Notice of Availability of the Colorado Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation, 19808-19809 [2018-09523]
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amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
19808
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices
recommendation for withdrawal is
presented to Congress.
In addition, a public meeting
addressing the amended withdrawal
application will be held to help the
public understand the amended
withdrawal application and the
associated process for decision-making;
please see the DATES and ADDRESSES
sections for details.
The DON is the lead agency for
evaluation of the proposed withdrawal
expansion as pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1970, as
amended (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.,
and other applicable environmental and
cultural resources authorities.
Comments including names and street
addresses of respondents will be
available for public review at the BLM
addresses noted above, during regular
business hours Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personally
identifiable information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personally identifiable information—
may be publicly available at any time.
While you can ask the BLM in your
comment to withhold your personally
identifiable information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
For a period until May 4, 2020,
subject to valid existing rights, the
Federal lands that are described in this
Notice as added to the DON’s
withdrawal application will be
segregated, for two years, from all forms
of appropriation under the public land
laws, including the mining laws, the
mineral leasing laws, and the
geothermal leasing laws, unless the
applications/proposal are denied or
canceled or the withdrawal is approved
prior to that date. The acres of public
land segregated upon publication of this
Notice totals 92,482.45 acres. Licenses,
permits, cooperative agreements, or
discretionary land use authorizations
may be allowed during the period of
segregation, but only with the approval
of the authorized officer and, as
appropriate, with the concurrence of the
DON.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 2310.1–4, the
segregative effect for the 2,429.80 acres
described above is terminated, and the
lands opened as follows: At 9 a.m. on
June 4, 2018 the 2,429.80 acres of public
lands in Churchill County, identified by
the DON as no longer needed for their
application for legislative withdrawal,
and legally described above, will be
opened to the operation of the general
land laws and to location and entry
under the United States mining laws,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:16 May 03, 2018
Jkt 244001
subject to valid existing right, the
provision of existing withdrawals, and
other segregations of record, and other
applicable law, including the provisions
of 43 U.S.C. 1782. Appropriation of any
of the land described in this order under
the general mining laws prior to the date
and time of restoration is unauthorized.
Any such attempted appropriation,
including attempted adverse possession
under 30 U.S.C. 38 (1988), shall vest no
rights against the United States. Acts
required to establish a location and to
initiate a right of possession are
governed by State law where not in
conflict with Federal law. The BLM will
not intervene in disputes between rival
locators over possessory rights, because
Congress has provided for such
determinations in local courts. All valid
applications under any other general
land laws received at or prior to 9 a.m.
on June 4, 2018 shall be considered as
simultaneously filed at that time. Those
received thereafter shall be considered
in the order of filing.
Authority: 43 CFR 2300.
Michael C. Courtney,
Acting State Director, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2018–09665 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO200000.LXSGPL000000.18x.L11100
000.PH0000]
Notice of Availability of the Colorado
Draft Resource Management Plan
Amendment and Draft Environmental
Impact Statement for Greater SageGrouse Conservation
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance 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) has
prepared a Draft Resource Management
Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for Colorado Greater-Sage-Grouse
(GRSG) Conservation and by this notice
is announcing the opening of the
comment period. BLM Colorado is
soliciting comments on the entire Draft
EIS, as well as the specific planning
issues mentioned in this NOA, and the
cumulative effects analysis.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00129
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
written comments on the Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS within 90 days
following the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes a notice of
availability 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 Colorado GRSG RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS by any of the
following methods:
• Website: https://goo.gl/kmLtwT.
• mail: BLM—Greater Sage-Grouse
EIS, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO
81506. Copies of the Colorado GRSG
Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS are
available at the website above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information contact Bridget
Clayton, Colorado Sage-grouse
Coordinator, telephone 970–244–3045;
see address above; email bclayton@
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 Ms. Clayton. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, to leave a message or question
with Ms. Clayton. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Greater
Sage-Grouse is a state-managed species
that is dependent on sagebrush steppe
ecosystems. These ecosystems are
managed in partnership across the range
of the Greater Sage-Grouse by federal,
state, and local authorities. Efforts to
conserve the species and its habitat date
back to the 1950s. Over the past two
decades, state wildlife agencies, federal
agencies, and many others in the range
of the species have been collaborating to
conserve Greater Sage-Grouse and its
habitats. The United States Department
of the Interior (DOI) and the BLM have
broad responsibilities to manage federal
lands and resources for the public
benefit. Nearly half of Greater SageGrouse habitat is managed by the BLM.
The BLM is committed to being a good
neighbor and investing in on-the-ground
conservation activities through close
collaboration with State governments,
local communities, private landowners,
and other stakeholders.
In September 2015, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined
that the Greater Sage-Grouse did not
warrant listing under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973. The USFWS based
its ‘‘not warranted’’ determination, in
part, on the conservation commitments
and management actions in the BLM
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices
and U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service)
Greater Sage-Grouse land use plan
amendments and revisions (2015 GRSG
land use plan decisions), as well as on
other private, state, and federal
conservation efforts. Since 2015 the
BLM, in discussion with partners,
primarily Governors and state wildlife
management agencies, recognized that
several refinements and policy updates
could help strengthen conservation
efforts, while providing increased
economic opportunity to local
communities. The BLM and Department
of Interior worked closely with
Governors charged with managing
Greater Sage-Grouse to determine
whether some, none, or all of the 2015
Land Use Plans should be amended.
After carefully considering the
Governor’s input, and using its
discretion and authority under FLPMA,
as well as under direction from the
Secretary, including Secretary’s Order
(SO) 3353, the BLM proposes amending
the Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse land
use plans that address GRSG
management. This action is proposed to
enhance cooperation and improve
alignment with the state plans or
management strategies, in accordance
with the BLM’s multiple use and
sustained yield mission. The BLM
prepared the Colorado GRSG Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS to address
alternatives that will build upon its
commitment to conserve and restore
Greater Sage-Grouse habitat, while
improving collaboration and alignment
with state management strategies for
Greater Sage-Grouse. The BLM seeks to
improve management alignment in ways
that will increase management
flexibility, maintain access to public
resources, and promote conservation
outcomes. The BLM used internal,
agency, and public scoping to identify
issues considered in the environmental
analysis. As part of this analysis, the
BLM also examined the range of
alternatives evaluated in the BLM’s
2015 GRSG land use plan decisions and
their supporting NEPA analyses. This
Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS is one
of six separate planning efforts that are
being undertaken in response to SO
3353, Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation
and Cooperation with Western States
(June 7, 2017), and in accordance with
SO 3349, American Energy
Independence (March 29, 2017). The
Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
proposes to amend the RMPs for field
offices on BLM lands within BLM
Colorado boundaries. In addition to the
2015 Northwest Colorado GRSG
Approved RMP Amendment, current
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:16 May 03, 2018
Jkt 244001
management decisions for resources are
described in the following RMPs:
• Colorado River Valley RMP (2015)
• Kremmling RMP (2015)
• Grand Junction RMP (2015)
• Little Snake RMP (2011)
• White River RMP (1997)
The planning area includes
approximately 4,153,000 acres of BLM,
National Park Service, U.S. Forest
Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
State, local, and private lands located in
Colorado, in 10 counties: Eagle,
Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Larimer, Mesa,
Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit.
Within the decision area, the BLM
manages approximately 1,731,400 acres
of GRSG habitat. Surface management
decisions made as a result of this Draft
RMP Amendment/EIS will apply only to
BLM-administered lands in the decision
area.
The formal public scoping process for
the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
began on October 11, 2017, with the
publication of a Notice of Intent in the
Federal Register (82 FR 47248), and
ended on December 1, 2017. A public
scoping meeting was held in Craig,
Colorado, on November 8, 2017.
The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
addresses leasing availability within one
mile from active leks, lek buffers,
adjustments to habitat boundaries to
reflect new information, and changes to
waivers, exceptions and modification
criteria. The Draft RMP Amendment/
Draft EIS evaluate two alternatives in
detail, including the No Action
Alternative (Alternative A) and one
action alternative (Alternative B).
Alternative B has been identified as
BLM’s Preferred Alternative for the
purposes of public comment and
review. Identification of this alternative,
however, does not represent final
agency direction, and the Proposed RMP
Amendment/Final EIS may reflect
changes or adjustments from
information received during public
comment, from new information, or
from changes in BLM policies or
priorities. The Proposed RMP
Amendment/Final EIS may include
objectives and actions described in the
other analyzed alternative as well.
Alternative A would retain the current
management goals, objectives, and
direction specified in the current RMPs
for each field office.
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 review and
disclosure at the address provided in
the ADDRESSES section of this notice
during regular business hours (8:00 a.m.
PO 00000
Frm 00130
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19809
to 4:00 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
and 43 CFR 1610.2
Gregory P. Shoop,
Acting BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018–09523 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWY920000. L51040000.FI0000.
18XL5017AR]
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
WYW180624, Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
As provided for under the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) received a petition
for reinstatement of competitive oil and
gas lease WYW180624 from Kirkwood
Oil & Gas LLC for land in Converse
County, Wyoming. The lessee filed the
petition on time, along with all rentals
due since the lease terminated under the
law. No leases affecting this land were
issued before the petition was filed. The
BLM proposes to reinstate the lease.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erik
Norelius, Acting Branch Chief for Fluid
Minerals Adjudication, Bureau of Land
Management, Wyoming State Office,
5353 Yellowstone Road, P.O. Box 1828,
Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82003; phone
307–775–6176; email enoreliu@blm.gov.
Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS)
at 1–800–877–8339 to contact Mr.
Norelius during normal business hours.
The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, to leave a message or
question with the above individual. A
reply will be sent during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee
agreed to the amended lease terms for
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19808-19809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09523]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO200000.LXSGPL000000.18x.L11100000.PH0000]
Notice of Availability of the Colorado Draft Resource Management
Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Greater
Sage-Grouse Conservation
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance 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) has
prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Colorado Greater-Sage-Grouse
(GRSG) Conservation and by this notice is announcing the opening of the
comment period. BLM Colorado is soliciting comments on the entire Draft
EIS, as well as the specific planning issues mentioned in this NOA, and
the cumulative effects analysis.
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 a
notice of availability 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 Colorado GRSG RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
Website: https://goo.gl/kmLtwT.
mail: BLM--Greater Sage-Grouse EIS, 2815 H Road, Grand
Junction, CO 81506. Copies of the Colorado GRSG Draft RMP Amendment/
Draft EIS are available at the website above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact
Bridget Clayton, Colorado Sage-grouse Coordinator, telephone 970-244-
3045; see address above; email [email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Ms. Clayton. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or
question with Ms. Clayton. You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Greater Sage-Grouse is a state-managed
species that is dependent on sagebrush steppe ecosystems. These
ecosystems are managed in partnership across the range of the Greater
Sage-Grouse by federal, state, and local authorities. Efforts to
conserve the species and its habitat date back to the 1950s. Over the
past two decades, state wildlife agencies, federal agencies, and many
others in the range of the species have been collaborating to conserve
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitats. The United States Department of
the Interior (DOI) and the BLM have broad responsibilities to manage
federal lands and resources for the public benefit. Nearly half of
Greater Sage-Grouse habitat is managed by the BLM. The BLM is committed
to being a good neighbor and investing in on-the-ground conservation
activities through close collaboration with State governments, local
communities, private landowners, and other stakeholders.
In September 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
determined that the Greater Sage-Grouse did not warrant listing under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The USFWS based its ``not
warranted'' determination, in part, on the conservation commitments and
management actions in the BLM
[[Page 19809]]
and U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) Greater Sage-Grouse land use
plan amendments and revisions (2015 GRSG land use plan decisions), as
well as on other private, state, and federal conservation efforts.
Since 2015 the BLM, in discussion with partners, primarily Governors
and state wildlife management agencies, recognized that several
refinements and policy updates could help strengthen conservation
efforts, while providing increased economic opportunity to local
communities. The BLM and Department of Interior worked closely with
Governors charged with managing Greater Sage-Grouse to determine
whether some, none, or all of the 2015 Land Use Plans should be
amended. After carefully considering the Governor's input, and using
its discretion and authority under FLPMA, as well as under direction
from the Secretary, including Secretary's Order (SO) 3353, the BLM
proposes amending the Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse land use plans that
address GRSG management. This action is proposed to enhance cooperation
and improve alignment with the state plans or management strategies, in
accordance with the BLM's multiple use and sustained yield mission. The
BLM prepared the Colorado GRSG Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS to address
alternatives that will build upon its commitment to conserve and
restore Greater Sage-Grouse habitat, while improving collaboration and
alignment with state management strategies for Greater Sage-Grouse. The
BLM seeks to improve management alignment in ways that will increase
management flexibility, maintain access to public resources, and
promote conservation outcomes. The BLM used internal, agency, and
public scoping to identify issues considered in the environmental
analysis. As part of this analysis, the BLM also examined the range of
alternatives evaluated in the BLM's 2015 GRSG land use plan decisions
and their supporting NEPA analyses. This Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
is one of six separate planning efforts that are being undertaken in
response to SO 3353, Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation and Cooperation
with Western States (June 7, 2017), and in accordance with SO 3349,
American Energy Independence (March 29, 2017). The Draft RMP Amendment/
Draft EIS proposes to amend the RMPs for field offices on BLM lands
within BLM Colorado boundaries. In addition to the 2015 Northwest
Colorado GRSG Approved RMP Amendment, current management decisions for
resources are described in the following RMPs:
Colorado River Valley RMP (2015)
Kremmling RMP (2015)
Grand Junction RMP (2015)
Little Snake RMP (2011)
White River RMP (1997)
The planning area includes approximately 4,153,000 acres of BLM,
National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
State, local, and private lands located in Colorado, in 10 counties:
Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Larimer, Mesa, Moffat, Rio Blanco,
Routt and Summit. Within the decision area, the BLM manages
approximately 1,731,400 acres of GRSG habitat. Surface management
decisions made as a result of this Draft RMP Amendment/EIS will apply
only to BLM-administered lands in the decision area.
The formal public scoping process for the Draft RMP Amendment/Draft
EIS began on October 11, 2017, with the publication of a Notice of
Intent in the Federal Register (82 FR 47248), and ended on December 1,
2017. A public scoping meeting was held in Craig, Colorado, on November
8, 2017.
The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS addresses leasing availability
within one mile from active leks, lek buffers, adjustments to habitat
boundaries to reflect new information, and changes to waivers,
exceptions and modification criteria. The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
evaluate two alternatives in detail, including the No Action
Alternative (Alternative A) and one action alternative (Alternative B).
Alternative B has been identified as BLM's Preferred Alternative for
the purposes of public comment and review. Identification of this
alternative, however, does not represent final agency direction, and
the Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS may reflect changes or adjustments
from information received during public comment, from new information,
or from changes in BLM policies or priorities. The Proposed RMP
Amendment/Final EIS may include objectives and actions described in the
other analyzed alternative as well. Alternative A would retain the
current management goals, objectives, and direction specified in the
current RMPs for each field office.
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 review and disclosure at
the address provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice during
regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 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 and 43 CFR 1610.2
Gregory P. Shoop,
Acting BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-09523 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
