located adjacent to Battle Mountain
approximately 35 miles southeast of
Winnemucca, Humboldt County,
Nevada; and 13 miles northwest of
Battle Mountain, Lander County,
Nevada. The mine is currently
authorized up to a disturbance of 5,720
acres (approximately 3,275 acres of
private land and 2,445 acres of public
land), which was permitted under a
series of Environmental Impact
Statements and Environmental
Assessments from July 1988 through
October 2013.
The proposed action is for the BLM to
approve as proposed the company’s
changes to its Plan of Operations. The
proposed changes presented under this
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:22 Mar 03, 2016
Jkt 238001
Plan of Operations modification would
encompass 1,893 acres of new
disturbance (approximately 843 acres of
public land and 1,050 acres of private
land), and include a re-classification of
the type of authorized disturbance of
approximately 706 acres of which 306
acres are public land and 400 acres are
private land. If approved, the proposed
modification would increase the mine
life by up to 10 years. All proposed
disturbance would be within the
existing approved Plan boundary and
includes the following: Combine four of
the existing and authorized open pits
(Target 1, Target 2, Target 3, and East
Hill) to become a single open pit to be
renamed the Mackay Pit; combine the
existing and approved Terry Zone and
Section 8 Pits to become the Mackay
North Pit; increase the size of the
authorized Section 5 North Pit; dewater
the Mackay Pit and Mackay North Pit at
a rate of up to 6,000 gallons per minute
(gpm) with an average rate of about
1,500 to 2,000 gpm; construct and
operate six rapid infiltration basins
(RIBs); construct and operate new
production, dewatering, and monitoring
wells with associated roads, power, and
pipelines; create one new waste rock
storage area (WRSA) (Section 5 North)
and expand the Northeast and
Northwest Expansion WRSAs; construct
heap leach processing pad (HLP) cells
22, 23, and 24; construct new process
ponds on existing disturbance; construct
two new carbon column trains on
existing disturbance; relocate the county
road called Buffalo Valley Road to
accommodate the mine changes; reestablish a private land access road to
land holdings in Section 30; relocate the
existing 120-kV power line (right-of-way
held by NV Energy); and move the
planned location of the authorized but
not yet constructed utility corridor.
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 process for
developing the EIS. At present, the BLM
has identified the following preliminary
issues: (a) The formation of a pit lake
after completion of mining activities,
and ensuring that there is neither
degradation of waters of the state nor
undue or unnecessary degradation of
public lands; (b) potential impacts to
wildlife habitat; and (c) potential
impacts to cultural sites. Application of
mitigation hierarchy strategies will be
addressed for on-site, regional, and
compensatory mitigation appropriate to
the types of impacts and resource
objectives.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill
PO 00000
Frm 00080
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11587
the public involvement process under
the National Historic Preservation Act
(54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 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 the NHPA.
The BLM will consult with Indian
tribes on a government-to-government
basis in accordance with Executive
Order 13175, Secretarial Order 3317,
and other policies. Tribal concerns,
including but not limited to, 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 Marigold Mine
Plan of Operations—Mackay
Optimization Project 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
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Stephen Sappington,
Field Manager, Humboldt River Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2016–04806 Filed 3–3–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS01000.L12200000.DP0000]
Notice of Intent To Amend the
Resource Management Plan for the
Tres Rios Field Office and Prepare an
Associated Environmental
Assessment, Colorado
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM
04MRN1
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
11588
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2016 / Notices
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tres
Rios Field Office, Dolores, Colorado,
intends to prepare a Resource
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment
with an associated Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Tres Rios Field
Office to evaluate the management of 18
potential Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC) and by
this notice 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 RMP
Amendment with an associated EA.
Comments on issues may be submitted
in writing until April 4, 2016. The BLM
will announce the date(s) and
location(s) of any scoping meetings at
least 15 days in advance through local
news media, newspapers and the BLM
Web site at: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/
BLM_Information/nepa/TRFO_
NEPA.html. The BLM must receive all
comments prior to the close of the 30day scoping period or 15 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later,
in order to include them in the analysis.
We will provide additional
opportunities for public participation as
appropriate.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues and planning criteria related
to the Tres Rios Field Office RMP ACEC
Amendment EA by any of the following
methods:
• Web site: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/
BLM_Information/nepa/TRFO_
NEPA.html.
• Email: BLM_CO_TRFO_ACEC@
blm.gov.
• Fax: (970) 240–5367.
• Mail: BLM, 2465 S. Townsend Ave.,
Montrose, CO 81401.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Tres Rios Field
Office, Dolores Public Lands Center,
29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Jones, District NEPA Coordinator;
telephone (970) 240–5381; address 2465
S. Townsend Ave. Montrose, CO 81401;
email BLM_CO_TRFO_ACEC@blm.gov.
Contact Gina Jones 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: This
document provides notice that the BLM
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:22 Mar 03, 2016
Jkt 238001
Tres Rios Field Office, Dolores,
Colorado, intends to prepare an RMP
Amendment with an associated EA for
the Tres Rios Field Office, announces
the beginning of the scoping process,
and seeks public input on issues and
planning criteria. The amendment
planning area is located in Dolores,
Montezuma, Montrose, San Juan and
San Miguel counties in southwest
Colorado and encompasses
approximately 130,000 acres of Federal
surface public land. The BLM is
considering amending the Tres Rios
RMP to address 18 areas found to have
relevance and importance consistent
with BLM Manual 1613—Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern. The
RMP Amendment and associated EA
will evaluate these areas to determine if
they should be designated as an ACEC,
and if so, what management
prescriptions are necessary to protect
the relevant and important values of
each area. There are suitable Wild and
Scenic River segments and lands with
wilderness characteristics units within
the nominated ACEC areas. These
resources will be considered throughout
the analysis process. 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. BLM personnel;
Federal, State and local agencies; and
other stakeholders identified
preliminary issues for the plan
amendment area. Preliminary issues
include those resources within the
analysis area that would meet the
relevance and importance criteria as set
forth in BLM Manual 1613 and require
special management attention to address
resource conflicts. See the plan
amendment Web site at www.blm.gov/
co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/TRFO_
NEPA.html to view maps and additional
information on the previously
nominated areas being considered. The
areas nominated include:
• Anasazi Culture (currently
designated as an ACEC): Approximately
1,200 acres;
• Cement Creek: Approximately 450
acres;
• Cinnamon Pass: Approximately 560
acres;
• Coyote Wash: Approximately 650
acres;
• Disappointment Valley:
Approximately 2,700 acres;
• Dolores River Canyon:
Approximately 12,000 acres;
• Dry Creek Basin: Approximately
35,000 acres;
• Grassy Hills: Approximately 450
acres;
PO 00000
Frm 00081
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Gypsum Valley (currently
designated as ACEC): Approximately
13,200 acres (combined Big Gypsum
Valley and Little Gypsum Valley);
• Lake Como: Approximately 100
acres;
• McIntyre Canyon: Approximately
3,000 acres;
• Mesa Verde Entrance:
Approximately 1,300 acres;
• Muleshoe Bench: Approximately
700 acres;
• Northdale: Approximately 4,000
acres;
• Silvey’s Pocket: Approximately 700
acres;
• Slick Rock: Approximately 3,600
acres;
• Snaggletooth: Approximately
24,000 acres; and
• Spring Creek Basin: Approximately
25,500 acres.
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. The BLM will continue to manage
the Tres Rios Field Office in accordance
with FLPMA and other applicable laws
and regulations. Section 202(c)(3) of
FLPMA mandates the agency to give
priority to the designation and
protection of ACECs in the planning
process;
2. The BLM will comply with NEPA,
including preparing appropriate
environmental analysis for the proposed
action;
3. Planning decisions will strive for
compatiblility with existing plans and
policies of adjacent Federal, State, local
and tribal agencies as long as the
decisions are consistent with Federal
law governing the administration of
public land;
4. The planning area only includes
areas that meet the relevance and
importance criteria defined in BLM
Manual 1613; and
5. The BLM will follow the
procedures for ACEC planning in BLM
Manual 1613.
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. Please 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 and coordinate the
NEPA scoping process to help fulfill the
public involvement process under the
National Historic Preservation Act (54
U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 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.
E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM
04MRN1
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 43 / Friday, March 4, 2016 / Notices
The BLM will consult with Indian
tribes on a government-to-government
basis in accordance with Executive
Order 13175 and other policies. The
BLM will give tribal concerns, including
impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources,
due consideration. The BLM invites
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,
to participate in the scoping process
and, if eligible, may request or be
requested by the BLM to participate in
developing 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
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 Preliminary EA as to why an
issue was placed in category two or
three. The BLM also encourages the
public to identify any management
questions and concerns that should be
addressed in the amendment process.
The BLM will collaborative with
interested parties to identify the
management decisions 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,
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and
fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology,
soils, sociology and economics.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:22 Mar 03, 2016
Jkt 238001
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2.
Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–04805 Filed 3–3–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVS01000.L58530000.ES0000 241A; N–
93838–01; 14–08807; MO# 4500088787
TAS:14X5232]
Notice of Realty Action: Recreation
and Public Purposes Lease (N–93838),
Transfer of Interest and Change of Use
of Public Lands in Clark County, NV
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), Las Vegas Field
Office, received notification from the
City of Las Vegas to transfer their
interest of a previously approved
Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP)
Act lease to Opportunity Village.
Opportunity Village, (a nonprofit)
proposes to change the use of the
original R&PP lease from a park site to
a park, unemployment resource center,
and arts enrichment center with
appurtenances for children and adults
with intellectual disabilities.
DATES: Comments regarding the transfer
of interest and the change of use must
be submitted to the BLM on or before
April 18, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
the BLM Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 N.
Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada
89130, or email: kthorpe@blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kerri-Anne Thorpe, 702–515–5196, or
kthorpe@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: The
transfer of interest requested by the City
of Las Vegas to Opportunity Village and
the change of use from a park site to a
park, unemployment resource center,
and arts enrichment center with
appurtenances for children and adults
with intellectual disabilities is
consistent with the BLM Las Vegas
Resource Management Plan dated
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00082
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
11589
October 5, 1998, and would be in the
public interest. The change of use area
was previously analyzed under
Environmental Assessments NV–050–30
dated June 30, 1983, and NV–S010–
2009–0012–EA dated December 30,
2008. The environmental consequences
of the new use were reviewed in
Determination of NEPA Adequacy DOI–
BLM–NV–S010–2016–0008–DNA dated
January 11, 2016. On February 18, 2015,
the City of Las Vegas relinquished 16.61
acres to allow Opportunity Village to
apply for an R&PP lease for park,
unemployment resource center, and arts
enrichment center with appurtenances
for children and adults with intellectual
disabilities. The parcel of land is located
on the corner of Thom and Rome
Boulevard in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is
legally described as:
Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada
T. 19 S., R. 60 E.,
Sec. 24, lot 5.
The area described contains 16.61 acres.
The change of use area would be from
a park site to a park, unemployment
resource center, and arts enrichment
center with appurtenances for children
and adults with intellectual disabilities.
The appurtenances include a storage
building, loading dock, refuse
enclosure, parking lots, landscaping,
lighting, walkways, drainage, irrigation,
utilities, and ancillary improvements.
Additional detailed information
pertaining to this application, plan of
development, and site plan is in case
file N–93838, which is located at the
BLM, Las Vegas Field Office at the
address listed above.
The land is not required for any
Federal purpose. The Opportunity
Village, a qualified applicant under the
R&PP Act, has not applied for more than
the 640 acre limitation consistent with
43 CFR 2741.7(a)(5), and has submitted
a statement in compliance with the
regulation at 43 CFR 2741.4(b).
The change of use of the public land
shall be subject to valid existing rights
as previously published. Upon
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, the land above will be
segregated from all other forms of
appropriation under the public land
laws, including the general mining laws,
except for lease and/or subsequent
conveyance under the R&PP Act, leasing
under the mineral laws, and disposals
under the mineral material disposal
laws.
Interested parties may submit written
comments on the suitability of the land
for use as a park, unemployment
resource center, and arts enrichment
center with appurtenances for children
and adults with intellectual disabilities.
E:\FR\FM\04MRN1.SGM
04MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 43 (Friday, March 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11587-11589]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04805]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS01000.L12200000.DP0000]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the
Tres Rios Field Office and Prepare an Associated Environmental
Assessment, Colorado
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
[[Page 11588]]
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Tres Rios Field Office, Dolores, Colorado, intends to prepare a
Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment with an associated
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Tres Rios Field Office to
evaluate the management of 18 potential Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACEC) and by this notice 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 RMP
Amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in
writing until April 4, 2016. The BLM will announce the date(s) and
location(s) of any scoping meetings at least 15 days in advance through
local news media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/TRFO_NEPA.html. The BLM must receive all
comments prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever is later, in order to include
them in the analysis. We will provide additional opportunities for
public participation as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Tres Rios Field Office RMP ACEC Amendment EA by any of
the following methods:
Web site: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/TRFO_NEPA.html.
Email: BLM_CO_TRFO_ACEC@blm.gov.
Fax: (970) 240-5367.
Mail: BLM, 2465 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tres
Rios Field Office, Dolores Public Lands Center, 29211 Highway 184,
Dolores, CO 81323.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Jones, District NEPA Coordinator;
telephone (970) 240-5381; address 2465 S. Townsend Ave. Montrose, CO
81401; email BLM_CO_TRFO_ACEC@blm.gov. Contact Gina Jones 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: This document provides notice that the BLM
Tres Rios Field Office, Dolores, Colorado, intends to prepare an RMP
Amendment with an associated EA for the Tres Rios Field Office,
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input
on issues and planning criteria. The amendment planning area is located
in Dolores, Montezuma, Montrose, San Juan and San Miguel counties in
southwest Colorado and encompasses approximately 130,000 acres of
Federal surface public land. The BLM is considering amending the Tres
Rios RMP to address 18 areas found to have relevance and importance
consistent with BLM Manual 1613--Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern. The RMP Amendment and associated EA will evaluate these areas
to determine if they should be designated as an ACEC, and if so, what
management prescriptions are necessary to protect the relevant and
important values of each area. There are suitable Wild and Scenic River
segments and lands with wilderness characteristics units within the
nominated ACEC areas. These resources will be considered throughout the
analysis process. 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. BLM personnel; Federal, State and local agencies; and other
stakeholders identified preliminary issues for the plan amendment area.
Preliminary issues include those resources within the analysis area
that would meet the relevance and importance criteria as set forth in
BLM Manual 1613 and require special management attention to address
resource conflicts. See the plan amendment Web site at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/TRFO_NEPA.html to view maps and additional
information on the previously nominated areas being considered. The
areas nominated include:
Anasazi Culture (currently designated as an ACEC):
Approximately 1,200 acres;
Cement Creek: Approximately 450 acres;
Cinnamon Pass: Approximately 560 acres;
Coyote Wash: Approximately 650 acres;
Disappointment Valley: Approximately 2,700 acres;
Dolores River Canyon: Approximately 12,000 acres;
Dry Creek Basin: Approximately 35,000 acres;
Grassy Hills: Approximately 450 acres;
Gypsum Valley (currently designated as ACEC):
Approximately 13,200 acres (combined Big Gypsum Valley and Little
Gypsum Valley);
Lake Como: Approximately 100 acres;
McIntyre Canyon: Approximately 3,000 acres;
Mesa Verde Entrance: Approximately 1,300 acres;
Muleshoe Bench: Approximately 700 acres;
Northdale: Approximately 4,000 acres;
Silvey's Pocket: Approximately 700 acres;
Slick Rock: Approximately 3,600 acres;
Snaggletooth: Approximately 24,000 acres; and
Spring Creek Basin: Approximately 25,500 acres.
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. The BLM will continue to manage the Tres Rios Field Office in
accordance with FLPMA and other applicable laws and regulations.
Section 202(c)(3) of FLPMA mandates the agency to give priority to the
designation and protection of ACECs in the planning process;
2. The BLM will comply with NEPA, including preparing appropriate
environmental analysis for the proposed action;
3. Planning decisions will strive for compatiblility with existing
plans and policies of adjacent Federal, State, local and tribal
agencies as long as the decisions are consistent with Federal law
governing the administration of public land;
4. The planning area only includes areas that meet the relevance
and importance criteria defined in BLM Manual 1613; and
5. The BLM will follow the procedures for ACEC planning in BLM
Manual 1613.
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.
Please 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 and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help
fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 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.
[[Page 11589]]
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. The BLM will give tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, due
consideration. The BLM invites 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, to participate
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by
the BLM to participate in developing 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 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 Preliminary EA as to why
an issue was placed in category two or three. The BLM also encourages
the public to identify any management questions and concerns that
should be addressed in the amendment process. The BLM will
collaborative with interested parties to identify the management
decisions 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, archaeology,
paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology,
soils, sociology and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-04805 Filed 3-3-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
