Amended Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan for the Farmington Field Office, New Mexico and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 72819-72821 [2016-25527]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
the public with the exact date, time, and
location of the public meeting. We will
also post the time, date, and location of
the public meeting on our refuge Web
site at: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/San_
Diego_Bay. We will accept both oral and
written comments at the public meeting.
Mail Stop 989, Reston, VA 20192 (mail);
703–648–7720 (phone); or
escottsangine@usgs.gov (email). You
may also find information about this
Information Collection Request (ICR) at
www.reginfo.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Michael Fris,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
Region.
I. Abstract
This collection is needed to provide
data on mineral production for annual
reports published by commodity for use
by Government agencies, Congressional
offices, educational institutions,
research organizations, financial
institutions, consulting firms, industry,
academia, and the general public. This
information will be published in the
‘‘Mineral Commodity Summaries,’’ the
first preliminary publication to furnish
estimates covering the previous year’s
nonfuel mineral industry.
[FR Doc. 2016–25490 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[GX16LR000F60100]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Request for Comments
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of a
currently approved information
collection (1028–0065) Production
Estimate.
AGENCY:
We (the U.S. Geological
Survey) are asking the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
approve the information collection (IC)
described below. This collection
consists of 2 forms. As required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, and as part of our continuing
efforts to reduce paperwork and
respondent burden, we invite the
general public and other Federal
agencies to take this opportunity to
comment on this IC. This collection is
scheduled to expire on October 31,
2016.
DATES: To ensure that your comments
are considered, OMB must receive them
on or before November 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Please submit your written
comments on this IC directly to the
Office of Management and Budget,
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior, at OIRA_
SUBMISSION@omb.eop.gov (email); or
(202) 395–5806 (fax). Please also
forward a copy of your comments to the
Information Collection Clearance
Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201
Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 807, Reston,
VA 20192 (mail); 703–648–7197 (fax); or
gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email).
Reference ‘‘Information Collection
1028–0065, Production Estimate’’ in all
correspondence.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth S. Sangine, National Minerals
Information Center, U.S. Geological
Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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II. Data
OMB Control Number: 1028–0065.
Form Number: USGS Forms 9–4042–
A and 9–4124–A.
Title: Production Estimate, Two
Forms: 9–4042–A and 9–4124–A.
Type of Request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected Public: Business or OtherFor-Profit Institutions: U.S. nonfuel
minerals producers.
Respondent Obligation: None.
Participation is voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 1,761.
Estimated Time per Response: 15
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 440 hours.
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’
Burden: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’
burdens associated with this IC.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an
agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and current expiration date.
III. Request for Comments
On April 19, 2016, a 60-day Federal
Register notice (81 FR 23004) was
published announcing this information
collection. Public comments were
solicited for 60 days ending June 20,
2016. We did not receive any public
comments in response to that notice. We
again invite comments as to: (1)
Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the agency
to perform its duties, including whether
the information is useful; (2) the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden time to the proposed collection
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of information; (3) how to enhance the
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4) how
to minimize the burden on the
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Please note that the comments
submitted in response to this notice are
a matter of public record. Before
including your personal mailing
address, phone number, email address,
or other personally identifiable
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment, including your personally
identifiable information, may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to
withhold your personally identifiable
information from public view, we
cannot guarantee that it will be done.
Michael J. Magyar,
Associate Director, National Minerals
Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2016–25549 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNMF01000.L13150000.NB0000.16X]
Amended Notice of Intent To Amend
the Resource Management Plan for the
Farmington Field Office, New Mexico
and Prepare an Associated
Environmental Impact Statement
Bureau of Indian Affairs and
Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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) (43
U.S.C. 1711–1712), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Farmington Field
Office, Farmington, New Mexico is
preparing a Resource Management Plan
Amendment (RMPA) with an associated
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
By this notice, the BLM is announcing
the beginning of a scoping process to
solicit public comments and to identify
issues specifically related to analysis of
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) managed
mineral leasing and associated activity
decisions pursuant to 25 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) part 200 et
seq. as part of the EIS for the
Farmington RMPA.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the RMP
amendment specific to the extension of
analysis in that EIS to BIA decisionmaking where BIA manages mineral
leasing and associated activities in the
RMPA Planning Area. Comments may
be submitted in writing until December
20, 2016. The BIA and BLM will host
public meetings specific to using this
EIS to inform BIA mineral leasing and
associated activity decisions. The
date(s) and location(s) of the public
scoping meeting(s) will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local
news media, newspapers, and the BLM
Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nm/
farmington. To be included in the
analysis, all comments must be received
prior to the close of the 60-day scoping
period or 15 days after the last public
meeting, whichever is later. We will
provide additional opportunities for
public participation, as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues and planning criteria related
to applying this EIS to BIA-managed
mineral leasing and associated activity
decisions in the RMPA Planning Area
by any of the following methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/
farmington.
• Email: BLM_NM_FFO_RMP@
blm.gov.
• Fax: 505–564–7608.
• Mail: 6251 North College Blvd.
Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the BLM
Farmington Field Office/Federal Indian
Mineral Office, 6251 N. College Blvd.
Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402; BLM
New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur
Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; BIA Eastern
Navajo Agency, 222 Chaco Blvd.,
Crownpoint, NM 87313; and BIA Navajo
Regional Office, 301 West Hill Ave.,
Gallup, NM 87301. Documents may also
be viewed on the BLM’s Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/nm/farmington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Ames, BLM Project Manager,
telephone 505–564–7611; address 6251
North College Blvd., Suite A,
Farmington, New Mexico 87402; email
BLM_NM_FFO_Comments@blm.gov, or
Harrilene Yazzie, BIA Supervisory
Environmental Protection Specialist,
telephone 505–863–8287; address P.O.
Box 1060, Gallup, New Mexico 87301;
email harrilene.yazzie@bia.gov to have
your name added to our mailing list.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–
8339 to contact the above individual
during normal business hours. The
Service is available 24 hours a day, 7
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DATES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:06 Oct 20, 2016
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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
Farmington Field Office, Farmington,
New Mexico initiated preparation of the
RMPA/EIS in 2014. The initial scoping
period, announced by Federal Register
Notice of Intent on February 25, 2014,
offered the public an opportunity to
comment on planning criteria and
issues related to the BLM’s RMPA/EIS.
After the close of the public scoping
period on the RMPA/EIS, the BIA
formally joined the EIS process as a
joint lead agency and intends to use this
planning effort to inform its subsequent
mineral leasing and associated activity
decision-making processes. This notice
announces the beginning of a scoping
process seeking public input on issues
and planning criteria specifically related
to analysis of BIA mineral leasing and
associated activity decisions to be
considered in this EIS process. This
notice does not reopen the scoping
period related to issues and planning
criteria for the BLM decisions to be
analyzed in this EIS.
The Planning Area is located in San
Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, and
Sandoval Counties in New Mexico, and
encompasses approximately 4,200,000
acres of land, including approximately
1,900,000 acres of Tribal surface land,
1,300,000 acres of BLM-managed land,
across 17 Navajo Nation chapters,
individual Indian allotments, and
numerous Chapter House residents. The
purpose of this public scoping process
is to determine issues relevant to
considering BIA-managed mineral
leasing and associated activity decisions
in the Planning Area.
The BLM’s preliminary planning
criteria identified in the February 25,
2014, Federal Register Notice are
hereby incorporated by reference.
Additional preliminary planning criteria
specific to BIA’s joint lead agency status
include:
• The BIA will serve as joint (or colead) agency for this EIS.
• The BIA and BLM will prepare the
RMPA/EIS in compliance with FLPMA,
the Endangered Species Act, the Clean
Water Act, the Clean Air Act, NEPA,
and all other applicable laws, executive
orders, and BIA and BLM management
policies.
• The BIA will use the EIS as the
analytical basis for decisions pertaining
to the leasing of Tribal trust and
individual Indian allotted minerals
within the Planning Area.
• The BIA will use this EIS to inform
decisions on lands where mineral
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leasing and associated activities are
managed by the BIA.
• The BIA and BLM will recognize
valid existing rights.
• The BIA and BLM will coordinate
with Federal, State, and Tribal
governments and local agencies in the
RMPA/EIS process to ensure
consistency with existing plans and
policies, to the extent practicable.
• The BIA and BLM will consult with
Indian Tribes on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and other
policies.
• The BIA and BLM will coordinate
with Tribal governments and provide
strategies for the protection of
recognized traditional uses and sacred
sites.
• The BIA and BLM will apply
appropriate protection and management
of cultural resources and historic
properties, and will engage in all
required Tribal consultations.
• The BIA and BLM will consult with
the New Mexico Department of Game
and Fish and the Navajo Nation
Department of Fish and Wildlife as
appropriate.
You may submit comments on issues
and planning criteria in writing at any
public scoping meeting, or by using one
of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section above. To be included in the
analysis, all comments must be received
prior to the close of the 60-day scoping
period or 15 days after the last public
meeting, whichever is later. The BIA
and BLM will utilize 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 and
BIA in identifying and evaluating
impacts to such resources.
The BLM and BIA are required to
consult with Indian Tribes, as
applicable, on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Tribal and individual Indian
allottee concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts
to cultural resources within the
Planning Area, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies and individual Indian allottees,
tribes, and other stakeholders that may
be interested in or affected by the
proposed action that the BIA and BLM
are evaluating, are invited to participate
in the scoping process. These entities
may request or be requested by the BIA
and BLM to participate in the
E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM
21OCN1
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 204 / Friday, October 21, 2016 / Notices
development of the environmental
analysis as a cooperating agency, if
eligible. 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 public 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 and BIA will evaluate
identified issues to be addressed and
will place them into one of three
categories; the draft RMPA/EIS will
provide an explanation as to why an
issue was placed in category two or
three, and is therefore beyond the scope
of this EIS:
1. Issues to be resolved by the BIA in
its subsequent decision-making
processes regarding BIA-managed
mineral leasing and associated activities
in the Planning Area;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan
amendment.
The public is also encouraged to help
identify any management questions and
concerns that should be addressed in
the plan. The BIA and BLM will work
collaboratively with interested parties to
identify the management decisions that
are best suited to local, regional, and
National needs and concerns and trust
responsibilities.
The following resource issues were
identified in a prior scoping period
announced by the February 25, 2014,
Federal Register Notice of Intent to
Prepare a Resource Management Plan
Amendment and an Associated
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Farmington Field Office, New Mexico:
lands with wilderness characteristics;
areas of critical environmental concern;
air, soil, and water resources; vegetative
communities; wildlife/habitat
management areas; and land use
authorizations. These resource issues
will not be revisited but embodied in
the current scoping process, except as
they pertain to BIA-managed mineral
leasing and associated activity
decisions.
The BIA and BLM will use an
interdisciplinary approach to develop
the plan amendment in order to
consider the variety of resource issues
and concerns identified.
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19:06 Oct 20, 2016
Jkt 241001
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2.
Sharon Pinto,
Navajo Regional Director, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Amy Lueders,
State Director, New Mexico, Bureau of Land
Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2016–25527 Filed 10–20–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORW00000.L51010000.ER0000.
LVRWH09H0570.16XL5017AP, HAG 16–
0131; WAOR65753]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Vantage to Pomona
Heights 230 kV Transmission Line
Project in Benton, Grant, Kittitas, and
Yakima Counties, Washington
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Vantage to Pomona Heights
230 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line
Project (Project) and, by this notice, is
announcing its availability.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
decision on the proposed Project for a
minimum of 30 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS have
been sent to Federal, State, tribal and
local governments, and public libraries
in the Project area. The Final EIS and
supporting documents are available
electronically on the Project Web site at:
https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/
spokane/plans/vph230.php. Copies of
the Final EIS are available for public
inspection during normal business
hours at the BLM office locations listed
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robin Estes, Vantage to Pomona Heights
Final EIS Project Manager, at (541) 416–
6728, by email at blm_or_vantage_
pomona@blm.gov, or at the following
address: BLM Spokane District Office,
1103 North Fancher Road, Spokane
Valley, WA 99212–1275. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
SUMMARY:
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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
project proponent, Pacific Power, filed
Federal applications for rights-of-way
(ROWs) with the BLM, the U.S.
Department of the Army Joint Base
Lewis-McChord Yakima Training Center
(JBLM YTC), and the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation (Reclamation) for
construction, operation, and
maintenance of a 230 kV transmission
line from Pacific Power’s Pomona
Heights Substation located east of Selah,
Washington, in Yakima County, to the
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
Vantage Substation located just east of
the Wanapum Dam in Grant County,
Washington. The project proponent’s
interest in the new line is to reduce the
risk of service interruptions and ensure
continued reliable, efficient, and
coordinated service to the Yakima
Valley.
On January 4, 2013, the BLM released
a Draft EIS for public review and
comment. The Draft EIS analyzed nine
alternative routes. As a result of the
comments received at public meetings
and submitted in writing during the
Draft EIS comment period, the BLM,
Pacific Power, and JBLM YTC met and
identified a new alternative route, the
New Northern Route (NNR) Alternative.
This alternative, unlike the others
analyzed in the Draft EIS is located
largely on JBLM YTC land. As a result
of the identification of this new
alternative, the BLM determined that a
Supplemental Draft EIS was required.
On January 2, 2015, the BLM released
the Supplemental Draft EIS for public
review and comment. Both the Draft EIS
and Supplemental Draft EIS fully
described the alternatives and analyzed
their direct, indirect, and cumulative
impacts, as well as mitigation measures
that could offset those potential
impacts.
The BLM as the Lead Federal Agency
is responsible for analyzing the effects
of granting, granting with conditions, or
denying Pacific Power’s ROW
applications submitted to the Federal
agencies to construct, operate, and
maintain a 230 kV transmission line,
associated access roads, and other
ancillary facilities. The JBLM YTC,
Reclamation, BPA, Federal Highway
Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Washington Department of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation,
E:\FR\FM\21OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 204 (Friday, October 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72819-72821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25527]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNMF01000.L13150000.NB0000.16X]
Amended Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plan
for the Farmington Field Office, New Mexico and Prepare an Associated
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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) (43 U.S.C. 1711-1712), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office, Farmington, New Mexico is
preparing a Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) with an
associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). By this notice, the
BLM is announcing the beginning of a scoping process to solicit public
comments and to identify issues specifically related to analysis of
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) managed mineral leasing and associated
activity decisions pursuant to 25 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
part 200 et seq. as part of the EIS for the Farmington RMPA.
[[Page 72820]]
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
amendment specific to the extension of analysis in that EIS to BIA
decision-making where BIA manages mineral leasing and associated
activities in the RMPA Planning Area. Comments may be submitted in
writing until December 20, 2016. The BIA and BLM will host public
meetings specific to using this EIS to inform BIA mineral leasing and
associated activity decisions. The date(s) and location(s) of the
public scoping meeting(s) will be announced at least 15 days in advance
through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nm/farmington. To be included in the analysis, all comments
must be received prior to the close of the 60-day scoping period or 15
days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide
additional opportunities for public participation, as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to applying this EIS to BIA-managed mineral leasing and
associated activity decisions in the RMPA Planning Area by any of the
following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/farmington.
Email: BLM_NM_FFO_RMP@blm.gov.
Fax: 505-564-7608.
Mail: 6251 North College Blvd. Suite A, Farmington, NM
87402.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM
Farmington Field Office/Federal Indian Mineral Office, 6251 N. College
Blvd. Suite A, Farmington, NM 87402; BLM New Mexico State Office, 301
Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508; BIA Eastern Navajo Agency, 222
Chaco Blvd., Crownpoint, NM 87313; and BIA Navajo Regional Office, 301
West Hill Ave., Gallup, NM 87301. Documents may also be viewed on the
BLM's Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nm/farmington.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Ames, BLM Project Manager,
telephone 505-564-7611; address 6251 North College Blvd., Suite A,
Farmington, New Mexico 87402; email BLM_NM_FFO_Comments@blm.gov, or
Harrilene Yazzie, BIA Supervisory Environmental Protection Specialist,
telephone 505-863-8287; address P.O. Box 1060, Gallup, New Mexico
87301; email harrilene.yazzie@bia.gov to have your name added to our
mailing list. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact
the above individual during normal business hours. The Service 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 Farmington Field Office, Farmington,
New Mexico initiated preparation of the RMPA/EIS in 2014. The initial
scoping period, announced by Federal Register Notice of Intent on
February 25, 2014, offered the public an opportunity to comment on
planning criteria and issues related to the BLM's RMPA/EIS. After the
close of the public scoping period on the RMPA/EIS, the BIA formally
joined the EIS process as a joint lead agency and intends to use this
planning effort to inform its subsequent mineral leasing and associated
activity decision-making processes. This notice announces the beginning
of a scoping process seeking public input on issues and planning
criteria specifically related to analysis of BIA mineral leasing and
associated activity decisions to be considered in this EIS process.
This notice does not reopen the scoping period related to issues and
planning criteria for the BLM decisions to be analyzed in this EIS.
The Planning Area is located in San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, and
Sandoval Counties in New Mexico, and encompasses approximately
4,200,000 acres of land, including approximately 1,900,000 acres of
Tribal surface land, 1,300,000 acres of BLM-managed land, across 17
Navajo Nation chapters, individual Indian allotments, and numerous
Chapter House residents. The purpose of this public scoping process is
to determine issues relevant to considering BIA-managed mineral leasing
and associated activity decisions in the Planning Area.
The BLM's preliminary planning criteria identified in the February
25, 2014, Federal Register Notice are hereby incorporated by reference.
Additional preliminary planning criteria specific to BIA's joint lead
agency status include:
The BIA will serve as joint (or co-lead) agency for this
EIS.
The BIA and BLM will prepare the RMPA/EIS in compliance
with FLPMA, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean
Air Act, NEPA, and all other applicable laws, executive orders, and BIA
and BLM management policies.
The BIA will use the EIS as the analytical basis for
decisions pertaining to the leasing of Tribal trust and individual
Indian allotted minerals within the Planning Area.
The BIA will use this EIS to inform decisions on lands
where mineral leasing and associated activities are managed by the BIA.
The BIA and BLM will recognize valid existing rights.
The BIA and BLM will coordinate with Federal, State, and
Tribal governments and local agencies in the RMPA/EIS process to ensure
consistency with existing plans and policies, to the extent
practicable.
The BIA and BLM will consult with Indian Tribes on a
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175
and other policies.
The BIA and BLM will coordinate with Tribal governments
and provide strategies for the protection of recognized traditional
uses and sacred sites.
The BIA and BLM will apply appropriate protection and
management of cultural resources and historic properties, and will
engage in all required Tribal consultations.
The BIA and BLM will consult with the New Mexico
Department of Game and Fish and the Navajo Nation Department of Fish
and Wildlife as appropriate.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing
at any public scoping meeting, or by using one of the methods listed in
the ADDRESSES section above. To be included in the analysis, all
comments must be received prior to the close of the 60-day scoping
period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
The BIA and BLM will utilize 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 and BIA
in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM and BIA are required to consult with Indian Tribes, as
applicable, on a government-to-government basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal and individual Indian
allottee concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources within the Planning Area, will
be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies and
individual Indian allottees, tribes, and other stakeholders that may be
interested in or affected by the proposed action that the BIA and BLM
are evaluating, are invited to participate in the scoping process.
These entities may request or be requested by the BIA and BLM to
participate in the
[[Page 72821]]
development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency, if
eligible. 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 public
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 and BIA will evaluate identified issues to be addressed and
will place them into one of three categories; the draft RMPA/EIS will
provide an explanation as to why an issue was placed in category two or
three, and is therefore beyond the scope of this EIS:
1. Issues to be resolved by the BIA in its subsequent decision-
making processes regarding BIA-managed mineral leasing and associated
activities in the Planning Area;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
The public is also encouraged to help identify any management
questions and concerns that should be addressed in the plan. The BIA
and BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify
the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and
National needs and concerns and trust responsibilities.
The following resource issues were identified in a prior scoping
period announced by the February 25, 2014, Federal Register Notice of
Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment and an
Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Farmington Field
Office, New Mexico: lands with wilderness characteristics; areas of
critical environmental concern; air, soil, and water resources;
vegetative communities; wildlife/habitat management areas; and land use
authorizations. These resource issues will not be revisited but
embodied in the current scoping process, except as they pertain to BIA-
managed mineral leasing and associated activity decisions.
The BIA and BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop
the plan amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues
and concerns identified.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Sharon Pinto,
Navajo Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of
the Interior.
Amy Lueders,
State Director, New Mexico, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department
of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2016-25527 Filed 10-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
