Notice of Amended Proposed Withdrawal, Release of Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, 96478-96481 [2016-31629]
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96478
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 251 / Friday, December 30, 2016 / Notices
the Tribe’s fee-to-trust application and a
secretarial determination pursuant to
Section 2719(b)(1)(A) of the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act. The EIS will
identify and evaluate issues related to
these approvals, and will also evaluate
a range of reasonable alternatives.
Possible alternatives currently under
consideration include: (1) An expanded
site alternative that involves acquiring
additional adjacent fee-land into trust
for the development of ancillary
infrastructure and overflow parking; (2)
a reduced-intensity casino alternative;
(3) an alternate-use (non-casino)
alternative; and (4) an alternative
involving expansion of the Tribe’s
existing casino. The range of issues and
alternatives may be expanded based on
comments received during the scoping
process.
Areas of environmental concern
identified for analysis in the EIS include
land resources; water resources; air
quality; noise; biological resources;
cultural/historical/archaeological
resources; resource use patterns; traffic
and transportation; public health and
safety; hazardous materials and
hazardous wastes; public services and
utilities; socioeconomics; environmental
justice; visual resources/aesthetics; and
cumulative, indirect, and growthinducing effects. The range of issues and
alternatives to be addressed in the EIS
may be expanded or reduced based on
comments received in response to this
notice and at the public scoping
meeting. Additional information,
including a map of the proposed trust
property, is available by contacting the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this
notice.
Public Comment Availability:
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the BIA
address shown in the ADDRESSES
section, during regular business hours, 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. Before
including your address, telephone
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 in your comment that
your personal identifying information
be withheld from public review, the BIA
cannot guarantee that this will occur.
Authority: This notice is published in
accordance with sections 1503.1 and
1506.6 of the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500
through 1508) implementing the
procedural requirements of the National
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Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4345 et seq.),
and the Department of the Interior
National Environmental Policy Act
Implementation Policy (43 CFR part 46),
and is in the exercise of authority
delegated to the Assistant Secretary—
Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.
Dated: December 22, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016–31724 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO350000.16X.L11100000.PI0000
LXSISGMW0000]
Notice of Amended Proposed
Withdrawal, Release of Draft
Environmental Impact Statement, and
Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and
Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
amendment of the September 24, 2015,
application by the Assistant Secretary of
the Interior for Land and Minerals
Management to withdraw
approximately 10 million acres of
public and National Forest System lands
from location and entry under the
United States mining laws to protect the
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The
amendment adds 387,981.42 acres in
the State of Nevada and refines the
proposed withdrawal boundaries in
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
and Wyoming. In addition, this notice
announces the release of the draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for public review, which analyzes and
discloses the impacts of the proposed
withdrawal.
DATES: Comments must be received by
March 28, 2017. Meetings will be held
to provide the public with an
opportunity to review and comment on
the proposed withdrawal amendment
and the draft EIS. Please see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
the locations, dates, and times of the
scheduled public meetings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be sent to Mark Mackiewicz, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) WO, C/O
Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West,
Price, UT 84501 or submitted
electronically to sagebrush_
SUMMARY:
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withdrawals@blm.gov. Please see the
section for
an electronic link and office locations
where specific legal descriptions and
maps of the lands may be reviewed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark A. Mackiewicz, BLM, by
telephone at 435–636–3616, or by email
at mmackiew@blm.gov. Persons using a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 800–877–8339. FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question. You will
receive a reply during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
September 24, 2015, a Notice of
Proposed Withdrawal was published in
the Federal Register (80 FR 57635), as
corrected (80 FR 63583), which
provided notice of the proposal to
withdraw the identified lands from
location and entry under the United
States mining laws for 20 years, subject
to valid existing rights. As a result of a
request submitted by the State of
Nevada, the BLM (applicant) petitioned
the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Land and Minerals Management to
amend the original proposal through the
addition of 387,981.42 acres of lands in
that state. These lands represent a
proposal by the State of Nevada to
substitute for withdrawal 487,756 acres
of high mineral development potential
areas in Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs)
for areas adjacent to SFAs that contain
high value habitat and identified Greater
Sage-Grouse populations. This petition
also amends the original withdrawal
proposal by adjusting the boundary of
lands located in Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming as
a result of legal land description
refinements that defined the proposed
withdrawal boundaries utilizing the
public land survey system standards.
The boundary adjustments resulted in a
slight decrease in overall acres proposed
for withdrawal, though refinements vary
section-by-section.
The Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for Land and Minerals Management has
approved the BLM’s petition. This
action therefore, constitutes a
withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of
the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1–3(e)).
Exhibit ‘‘A’’ of the application
amendment describes the proposed
additional public lands in Nevada being
considered for withdrawal.
Exhibit ‘‘B’’ describes all of the lands
in both the original withdrawal
application and the proposed
withdrawal amendment under
consideration by the BLM and the U.S.
Forest Service (USFS). The withdrawal
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
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amendment includes 387,981.42 acres
in the State of Nevada and the boundary
adjustment of lands located in Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and
Wyoming that were identified as a result
of legal land description refinements.
The written legal land descriptions
and the maps depicting the proposed
withdrawal for both Exhibit ‘‘A’’ and
Exhibit ‘‘B’’ may be found on the BLM
internet Web site link: https://
www.blm.gov/node/3282.
The maps, legal land descriptions,
and records relating to the amendment
application may be examined at the
following BLM State Offices or USFS
Regional Offices or by contacting Mark
Mackiewicz at 435–636–3616.
Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell
Way, Boise, ID 83709.
Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate
Drive, Billings, MT 59101–4669.
Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial
Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502.
Oregon State Office, 1220 SW 3rd
Avenue, Portland OR 97204.
Utah State Office, 440 West 200
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT
84101.
Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming
82009.
U.S. Forest Service, Region 1, 200 E
Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802.
U.S. Forest Service, Region 4, Federal
Building, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT
84401.
U.S. Forest Service, Region 6, 1220
SW 3rd Avenue, Portland OR 97204.
The withdrawal proposal (including
the amendment) will be processed in
accordance with the regulations set
forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
The purpose of the proposed
withdrawal is to protect the Greater
Sage-Grouse and its habitat from
adverse effects of locatable mineral
exploration and mining.
Publication of this notice segregates
the lands described in the amended
withdrawal application from location or
entry under the United States mining
laws, subject to valid existing rights,
until September 24, 2017, unless the
withdrawal application is denied or
cancelled or the withdrawal is approved
prior to that date. All of the lands
(unless otherwise subject to an existing
withdrawal) will remain open to the
public land laws, leasing under the
mineral and geothermal leasing laws,
and disposal under the mineral material
sales laws.
Non-Federal mineral lands located
within the boundaries of the proposed
withdrawal areas will not be affected.
Licenses, permits, cooperative
agreements, or discretionary land use
authorizations may be allowed during
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the temporary segregative period, but
only with the approval of the authorized
officer of the BLM or the USFS.
The use of a right-of-way, interagency
or cooperative agreement, or surface
management by the BLM under 43 CFR
3715 or 43 CFR 3809 regulations will
not adequately constrain
nondiscretionary uses, which could
result in loss of critical Greater SageGrouse habitat.
There are no suitable alternative sites
for the withdrawal.
No water rights would be needed to
fulfill the purpose of the requested
withdrawal.
The proposed action analyzed in the
draft EIS considers a withdrawal of
approximately 10 million acres of
Federal lands from location and entry
under the United States mining laws for
a maximum period of 20 years, subject
to valid existing rights. The lands
included in the proposed action are
National System of Public Lands and
National Forest System lands
administered by the BLM and the USFS.
Public scoping for this project began on
September 24, 2015, and closed on
January 15, 2016, with the publication
in the Federal Register of the Notice of
Proposed Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal
Areas; Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,
Utah, and Wyoming and Notice of Intent
to Prepare an EIS. During public scoping
there were 5,078 unique letters
submitted. The issues identified
include, but are not limited to:
• Development of Federal mineral
resources is authorized by law on BLM
and National Forest System Lands;
restrictions or closures may decrease the
ability to provide mineral resources;
• The proposed action could affect
the social and economic conditions
within the analysis area, particularly in
smaller communities;
• The proposed action could reduce
the potential for disturbance to
vegetation communities and habitat
alteration and fragmentation that
otherwise might have occurred from
mining activity; and
• Mineral exploration and
development has the potential to impact
wildlife, including special status species
and associated habitat within and
adjacent to the proposed withdrawal
area.
An interdisciplinary approach was
used to develop the draft EIS to consider
a variety of resource issues and
concerns. Based on internal and
external scoping, the issues analyzed in
detail in the draft EIS include:
• Geology and mineral resources;
• Vegetation, including special status
plant species;
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• Wildlife and special status animal
species, including Greater Sage-Grouse;
and
• Socioeconomic conditions,
including environmental justice and
human health and safety.
In addition to the proposed action, the
draft EIS analyzes and discloses the
potential effects of the No Action
alternative, State of Nevada alternative,
High Mineral Potential alternative, and
State of Idaho alternative.
Under the No Action alternative, the
proposed withdrawal area would
remain open to location and entry under
the United States mining laws. New
mining claims could be located and the
BLM and USFS would continue to
oversee and regulate locatable mineral
exploration and development in
accordance with existing programs,
polices, and regulations.
Under the State of Nevada alternative,
487,756 acres of lands in Nevada, that
are part of the proposed action would
not be withdrawn and 387,981.42 acres
of priority Greater Sage-Grouse habitat
located contiguous to but outside the
SFAs in the State would be included in
the withdrawal. Nevada suggested that
this alternative be considered to reduce
the anticipated economic effect of the
proposed withdrawal to the State of
Nevada while still meeting the purpose
and need for the proposed action.
Under the High Mineral Potential
alternative, all areas within the SFAs
that contain lands with high mineral
potential, as defined by the Sagebrush
Mineral-Resource Assessment prepared
by the U.S. Geological Survey, would
not be withdrawn. Under this
alternative, 558,918 acres of high
mineral potential lands in the six states
that are part of the proposed action
would not be withdrawn.
Under the State of Idaho alternative,
538,742 acres of economically
developable lands in the State of Idaho
that are part of the proposed action
would be excluded from the proposed
withdrawal and left open to location
and entry under the United States
mining laws. The State of Idaho
identified these areas as economically
developable. No additional lands are
being proposed for inclusion in the
withdrawal under this alternative.
Thirty-one agencies and two
American Indian Tribes have entered
into Cooperating Agency agreements
with the BLM for this EIS effort.
Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction
by law or special expertise with respect
to resources potentially affected by the
proposal (40 CFR 1508.5). Cooperating
agencies participate in the preparation
of the NEPA analysis and
documentation. Cooperating agency
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status does not imply the agency
supports the proposed action.
The BLM also contacted 53 American
Indian governments via letter or face-toface meetings during scoping and prior
to the release of the draft EIS. The
governments were provided a project
update, an offer to provide more
information, and an offer for
government-to-government
consultation.
In accordance with 36 CFR
800.3(a)(1), the BLM determined that
the proposed SFA withdrawal is an
undertaking that has no potential to
affect historic properties, assuming such
historic properties were present, and
therefore the agency official has no
further obligation under the National
Historic Preservation Act. The BLM
informed 53 American Indian
governments; the Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming
State Historic Preservation Offices; and
the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation of this determination of
effect.
The draft EIS is available at the
following libraries and offices online at:
https://www.blm.gov/node/3282.
• Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 W
Broadway Street, Idaho Falls, ID
83402
IDAHO
• BLM Nevada State Office, 1340
Financial Blvd., Reno NV 89502
• Elko District Office, 3900 Idaho St.,
Elko, NV 89801
• Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E.
Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV
89445
• BLM Battle Mountain District Office,
50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV
89820
BLM Offices
• Boise District Office, 3948
Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705
• Owyhee Field Office, 20 First Avenue
West, Marsing, ID 83639
• Idaho Falls District Office, 1405
Hollipark Dr., Idaho Falls, ID 83401
• Pocatello Field Office, 4350 South
Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204
• Twin Falls District Office, 2878
Addison Ave. E, Twin Falls, ID 83301
• Shoshone Field Office, 400 West ‘‘F’’
Street, Shoshone, ID 83352
• Salmon Field Office, 1206 South
Challis Street, Salmon, ID 83467
• Burley Field Office, 15 East 200
South, Burley, ID 83318
• Challis Field Office, 1151 Blue
Mountain Road, Challis, ID 83226
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
U.S. Forest Service Offices
• Caribou-Targhee National Forest,
1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID
83401
• Salmon-Challis National Forest, 1206
S. Challis Street, Salmon, ID 83467
• Sawtooth National Forest, 2647
Kimberly Road East, Twin Falls, ID
83301
Libraries
• Mountain Home Public Library, 790 N
10th E Street, Mountain Home, ID
83647
• Boise Public Library, 715 S Capitol
Boulevard, Boise, ID 83702
• Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth
Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83301
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U.S. Forest Service Offices
MONTANA
• Fremont-Winema National Forest,
1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR
97630
BLM Offices
Libraries
• HiLine District Office, 1101 15th
Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401
• Glasgow Field Office, 5 Lasar Drive,
Glasgow, MT 59230
• Malta Field Office, 501 S. 2nd Street
East, Malta, MT 59538
• Central Montana District Office, 920
Northeast Main, Lewistown, MT
59457
• Lewistown Field Office, 920
Northeast Main, Lewistown, MT
59457
• Harney County Library, 80 West D
Street, Burns OR 97720
• Malheur County Library, 388 SW 2nd
Avenue, Ontario, OR 97914
• Lake County Library, County
Courthouse, Lakeview, OR 97630
Libraries
• Lewistown Public Library, 701 West
Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457
• Phillips County Library, P.O. Box 840,
Malta, MT 59538
• Glasgow City-County Library, 408 3rd
Avenue South, Glasgow, MT 59230
BLM Offices
U.S. Forest Service Offices
• Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest,
1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431
Libraries
• Humboldt County Library, US
Highway 95, McDermitt, NV 89421
• Humboldt County Library, 85 East 5th
Street, Winnemucca, NV 89445
• Elko County Library, 720 Court Street,
Elko, NV 89801
• Battle Mountain Branch Library, PO
Box 141, NV 89820
• Jackpot Branch Library, 2301
Progressive Road, Jackpot, NV 89825
• Washoe County Library, PO Box 2151,
Reno, NV 89801
OREGON
BLM Offices
• Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20
West, Hines, OR 97738
• Lakeview Field Office, 1301 South G.
Street, Lakeview, OR 97630
• Vale District Office, 100 Oregon St,
Vale, OR 97918
Frm 00048
BLM Offices
• West Desert District Office, 2370 S.
Decker Lake Blvd., West Valley City,
UT 84119
• BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
84101
U.S. Forest Service Offices
• Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest,
857 West South Jordan Parkway,
South Jordan, UT 84095
Libraries
NEVADA
PO 00000
UTAH
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• Box Elder County Bookmobile
Library, 80 W 50 S, Willard, UT
84340–0595
• Cache County Library at Providence,
15 North Main, Providence, UT 84332
• Rich County Library and Bookmobile,
20 N Main, Randolph, UT 84064
• Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E
400 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
WYOMING
BLM Offices
• High Desert District Office, 280
Highway 191 North, Rock Springs,
WY 82901
• Kemmerer Field Office, 430 North
Highway 189, Kemmerer, WY 83101
• Wind River/Bighorn Basin District
Office, 101 South 23rd, Worland, WY
82401
• Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street,
Lander, WY 82520
• Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine
Street, Pinedale, WY 82941
Libraries
• Fremont County Library, 244
Amoretti Street, Lander, WY 82520
• Rock Springs Library, 400 C Street,
Rock Springs, WY 82901
• Lincoln County Library, 519 Emerald
Street, Kemmerer, WY 83101
• Sublette County Library, 155 S Tyler
Street, Pinedale, WY 82941
Specific comments or concerns about
the proposed withdrawal will be most
helpful to the BLM. Your comments
should identify specific concerns with
the potential environmental effects,
reasonable alternatives, and measures to
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avoid or lessen the proposed
withdrawal’s environmental impacts.
The more specific your comments, the
more useful they will be. To ensure
consideration of your comments on the
proposal in the final EIS, it is important
that the BLM receive your comments
before March 28, 2017.
After the comments are reviewed, any
significant new issues will be
investigated, modifications will be made
to the draft EIS, and a final EIS will be
published and distributed. The final EIS
will contain the agency’s responses to
timely comments received on the draft
EIS.
In accordance with the requirements
of 43 CFR 2310.3–1(b)(2)(iv) and 40 CFR
1506.6(b), for a period until March 28,
2017, all persons who wish to submit
comments, suggestions, or objections in
connection with the proposed
withdrawal amendment as it relates to
the lands in the six states and/or the
draft EIS may present their views in
writing to Mark Mackiewicz, BLM WO,
C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600
West, Price, Utah 84501, or by email to:
sagebrush_withdrawals@blm.gov or by
attending one of the public meetings on
the dates and times as noted below.
Notice is also hereby given that public
meetings in connection with the
proposed withdrawal and the release of
the draft EIS will be held on the
following dates, times, and locations:
Monday, February 13, 2017, from 2 p.m.
to 4 p.m.—Great Northern Hotel, 2
South 1st Street, Malta, MT 59538
Tuesday, February 14, 2017, from 5 p.m.
to 7 p.m.—BLM West Desert District
Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Dr., West
Valley City, UT 84119
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m.—Rock Springs BLM
Office, 280 Hwy 191 N, Rock Springs,
WY 82901
Thursday, February 16, 2017, from
5p.m. to 7 p.m.—Shiloh Suites
Conference Hotel, 780 Lindsay Blvd.,
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Tuesday, February 21, 2017, from 5 p.m.
to 7 p.m.—The Nugget, 1100 Nugget
Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431
Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m.—Lakeview BLM
District Office, 1301 South G Street,
Lakeview, OR 97720
Thursday, February 23, 2017, from 5
p.m. to 7 p.m.—Elko Conference
Center, 724 Moren Way, Elko, NV
89801
Friday, February 24, 2017, from 5 p.m.
to 7 p.m.—Best Western Vista Inn,
2645 Airport Way, Boise, ID 83709
The public will have an opportunity
to provide oral and written comments at
the meetings. All comments received
will be considered before any
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recommendation concerning the
proposed withdrawal is submitted to the
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Land and Minerals Management for
final action.
Comments including names and street
addresses of respondents will be
available for public review at the BLM
Washington Office at the address noted
above, during regular business hours,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
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.
Jenna Whitlock,
Acting Deputy Director, Operations, Bureau
of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2016–31629 Filed 12–29–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLOR936000.L14400000.ET0000 FUND.
17XL1109AF. WAOR068905 HAG17–0040]
Notice of Application for Withdrawal
and Opportunity for Public Meeting;
Washington
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The United States Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS)
has filed an application with the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) requesting
that the Secretary of the Interior
withdraw, for a period of 20 years,
approximately 340,079 acres of National
Forest System lands located in the
Methow Valley, Okanagan National
Forest. The purpose of the withdrawal
is to protect the area while Congress
considers legislation to permanently
withdraw the lands, and to protect the
value of ecological and recreational
resources of the Methow Valley.
Publication of this notice segregates the
lands, subject to valid existing rights, for
up to 2 years from settlement, sale,
location, and entry under the public
land laws, location and entry under the
United States mining laws, and
operation of the mineral and geothermal
leasing laws. This notice also gives the
public an opportunity to comment on
the application for withdrawal.
SUMMARY:
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Comments must be received by
March 30, 2017. The date(s) and
location(s) of meetings related to the
application for withdrawal will be
announced at least 30 days in advance
of the meetings through local media,
newspapers and the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
the BLM Oregon/Washington State
Director, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR
97208–2965.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jacob Childers, BLM Oregon/
Washington State Office, P.O. Box 2965,
Portland, OR 97208–2965 or by phone at
503–808–6225. 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. The service is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
applicant is the USFS. The application
requests the Secretary of the Interior
withdraw for a period of 20 years,
subject to valid existing rights, the
following described National Forest
System lands from settlement, sale,
location, and entry under the public
land laws, location and entry under the
United States mining laws, and
operation of the mineral and geothermal
leasing laws to protect the value of
ecological and recreational resources of
the Methow Valley and to protect the
area while legislation to permanently
withdraw the lands is being considered.
Recreation accounts for a substantial
share of the Methow Valley
community’s economy while the
watershed provides habitat for several
threatened and endangered species.
Legislation is currently pending in the
114th Congress as S.2991 and identified
as the ‘‘Methow Headwaters Protection
Act of 2016.’’
DATES:
Okanogan National Forest
Willamette Meridian
T. 34 N., R. 20 E.,
Sec. 10, except that portion within the
Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness and
south of the ridge dividing Little Bridge
Creek and Wolf Creek;
Sec. 11;
Secs. 14 and 15, those portions lying
northerly of the ridge dividing Little
Bridge Creek and Wolf Creek;
Tract 37;
Protraction block 37;
Protraction blocks 38 and 39, except those
portions lying within the Lake ChelanSawtooth Wilderness;
Protraction block 43, that portion lying
westerly of the ridge beginning in the
SW1⁄4 and termination in the NE1⁄4
dividing Wolf Creek and Rader Creek;
E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM
30DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 251 (Friday, December 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 96478-96481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31629]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO350000.16X.L11100000.PI0000 LXSISGMW0000]
Notice of Amended Proposed Withdrawal, Release of Draft
Environmental Impact Statement, and Notice of Public Meetings; Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the amendment of the September 24, 2015,
application by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and
Minerals Management to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of
public and National Forest System lands from location and entry under
the United States mining laws to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse and
its habitat. The amendment adds 387,981.42 acres in the State of Nevada
and refines the proposed withdrawal boundaries in Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition, this notice announces
the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
public review, which analyzes and discloses the impacts of the proposed
withdrawal.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 28, 2017. Meetings will be
held to provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on
the proposed withdrawal amendment and the draft EIS. Please see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the locations, dates, and times
of the scheduled public meetings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mark Mackiewicz, Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) WO, C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600
West, Price, UT 84501 or submitted electronically to
sagebrush_withdrawals@blm.gov. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for an electronic link and office locations where specific
legal descriptions and maps of the lands may be reviewed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark A. Mackiewicz, BLM, by telephone
at 435-636-3616, or by email at mmackiew@blm.gov. Persons using a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during
normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 24, 2015, a Notice of Proposed
Withdrawal was published in the Federal Register (80 FR 57635), as
corrected (80 FR 63583), which provided notice of the proposal to
withdraw the identified lands from location and entry under the United
States mining laws for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. As a
result of a request submitted by the State of Nevada, the BLM
(applicant) petitioned the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land
and Minerals Management to amend the original proposal through the
addition of 387,981.42 acres of lands in that state. These lands
represent a proposal by the State of Nevada to substitute for
withdrawal 487,756 acres of high mineral development potential areas in
Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) for areas adjacent to SFAs that contain
high value habitat and identified Greater Sage-Grouse populations. This
petition also amends the original withdrawal proposal by adjusting the
boundary of lands located in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and
Wyoming as a result of legal land description refinements that defined
the proposed withdrawal boundaries utilizing the public land survey
system standards. The boundary adjustments resulted in a slight
decrease in overall acres proposed for withdrawal, though refinements
vary section-by-section.
The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals
Management has approved the BLM's petition. This action therefore,
constitutes a withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43
CFR 2310.1-3(e)).
Exhibit ``A'' of the application amendment describes the proposed
additional public lands in Nevada being considered for withdrawal.
Exhibit ``B'' describes all of the lands in both the original
withdrawal application and the proposed withdrawal amendment under
consideration by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The
withdrawal
[[Page 96479]]
amendment includes 387,981.42 acres in the State of Nevada and the
boundary adjustment of lands located in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,
Utah, and Wyoming that were identified as a result of legal land
description refinements.
The written legal land descriptions and the maps depicting the
proposed withdrawal for both Exhibit ``A'' and Exhibit ``B'' may be
found on the BLM internet Web site link: https://www.blm.gov/node/3282.
The maps, legal land descriptions, and records relating to the
amendment application may be examined at the following BLM State
Offices or USFS Regional Offices or by contacting Mark Mackiewicz at
435-636-3616.
Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709.
Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101-
4669.
Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 89502.
Oregon State Office, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland OR 97204.
Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City,
UT 84101.
Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming
82009.
U.S. Forest Service, Region 1, 200 E Broadway St, Missoula, MT
59802.
U.S. Forest Service, Region 4, Federal Building, 324 25th Street,
Ogden, UT 84401.
U.S. Forest Service, Region 6, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland OR
97204.
The withdrawal proposal (including the amendment) will be processed
in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
The purpose of the proposed withdrawal is to protect the Greater
Sage-Grouse and its habitat from adverse effects of locatable mineral
exploration and mining.
Publication of this notice segregates the lands described in the
amended withdrawal application from location or entry under the United
States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, until September
24, 2017, unless the withdrawal application is denied or cancelled or
the withdrawal is approved prior to that date. All of the lands (unless
otherwise subject to an existing withdrawal) will remain open to the
public land laws, leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing
laws, and disposal under the mineral material sales laws.
Non-Federal mineral lands located within the boundaries of the
proposed withdrawal areas will not be affected.
Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements, or discretionary land
use authorizations may be allowed during the temporary segregative
period, but only with the approval of the authorized officer of the BLM
or the USFS.
The use of a right-of-way, interagency or cooperative agreement, or
surface management by the BLM under 43 CFR 3715 or 43 CFR 3809
regulations will not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses, which
could result in loss of critical Greater Sage-Grouse habitat.
There are no suitable alternative sites for the withdrawal.
No water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose of the
requested withdrawal.
The proposed action analyzed in the draft EIS considers a
withdrawal of approximately 10 million acres of Federal lands from
location and entry under the United States mining laws for a maximum
period of 20 years, subject to valid existing rights. The lands
included in the proposed action are National System of Public Lands and
National Forest System lands administered by the BLM and the USFS.
Public scoping for this project began on September 24, 2015, and closed
on January 15, 2016, with the publication in the Federal Register of
the Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal Areas; Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming and Notice of Intent to
Prepare an EIS. During public scoping there were 5,078 unique letters
submitted. The issues identified include, but are not limited to:
Development of Federal mineral resources is authorized by
law on BLM and National Forest System Lands; restrictions or closures
may decrease the ability to provide mineral resources;
The proposed action could affect the social and economic
conditions within the analysis area, particularly in smaller
communities;
The proposed action could reduce the potential for
disturbance to vegetation communities and habitat alteration and
fragmentation that otherwise might have occurred from mining activity;
and
Mineral exploration and development has the potential to
impact wildlife, including special status species and associated
habitat within and adjacent to the proposed withdrawal area.
An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the draft EIS to
consider a variety of resource issues and concerns. Based on internal
and external scoping, the issues analyzed in detail in the draft EIS
include:
Geology and mineral resources;
Vegetation, including special status plant species;
Wildlife and special status animal species, including
Greater Sage-Grouse; and
Socioeconomic conditions, including environmental justice
and human health and safety.
In addition to the proposed action, the draft EIS analyzes and
discloses the potential effects of the No Action alternative, State of
Nevada alternative, High Mineral Potential alternative, and State of
Idaho alternative.
Under the No Action alternative, the proposed withdrawal area would
remain open to location and entry under the United States mining laws.
New mining claims could be located and the BLM and USFS would continue
to oversee and regulate locatable mineral exploration and development
in accordance with existing programs, polices, and regulations.
Under the State of Nevada alternative, 487,756 acres of lands in
Nevada, that are part of the proposed action would not be withdrawn and
387,981.42 acres of priority Greater Sage-Grouse habitat located
contiguous to but outside the SFAs in the State would be included in
the withdrawal. Nevada suggested that this alternative be considered to
reduce the anticipated economic effect of the proposed withdrawal to
the State of Nevada while still meeting the purpose and need for the
proposed action.
Under the High Mineral Potential alternative, all areas within the
SFAs that contain lands with high mineral potential, as defined by the
Sagebrush Mineral-Resource Assessment prepared by the U.S. Geological
Survey, would not be withdrawn. Under this alternative, 558,918 acres
of high mineral potential lands in the six states that are part of the
proposed action would not be withdrawn.
Under the State of Idaho alternative, 538,742 acres of economically
developable lands in the State of Idaho that are part of the proposed
action would be excluded from the proposed withdrawal and left open to
location and entry under the United States mining laws. The State of
Idaho identified these areas as economically developable. No additional
lands are being proposed for inclusion in the withdrawal under this
alternative.
Thirty-one agencies and two American Indian Tribes have entered
into Cooperating Agency agreements with the BLM for this EIS effort.
Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special expertise with
respect to resources potentially affected by the proposal (40 CFR
1508.5). Cooperating agencies participate in the preparation of the
NEPA analysis and documentation. Cooperating agency
[[Page 96480]]
status does not imply the agency supports the proposed action.
The BLM also contacted 53 American Indian governments via letter or
face-to-face meetings during scoping and prior to the release of the
draft EIS. The governments were provided a project update, an offer to
provide more information, and an offer for government-to-government
consultation.
In accordance with 36 CFR 800.3(a)(1), the BLM determined that the
proposed SFA withdrawal is an undertaking that has no potential to
affect historic properties, assuming such historic properties were
present, and therefore the agency official has no further obligation
under the National Historic Preservation Act. The BLM informed 53
American Indian governments; the Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
and Wyoming State Historic Preservation Offices; and the Advisory
Council on Historic Preservation of this determination of effect.
The draft EIS is available at the following libraries and offices
online at: https://www.blm.gov/node/3282.
IDAHO
BLM Offices
Boise District Office, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705
Owyhee Field Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, ID 83639
Idaho Falls District Office, 1405 Hollipark Dr., Idaho Falls,
ID 83401
Pocatello Field Office, 4350 South Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID
83204
Twin Falls District Office, 2878 Addison Ave. E, Twin Falls,
ID 83301
Shoshone Field Office, 400 West ``F'' Street, Shoshone, ID
83352
Salmon Field Office, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, ID
83467
Burley Field Office, 15 East 200 South, Burley, ID 83318
Challis Field Office, 1151 Blue Mountain Road, Challis, ID
83226
U.S. Forest Service Offices
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho
Falls, ID 83401
Salmon-Challis National Forest, 1206 S. Challis Street,
Salmon, ID 83467
Sawtooth National Forest, 2647 Kimberly Road East, Twin Falls,
ID 83301
Libraries
Mountain Home Public Library, 790 N 10th E Street, Mountain
Home, ID 83647
Boise Public Library, 715 S Capitol Boulevard, Boise, ID 83702
Twin Falls Public Library, 201 Fourth Avenue East, Twin Falls,
ID 83301
Idaho Falls Public Library, 457 W Broadway Street, Idaho
Falls, ID 83402
MONTANA
BLM Offices
HiLine District Office, 1101 15th Street North, Great Falls,
MT 59401
Glasgow Field Office, 5 Lasar Drive, Glasgow, MT 59230
Malta Field Office, 501 S. 2nd Street East, Malta, MT 59538
Central Montana District Office, 920 Northeast Main,
Lewistown, MT 59457
Lewistown Field Office, 920 Northeast Main, Lewistown, MT
59457
Libraries
Lewistown Public Library, 701 West Main Street, Lewistown, MT
59457
Phillips County Library, P.O. Box 840, Malta, MT 59538
Glasgow City-County Library, 408 3rd Avenue South, Glasgow, MT
59230
NEVADA
BLM Offices
BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno NV 89502
Elko District Office, 3900 Idaho St., Elko, NV 89801
Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd.,
Winnemucca, NV 89445
BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, NV 89820
U.S. Forest Service Offices
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks,
NV 89431
Libraries
Humboldt County Library, US Highway 95, McDermitt, NV 89421
Humboldt County Library, 85 East 5th Street, Winnemucca, NV
89445
Elko County Library, 720 Court Street, Elko, NV 89801
Battle Mountain Branch Library, PO Box 141, NV 89820
Jackpot Branch Library, 2301 Progressive Road, Jackpot, NV
89825
Washoe County Library, PO Box 2151, Reno, NV 89801
OREGON
BLM Offices
Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West, Hines, OR 97738
Lakeview Field Office, 1301 South G. Street, Lakeview, OR
97630
Vale District Office, 100 Oregon St, Vale, OR 97918
U.S. Forest Service Offices
Fremont-Winema National Forest, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview,
OR 97630
Libraries
Harney County Library, 80 West D Street, Burns OR 97720
Malheur County Library, 388 SW 2nd Avenue, Ontario, OR 97914
Lake County Library, County Courthouse, Lakeview, OR 97630
UTAH
BLM Offices
West Desert District Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Blvd., West
Valley City, UT 84119
BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt
Lake City, Utah 84101
U.S. Forest Service Offices
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 857 West South Jordan
Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095
Libraries
Box Elder County Bookmobile Library, 80 W 50 S, Willard, UT
84340-0595
Cache County Library at Providence, 15 North Main, Providence,
UT 84332
Rich County Library and Bookmobile, 20 N Main, Randolph, UT
84064
Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT
84111
WYOMING
BLM Offices
High Desert District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock
Springs, WY 82901
Kemmerer Field Office, 430 North Highway 189, Kemmerer, WY
83101
Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office, 101 South 23rd,
Worland, WY 82401
Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520
Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, WY
82941
Libraries
Fremont County Library, 244 Amoretti Street, Lander, WY 82520
Rock Springs Library, 400 C Street, Rock Springs, WY 82901
Lincoln County Library, 519 Emerald Street, Kemmerer, WY 83101
Sublette County Library, 155 S Tyler Street, Pinedale, WY
82941
Specific comments or concerns about the proposed withdrawal will be
most helpful to the BLM. Your comments should identify specific
concerns with the potential environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives, and measures to
[[Page 96481]]
avoid or lessen the proposed withdrawal's environmental impacts. The
more specific your comments, the more useful they will be. To ensure
consideration of your comments on the proposal in the final EIS, it is
important that the BLM receive your comments before March 28, 2017.
After the comments are reviewed, any significant new issues will be
investigated, modifications will be made to the draft EIS, and a final
EIS will be published and distributed. The final EIS will contain the
agency's responses to timely comments received on the draft EIS.
In accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b)(2)(iv)
and 40 CFR 1506.6(b), for a period until March 28, 2017, all persons
who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection
with the proposed withdrawal amendment as it relates to the lands in
the six states and/or the draft EIS may present their views in writing
to Mark Mackiewicz, BLM WO, C/O Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West,
Price, Utah 84501, or by email to: sagebrush_withdrawals@blm.gov or by
attending one of the public meetings on the dates and times as noted
below.
Notice is also hereby given that public meetings in connection with
the proposed withdrawal and the release of the draft EIS will be held
on the following dates, times, and locations:
Monday, February 13, 2017, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.--Great Northern Hotel,
2 South 1st Street, Malta, MT 59538
Tuesday, February 14, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--BLM West Desert
District Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Dr., West Valley City, UT 84119
Wednesday, February 15, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Rock Springs BLM
Office, 280 Hwy 191 N, Rock Springs, WY 82901
Thursday, February 16, 2017, from 5p.m. to 7 p.m.--Shiloh Suites
Conference Hotel, 780 Lindsay Blvd., Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Tuesday, February 21, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--The Nugget, 1100
Nugget Avenue, Sparks, NV 89431
Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Lakeview BLM
District Office, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97720
Thursday, February 23, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Elko Conference
Center, 724 Moren Way, Elko, NV 89801
Friday, February 24, 2017, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.--Best Western Vista
Inn, 2645 Airport Way, Boise, ID 83709
The public will have an opportunity to provide oral and written
comments at the meetings. All comments received will be considered
before any recommendation concerning the proposed withdrawal is
submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and
Minerals Management for final action.
Comments including names and street addresses of respondents will
be available for public review at the BLM Washington Office at the
address noted above, during regular business hours, Monday through
Friday, except Federal 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.
Jenna Whitlock,
Acting Deputy Director, Operations, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-31629 Filed 12-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
