Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Possible Land Use Plan Amendment for the Proposed RE Crimson Solar Project, Riverside County, CA, 10516-10518 [2018-04691]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2018 / Notices
governance funding agreement may
include, but are not limited to:
Construction, farming, concessions,
maintenance, biological program efforts,
habitat management, fire management,
and implementation of comprehensive
conservation planning.
Locations of Refuges and Hatcheries
With Close Proximity to SelfGovernance Tribes
The Service developed the list below
based on the proximity of identified
self-governance Tribes to Service
facilities that have components that may
be suitable for administering through a
self-governance funding agreement.
1. Alaska National Wildlife Refuges—Alaska
2. Alchesay National Fish Hatchery—Arizona
3. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge—
California
4. Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge—Idaho
5. Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge—
Minnesota
6. Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge—
Minnesota
7. Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge—
Minnesota
8. National Bison Range—Montana
9. Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge—
Montana
10. Pablo National Wildlife Refuge—Montana
11. Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge—
Oklahoma
12. Tishomingo National Wildlife Refute—
Oklahoma
13. Bandon Marsh National Wildlife
Refuge—Washington
14. Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge—
Washington
15. Makah National Fish Hatchery—
Washington
16. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge—
Washington
17. Quinault National Fish Hatchery—
Washington
18. San Juan Islands National Wildlife
Refuge—Washington
19. Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge—
Wisconsin
For questions regarding selfgovernance, contact Scott Aikin, Fish
and Wildlife Service, National Native
American Programs Coordinator, 1211
SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100,
Vancouver, Washington 98683,
telephone (360) 604–2531 or fax (360)
604–2505.
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F. Eligible U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) Programs
The mission of the USGS is to collect,
analyze, and provide information on
biology, geology, hydrology, and
geography that contributes to the wise
management of the Nation’s natural
resources and to the health, safety, and
well-being of the American people. This
information is usually publicly available
and includes maps, data bases, and
descriptions and analyses of the water,
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plants, animals, energy, and mineral
resources, land surface, underlying
geologic structure, and dynamic
processes of the earth. The USGS does
not manage lands or resources. Selfgovernance Tribes may potentially assist
the USGS in the data acquisition and
analysis components of its activities.
For questions regarding selfgovernance, contact Monique Fordham,
Esq., National Tribal Liaison, U.S.
Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley
Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, telephone
(703) 648–4437 or fax (703) 648–6683.
G. Eligible Office of the Special Trustee
for American Indians (OST) Programs
The Department has responsibility for
what may be the largest land trust in the
world, approximately 56 million acres.
OST oversees the management of Indian
trust assets, including income generated
from leasing and other commercial
activities on Indian trust lands, by
maintaining, investing and disbursing
Indian trust financial assets, and
reporting on these transactions. The
mission of the OST is to serve Indian
communities by fulfilling Indian
fiduciary trust responsibilities. This is
to be accomplished through the
implementation of a Comprehensive
Trust Management Plan (CTM) that is
designed to improve trust beneficiary
services, ownership information,
management of trust fund assets, and
self-governance activities.
A Tribe operating under selfgovernance may include the following
programs, services, functions, and
activities or portions thereof in a
funding agreement:
1. Beneficiary Processes Program
(Individual Indian Money Accounting
Technical Functions).
2. Appraisal Services Program. Tribes/
consortia that currently perform these
programs under a self-governance
funding agreement with the Office of
Self-Governance (OSG) may negotiate a
separate memorandum of understanding
(MOU) with OST that outlines the roles
and responsibilities for management of
these programs.
The MOU between the Tribe/
consortium and OST outlines the roles
and responsibilities for the performance
of the OST program by the Tribe/
consortium. If those roles and
responsibilities are already fully
articulated in the existing funding
agreement with the OSG, an MOU is not
necessary. To the extent that the parties
desire specific program standards, an
MOU will be negotiated between the
Tribe/consortium and OST, which will
be binding on both parties and attached
and incorporated into the OSG funding
agreement.
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If a Tribe/consortium decides to
assume the operation of an OST
program, the new funding for
performing that program will come from
OST program dollars. A Tribe’s newlyassumed operation of the OST
program(s) will be reflected in the
Tribe’s OSG funding agreement.
For questions regarding selfgovernance, contact Lee Frazier,
Program Analyst, Office of External
Affairs, Office of the Special Trustee for
American Indians (MS 5140—MIB),
1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC
20240–0001, phone: (202) 208–7587,
fax: (202) 208–7545.
IV. Programmatic Targets
The programmatic target for Fiscal
Year 2018 provides that, upon request of
a self-governance Tribe, each non-BIA
bureau will negotiate funding
agreements for its eligible programs
beyond those already negotiated.
V. Public Disclosure
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.
Dated: February 15, 2018.
Ryan K. Zinke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–04743 Filed 3–8–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD06000 L51010000.ER0000
17XL5017AP LVRWB17B5120 CACA
051967]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report and
Possible Land Use Plan Amendment
for the Proposed RE Crimson Solar
Project, Riverside County, CA
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2018 / Notices
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office,
Palm Springs, CA, intends to prepare a
joint Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)/Environmental Impact Report
(EIR), including a potential amendment
to the California Desert Conservation
Area (CDCA) Plan, and by this Notice is
announcing the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This Notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS/EIR and
possible plan amendments. Comments
on issues may be submitted in writing
until April 9, 2018. The date(s) and
location(s) of any scoping meetings will
be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media,
newspapers, and the BLM website at:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/.
To be included in the Draft EIS/EIR,
all comments must be received prior to
the close of the 30-day scoping period
or 15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. The BLM will
provide additional opportunities for
public participation upon publication of
the Draft EIS/EIR.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit
comments related to the RE Crimson
Solar Project by any of the following
methods:
• Website: https://eplanning.blm.
gov/.
• Email: blm_ca_crimsonsolar@blm.
gov.
• Fax: (541) 618–2400, ATTN:
Miriam Liberatore, project manager, RE
Crimson Solar.
• Mail: ATTN: Miriam Liberatore,
project manager, RE Crimson Solar,
Bureau of Land Management, 3040
Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the BLM Palm
Springs-South Coast Field Office located
at 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs,
CA 92262.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Miriam Liberatore, project manager,
telephone (541) 618–2412; address
Bureau of Land Management, 3040
Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504; email:
mliberat@blm.gov. Contact Ms.
Liberatore to be added to the mailing
list. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service at (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. Telephone replies will be
returned during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sonoran
West Solar Holdings, LLC, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Recurrent Energy
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18:32 Mar 08, 2018
Jkt 244001
LLC, has requested a right-of-way
(ROW) authorization to construct,
operate, maintain, and decommission a
maximum 350 megawatt solar
photovoltaic facility and necessary
ancillary facilities, including battery
storage, project substations, access
roads, operations and maintenance
buildings, and lay down areas.
The Project site consists of about
2,700-acres of BLM-administered land
within the Riverside East Solar Energy
Zone (SEZ). The Desert Renewable
Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) Land
Use Plan Amendment also designated
the area as a Development Focus Area
(DFA).
This document provides notice that
the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast
Field Office and the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife intend
to jointly prepare an EIS/EIR, which
may include a CDCA Plan Amendment,
for the Project. It also announces the
beginning of the scoping process for this
effort and seeks public input on
environmental issues and potential
planning criteria relevant to the Project
and any potential plan amendments.
The public scoping process guides the
planning process and determines the
relevant issues that will influence the
scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives and
environmental consequences.
Preliminary issues for the project have
been identified by BLM personnel;
Federal, State, and local agencies; and
other stakeholders. The issues include:
Air quality and greenhouse gas
emissions; biological resources,
including special status wildlife and
vegetation species; cultural resources;
geology and soils; hazards and
hazardous materials; hydrology and
water quality; lands and realty; mineral
resources; noise; paleontological
resources; recreation; socioeconomics
and environmental justice; special
designations; transportation and travel
management; visual resources; wildland
fire ecology; and areas with high
potential for renewable energy
development.
Written comments may be submitted
to the BLM at a scoping meeting, or via
one of the methods listed in the
addresses section above. Input must be
received by the close of the 30-day
scoping period or within 15 days after
the last public meeting, whichever is
later.
By this Notice, the BLM is complying
with requirements in 43 CFR 1610.2(c)
to notify the public of potential
amendments to the CDCA Plan, as
amended, predicated on the findings in
the EIS/EIR.
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10517
If one or more land use plan
amendments are necessary, the BLM
will integrate the land use planning
process with the NEPA process for the
Project. A preliminary list of the
potential planning criteria that will be
used to help guide and define the scope
of the plan amendment includes:
1. The plan amendments will be
completed in compliance with FLPMA,
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal
laws, executive orders, and BLM
policies;
2. Existing valid plan decisions will
not be changed and any new plan
decisions will not conflict with existing
plan decisions; and
3. The plan amendment(s) will
recognize valid existing rights.
The public may submit comments to
the BLM 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.
The BLM will use and coordinate the
NEPA scoping process to help fulfill the
public involvement process under the
National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108 as provided
in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). The information
about historic and cultural resources
within the area potentially affected by
the proposed action will assist the BLM
in identifying and evaluating impacts to
such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian
tribes on a government-to-government
basis in accordance with Executive
Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal
concerns, including impacts on Indian
trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with tribes and other
stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed action that the
BLM is evaluating are invited to
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate in the
development of the environmental
analysis as a cooperating agency.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so. The minutes and list of attendees
for each scoping meeting will be
available to the public and open for 30
days after the meeting to any participant
who wishes to clarify the views he or
she expressed. With respect to the
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 47 / Friday, March 9, 2018 / Notices
potential land use plan amendment, the
BLM will evaluate identified issues to
be addressed in the plan amendment,
and will place them into one of three
categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan
amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan
amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation
in the Draft EIS/EIR as to why an issue
was placed in category two or three. The
public is also encouraged to help
identify any management questions and
concerns that should be addressed in
the EIS/EIR and potential land use plan
amendments. The BLM will work
collaboratively with interested parties to
identify the management decisions that
are best suited to local, regional, and
national needs and concerns.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the EIS and
potential land use plan amendments in
order to consider the variety of resource
issues and concerns identified.
Specialists with expertise in the
following disciplines will be involved
in the planning process: Air, minerals
and geology, outdoor recreation,
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and
botany, lands and realty, hydrology,
soils, sociology, and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2.
Danielle Chi,
BLM California Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018–04691 Filed 3–8–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[17XL1109AF LLUTG01100
L13100000.EJ0000]
Notice of Availability of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas
Infill Project, Uintah County, Utah
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 Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Greater Chapita Wells Natural
Gas Infill Project and by this notice is
announcing the opening of the comment
period.
DATES: To ensure comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
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SUMMARY:
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16:47 Mar 08, 2018
Jkt 244001
written comments on the Greater
Chapita Wells Draft EIS within 45 days
following the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes its NOA in
the Federal Register. The BLM will
announce future meetings or hearings
and any other public involvement
activities at least 15 days in advance
through public notices, media releases,
and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Greater Chapita Wells
project by any of the following methods:
• Website: https://go.usa.gov/csKAz.
• Email: UT_Vernal_Comments@
blm.gov.
• Fax: 435–781–4410.
• Mail: Bureau of Land Management,
Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East,
Vernal, Utah 84078.
Copies of the Greater Chapita Wells
Draft EIS are available in the Vernal
Field Office at the above address and
website.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephanie Howard, Project Manager,
435–781–4400; BLM Vernal Field
Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, UT
84078; showard@blm.gov. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact the above individual during
normal business hours. FRS 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
published in the September 9, 2009,
Federal Register a Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS (74 FR 46458). The
Greater Chapita EIS Project Area
encompasses approximately 43,109
acres located in Township 8 South,
Ranges 22 through 24 East; Township 9
South, Ranges 22 and 23 East; and
Township 10 South, Range 23 East, Salt
Lake Base and Meridian, about 25 miles
south of Vernal, Utah. Of the 43,109
acres within the project area, about 76
percent is Federal surface administered
by the BLM; 15 percent is tribal trust
surface; 5 percent is State of Utah
surface administered by the Utah Trust
Lands Administration; and 4 percent is
private surface. The entire project is
within the exterior boundary of the
Uintah and Ouray Reservation
(Uncompahgre Indian Country).
Oil and gas drilling has been ongoing
within the Chapita project area since
1952. As of March 2014, the project area
contained 1,247 active gas wells on 960
well pads, approximately 257 miles of
roads, and approximately 268 miles of
pipelines. Total existing disturbance in
the project area is approximately 3,975
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Sfmt 4703
acres, with approximately 1,000 acres
under interim reclamation.
The Draft EIS analyzes a proposal by
EOG Resources Inc (EOG) to further
develop natural gas resources on their
Federal leases in the project area. EOG’s
proposal includes drilling up to 2,808
new wells and constructing associated
ancillary transportation, transmission,
and water disposal facilities within the
project area. The proposed life of the
project is 55 years, with drilling and
development activities to occur within
the first 15 years. The new gas wells
would be drilled to the Green River,
Wasatch, Mesaverde Group (including
the Blackhawk), Mancos, and Dakota
formations at depths of 6,000 to 15,000
feet.
The Draft EIS describes and analyzes
in detail the impacts of the No Action
Alternative, and three action
alternatives, including EOG’s Proposed
Action. Seven additional alternatives
were considered, but eliminated from
detailed analysis. The alternatives
considered in detail include a
landscape-scale mitigation plan that
incorporates applicant-committed
measures, design features (including
best management practices), and the
mitigation hierarchy, including
compensatory mitigation as applicable
to minimize or eliminate impacts to the
resources of concern. In particular, the
Draft EIS action alternatives contain an
applicant-committed ozone
management strategy designed to
provide a reasonable assurance that
project implementation would not
contribute to the ongoing ozone
situation in the Uinta Basin. This
strategy contains five approaches to
managing project emissions, including:
Applicant-committed emission
reduction measures; audio, visual,
olfactory and infrared monitoring; a
commitment to no-net increase of
volatile organic compound emissions to
be tracked via an emissions balance
sheet; ozone training for personnel; and
an ozone event action plan. The
following is a summary of the main
components of the various alternatives:
1. No Action Alternative—The
proposed natural gas development on
BLM lands and leases as described in
the Proposed Action would not be
implemented. However, under this
alternative, natural gas exploration and
development is assumed to continue on
Federal, State, and private lands under
previous authorizations. Up to 462 new
gas wells would be drilled from 425
new well pads and 37 expanded well
pads. This alternative also includes
expansion of an existing compressor
station, construction of 18 liquids
gathering system (LGS) facilities,
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 47 (Friday, March 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10516-10518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04691]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD06000 L51010000.ER0000 17XL5017AP LVRWB17B5120 CACA 051967]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report and Possible Land Use Plan
Amendment for the Proposed RE Crimson Solar Project, Riverside County,
CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
[[Page 10517]]
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, Palm Springs, CA, intends to
prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental
Impact Report (EIR), including a potential amendment to the California
Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, and by this Notice is announcing
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues.
DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS/EIR
and possible plan amendments. Comments on issues may be submitted in
writing until April 9, 2018. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local
media, newspapers, and the BLM website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/.
To be included in the Draft EIS/EIR, all comments must be received
prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of
the Draft EIS/EIR.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit comments related to the RE Crimson
Solar Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/ gov/.
Email: [email protected].
Fax: (541) 618-2400, ATTN: Miriam Liberatore, project
manager, RE Crimson Solar.
Mail: ATTN: Miriam Liberatore, project manager, RE Crimson
Solar, Bureau of Land Management, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office located at 1201 Bird Center
Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Miriam Liberatore, project manager,
telephone (541) 618-2412; address Bureau of Land Management, 3040
Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504; email: [email protected]. Contact Ms.
Liberatore to be added to the mailing list. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service at (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.
Telephone replies will be returned during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sonoran West Solar Holdings, LLC, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Recurrent Energy LLC, has requested a right-of-way
(ROW) authorization to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a
maximum 350 megawatt solar photovoltaic facility and necessary
ancillary facilities, including battery storage, project substations,
access roads, operations and maintenance buildings, and lay down areas.
The Project site consists of about 2,700-acres of BLM-administered
land within the Riverside East Solar Energy Zone (SEZ). The Desert
Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) Land Use Plan Amendment also
designated the area as a Development Focus Area (DFA).
This document provides notice that the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast
Field Office and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife intend
to jointly prepare an EIS/EIR, which may include a CDCA Plan Amendment,
for the Project. It also announces the beginning of the scoping process
for this effort and seeks public input on environmental issues and
potential planning criteria relevant to the Project and any potential
plan amendments. The public scoping process guides the planning process
and determines the relevant issues that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including alternatives and environmental
consequences.
Preliminary issues for the project have been identified by BLM
personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders.
The issues include: Air quality and greenhouse gas emissions;
biological resources, including special status wildlife and vegetation
species; cultural resources; geology and soils; hazards and hazardous
materials; hydrology and water quality; lands and realty; mineral
resources; noise; paleontological resources; recreation; socioeconomics
and environmental justice; special designations; transportation and
travel management; visual resources; wildland fire ecology; and areas
with high potential for renewable energy development.
Written comments may be submitted to the BLM at a scoping meeting,
or via one of the methods listed in the addresses section above. Input
must be received by the close of the 30-day scoping period or within 15
days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
By this Notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 43 CFR
1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to the CDCA
Plan, as amended, predicated on the findings in the EIS/EIR.
If one or more land use plan amendments are necessary, the BLM will
integrate the land use planning process with the NEPA process for the
Project. A preliminary list of the potential planning criteria that
will be used to help guide and define the scope of the plan amendment
includes:
1. The plan amendments will be completed in compliance with FLPMA,
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, executive orders, and BLM
policies;
2. Existing valid plan decisions will not be changed and any new
plan decisions will not conflict with existing plan decisions; and
3. The plan amendment(s) will recognize valid existing rights.
The public may submit comments to the BLM 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.
The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help
fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108 as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3)). The information about historic and cultural resources
within the area potentially affected by the proposed action will assist
the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating are invited to participate
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis
as a cooperating agency.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so. The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping
meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the
meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she
expressed. With respect to the
[[Page 10518]]
potential land use plan amendment, the BLM will evaluate identified
issues to be addressed in the plan amendment, and will place them into
one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft EIS/EIR as to why
an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also
encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that
should be addressed in the EIS/EIR and potential land use plan
amendments. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties
to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local,
regional, and national needs and concerns.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the EIS
and potential land use plan amendments in order to consider the variety
of resource issues and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise
in the following disciplines will be involved in the planning process:
Air, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, archaeology,
paleontology, wildlife and botany, lands and realty, hydrology, soils,
sociology, and economics.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Danielle Chi,
BLM California Deputy State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-04691 Filed 3-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
