Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Fuel Breaks in the Great Basin; Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah, 8889-8890 [2020-03163]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 32 / Tuesday, February 18, 2020 / Notices
with wilderness characteristics, wild
and scenic rivers and Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACECs).
The Draft RMP/Draft EIS evaluated
four alternatives in detail. Alternative A,
the No Action Alternative, continues
current management in the existing
Land Use Plans (LUP). It does not
address issues that were nonexistent or
unforeseen when the BLM prepared the
original LUPs.
Alternative B protects natural
resource values from potential impacts
of population growth and increased use
and incorporates protective measures
for plants and wildlife compared to
other alternatives. While some areas
emphasize recreation and community
development uses, the primary
emphases are for conservation and
reduction of habitat fragmentation and
resource degradation.
Alternative C accommodates
increased population growth and use of
public lands by emphasizing land
disposal for local community
expansion, providing economic
expansion through extractive and
renewable energy resource development
and continues to provide recreational
opportunities.
Alternative D, the Preferred
Alternative in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS,
is the Proposed Plan in the Final EIS
and emphasizes management of public
lands to promote economic
development while maintaining natural
resource values. The Proposed RMP
opens some areas to fluid mineral
development, improves opportunities to
manage or reduce invasive annual
grasses, maintains three ACECs, and
improves opportunities for access to
public lands. The FRFO Draft RMP/
Draft EIS public comment period began
on May 24, 2019, and was extended for
30 days at the request of the State of
Idaho to September 23, 2019. The BLM
conducted four public open house
meetings during the public comment
period. The BLM considered and
incorporated, as appropriate, comments
on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS received
from the public, State of Idaho, other
cooperating agencies and internal BLM
review. Public comments resulted in the
addition of management actions and
clarifying text and the retention of the
Boise Front ACEC. These changes do
not significantly change the proposed
LUP decisions.
Instructions for filing a protest with
the Director of the BLM regarding the
Proposed RMP and Final EIS may be
found online at https://www.blm.gov/
programs/planning-and-nepa/publicparticipation/filing-a-plan-protest and
at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. All protests must be
in writing and mailed to the appropriate
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Feb 14, 2020
Jkt 250001
address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES
section or submitted electronically
through the BLM ePlanning project
website as described above. Protests
submitted electronically by any means
other than the ePlanning project website
protest section will be invalid unless a
protest is also submitted in hard copy.
Protests submitted by fax will also be
invalid unless also submitted either
through ePlanning project website
protest section or in hard copy.
Before including your phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your protest,
you should be aware that your entire
protest—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your protest 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, 43 CFR 1610.5)
John F. Ruhs,
Idaho BLM State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020–03035 Filed 2–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19X.LLID930000.L11700000.DF0000.
LXSGPL000000.241A.4500132602]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for Fuel Breaks in the Great
Basin; Idaho, Washington, Oregon,
California, Nevada and Utah
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a
Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for Fuel Breaks
in the Great Basin and by this notice is
announcing its availability.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
decision on the proposal for a minimum
of 30 days after the date that the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its Notice of Availability
(NOA) in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final
Programmatic EIS for Fuel Breaks in the
Great Basin are available for public
inspection during regular business
hours at 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise
ID 83709. Interested persons may also
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00085
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8889
review the Final Programmatic EIS
online at: https://go.usa.gov/xnQcG.
Additional copies can be made available
at the California, Nevada, Oregon/
Washington and Utah BLM State Offices
upon request.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ammon Wilhelm, telephone 208–373–
3824; address BLM Idaho State Office,
1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise ID
83709; email awilhelm@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,
to leave a message or question with the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Strategically placed fuel breaks in the
Great Basin region would improve
firefighter safety and expand
opportunities to catch rapidly moving
fires, potentially reducing fire size. Fuel
breaks should provide greater protection
of human life and property, sagebrush
communities, and habitat restoration
investments. Reducing fire size helps to
reduce the expansion of invasive
species, such as cheatgrass and
medusahead. Fuel breaks are needed
due to the increased size and frequency
of wildfires throughout the western
United States in recent years. From 2009
through 2018 over 13.5 million acres of
BLM-administered lands burned within
the project area, impacting healthy
rangelands, sagebrush communities, and
the general productivity of the lands.
Larger and more frequent wildfires
result in increased risk for injuries and
fatalities among wildland firefighters,
destruction of private property,
degradation and loss of rangelands, loss
of recreational opportunities, and
habitat loss for a variety of species,
including conversion of native habitats
to invasive annual grasses. Conversion
of rangeland habitats to invasive annual
grasslands further impedes rangeland
health and productivity by slowing or
preventing the recovery of sagebrush
ecosystems.
This programmatic environmental
impact statement (EIS) evaluates the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
proposal to create and maintain a
system of fuel breaks in the Great Basin
region. The project area, covering nearly
224 million acres, includes portions of
California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,
and Washington. The fuel breaks would
be placed along a subset of available
linear features, such as roads and rightsof-way on BLM-administered lands
within sagebrush communities; these
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
8890
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 32 / Tuesday, February 18, 2020 / Notices
potential treatment areas cover
approximately 38 million acres within
the project area boundary. The preferred
alternative (Alternative D) analyzes a
full suite of manual, chemical and
mechanical treatments, including
prescribed fire, seeding, and targeted
grazing, to construct and maintain up to
11,000 miles of fuel breaks, potentially
removing or altering vegetation on
approximately 667,000 acres and
protecting approximately 38 million
acres of the sagebrush ecosystem. Fuel
break types include green strips (areas
planted with low-statured, fire-resistant
vegetation), brown strips (areas where
all vegetation is removed), and mowed
fuel breaks (reduced vegetation height).
The NOA for the Draft Programmatic
EIS published on June 21, 2019,
initiating a 45-day public comment
period. During July 2019, the BLM
hosted 12 public comment meetings
throughout the six-state project area.
Agencies, organizations, and interested
parties provided comments on the draft
Programmatic EIS via mail, email, and
at the public meetings. The BLM
received 907 comment form letters and
138 unique comment letters. Comments
on the Draft Programmatic EIS received
from the public and internal BLM
review were considered and
incorporated as appropriate into the
Final Programmatic EIS. Public
comments resulted in the addition of
clarifying text, but did not significantly
change the alternatives or analysis.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
John F. Ruhs,
Idaho State Director, Bureau of Land
Management.
[FR Doc. 2020–03163 Filed 2–14–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Enforcement
[Docket ID BSEE–2019–0013; 201E1700D2
ET1SF0000.EAQ000 EEEE500000; OMB
Control Number 1014–0026]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Application for Permit To
Modify (APM) and Supporting
Documentation
Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Bureau of Safety and Environmental
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:48 Feb 14, 2020
Jkt 250001
Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew
an information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 20,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on
this information collection request (ICR)
by either of the following methods listed
below:
• Electronically go to https://
www.regulations.gov. In the Search box,
enter BSEE–2019–0013 then click
search. Follow the instructions to
submit public comments and view all
related materials. We will post all
comments.
• Email kye.mason@bsee.gov, fax
(703) 787–1546, or mail or hand-carry
comments to the Department of the
Interior; Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement;
Regulations and Standards Branch;
ATTN: Nicole Mason; 45600 Woodland
Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please
reference OMB Control Number 1014–
0026 in the subject line of your
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Nicole Mason by email
at kye.mason@bsee.gov or by telephone
at (703) 787–1607.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on new, proposed, revised,
and continuing collections of
information. This helps us assess the
impact of our information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. It also helps the
public understand our information
collection requirements and provide the
requested data in the desired format.
We are soliciting comments on the
proposed ICR that is described below.
We are especially interested in public
comments addressing the following
issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to
the proper functions of BSEE; (2) Will
this information be processed and used
in a timely manner; (3) Is the estimate
of burden accurate; (4) How might BSEE
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
(5) How might BSEE minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
PO 00000
Frm 00086
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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.
Abstract: Throughout the regulations
at 30 CFR part 250, BSEE requires the
submission of Applications for Permit to
Modify, and all supporting
documentation on form BSEE–0124 that
pertain to regulatory requirements of oil,
gas, and sulfur operations in the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) (including the
associated forms), and are the subject of
this collection. This request also covers
any related Notices to Lessees and
Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to
clarify, supplement, or provide
additional guidance on some aspects of
our regulations.
The BSEE uses the information to
ensure safe well control, completion,
workover, and decommissioning
operations and to protect the human,
marine, and coastal environment.
Among other things, BSEE specifically
uses the information (see the burden
table under A.12 to see what specific
information BSEE collects) to ensure:
The well control, completion, workover,
and decommissioning unit (drilling/
well operations) is fit for the intended
purpose; equipment is maintained in a
state of readiness and meets safety
standards; each drilling/well operation
crew is properly trained and able to
promptly perform well-control activities
at any time during well operations;
compliance with safety standards; and
the current regulations will provide for
safe and proper field or reservoir
development, resource evaluation,
conservation, protection of correlative
rights, safety, and environmental
protection. We also review well records
to ascertain whether the operations have
encountered hydrocarbons or H2S and
to ensure that H2S detection equipment,
personnel protective equipment, and
training of the crew are adequate for safe
operations in zones known to contain
H2S and zones where the presence of
H2S is unknown.
Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 250,
Application for Permit to Modify (APM)
and supporting documentation.
OMB Control Number: 1014–0026.
Form Number: BSEE–0124.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Potential respondents are comprised of
Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees/
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8889-8890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03163]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19X.LLID930000.L11700000.DF0000.LXSGPL000000.241A.4500132602]
Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement for Fuel Breaks in the Great Basin; Idaho, Washington,
Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Fuel Breaks
in the Great Basin and by this notice is announcing its availability.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final Programmatic EIS for Fuel Breaks in the
Great Basin are available for public inspection during regular business
hours at 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise ID 83709. Interested persons may
also review the Final Programmatic EIS online at: https://go.usa.gov/xnQcG. Additional copies can be made available at the California,
Nevada, Oregon/Washington and Utah BLM State Offices upon request.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ammon Wilhelm, telephone 208-373-3824;
address BLM Idaho State Office, 1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise ID 83709;
email [email protected] 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, to leave a message or
question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during
normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Strategically placed fuel breaks in the
Great Basin region would improve firefighter safety and expand
opportunities to catch rapidly moving fires, potentially reducing fire
size. Fuel breaks should provide greater protection of human life and
property, sagebrush communities, and habitat restoration investments.
Reducing fire size helps to reduce the expansion of invasive species,
such as cheatgrass and medusahead. Fuel breaks are needed due to the
increased size and frequency of wildfires throughout the western United
States in recent years. From 2009 through 2018 over 13.5 million acres
of BLM-administered lands burned within the project area, impacting
healthy rangelands, sagebrush communities, and the general productivity
of the lands. Larger and more frequent wildfires result in increased
risk for injuries and fatalities among wildland firefighters,
destruction of private property, degradation and loss of rangelands,
loss of recreational opportunities, and habitat loss for a variety of
species, including conversion of native habitats to invasive annual
grasses. Conversion of rangeland habitats to invasive annual grasslands
further impedes rangeland health and productivity by slowing or
preventing the recovery of sagebrush ecosystems.
This programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluates
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposal to create and maintain a
system of fuel breaks in the Great Basin region. The project area,
covering nearly 224 million acres, includes portions of California,
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The fuel breaks would be
placed along a subset of available linear features, such as roads and
rights-of-way on BLM-administered lands within sagebrush communities;
these
[[Page 8890]]
potential treatment areas cover approximately 38 million acres within
the project area boundary. The preferred alternative (Alternative D)
analyzes a full suite of manual, chemical and mechanical treatments,
including prescribed fire, seeding, and targeted grazing, to construct
and maintain up to 11,000 miles of fuel breaks, potentially removing or
altering vegetation on approximately 667,000 acres and protecting
approximately 38 million acres of the sagebrush ecosystem. Fuel break
types include green strips (areas planted with low-statured, fire-
resistant vegetation), brown strips (areas where all vegetation is
removed), and mowed fuel breaks (reduced vegetation height).
The NOA for the Draft Programmatic EIS published on June 21, 2019,
initiating a 45-day public comment period. During July 2019, the BLM
hosted 12 public comment meetings throughout the six-state project
area. Agencies, organizations, and interested parties provided comments
on the draft Programmatic EIS via mail, email, and at the public
meetings. The BLM received 907 comment form letters and 138 unique
comment letters. Comments on the Draft Programmatic EIS received from
the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as
appropriate into the Final Programmatic EIS. Public comments resulted
in the addition of clarifying text, but did not significantly change
the alternatives or analysis.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
John F. Ruhs,
Idaho State Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2020-03163 Filed 2-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
