Notice of Availability of the Draft Central Coast Resource Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development, California, 1754-1756 [2016-31975]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2017 / Notices
Concurrent with the protest period, the
BLM made the Proposed RMP/Final EIS
available to the Governor of Alaska for
a 60-day consistency review as required
by 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e). The Alaska
Department of Natural Resources
responded on behalf of the Governor
with four issues. The BLM Alaska State
Director determined that one of these
points was within the scope of the
Governor’s Consistency Review Process.
The BLM Alaska State Director did not
find the Proposed RMP inconsistent
with state or local plans, policies, or
programs.
On November 8, 2016, the Governor
appealed the BLM Alaska State
Director’s decision to not accept his
recommendations to the BLM Director.
In the Governor’s appeal letter, the State
of Alaska requested the BLM Director to
reconsider the issues and
recommendations raised in the
Governor’s Consistency Review letter.
The BLM Director issued a final
response to the Governor affirming the
State Director’s decision.
As a result of protests and internal
reviews, the BLM made minor
modifications, corrections, and
clarifications in preparing the Approved
RMPs. These modifications provide
further clarification of some of the
decisions and future monitoring efforts.
Clarifications correct typographical
errors in the Proposed RMP and clarify
language of some decisions.
The following decisions are
appealable under 43 CFR, part 4:
Draanjik ROD: Draanjik Travel
Management Plan and limitations on
placement of bait and wildlife lures
(Appendix E and sections 2.2.20, and
2.2.21 of the RMP); White Mountains
ROD: Designate trails and areas for UTV
use, change weight limitations from
gross vehicle weight rating to curb
weight, allow for use of hovercraft and
airboats, and limitations on placement
of bait and wildlife lures (sections
2.2.16, 2.2.20, and 2.2.21 of the RMP);
Steese ROD: change weight
limitations from gross vehicle weight
rating to curb weight, allow for use of
hovercraft and airboats, and limitations
on placement of bait and wildlife lures
(sections 2.2.16, 2.2.20, and 2.2.21 of the
RMP);
Fortymile ROD: Establish width and
weight limits on use of OHVs outside of
the Fortymile WSR corridor; change
weight limitations from gross vehicle
weight rating to curb weight; allow for
use of motorboats, hovercraft, and
airboats within the Fortymile WSR; and
limitations on placement of bait and
wildlife lures (sections 2.2.15, 2.2.19,
and 2.2.20 of the RMP). Any party
adversely affected by these proposed
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decisions may appeal within 30 days of
publication of this Notice of Availability
pursuant to 43 CFR, part 4, subpart E.
The appeal should state the specific
items on which the decision is being
appealed. The appeal must be filed with
the Eastern Interior Field Manager at the
above listed address. Please consult the
appropriate regulations (43 CFR, part 4,
subpart E) for further appeal
requirements.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Bud Cribley,
State Director .
[FR Doc. 2016–31976 Filed 1–5–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCA948000.L16100000.PP0000.15XL1
109AF.LXSILITI0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Central Coast Resource Management
Plan Amendment and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
Oil and Gas Leasing and Development,
California
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft
Resource Management Plan (RMP)
Amendment and Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for Oil and Gas
Leasing and Development for the
Central Coast Field Office and by this
notice is announcing the opening of the
comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS within 90 days
following the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes its notice
of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
in the Federal Register. The BLM will
announce future meetings or hearings
and any other public participation
activities at least 15 days in advance
through public notices, media releases,
and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Draft Central Coast RMP
Amendment and Draft EIS for Oil and
Gas Leasing by any of the following
methods:
• Email: BLM_CA_OGEIS@blm.gov
• Fax: 916–978–4388
SUMMARY:
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• Mail: BLM, California State Office;
Attn: CCFO O&G Leasing DEIS; 2800
Cottage Way, Rm. W–1623;
Sacramento, CA 95825
Copies of the Central Coast Draft RMP
Amendment and Draft EIS for Oil and
Gas Leasing are available in the Central
Coast Field Office, formerly the
Hollister Field Office, at 940 2nd
Avenue, Marina, CA 93933; the
California State Office at 2800 Cottage
Way, Rm. W–1623, Sacramento, CA
95825; and at the BLM’s Web site
www.blm.gov/ca/eis-og.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Melinda Moffitt, Project Manager,
telephone: 916–978–4376; address: 2800
Cottage Way, Room W–1618,
Sacramento, CA 95825; email:
mmoffitt@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 Draft
RMP Amendment and Draft EIS
describe and analyze alternatives for the
planning and management of oil and gas
leasing and development on public
lands and Federal mineral estate
administered by the BLM, Central Coast
Field Office (CCFO). The former
Hollister Field Office (HFO) moved to a
new location in Marina, California and
is now called the Central Coast Field
Office. The Planning Area is located in
central California and comprises
approximately 6.8 million acres of land.
Within the Planning Area, the BLM
administers approximately 284,000
acres of surface estate and 793,000 acres
of Federal mineral estate. Planning
decisions in the RMP will apply only to
the BLM-administered public lands and
Federal mineral estate in the Planning
Area.
Through this RMP Amendment, the
BLM is revising the existing HFO
Resource Management Plan for the
Southern Diablo Mountain Range and
Central Coast of California (2007) to
analyze the effects of alternative oil and
gas management approaches on lands
with Federal mineral estate. New
circumstances and information
regarding oil and gas exploration and
development, including unconventional
reservoirs and well stimulation
techniques, have prompted the BLM to
prepare this Draft RMP Amendment and
Draft EIS.
In 2014, the BLM conducted scoping
to solicit input from the public and
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interested agencies on the nature and
extent of issues and impacts to be
addressed. Fifteen planning issues were
identified through the scoping process:
(1) Water resources; (2) Health and
safety; (3) Vegetation and wildlife; (4)
Air quality; (5) Climate change; (6)
Geology and seismicity; (7) Soil
resources; (8) Socioeconomics; (9)
Traffic; (10) Tribal and cultural
resources; (11) Environmental justice;
(12) Land use; (13) Livestock grazing;
(14) Recreation; and (15) Visual
resources. These identified scoping
issues will be used by the BLM to assist
in the development of alternative
management strategies for oil and gas
management in the RMP Amendment.
To assist the agency decision maker
and the public in focusing on
appropriate solutions to planning
issues, the Draft RMP Amendment and
Draft EIS considers five alternative
RMPs.
Alternative A. Alternative A would
continue current management under the
existing 2007 HFO RMP. All Federal
mineral estate would be available for oil
and gas leasing, except for designated
wilderness, wilderness study areas, Fort
Ord National Monument, and the Clear
Creek Serpentine Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC), which
are closed under the 2007 HFO RMP. No
Surface Occupancy (NSO) stipulations
would be applied in ACECs and
Recreation and Public Purpose (R&PP)
leases. The Endangered Species
stipulation from the 2007 HFO RMP
would apply in all areas open to leasing.
Alternative B. Under Alternative B,
Federal mineral estate within the
boundaries of oil and gas fields plus a
0.5-mile buffer currently identified by
the California Division of Oil, Gas, and
Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) would
be available for leasing. Other areas
would be closed to oil and gas leasing,
including all National Conservation
Lands. Controlled Surface Use (CSU)
stipulations would apply to all lands
open to leasing.
Alternative C (Preferred Alternative).
Under Alternative C, unless currently
closed under the 2007 HFO RMP,
Federal mineral estate would be open to
leasing within high oil and gas potential
areas or within the boundaries of oil and
gas fields plus a 0.5-mile buffer
currently identified by DOGGR, with the
exception of core population areas of
the kangaroo rat in the vicinity of
Panoche, Griswold-Tumey and Ciervo
Hills which are closed to leasing. CSU
stipulations would apply to all lands
open to leasing. NSO stipulations would
apply to some lands open to leasing,
including: (1) Threatened and
endangered species critical habitat; (2)
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BLM-developed recreation and
administrative sites; and (3) Special
status split estate lands (e.g., State
parks, county parks, conservation
easements, land trusts, and scenic
designations).
Alternative D. Under Alternative D,
unless currently closed under the 2007
HFO RMP, Federal mineral estate
underlying BLM surface estate would be
available for leasing. All Federal
mineral estate underlying split estate
lands and the Ciervo Panoche Natural
Area (both BLM surface and split-estate
lands) would be closed to leasing. CSU
stipulations would apply to all lands
open to leasing. NSO stipulations would
be applied in ACECs and R&PP leases.
Alternative E. Under Alternative E,
unless currently closed under the 2007
HFO RMP, Federal mineral estate
outside of a California Department of
Water Resources Bulletin 118,
Groundwater Basin or Sub-basin, would
be available for leasing. CSU
stipulations would apply to all lands
open to leasing. NSO stipulations would
apply to some lands open to leasing,
including: (1) 12-digit Hydrologic Unit
Codes (HUCs) intersecting EPA
impaired, perennial surface waters
(BLM surface and split estate); (2) 12digit HUCs intersecting non-impaired,
perennial surface waters that intersect
split estate; (3) 12-digit HUC
subwatersheds with the highest aquatic
intactness score; (4) 0.25 miles from
non-impaired, perennial surface waters;
and (5) 0.25 miles from eligible Wild
and Scenic Rivers.
Under each action alternative, CSU
stipulations would apply to all lands
open to leasing. The CSU stipulations
would mitigate impacts to sensitive
resources such as protected, sensitive,
and priority species, critical and priority
habitat, cultural resources, and water
resources by requiring special
operational constraints on surface use to
protect these resources.
ACECs. There are three ACECs
managed by the CCFO. The Clear Creek
Serpentine ACEC is approximately
31,000 acres, the Panoche/Coalinga
ACEC is approximately 56,000 acres,
and the Joaquin Rocks ACEC is
approximately 8,000 acres. No
boundaries of these ACECs are being
modified by this Draft RMP
Amendment. The Clear Creek
Serpentine ACEC was closed to leasing
under the 2007 HFO RMP and would
remain closed under all alternatives.
Under Alternative A, NSO stipulations
would apply to the Panoche/Coalinga
and Joaquin Rocks ACECs. Under
Alternative B, only those portions of the
ACECs within existing oil and gas
fields—approximately 300 acres of the
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1755
Joaquin Rocks ACEC and 11,000 acres of
the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC—would be
open to leasing with CSU stipulations.
The majority of both of these ACECs
would be closed under Alternative B.
Under Alternative C, the Joaquin Rocks
ACEC and almost half of the Panoche/
Coalinga ACEC would be open to
leasing with CSU stipulations; the other
half of the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC
would be closed to leasing. Under
Alternative D, approximately 30,000
acres in the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC
would be closed to leasing; NSO
stipulations would apply to the
remainder of the Panoche/Coalinga
ACEC and to the Joaquin Rocks ACEC.
Under Alternative E, the Joaquin Rocks
ACEC and about half of the Panoche/
Coalinga ACEC would be open to
leasing with CSU stipulations. Of the
remainder of the Panoche/Coalinga
ACEC, roughly 14,000 acres would be
closed to leasing and NSO stipulations
would apply to nearly 4,000 acres.
Non-NSO leases. The Draft RMP
Amendment and Draft EIS impact
analysis will also address 14 leases
within the CCFO that do not contain
NSO stipulations (non-NSO leases), per
a July 2014 Federal court settlement
agreement to resolve the disputes set
forth in Center for Biological Diversity v.
Bureau of Land Management, Case No.
11–06174 and Case No. 13–1749. While
the BLM will select a Preferred
Alternative as part of its plan-level
decision for determining which BLMmanaged lands or subsurface Federal
minerals are open or closed to oil and
gas leasing, the determination for the 14
leases will be an implementation-level
decision. For each of the 14 leases, the
implementation decision will determine
whether the leases should be issued,
and, if so, whether the current
stipulations are sufficient or if
additional stipulations are needed.
Alternative C has been identified as
the Preferred Alternative as described in
40 CFR 1502.14(e). Identification of this
alternative, however, does not represent
final agency direction, and the Proposed
RMP may reflect changes or adjustments
based on information received during
public comment, new information, or
changes in BLM policies or priorities.
The Proposed RMP may include
objectives and actions described in the
other analyzed alternatives. For this
reason, the BLM invites and encourages
comments on all alternatives, objectives,
and actions described in the Draft RMP
Amendment and Draft EIS.
Please note that public comments and
information submitted, including
names, street addresses, and email
addresses of persons who submit
comments, will be available for public
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 4 / Friday, January 6, 2017 / Notices
review and disclosure at the above
address during regular business hours (8
a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
except holidays.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR
1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.
James V. Scrivner,
Deputy State Director, Energy and Minerals.
[FR Doc. 2016–31975 Filed 1–5–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLOR930000.L63500000.DQ0000.
LXSS081H0000.16XL1116AF; HAG 16–
0122]
Notice of Availability of the
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon
Record of Decision/Resource
Management Plan and the
Southwestern Oregon Record of
Decision/Resource Management Plan
for Western Oregon
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has signed the
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon
Record of Decision (ROD)/Resource
Management Plan (RMP) and
Southwestern Oregon ROD/RMP, and by
this notice is announcing their
availability. The Deputy Director of
Operations for the Bureau of Land
Management signed the RODs.
DATES: The BLM signed the
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon ROD/
RMP and Southwestern Oregon ROD/
RMP on August 5, 2016. These RODs/
RMPs were effective immediately upon
signing.
ADDRESSES: Copies or notification of the
electronic availability of the
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon ROD/
RMP and the Southwestern Oregon
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SUMMARY:
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ROD/RMP have been sent to affected
Federal, State, tribal, and local
government agencies and to other
stakeholders including interested
parties that previously requested a copy.
Copies of the RODs/RMPs are available
for public inspection at the Coos Bay,
Eugene, Medford, Roseburg, and Salem
District Offices and the Lakeview
District’s Klamath Falls Field Office.
Interested persons may also access the
RODs/RMPs on the Internet at: https://
www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswestern
oregon/.
Mr.
Mark Brown, Western Oregon RMPs
Project Manager, telephone (503) 808–
6233; address 1220 SW 3rd Avenue,
(P.O. Box 2965, zip code 97208),
Portland, OR, 97204; or email
blm_or_rmps_westernoregon@blm.gov.
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,
seven days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon ROD/
RMP and Southwestern Oregon ROD/
RMP were developed through a
collaborative planning process to design
management for western Oregon BLM
lands that would: produce a sustained
yield of timber products, contribute to
the conservation and recovery of
threatened and endangered species,
provide for clean water, restore fireadapted ecosystems, provide for
recreation opportunities, and coordinate
management of lands surrounding the
Coquille Forest with the Coquille Tribe.
The RMPs include land use
allocations that reserve lands for the
protection of resource values
(Congressionally Reserved, DistrictDesignated Reserve, Late-Successional
Reserve, Riparian Reserve) and include
land use allocations that prioritize
timber harvest and multiple use
management (Harvest Land Base,
Eastside Management Area). The
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon ROD/
RMP revises the following BLM RMPs
completed in 1995: Coos Bay, Eugene,
Roseburg, and Salem. The Southwestern
Oregon ROD/RMP revises the following
BLM RMPs completed in 1995: Klamath
Falls, Medford, and Roseburg. These six
RMPs incorporated the land use
allocations and standards and
guidelines from the Northwest Forest
Plan.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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The decision areas for the
Northwestern and Coastal Oregon ROD/
RMP and Southwestern Oregon ROD/
RMP encompass approximately 2.5
million acres of BLM-administered
lands and 69,000 acres of split-estate
lands in western Oregon.
A Notice of Availability (NOA) for the
Proposed RMP/Final Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the RMPs for
Western Oregon was published in the
Federal Register on April 15, 2016,
which initiated a 30-day protest period
(81 FR 22263). The BLM initiated the
60-day Governor’s Consistency Review
period on March 31, 2016. The BLM
received 46 timely and valid protest
submissions on the Proposed RMP/Final
EIS. All protests have been resolved
and/or dismissed. For a full description
of the issues raised during the protest
period and how they were addressed,
please refer to the Director’s Protest
Resolution Report for the Proposed
RMP/Final EIS, which is available at the
following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/
wo/st/en/prog/planning/
planning_overview/protest_resolution/
protestreports.html.
The BLM Oregon Acting State
Director received a Governor’s
Consistency Review letter from the State
of Oregon Governor on June 14, 2016.
This letter included requests for minor
clarifications, which the BLM accepted.
The Acting State Director issued a
response to the Governor on June 23,
2016.
The Proposed RMP was selected in
the RODs as the Approved RMP, with
some minor modifications and
clarifications based on protests received
on the Proposed RMP/Final EIS, review
from the Oregon State Governor’s Office,
and Endangered Species Act (ESA)
consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and National Marine
Fisheries Service. No substantive
changes to the Proposed RMP resulted
from protests, the Governor’s review, or
ESA consultation.
Copies of the Northwestern and
Coastal Oregon ROD/RMP are available
upon request and are available for
public inspection at:
• BLM Coos Bay District Office; 1300
Airport Lane, North Bend, OR 97459
• BLM Eugene Office; 3106 Pierce
Parkway, Springfield, OR 97477
• BLM Roseburg District Office; 777
NW Garden Valley Boulevard,
Roseburg, OR 97471
• BLM Salem Office; 1717 Fabry Road
SE., Salem, OR 97306
• BLM Salem District—Tillamook Field
Office; 4610 Third Street, Tillamook,
OR 97141
E:\FR\FM\06JAN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 4 (Friday, January 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1754-1756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31975]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCA948000.L16100000.PP0000.15XL1109AF.LXSILITI0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Central Coast Resource
Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
Oil and Gas Leasing and Development, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development for the
Central Coast Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening
of the comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS within 90 days
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its
notice of the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS in the Federal Register.
The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public
participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public
notices, media releases, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Draft Central Coast
RMP Amendment and Draft EIS for Oil and Gas Leasing by any of the
following methods:
Email: BLM_CA_OGEIS@blm.gov
Fax: 916-978-4388
Mail: BLM, California State Office; Attn: CCFO O&G Leasing
DEIS; 2800 Cottage Way, Rm. W-1623; Sacramento, CA 95825
Copies of the Central Coast Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS for
Oil and Gas Leasing are available in the Central Coast Field Office,
formerly the Hollister Field Office, at 940 2nd Avenue, Marina, CA
93933; the California State Office at 2800 Cottage Way, Rm. W-1623,
Sacramento, CA 95825; and at the BLM's Web site www.blm.gov/ca/eis-og.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melinda Moffitt, Project Manager,
telephone: 916-978-4376; address: 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1618,
Sacramento, CA 95825; email: mmoffitt@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 Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS
describe and analyze alternatives for the planning and management of
oil and gas leasing and development on public lands and Federal mineral
estate administered by the BLM, Central Coast Field Office (CCFO). The
former Hollister Field Office (HFO) moved to a new location in Marina,
California and is now called the Central Coast Field Office. The
Planning Area is located in central California and comprises
approximately 6.8 million acres of land. Within the Planning Area, the
BLM administers approximately 284,000 acres of surface estate and
793,000 acres of Federal mineral estate. Planning decisions in the RMP
will apply only to the BLM-administered public lands and Federal
mineral estate in the Planning Area.
Through this RMP Amendment, the BLM is revising the existing HFO
Resource Management Plan for the Southern Diablo Mountain Range and
Central Coast of California (2007) to analyze the effects of
alternative oil and gas management approaches on lands with Federal
mineral estate. New circumstances and information regarding oil and gas
exploration and development, including unconventional reservoirs and
well stimulation techniques, have prompted the BLM to prepare this
Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS.
In 2014, the BLM conducted scoping to solicit input from the public
and
[[Page 1755]]
interested agencies on the nature and extent of issues and impacts to
be addressed. Fifteen planning issues were identified through the
scoping process: (1) Water resources; (2) Health and safety; (3)
Vegetation and wildlife; (4) Air quality; (5) Climate change; (6)
Geology and seismicity; (7) Soil resources; (8) Socioeconomics; (9)
Traffic; (10) Tribal and cultural resources; (11) Environmental
justice; (12) Land use; (13) Livestock grazing; (14) Recreation; and
(15) Visual resources. These identified scoping issues will be used by
the BLM to assist in the development of alternative management
strategies for oil and gas management in the RMP Amendment.
To assist the agency decision maker and the public in focusing on
appropriate solutions to planning issues, the Draft RMP Amendment and
Draft EIS considers five alternative RMPs.
Alternative A. Alternative A would continue current management
under the existing 2007 HFO RMP. All Federal mineral estate would be
available for oil and gas leasing, except for designated wilderness,
wilderness study areas, Fort Ord National Monument, and the Clear Creek
Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which are
closed under the 2007 HFO RMP. No Surface Occupancy (NSO) stipulations
would be applied in ACECs and Recreation and Public Purpose (R&PP)
leases. The Endangered Species stipulation from the 2007 HFO RMP would
apply in all areas open to leasing.
Alternative B. Under Alternative B, Federal mineral estate within
the boundaries of oil and gas fields plus a 0.5-mile buffer currently
identified by the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal
Resources (DOGGR) would be available for leasing. Other areas would be
closed to oil and gas leasing, including all National Conservation
Lands. Controlled Surface Use (CSU) stipulations would apply to all
lands open to leasing.
Alternative C (Preferred Alternative). Under Alternative C, unless
currently closed under the 2007 HFO RMP, Federal mineral estate would
be open to leasing within high oil and gas potential areas or within
the boundaries of oil and gas fields plus a 0.5-mile buffer currently
identified by DOGGR, with the exception of core population areas of the
kangaroo rat in the vicinity of Panoche, Griswold-Tumey and Ciervo
Hills which are closed to leasing. CSU stipulations would apply to all
lands open to leasing. NSO stipulations would apply to some lands open
to leasing, including: (1) Threatened and endangered species critical
habitat; (2) BLM-developed recreation and administrative sites; and (3)
Special status split estate lands (e.g., State parks, county parks,
conservation easements, land trusts, and scenic designations).
Alternative D. Under Alternative D, unless currently closed under
the 2007 HFO RMP, Federal mineral estate underlying BLM surface estate
would be available for leasing. All Federal mineral estate underlying
split estate lands and the Ciervo Panoche Natural Area (both BLM
surface and split-estate lands) would be closed to leasing. CSU
stipulations would apply to all lands open to leasing. NSO stipulations
would be applied in ACECs and R&PP leases.
Alternative E. Under Alternative E, unless currently closed under
the 2007 HFO RMP, Federal mineral estate outside of a California
Department of Water Resources Bulletin 118, Groundwater Basin or Sub-
basin, would be available for leasing. CSU stipulations would apply to
all lands open to leasing. NSO stipulations would apply to some lands
open to leasing, including: (1) 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs)
intersecting EPA impaired, perennial surface waters (BLM surface and
split estate); (2) 12-digit HUCs intersecting non-impaired, perennial
surface waters that intersect split estate; (3) 12-digit HUC
subwatersheds with the highest aquatic intactness score; (4) 0.25 miles
from non-impaired, perennial surface waters; and (5) 0.25 miles from
eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Under each action alternative, CSU stipulations would apply to all
lands open to leasing. The CSU stipulations would mitigate impacts to
sensitive resources such as protected, sensitive, and priority species,
critical and priority habitat, cultural resources, and water resources
by requiring special operational constraints on surface use to protect
these resources.
ACECs. There are three ACECs managed by the CCFO. The Clear Creek
Serpentine ACEC is approximately 31,000 acres, the Panoche/Coalinga
ACEC is approximately 56,000 acres, and the Joaquin Rocks ACEC is
approximately 8,000 acres. No boundaries of these ACECs are being
modified by this Draft RMP Amendment. The Clear Creek Serpentine ACEC
was closed to leasing under the 2007 HFO RMP and would remain closed
under all alternatives. Under Alternative A, NSO stipulations would
apply to the Panoche/Coalinga and Joaquin Rocks ACECs. Under
Alternative B, only those portions of the ACECs within existing oil and
gas fields--approximately 300 acres of the Joaquin Rocks ACEC and
11,000 acres of the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC--would be open to leasing
with CSU stipulations. The majority of both of these ACECs would be
closed under Alternative B. Under Alternative C, the Joaquin Rocks ACEC
and almost half of the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC would be open to leasing
with CSU stipulations; the other half of the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC
would be closed to leasing. Under Alternative D, approximately 30,000
acres in the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC would be closed to leasing; NSO
stipulations would apply to the remainder of the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC
and to the Joaquin Rocks ACEC. Under Alternative E, the Joaquin Rocks
ACEC and about half of the Panoche/Coalinga ACEC would be open to
leasing with CSU stipulations. Of the remainder of the Panoche/Coalinga
ACEC, roughly 14,000 acres would be closed to leasing and NSO
stipulations would apply to nearly 4,000 acres.
Non-NSO leases. The Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS impact
analysis will also address 14 leases within the CCFO that do not
contain NSO stipulations (non-NSO leases), per a July 2014 Federal
court settlement agreement to resolve the disputes set forth in Center
for Biological Diversity v. Bureau of Land Management, Case No. 11-
06174 and Case No. 13-1749. While the BLM will select a Preferred
Alternative as part of its plan-level decision for determining which
BLM-managed lands or subsurface Federal minerals are open or closed to
oil and gas leasing, the determination for the 14 leases will be an
implementation-level decision. For each of the 14 leases, the
implementation decision will determine whether the leases should be
issued, and, if so, whether the current stipulations are sufficient or
if additional stipulations are needed.
Alternative C has been identified as the Preferred Alternative as
described in 40 CFR 1502.14(e). Identification of this alternative,
however, does not represent final agency direction, and the Proposed
RMP may reflect changes or adjustments based on information received
during public comment, new information, or changes in BLM policies or
priorities. The Proposed RMP may include objectives and actions
described in the other analyzed alternatives. For this reason, the BLM
invites and encourages comments on all alternatives, objectives, and
actions described in the Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS.
Please note that public comments and information submitted,
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who
submit comments, will be available for public
[[Page 1756]]
review and disclosure at the above address during regular business
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.
James V. Scrivner,
Deputy State Director, Energy and Minerals.
[FR Doc. 2016-31975 Filed 1-5-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
