Notice of Availability of the Oregon Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation, 19804-19805 [2018-09525]
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amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
19804
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices
• Park City Management Framework
Plan (1975)
• Pinyon Management Framework Plan
(1978)
• Pony Express Resource Management
Plan (1990)
• Price Resource Management Plan
(2008)
• Randolph Management Framework
Plan (1980)
• Richfield Resource Management Plan
(2008)
• Salt Lake District Isolated Tracts
Planning Analysis (1985)
• Vernal Resource Management Plan
(2008)
• Warm Springs Resource Management
Plan (1987)
The planning area includes
approximately 48,158,700 acres of BLM,
National Park Service, U.S. Forest
Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
State, local, and private lands located in
Utah, in 27 counties: Beaver, Box Elder,
Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis,
Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron,
Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute,
Rich, Salt Lake, Sanpete, Sevier,
Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch,
Wayne, and Weber. Within the decision
area, the BLM administers
approximately 4,017,400 acres of public
lands as GRSG habitat management
areas. Surface management decisions
made as a result of this Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS will apply only
to BLM-administered lands in the
decision area.
The formal public scoping process for
the RMP Amendment/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. The following public
meetings were held in Utah:
• Vernal, Utah; November 14, 2017
• Cedar City, Utah; November 15, 2017
• Snowville, Utah; November 16, 2017
The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
addresses the designation of sagebrush
focal areas; disturbance and density
caps; modification of habitat objectives;
changes to waivers, exceptions and
modification criteria; the need for
General Habitat Management Areas;
exceptions to greater sage-grouse
management within non-habitat
portions of Priority Habitat Management
Areas; lek buffers; reversing adaptive
management responses when the BLM
determines that resource conditions no
longer warrant those responses;
prioritization of mineral leasing; land
disposals and exchanges; predation;
burial of transmission lines; direction to
consider specific alternatives during
implementation planning; and
clarification of existing management
related to mitigation standards,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:16 May 03, 2018
Jkt 244001
adjustment of habitat boundaries to
reflect new information, grazing systems
and prioritization of grazing permits,
water developments management in
relation to water rights, travel and
transportation management planning,
and surface coal mining.
The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
evaluates two alternatives in detail,
including the No Action Alternative
(Alternative A) and one action
alternative (Management Alignment
Alternative). The Management
Alignment Alternative 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.
BLM Utah is soliciting comments on
the entire Draft EIS, as well as the
specific planning issues mentioned in
this NOA, and the cumulative effects
analysis. 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,
43 CFR 1610.2
Edwin L. Roberson,
BLM Utah State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018–09526 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO200000.LXSGPL000000.18x.L111000
00.PH0000]
Notice of Availability of the Oregon
Draft Resource Management Plan
Amendment and Environmental Impact
Statement for Greater Sage-Grouse
Conservation
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared the
Oregon Draft Resource Management
Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG)
Conservation for the Oregon Greater
Sage-Grouse Sub-Region and by this
notice is announcing the opening of the
comment period. BLM Oregon 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 Oregon Greater SageGrouse Draft RMP Amendment/Draft
EIS by any of the following methods:
• Website: https://goo.gl/PxkL5Q.
• Mail: BLM Oregon State Office,
Attn: Draft EIS for Greater Sage-Grouse
Conservation, P.O. Box 2969, Portland,
OR 97208.
Copies of the Oregon Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS are available at
https://goo.gl/PxkL5Q.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information contact Jim ReganVienop, Planning and Environmental
Coordinator, telephone 503–808–6062;
address 1220 SW 3rd Ave., Suite 1305,
Portland, OR 97204; email
jreganvienop@blm.gov. Persons who use
a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM
04MYN1
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact Mr. Regan-Vienop. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question with Mr.
Regan-Vienop. 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
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 Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse land
use plans that address GRSG
management. This action is proposed to
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:16 May 03, 2018
Jkt 244001
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 Oregon Greater SageGrouse 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
Oregon boundaries. The current
management decisions for resources are
described in the following RMPs:
• Andrews (2005)
• Baker (1989)
• Brothers/La Pine (1989)
• Lakeview (2003)
• Southeastern Oregon (2002)
• Steens (2005)
• Three Rivers (1992)
• Upper Deschutes (2005)
The planning area includes
approximately 60,649 acres of BLMadministered lands located in Oregon,
in three counties: Harney, Lake, and
Malheur. Within the decision area, the
BLM administers approximately 21,959
acres of public lands, providing
approximately 21,959 acres of GRSG
habitat. Surface management decisions
made as a result of this Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS will apply only
to BLM-administered lands in the
decision area.
The formal public scoping process for
the RMP Amendment/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. The BLM in Oregon
PO 00000
Frm 00126
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
19805
held one public scoping meeting in
Burns, Oregon on November 7, 2017.
The Oregon RMP Amendment/EIS
addresses the availability or
unavailability of livestock grazing in 13
key Research Natural Areas (RNAs).
RNAs are a subset type of Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern. The
Oregon Draft RMP Amendment/Draft
EIS focuses on the issue of availability
of livestock grazing within key RNAs.
The Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS
evaluates 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, as amended, 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
comments, please 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
Jamie E. Connell,
Oregon/Washington State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018–09525 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
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04MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19804-19805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09525]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO200000.LXSGPL000000.18x.L11100000.PH0000]
Notice of Availability of the Oregon Draft Resource Management
Plan Amendment and 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, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared the Oregon Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Greater Sage-Grouse
(GRSG) Conservation for the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region and
by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. BLM
Oregon 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 Oregon Greater Sage-
Grouse Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
Website: https://goo.gl/PxkL5Q.
Mail: BLM Oregon State Office, Attn: Draft EIS for Greater
Sage-Grouse Conservation, P.O. Box 2969, Portland, OR 97208.
Copies of the Oregon Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS are available at
https://goo.gl/PxkL5Q.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Jim
Regan-Vienop, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, telephone 503-
808-6062; address 1220 SW 3rd Ave., Suite 1305, Portland, OR 97204;
email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
[[Page 19805]]
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. Regan-Vienop. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question
with Mr. Regan-Vienop. 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 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 Oregon 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 Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse 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 Oregon boundaries. The current
management decisions for resources are described in the following RMPs:
Andrews (2005)
Baker (1989)
Brothers/La Pine (1989)
Lakeview (2003)
Southeastern Oregon (2002)
Steens (2005)
Three Rivers (1992)
Upper Deschutes (2005)
The planning area includes approximately 60,649 acres of BLM-
administered lands located in Oregon, in three counties: Harney, Lake,
and Malheur. Within the decision area, the BLM administers
approximately 21,959 acres of public lands, providing approximately
21,959 acres of GRSG habitat. Surface management decisions made as a
result of this Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS will apply only to BLM-
administered lands in the decision area.
The formal public scoping process for the RMP Amendment/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. The BLM
in Oregon held one public scoping meeting in Burns, Oregon on November
7, 2017.
The Oregon RMP Amendment/EIS addresses the availability or
unavailability of livestock grazing in 13 key Research Natural Areas
(RNAs). RNAs are a subset type of Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern. The Oregon Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS focuses on the issue
of availability of livestock grazing within key RNAs. The Draft RMP
Amendment/Draft EIS evaluates 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, as amended,
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 comments, please 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
Jamie E. Connell,
Oregon/Washington State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-09525 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
