Notice of Availability of the Draft Amendment to the Approved Resource Management Plan for the Miles City Field Office, Montana, and the Associated Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 22516-22517 [2019-10288]

Download as PDF jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES 22516 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2019 / Notices Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Thomas (Tom) Bills, RMP Supplemental EIS Project Manager; Telephone 307– 684–1133; or at the above mailing address or email. 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, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2015 Buffalo Approved RMP provides a single, comprehensive land use plan that guides management of BLMadministered lands and minerals in the Buffalo Field Office, which consists of approximately 800,000 acres of BLM surface land and 4.7 million acres of BLM mineral estate in Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan counties in north-central Wyoming. Based on the court decision Western Organization of Resource Councils, et al. v. BLM (CV 16–21–GF–BMM; 3/23/ 2018 and 7/31/2018); feedback from cooperating agencies and stakeholders; and public scoping, the BLM developed and analyzed a No Action Alternative and an Action Alternative, which are detailed in the Draft Supplemental EIS. The alternatives focus solely on the leasing of BLM-administered coal, in response to the court order. The No Action Alternative represents the decision area from the 2015 RMP and brings forward all management decisions that precluded coal development in the 2015 RMP. It relies on the decisions from the 2001 coal screening process that informed the 2015 RMP, but uses an updated 2018 coal production baseline. The BLM also used the 2019 U.S. Energy Information Administration development forecast to project development over the 20-year planning period. The No Action Alternative covers a total area of approximately 968,252 acres, including approximately 59.324 billion tons of BLM-administered coal reserves. The Action Alternative also uses the 2018 coal production baseline and the 2019 U.S. Energy Information Administration development forecast. In addition, the Action Alternative applies new coal screens (as described in 43 CFR 3420.1–4(e)), considers new scientific and GIS data, and evaluates issues identified through internal and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:05 May 16, 2019 Jkt 247001 public scoping. Based on these factors, the Action Alternative area contains approximately 328,578 acres, including approximately 37.345 billion tons of BLM-administered coal reserves. 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. 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 Supplemental Draft EIS by any of the following methods: • Website: https://go.usa.gov/xmbE4. • Mail: Miles City Field Office; Irma Nansel; 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301. Copies of the Supplemental Draft EIS are available at the Miles City Field Office at the above address, or may be viewed at: https://go.usa.gov/xmbE4. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma Nansel, RMP Supplemental EIS Project Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2(c) and Manager, Miles City Field Office, at 3420.1–2. (406) 233–3653, or at the above mailing address or website. Persons who use a Mary Jo Rugwell, telecommunications device for the deaf Wyoming State Director. (TDD) may call the Federal Relay [FR Doc. 2019–10289 Filed 5–16–19; 8:45 am] Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to BILLING CODE 4310–22–P contact Ms. Nansel during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. Bureau of Land Management SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2015 [L16100000 DS0000 LXSS036E0000 19X Miles City Approved RMP provides a LLMTC020000] single, comprehensive land use plan that guides management of BLMNotice of Availability of the Draft Amendment to the Approved Resource administered lands and minerals in the Miles City Field Office, which consists Management Plan for the Miles City of approximately 2.7 million acres of Field Office, Montana, and the BLM surface land and 10.6 million acres Associated Supplemental Draft of BLM mineral estate across 17 Environmental Impact Statement counties in eastern Montana. AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Based on the above-referenced court Interior. decision, feedback from cooperating agencies and stakeholders, and public ACTION: Notice of availability. scoping, the BLM developed and SUMMARY: In accordance with the analyzed a No Action Alternative and National Environmental Policy Act of two Action Alternatives, which are 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the detailed in the Supplemental Draft EIS. Federal Land Policy and Management The No Action Alternative represents Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of the decision area from the 2015 RMP Land Management (BLM) Montana and brings forward all management Miles City Field Office has prepared a decisions that precluded coal Supplemental Draft Environmental development in the 2015 RMP. It relies Impact Statement (EIS) for the 2015 on the decisions from the 1985 Power Miles City Field Office Approved River RMP and 1996 Big Dry RMP coal Resource Management Plan (RMP). This screening process. The No Action effort is in response to a United States Alternative includes a total area of District Court of Montana opinion and approximately 1,581,240 acres available order (Western Organization of Resource for further consideration for leasing of Councils, et al. v. BLM). By this notice, BLM-administered coal. the BLM is announcing the opening of The Action alternatives applied the the comment period. coal screens (43 CFR 3420.1–4(e)) using current data and evaluate the issues DATES: To ensure that comments will be identified through internal and public considered, the BLM must receive scoping. The Action alternatives also written comments on the Draft address the NEPA deficiencies Supplemental EIS within 90 days identified by the court order associated following the date the Environmental with the application of the multiple-use Protection Agency publishes its Notice screen. Alternative B considers the of Availability of the Supplemental development of air resources as a Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings and multiple-use screen in accordance with PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2019 / Notices the Clean Air Act. Alternative C applies an air resource multiple-use screen that encompasses greenhouse-gas emission criteria limited to coal development tied to existing mining areas. Based on these factors, Alternative B area contains approximately 990,815 acres available for further consideration for leasing of BLM-administered coal; and Alternative C area contains approximately 144,877 acres available for further consideration for leasing of BLM-administered coal. The BLM revised the reasonableforeseeable development scenario used in the 2015 Miles City RMP using current coal production from existing mines to forecast development over the 20-year planning period. The revised scenario was applied to all alternatives. 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, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Donato J. Judice, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2019–10288 Filed 5–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLMTL060–L16100000–DP0000] Notice of Availability of the Draft Lewistown Resource Management Plan Revision and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, Montana Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lewistown and Butte Field Offices have prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for BLM public lands and resources managed by the Lewistown Field Office and a portion of the Butte Field Office in northern Lewis and Clark County, jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:05 May 16, 2019 Jkt 247001 Montana, and by this notice are announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMP/ Draft EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of the Draft RMP/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 Lewistown Draft RMP/ Draft EIS by any of the following methods: • Website: https://bit.ly/2lUdsb2 • Mail: Lewistown Field Office, Attn: Lewistown RMP, 920 NE Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457 Copies of the Lewistown Draft RMP/ Draft EIS are available in the Lewistown Field Office at the above address, or may be viewed at: https://bit.ly/ 2lUdsb2. Dan Brunkhorst, RMP Project Manager, Lewistown Field Office, at (406) 538– 1981, and at the above mailing address or website. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact Mr. Brunkhorst during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lewistown Draft RMP/Draft EIS covers approximately 651,200 acres of BLMmanaged public lands and 1,196,800 acres of Federal mineral estate in central Montana in Cascade, Fergus, Judith Basin, Meagher, Petroleum, Pondera, Teton, Chouteau, and Lewis and Clark counties. These lands and minerals are managed by two BLM offices located in Lewistown and Butte, Montana. The RMP will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by NEPA, FLPMA, and BLM management policies. The RMP will reflect the changing needs of the planning area over the next several decades, and will replace the current Headwaters and Judith RMPs, as amended, that were developed in 1984 and 1994, respectively. The planning effort is needed to identify goals, objectives, and management actions for the BLMmanaged public lands. The BLM used public scoping comments to help FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00088 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 22517 identify planning issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. Resource issues identified included air quality, soil and water resources, vegetation, geology, cave and karst features, fish and wildlife, special status species, wildland fire management, cultural and paleontological resources, wilderness characteristics, and visual resource values. The plan also considers resource uses including livestock grazing; delineation of lands open, closed, or subject to special stipulations or mitigation measures for minerals and energy development; forest, woodland, and special forest products; recreation, visitor services, access, and travel management designations; and lands and realty actions including rights-ofway (ROWs), withdrawals, and land tenure adjustments. Special designations, social and economic conditions, tribal interests, and public safety are also addressed. The Draft RMP/Draft EIS evaluates four alternatives in detail. Alternative A is the No Action Alternative, which is a continuation of current management direction in the existing Judith and Headwaters RMPs. Alternative B emphasizes managing habitats for priority plant, wildlife, and fish species while providing modest development of resource uses. Alternative B also emphasizes hunting, fishing, and other recreation through Backcountry Conservation Areas and management of lands with wilderness characteristics. Alternative C is the agency preferred alternative. Alternative C emphasizes resource uses on BLM-administered lands and mineral estate targeting social and economic outcomes while protecting land health. Alternative C employs less special management designations for resource use objectives. Alternative D emphasizes resource uses and a variety of management prescriptions (e.g., recreation management areas, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs), Visual Resource Management) to address the use and conservation of natural and cultural resources, while sustaining and enhancing forest and range health across the landscape. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this notice announces a concurrent public comment period for potential ACECs. The proposed ACECs include: • Acid Shale-Pine Forest: (2,700 acres) Alternatives A, B, and D; • Blacktail Creek: (1,200 acres) Alternative B; • Blind Horse: (4,900 acres) Alternatives B and D; E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM 17MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22516-22517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10288]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[L16100000 DS0000 LXSS036E0000 19X LLMTC020000]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Amendment to the Approved 
Resource Management Plan for the Miles City Field Office, Montana, and 
the Associated Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Montana Miles 
City Field Office has prepared a Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the 2015 Miles City Field Office Approved 
Resource Management Plan (RMP). This effort is in response to a United 
States District Court of Montana opinion and order (Western 
Organization of Resource Councils, et al. v. BLM). By this notice, the 
BLM is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS within 90 days following 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the Supplemental Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The 
BLM will announce future meetings 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 Supplemental Draft 
EIS by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://go.usa.gov/xmbE4.
     Mail: Miles City Field Office; Irma Nansel; 111 Garryowen 
Road, Miles City, MT 59301.
    Copies of the Supplemental Draft EIS are available at the Miles 
City Field Office at the above address, or may be viewed at: https://go.usa.gov/xmbE4.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma Nansel, RMP Supplemental EIS 
Project Manager, Miles City Field Office, at (406) 233-3653, or at the 
above mailing address or website. 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. Nansel during normal business hours. The 
FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or 
question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2015 Miles City Approved RMP provides a 
single, comprehensive land use plan that guides management of BLM-
administered lands and minerals in the Miles City Field Office, which 
consists of approximately 2.7 million acres of BLM surface land and 
10.6 million acres of BLM mineral estate across 17 counties in eastern 
Montana.
    Based on the above-referenced court decision, feedback from 
cooperating agencies and stakeholders, and public scoping, the BLM 
developed and analyzed a No Action Alternative and two Action 
Alternatives, which are detailed in the Supplemental Draft EIS.
    The No Action Alternative represents the decision area from the 
2015 RMP and brings forward all management decisions that precluded 
coal development in the 2015 RMP. It relies on the decisions from the 
1985 Power River RMP and 1996 Big Dry RMP coal screening process. The 
No Action Alternative includes a total area of approximately 1,581,240 
acres available for further consideration for leasing of BLM-
administered coal.
    The Action alternatives applied the coal screens (43 CFR 3420.1-
4(e)) using current data and evaluate the issues identified through 
internal and public scoping. The Action alternatives also address the 
NEPA deficiencies identified by the court order associated with the 
application of the multiple-use screen. Alternative B considers the 
development of air resources as a multiple-use screen in accordance 
with

[[Page 22517]]

the Clean Air Act. Alternative C applies an air resource multiple-use 
screen that encompasses greenhouse-gas emission criteria limited to 
coal development tied to existing mining areas. Based on these factors, 
Alternative B area contains approximately 990,815 acres available for 
further consideration for leasing of BLM-administered coal; and 
Alternative C area contains approximately 144,877 acres available for 
further consideration for leasing of BLM-administered coal.
    The BLM revised the reasonable-foreseeable development scenario 
used in the 2015 Miles City RMP using current coal production from 
existing mines to forecast development over the 20-year planning 
period. The revised scenario was applied to all alternatives.
    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, the BLM cannot guarantee that it will 
be able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Donato J. Judice,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-10288 Filed 5-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P
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