Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation, Idaho, 10325-10326 [2019-05289]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 20, 2019 / Notices
Environmental Coordinator, at 503–
808–6062; 1220 SW 3rd Ave. Suite
1305, Portland, OR 97204;
jreganvienop@blm.gov. Persons who use
a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339. 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: The BLM
developed the Oregon Greater SageGrouse Approved RMP Amendment to
enhance cooperation with states by
improving alignment with state
management plans and strategies for
Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing
to conserve, enhance, and restore
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat.
The BLM developed the Oregon
Greater Sage-Grouse Approved RMP
Amendment in collaboration with
Oregon Governor Kate Brown, State
wildlife managers, and other concerned
organizations and individuals largely
through the Western Governors
Association’s Sage-Grouse Task Force.
Using its discretion and authority under
the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act, the BLM amends land
use plans that address Greater SageGrouse management to further improve
alignment with the State of Oregon
plans and management strategies in
accordance with the BLM’s multiple use
and sustained yield mission. The
Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Approved
RMP Amendment is one of six separate
plan amendments developed and issued
in response to Secretarial Order (SO)
3353 (Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation
and Cooperation with Western States)
and in accordance with SO 3349
(American Energy Independence). The
six amendments refine the previous
management plans adopted in 2015 and
aim to strike a regulatory balance and
build greater trust among neighboring
interests in Western communities.
The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse
Approved RMP Amendment specifically
addresses the availability or
unavailability of livestock grazing in 13
key Research Natural Areas and clarifies
plan provisions related to compensatory
mitigation. The Oregon Greater SageGrouse Approved RMP Amendment
amends the following RMPs for lands
administered by the BLM in Oregon:
• Andrews (2005)
• Baker (1989)
• Brothers/La Pine (1989)
• Lakeview (2003)
• Southeastern Oregon (2002)
• Steens (2005)
• Three Rivers (1992)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:27 Mar 19, 2019
Jkt 247001
• Upper Deschutes (2005)
The planning area includes
approximately 60,649 acres of lands
administered by the BLM in three
Oregon counties: Harney, Lake, and
Malheur. Within the decision area, the
BLM administers approximately 21,959
acres of public lands, all of which is
Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Surface
management decisions made in the
Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Approved
RMP Amendment apply only to lands
administered by the BLM in the
decision area.
The BLM prepared an environmental
impact statement (EIS) in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) to analyze the direct,
indirect, and cumulative environmental
impacts associated with the proposed
action and the alternatives. The ROD
approves the agency preferred
alternative identified in the Final EIS.
The BLM issued the ROD based on
compliance with relevant laws,
regulations, policies, and plans,
including those guiding agency
decisions that may have an impact on
resources and their values, services, and
functions.
On December 10, 2018, the Notice of
Availability (NOA) for the Oregon
Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed RMP
Amendment/Final EIS (83 FR 63524)
was published in the Federal Register.
The publication of the NOA initiated a
30-day protest period for the proposed
land use planning decision. The protest
period was later extended an additional
seven days to help account for technical
issues the public encountered when
submitting protests during the partial
Federal Government shutdown in
January 2019. The NOA publication also
initiated a simultaneous 60-day review
by the Governor of Oregon to identify
any inconsistencies with State or local
plans, policies, or programs. At the
close of the protest period, 12 protests
had been received. These protests were
resolved by the BLM Director;
individual protest response letters were
sent to all protesting parties. Protest
resolution is contained in the Director’s
Protest Summary Report, which is
available online at https://www.blm.gov/
programs/planning-and-nepa/publicparticipation/protest-resolution-reports.
The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse
Proposed RMP Amendment was not
modified as a result of the protest
resolution. The Oregon Governor’s
consistency review identified the
following inconsistency: Language in
the Proposed RMPA/Final EIS related to
compensatory mitigation failed to fully
acknowledge the State of Oregon’s
jurisdiction, authorities, and abilities to
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
10325
require compensatory mitigation for
impacts to Greater Sage-Grouse. The
BLM clarified in the ROD for the Oregon
Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed RMP
Amendment that, when the State of
Oregon requires compensatory
mitigation as a component of
compliance with the State’s mitigation
program, policy, or state regulation, the
BLM will incorporate and enforce that
compensatory mitigation as a condition
of permits or authorizations issued by
BLM Oregon.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Theresa M. Hanley,
Acting State Director, BLM Oregon/
Washington.
[FR Doc. 2019–05297 Filed 3–19–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19X LLWO230 L11100000.PN0000
LXSGPL000000]
Notice of Availability of Record of
Decision and Approved Resource
Management Plan Amendment for
Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation,
Idaho
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision
(ROD) for the Approved Resource
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment
for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation
for the Idaho Greater Sage-Grouse SubRegion. The State Director signed the
ROD on March 15, 2019, which
constitutes the final decision of the BLM
and makes the Approved ROD effective
immediately.
ADDRESSES: The ROD is available on the
BLM ePlanning project website at
https://go.usa.gov/xPc3a. Click the
Documents and Reports link on the left
side of the screen to find the electronic
version of these materials. Hard copies
of the ROD are also available for public
inspection at the Boise, Idaho Falls, and
Twin Falls District Offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jonathan Beck, Greater Sage-Grouse
Implementation Coordinator, telephone,
(208) 373–3841; address, 1387 South
Vinnell Way, Boise Idaho 83709; email,
jmbeck@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. Beck. The FRS is available
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM
20MRN1
jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
10326
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 20, 2019 / Notices
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave
a message or question with Mr. Beck.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
developed the Idaho Greater SageGrouse Approved RMP Amendment to
enhance cooperation with States by
improving alignment with State
management plans and strategies for
Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing
to conserve, enhance, and restore
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The
Approved RMP Amendment also
addresses a legal vulnerability, which
was exposed when a Federal District
Court in Nevada determined that the
BLM had violated the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when
it finalized the 2015 plans.
The BLM developed the Approved
RMP Amendment in collaboration with
Idaho Governor Butch Otter, state
wildlife managers, and other concerned
organizations and individuals, largely
through the Governor’s stakeholder
group comprised of members from the
Idaho Sage-Grouse Task Force. Using its
discretion and authority under the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA), the BLM amends land use
plans that address Greater Sage-Grouse
management to improve alignment with
State of Idaho plans and management
strategies, in accordance with the BLM’s
multiple use and sustained yield
mission. This Approved RMP
Amendment is one of six separate plan
amendments developed and issued in
response to the Secretary’s Order (SO)
3353 (Greater Sage-grouse Conservation
and Cooperation with Western States)
and in accordance with SO 3349
(American Energy Independence). The
amendments refine the previous
management plan adopted in 2015 and
aim to strike a regulatory balance and
build greater trust among neighboring
interests in Western communities.
The Idaho Greater-Sage Grouse
Approved RMP Amendment specifically
addresses the designation of sagebrush
focal areas, mitigation standards, lek
buffers, disturbance and density caps,
and adjustments to habitat boundaries
to reflect new information. The
Approved RMP Amendment amends the
following RMPs for BLM-administered
lands in Idaho:
• Bennett Hills/Timmerman Hills
Management Framework Plan (MFP)
(BLM 1980)
• Big Desert MFP (BLM 1981)
• Big Lost MFP (BLM 1983)
• Bruneau MFP (BLM 1983)
• Cascade RMP (BLM 1988)
• Cassia RMP (BLM 1985)
• Challis RMP (BLM 1999)
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:27 Mar 19, 2019
Jkt 247001
• Craters of the Moon National
Monument RMP (BLM 2006)
• Jarbidge RMP (BLM 1988)
• Jarbidge RMP (Revised) (BLM 2015)
• Kuna MFP (BLM 1983)
• Lemhi RMP (BLM 1987)
• Little Lost-Birch Creek MFP (BLM
1981)
• Magic MFP (BLM 1975)
• Medicine Lodge MFP (BLM 1981)
• Monument RMP (BLM 1985)
• Owyhee RMP (BLM 1999)
• Pocatello RMP (BLM 2012)
• Snake River Birds of Prey National
Conservation Area RMP (BLM 2008)
• Sun Valley MFP (BLM 1981)
• Twin Falls MFP (BLM 1982)
The planning area includes
approximately 39.5 million acres of
BLM, National Park Service, U.S. Forest
Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
State, local, and private lands in 28
counties: Ada, Adams, Bear Lake,
Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Butte,
Camas, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer,
Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding,
Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi, Lincoln,
Madison, Minidoka, Oneida, Owyhee,
Payette, Power, Twin Falls, and
Washington. Within the planning area,
the BLM administers 11,470,301 acres of
public land, providing 8,809,326 acres
of Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Surface
management decisions made in the
Approved RMP Amendment apply only
to lands administered by the BLM in the
decision area.
The BLM prepared an EIS in
accordance with the NEPA to analyze
the direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action and the
alternatives. The ROD approves the
Agency Preferred Alternative identified
in the Final EIS as updated by the
Governor’s consistency review and
accepted by the Idaho State Director.
The BLM issued the ROD based on
compliance with relevant laws,
regulations, policies, and plans,
including those guiding agency
decisions that may have an impact on
resources and their values, services, and
functions.
On December 10, 2018, the NOA for
the Idaho Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed
RMP Amendment/Final EIS (83 FR
63531) was published in the Federal
Register. The publication of the NOA
initiated a 30-day protest period for the
proposed land-use-planning decision.
The protest period was later extended
an additional seven days to help
account for technical issues the public
encountered when submitting protests
during the partial Federal government
shutdown in January 2019. NOA
publication also initiated a
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
simultaneous 60-day review by the
Governor of Idaho to identify and
inconsistencies with State or local
plans, policies, or programs. At the
close of the protest period, 8 protests
had been received. These protests were
resolved by the BLM Director;
individual protest response letters were
sent to all protesting parties. Protest
resolution is contained in the Director’s
Protest Summary Report, which is
available online at https://www.blm.gov/
programs/planning-and-nepa/publicparticipation/protest-resolution-reports.
The proposed RMP Amendment was
modified as a result of the protest
resolution. The Idaho Governor’s review
identified several factual corrections/
editorial changes that were accepted by
BLM. The Governor also identified
inconsistencies related to livestock
grazing, buffers, required design
features, and fire management.
The BLM clarified Management
Direction MD LG 17 in the Approved
RMP Amendment to the following:
‘‘Allotments within PHMA with
declining sage-grouse populations,
defined by a soft or hard adaptive
management trigger being engaged and/
or with land health concerns will be
prioritized for field checks.’’ BLM
removed redundant 2015 plan exception
criteria from Appendix B. The intention
was to remove the 2015 exception
criteria when adding the stakeholder
group’s exception criteria between Draft
EIS and Final EIS, but the deletion was
overlooked when completing the Final
EIS. BLM moved the noise buffer
section located in the 2018 Final EIS to
Required Design Features (RDF) as it
was in the 2015 Approved RMP
Amendment. BLM will include the
words ‘‘as appropriate’’ to the anti-perch
device RDF to allow the use of current
and/or best science when making perch
deterrent decisions.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Peter J. Ditton,
Acting BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019–05289 Filed 3–19–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM
20MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10325-10326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05289]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19X LLWO230 L11100000.PN0000 LXSGPL000000]
Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Approved
Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse
Conservation, Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management
Plan (RMP) Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation for the Idaho
Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region. The State Director signed the ROD on
March 15, 2019, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and
makes the Approved ROD effective immediately.
ADDRESSES: The ROD is available on the BLM ePlanning project website at
https://go.usa.gov/xPc3a. Click the Documents and Reports link on the
left side of the screen to find the electronic version of these
materials. Hard copies of the ROD are also available for public
inspection at the Boise, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls District Offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Beck, Greater Sage-Grouse
Implementation Coordinator, telephone, (208) 373-3841; address, 1387
South Vinnell Way, Boise Idaho 83709; email, jmbeck@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. Beck. The
FRS is available
[[Page 10326]]
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with Mr.
Beck. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM developed the Idaho Greater Sage-
Grouse Approved RMP Amendment to enhance cooperation with States by
improving alignment with State management plans and strategies for
Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing to conserve, enhance, and restore
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat. The Approved RMP Amendment also
addresses a legal vulnerability, which was exposed when a Federal
District Court in Nevada determined that the BLM had violated the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when it finalized the 2015
plans.
The BLM developed the Approved RMP Amendment in collaboration with
Idaho Governor Butch Otter, state wildlife managers, and other
concerned organizations and individuals, largely through the Governor's
stakeholder group comprised of members from the Idaho Sage-Grouse Task
Force. Using its discretion and authority under the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act (FLPMA), the BLM amends land use plans that address
Greater Sage-Grouse management to improve alignment with State of Idaho
plans and management strategies, in accordance with the BLM's multiple
use and sustained yield mission. This Approved RMP Amendment is one of
six separate plan amendments developed and issued in response to the
Secretary's Order (SO) 3353 (Greater Sage-grouse Conservation and
Cooperation with Western States) and in accordance with SO 3349
(American Energy Independence). The amendments refine the previous
management plan adopted in 2015 and aim to strike a regulatory balance
and build greater trust among neighboring interests in Western
communities.
The Idaho Greater-Sage Grouse Approved RMP Amendment specifically
addresses the designation of sagebrush focal areas, mitigation
standards, lek buffers, disturbance and density caps, and adjustments
to habitat boundaries to reflect new information. The Approved RMP
Amendment amends the following RMPs for BLM-administered lands in
Idaho:
Bennett Hills/Timmerman Hills Management Framework Plan (MFP)
(BLM 1980)
Big Desert MFP (BLM 1981)
Big Lost MFP (BLM 1983)
Bruneau MFP (BLM 1983)
Cascade RMP (BLM 1988)
Cassia RMP (BLM 1985)
Challis RMP (BLM 1999)
Craters of the Moon National Monument RMP (BLM 2006)
Jarbidge RMP (BLM 1988)
Jarbidge RMP (Revised) (BLM 2015)
Kuna MFP (BLM 1983)
Lemhi RMP (BLM 1987)
Little Lost-Birch Creek MFP (BLM 1981)
Magic MFP (BLM 1975)
Medicine Lodge MFP (BLM 1981)
Monument RMP (BLM 1985)
Owyhee RMP (BLM 1999)
Pocatello RMP (BLM 2012)
Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area RMP (BLM
2008)
Sun Valley MFP (BLM 1981)
Twin Falls MFP (BLM 1982)
The planning area includes approximately 39.5 million acres of BLM,
National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
State, local, and private lands in 28 counties: Ada, Adams, Bear Lake,
Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Caribou, Cassia, Clark,
Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi,
Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Twin Falls,
and Washington. Within the planning area, the BLM administers
11,470,301 acres of public land, providing 8,809,326 acres of Greater
Sage-Grouse habitat. Surface management decisions made in the Approved
RMP Amendment apply only to lands administered by the BLM in the
decision area.
The BLM prepared an EIS in accordance with the NEPA to analyze the
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action and the alternatives. The ROD approves the Agency
Preferred Alternative identified in the Final EIS as updated by the
Governor's consistency review and accepted by the Idaho State Director.
The BLM issued the ROD based on compliance with relevant laws,
regulations, policies, and plans, including those guiding agency
decisions that may have an impact on resources and their values,
services, and functions.
On December 10, 2018, the NOA for the Idaho Greater Sage-Grouse
Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS (83 FR 63531) was published in the
Federal Register. The publication of the NOA initiated a 30-day protest
period for the proposed land-use-planning decision. The protest period
was later extended an additional seven days to help account for
technical issues the public encountered when submitting protests during
the partial Federal government shutdown in January 2019. NOA
publication also initiated a simultaneous 60-day review by the Governor
of Idaho to identify and inconsistencies with State or local plans,
policies, or programs. At the close of the protest period, 8 protests
had been received. These protests were resolved by the BLM Director;
individual protest response letters were sent to all protesting
parties. Protest resolution is contained in the Director's Protest
Summary Report, which is available online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports. The proposed RMP Amendment was modified as a result of the
protest resolution. The Idaho Governor's review identified several
factual corrections/editorial changes that were accepted by BLM. The
Governor also identified inconsistencies related to livestock grazing,
buffers, required design features, and fire management.
The BLM clarified Management Direction MD LG 17 in the Approved RMP
Amendment to the following: ``Allotments within PHMA with declining
sage-grouse populations, defined by a soft or hard adaptive management
trigger being engaged and/or with land health concerns will be
prioritized for field checks.'' BLM removed redundant 2015 plan
exception criteria from Appendix B. The intention was to remove the
2015 exception criteria when adding the stakeholder group's exception
criteria between Draft EIS and Final EIS, but the deletion was
overlooked when completing the Final EIS. BLM moved the noise buffer
section located in the 2018 Final EIS to Required Design Features (RDF)
as it was in the 2015 Approved RMP Amendment. BLM will include the
words ``as appropriate'' to the anti-perch device RDF to allow the use
of current and/or best science when making perch deterrent decisions.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Peter J. Ditton,
Acting BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-05289 Filed 3-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
