Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation, Oregon, 10324-10325 [2019-05297]

Download as PDF jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES 10324 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 20, 2019 / Notices 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 the Governor’s Offices in Nevada and California, 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 (FLPMA), the BLM amends land use plans that address Greater Sage-Grouse management to improve alignment with the State of Nevada and the State of California 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 Nevada and Northeastern California Approved RMP Amendment specifically addresses Sagebrush Focal Area designations, mitigation, adjustments to habitat management area designations to reflect new information, reversing adaptive management responses when the BLM determines that resource conditions no longer warrant those responses (in addition to addressing updates to the adaptive management strategy based on best available science), allocation exception processes, seasonal timing restrictions, modifying habitat objectives when best available science is available, and through plan clarification: Modifying lek buffers, requirements for required design features, and removal and/or modification to three livestock grazing management decisions in order to comply with 43 CFR 4160.1. The Approved RMP Amendment amends the following RMPs for BLM-administered lands in Nevada and Northeastern California: • Alturas RMP (2008) • Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon NCA RMP (2004) • Carson City Consolidated RMP (2001) • Eagle Lake RMP (2008) • Elko RMP (1987) • Ely RMP (2008) VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Mar 19, 2019 Jkt 247001 • • • • • Shoshone-Eureka RMP (1986) Surprise RMP (2008) Tonopah RMP (1997) Wells RMP (1985) Winnemucca RMP (2015) The planning area includes approximately 70.3 million acres of BLM, National Park Service, United States Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State, local, and private lands located in Nevada and northeastern California, in 17 counties: Churchill, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lassen, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Modoc, Nye, Pershing, Plumas, Sierra, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine. Within the decision area, the BLM administers approximately 45.4 million acres of public lands, providing approximately 20.5 million acres of Greater SageGrouse 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 Environmental Impact Statement (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. 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 Action (NOA) for the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS (83 FR 63528) 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 Governors of Nevada and California to identify any inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs. At the close of the protest period, 14 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- PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 participation/protest-resolution-reports. The Nevada Governor’s review recommended that the BLM reference its Instruction Memorandum 2018–018 (Compensatory Mitigation) and the State of Nevada’s Executive Order 2018–32 (order establishing use of the Nevada Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan and Conservation Credit System on state and Federal lands) within the Approved RMP Amendment, relative to compensatory mitigation and allocation exception management decisions. The BLM incorporated these references into the Approved RMP Amendment. The California Governor did not respond to the BLM within the 60-day review period, therefore the proposed RMP Amendment is presumed consistent with the State of California’s policies and management strategies. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6. Jon K. Raby, BLM Nevada State Director. [FR Doc. 2019–05294 Filed 3–19–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO230000.L11100000.PH0000. LXSGPL000000.HAG 19–0055] Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation, Oregon Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Oregon Greater SageGrouse Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Greater SageGrouse conservation for the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region. The Acting 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://goo.gl/4CNtH8. Click the Documents and Reports link on the left side of the screen to find the electronic version of these materials. Paper copies of the ROD are also available for public inspection at the Oregon State Office and the Burns, Lakeview, Prineville, and Vale BLM District Offices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Regan-Vienop, Planning and SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20MRN1.SGM 20MRN1 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

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10324-10325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05297]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO230000.L11100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000.HAG 19-0055]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Approved 
Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse 
Conservation, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse 
conservation for the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region. The Acting 
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://goo.gl/4CNtH8. Click the Documents and Reports link on the left 
side of the screen to find the electronic version of these materials. 
Paper copies of the ROD are also available for public inspection at the 
Oregon State Office and the Burns, Lakeview, Prineville, and Vale BLM 
District Offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Regan-Vienop, Planning and

[[Page 10325]]

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 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 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 
Sage-Grouse 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 Sage-Grouse 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)
 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/public-participation/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 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
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