Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project, Idaho, 3815 [2019-02095]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 30 / Wednesday, February 13, 2019 / Notices An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq). Jeffrey Parrillo, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2019–02201 Filed 2–12–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4334–63–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [19XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSIOVHD0000 241A 4500129955] Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project, Idaho 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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Bruneau-Owyhee Sagegrouse Habitat (BOSH) Project. ADDRESSES: Copies of the BruneauOwyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project ROD are available for public inspection at the BLM Boise District Office, 3948 S Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho, and at the BLM Owyhee Field Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, Idaho. Interested persons may also review the ROD at goo.gl/eNFS9K. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike McGee, Resource Coordinator, telephone (208) 384–3300; address 3948 S Development Ave. Boise, ID, 83705; email blm_id_ bruneauowyheesagegrouse@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877–8339 to contact Mr. McGee. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Mr. McGee. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Boise District BLM, in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Idaho Department of Lands, and the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:22 Feb 12, 2019 Jkt 247001 Conservation, proposed the BOSH Project to treat up to 617,000 acres of early-stage western juniper encroachment in southwestern Idaho. The conversion of sagebrush-steppe communities to juniper woodlands is a major threat to greater sage-grouse in southwestern Idaho. As junipers encroach into sagebrush habitat, sagebrush-steppe vegetation eventually dies because it is unable to compete with junipers for water, nutrients, space and sunlight. The BLM will use several treatment methods to remove early-stage western juniper, include hand-cutting, prescribed fire and mastication. The BLM began meeting with internal groups and external collaborators to discuss and develop the project proposal in 2013. The BLM held a 30day public scoping period from January 20 to February 20, 2015, to collect comment and feedback that would aid the BLM in project development. Comments concerned effects to wildlife habitat (especially sage-grouse and migratory birds), soils, native plant communities, sensitive plants, spread of noxious and invasive weeds, hydrology and riparian areas, fisheries, wilderness values, visual resources, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, recreation, cultural resources and social values. The BLM published the Draft EIS for BOSH on November 18, 2016. The BLM considered and incorporated comments into the Final EIS. Public comments resulted in clarifications, but did not significantly change alternatives considered. In response to public comment, the BLM (1) modified focal treatment areas to reflect updated vegetation data and to remove some Areas of Critical Environmental Concern; (2) developed Alternative C1, which expanded project boundaries to increase connectivity between treatment areas and include additional habitat; (3) removed all wilderness areas from treatment boundaries, and (4) added a carbon sequestration analysis. The BLM released the Final EIS for the BOSH Project on February 9, 2018. On February 5, 2019, Joseph R. Balash, the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, signed a Record of Decision selecting Alternative C1 for implementation. That approval constitutes the final decision of the Department and, in accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 4.410, is not subject to appeal under Departmental regulations found in 43 CFR part 4. PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 3815 Any challenge to this decision must be brought in the Federal District Court and is subject to 42 U.S.C. 4370m–6. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Joseph R. Balash, Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management. [FR Doc. 2019–02095 Filed 2–12–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO260000.L10600000PC0000.19X.LXSIA DVSBD00.241A] Call for Nominations for the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of call for nominations. AGENCY: The purpose of this notice is to solicit public nominations for three positions on the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board (Board) that will become vacant on March 21, 2019. The Board provides advice concerning the management, protection, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands administered by the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Department of Agriculture, through the U.S. Forest Service. DATES: Nominations must be post marked or submitted to the following addresses no later than April 1, 2019. ADDRESSES: All mail sent via the U.S. Postal Service should be addressed as follows: Division of Wild Horses and Burros, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 2134 LM; Attn: Dorothea Boothe, WO–260, Washington, DC 20240. All packages that are sent via FedEx or UPS should be addressed as follows: Wild Horse and Burro Division, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street SE, Room 2134 LM, Attn: Dorothea Boothe, Washington, DC 20003. You may also email PDF documents to Ms. Boothe at dboothe@blm.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothea Boothe, Acting Wild Horse and Burro Program Coordinator, 202– 912–7654, dboothe@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. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 3815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02095]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[19XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSIOVHD0000 241A 4500129955]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Bruneau-
Owyhee Sage-Grouse Habitat Project, Idaho

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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Bruneau-Owyhee 
Sage-grouse Habitat (BOSH) Project.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bruneau-Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat Project ROD 
are available for public inspection at the BLM Boise District Office, 
3948 S Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho, and at the BLM Owyhee Field 
Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, Idaho. Interested persons may 
also review the ROD at goo.gl/eNFS9K.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike McGee, Resource Coordinator, 
telephone (208) 384-3300; address 3948 S Development Ave. Boise, ID, 
83705; email blm_id_bruneauowyheesagegrouse@blm.gov. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at (800) 877-8339 to contact Mr. McGee. The FRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with Mr. McGee. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Boise District BLM, in collaboration 
with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Idaho 
Department of Lands, and the Idaho Governor's Office of Species 
Conservation, proposed the BOSH Project to treat up to 617,000 acres of 
early-stage western juniper encroachment in southwestern Idaho. The 
conversion of sagebrush-steppe communities to juniper woodlands is a 
major threat to greater sage-grouse in southwestern Idaho. As junipers 
encroach into sagebrush habitat, sagebrush-steppe vegetation eventually 
dies because it is unable to compete with junipers for water, 
nutrients, space and sunlight.
    The BLM will use several treatment methods to remove early-stage 
western juniper, include hand-cutting, prescribed fire and mastication.
    The BLM began meeting with internal groups and external 
collaborators to discuss and develop the project proposal in 2013. The 
BLM held a 30-day public scoping period from January 20 to February 20, 
2015, to collect comment and feedback that would aid the BLM in project 
development. Comments concerned effects to wildlife habitat (especially 
sage-grouse and migratory birds), soils, native plant communities, 
sensitive plants, spread of noxious and invasive weeds, hydrology and 
riparian areas, fisheries, wilderness values, visual resources, Areas 
of Critical Environmental Concern, recreation, cultural resources and 
social values.
    The BLM published the Draft EIS for BOSH on November 18, 2016. The 
BLM considered and incorporated comments into the Final EIS. Public 
comments resulted in clarifications, but did not significantly change 
alternatives considered.
    In response to public comment, the BLM (1) modified focal treatment 
areas to reflect updated vegetation data and to remove some Areas of 
Critical Environmental Concern; (2) developed Alternative C1, which 
expanded project boundaries to increase connectivity between treatment 
areas and include additional habitat; (3) removed all wilderness areas 
from treatment boundaries, and (4) added a carbon sequestration 
analysis.
    The BLM released the Final EIS for the BOSH Project on February 9, 
2018. On February 5, 2019, Joseph R. Balash, the Department of the 
Interior's Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, signed 
a Record of Decision selecting Alternative C1 for implementation. That 
approval constitutes the final decision of the Department and, in 
accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 4.410, is not subject to 
appeal under Departmental regulations found in 43 CFR part 4.
    Any challenge to this decision must be brought in the Federal 
District Court and is subject to 42 U.S.C. 4370m-6.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Joseph R. Balash,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2019-02095 Filed 2-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
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