Notice of Availability of the Draft Desert Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, California, 3181-3184 [2021-00579]
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khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices
and in site-specific analyses. To address
public comments raised during the
supplemental EIS process, the BLM
convened a team of biologists and land
use planners to evaluate scientific
literature provided to the agency. The
BLM found that the most up-to-date
Greater Sage-Grouse science and other
information has incrementally
increased, and built upon, the
knowledgebase of Greater Sage-Grouse
management evaluated by the BLM most
recently in its 2019 land use plan
amendments, but does not change the
scope or direction of the BLM’s
management; however, new science
does suggest adaptations to management
may be warranted at site-specific scales.
(3) Cumulative Effects Analysis: The
BLM considered cumulative impacts on
a rangewide basis, organizing that
analysis at the geographic scale of each
Western Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA)
management zone, in order to consider
impacts at biologically meaningful
scales. In the 2019 planning process, the
BLM incorporated by reference
cumulative effects analysis conducted
in the 2015 planning process and other
environmental impact statements. Since
the nature and context of the cumulative
effects scenario has not appreciably
changed since 2015, and the 2015
analysis covered the entire range of the
Greater Sage-Grouse, the BLM’s
consideration of cumulative effects in
the 2015 planning process adequately
addresses most, if not all, of the
planning decisions made through the
2019 planning process.
While the 2019 planning process
largely incorporated by reference the
analysis from the 2015 planning
process, and updated it where needed to
account for current conditions, the 2020
supplemental EIS process elaborated on
this information in greater detail and
updated the analysis to ensure that the
BLM appropriately evaluated
cumulative effects at biologically
meaningful scales.
(4) BLM’s Approach to Compensatory
Mitigation: In the 2019 planning
process, the BLM requested public
comments on a number of issues,
including the BLM’s approach to
compensatory mitigation. As part of the
2015 Approved Resource Management
Plan Amendments, the BLM selected a
net conservation gain standard in its
approach to compensatory mitigation,
which the 2019 land use plan
amendments modified to align with the
BLM’s 2018 policy on compensatory
mitigation. Through the 2020
supplemental EIS process, the BLM
requested further comments about the
BLM’s approach to compensatory
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20:43 Jan 13, 2021
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mitigation. After reviewing the
comments that the BLM received about
compensatory mitigation, the BLM
determined that its environmental
analysis supporting the 2019 land use
plan amendments was sound. The
public has now had substantial
opportunities to consider and comment
on the BLM’s approach to compensatory
mitigation at the land use planning
level, including the approach taken in
the 2019 land use plan amendments.
Based on the final supplemental EIS,
the BLM has determined that its decadelong planning and NEPA processes have
sufficiently addressed Greater SageGrouse habitat conservation and no new
land use planning process to consider
additional alternatives or new
information is warranted. This
determination is not a new planning
decision. Instead, it is a determination
not to amend the applicable land use
plans. Thus, it is not subject to appeal
or protest. The BLM’s decision remains
as identified in the 2019 Approved
Resource Management Plan Amendment
for Greater Sage-Grouse conservation in
Idaho.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1505.2; 40 CFR 1506.6;
References to the CEQ regulations are to the
regulations in effect prior to September 14,
2020. The revised CEQ regulations effective
September 14, 2020, are not cited because
this supplemental EIS process began prior to
that date.)
John F. Ruhs,
BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2021–00662 Filed 1–13–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[(LLCA930000.L13400000.DS0000.21X)
MO#450014117]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Desert Plan Amendment and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement,
California
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 Draft
Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS), for an amendment to the
California Desert Conservation Area
(CDCA) Plan and the Bakersfield and
Bishop Resource Management Plans
(RMPs). The Desert Plan Amendment
Draft LUPA/EIS includes consideration
SUMMARY:
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3181
of changes to the management or
modification to the boundaries of 129
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACECs). By this notice, the BLM is
announcing the availability of the Draft
LUPA/EIS. In order to comply with
Federal regulations, the BLM is also
announcing a comment period on
proposed changes to the ACECs within
the planning area.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft LUPA/
EIS within 90 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its notice of the Draft LUPA/
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, news releases, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: The Desert Plan
Amendment Draft LUPA/EIS are
available on the BLM ePlanning project
website at https://go.usa.gov/x7hdj.
Click the ‘‘Documents’’ link on the left
side of the screen to find the electronic
version of these materials. Hard copies
of the Desert Plan Amendment Draft
LUPA and Draft EIS are also available
for public inspection at the following
BLM locations:
California State Office, 2800 Cottage
Way, Suite W–1623, Sacramento, CA
95825;
California Desert District Office, 22835
Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno
Valley, CA 92553;
Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow
Road, Barstow, CA 92311;
El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th
Street, El Centro, CA 92243;
Needles Field Office, 1303 S. Highway
95, Needles, CA 92363;
Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S.
Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA
93555;
Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus
Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308; and
Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane,
Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514.
You may submit written comments
related to the Desert Plan Amendment
by either of the following methods:
• Website: https://go.usa.gov/x7hdj.
• Mail: Bureau of Land Management,
California State Office, Attn: Desert Plan
Amendment, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite
W–1623, Sacramento, CA 95825.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeremiah Karuzas, Renewable Energy
Program Manager, telephone: 916–978–
4644, email: jkaruzas@blm.gov; address
Bureau of Land Management, 2800
Cottage Way, W–1623, Sacramento, CA
95825. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM
14JAN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact Mr. Karuzas 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.
In
September 2016, the BLM issued a
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Desert
Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
(DRECP) LUPA, which amended the
CDCA Plan, the Bishop RMP, and the
Bakersfield RMP in the Mojave and
Colorado/Sonoran Desert regions of
southern California. The 2016 ROD was
intended to address the streamlining of
renewable energy development,
conservation of desert resources, and to
support multiple use and recreation on
the nearly 11 million acres of BLMmanaged public land in the planning
area. In response to challenges that
arose with the implementation of the
2016 DRECP LUPA, as well as in
response to Executive Order 13783,
Promoting Energy Independence and
Economic Growth, and Executive Order
13821 on Streamlining and Expediting
Requests to Locate Broadband Facilities
in Rural America, the BLM published a
Notice of Intent in the Federal Register
on February 2, 2018 (83 FR 4921)
initiating a 45-day public comment
period. The BLM sought comments on:
• The potential impacts that land use
designations contained in the amended
Land Use Plans will have on
commercial-scale renewable energy
projects, including wind, solar and
geothermal energy;
• ACECs that were designated,
including where private lands lie within
the external boundaries of such
designations, as well as comments on
increasing opportunities for increased
renewable energy development,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
recreational and off-highway vehicle
access, mining access, and grazing; and
• The impact that land-use
designations, land-disturbance limits
(‘‘disturbance caps’’), and visualmanagement classifications contained in
the plans may have on the deployment
of future communications
infrastructure.
The BLM used public scoping
comments to help identify planning
issues to formulate alternatives and
frame the scope of analysis in the Draft
LUPA/EIS. Issues considered in the
Draft LUPA/EIS are management actions
associated with conservation areas,
biological resources (including special
status species), cultural resources,
renewable energy, minerals, livestock
grazing, visual resources, air resources,
water resources, and recreation. The
LUPA also considers decisions
regarding ACECs, California Desert
National Conservation Lands (CDNCL),
and management of lands with
wilderness characteristics. The Desert
Plan Amendment Draft LUPA/EIS
evaluates the No Action Alternative and
two action alternatives (Alternatives 1
and 2). The BLM identifies Alternative
1 as the Preferred Alternative. This
alternative, however, does not represent
the final agency direction. After the
public comment period closes, the BLM
will prepare a Proposed LUPA, which
may reflect changes or adjustments
based on information received during
public comment on the Draft LUPA/EIS,
new information, or changes in BLM
policies or priorities.
The No Action Alternative would
retain the decisions specified in the
2016 ROD for the DRECP LUPA, as
recently modified by Public Law 116–9.
Alternative 1 would reduce the number
of ACECs from 129 to 97 thus reducing
the acreage of the ACECs by
approximately 1.8 million acres; reduce
the areas identified as CDNCL by
approximately 2.2 million acres; and
result in an additional 450,000 acres of
General Public Lands (GPL). Alternative
1 would also modify or eliminate 68
Conservation Management Actions
(CMAs), which would also change the
manner in which disturbance caps are
implemented, including elimination of
disturbance caps in CDNCL, as well as
allowing renewable energy development
in Special Recreation Management
Areas (SRMA).
Alternative 2 would reduce the
number of ACECs to 100, and reduce the
acreage of the ACECs by approximately
1.5 million acres; reduce the areas
identified as CDNCL by approximately
2.1 million acres; and result in an
additional approximate 274,000 acres of
General Public Lands (GPL). Alternative
2 would also modify or eliminate the
same 68 CMAs, which would also
change the manner in which
disturbance caps are implemented
similar to Alternative 1 but Alternative
2 would retain the one percent
disturbance cap for CDNCL. Alternative
2 CMAs would be modified to only
allow renewable energy development in
a SRMA where there is overlap with
Development Focus Areas (DFAs). All
other land use allocation decisions and
CMAs from the 2016 ROD would be
retained in both Alternative 1 and
Alternative 2.
As a result of proposed CMA changes,
the resource use limitations of the 129
ACECs within the planning area will
also change. Therefore, pursuant to 43
CFR 1610.7–2(b), this notice announces
a concurrent public comment period on
proposed management changes
(including alteration or elimination of
disturbance caps), and boundary
modifications or elimination of the
existing ACECs as identified in Table 1.
TABLE 1—ACECS PROPOSED FOR BOUNDARY MODIFICATION OR ELIMINATION
No action
acres
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
ACEC name
Afton Canyon ...............................................................................................................................
Alligator Rock ...............................................................................................................................
Amargosa North ...........................................................................................................................
Amargosa South ..........................................................................................................................
Amboy Crater ...............................................................................................................................
Avawatz Mountains WSA ............................................................................................................
Ayers Rock ..................................................................................................................................
Barstow Woolly Sunflower ...........................................................................................................
Bedrock Spring ............................................................................................................................
Bendire’s Thrasher ......................................................................................................................
Big Morongo Canyon ...................................................................................................................
Big Rock Creek Wash .................................................................................................................
Bigelow Cholla .............................................................................................................................
Black Mountain ............................................................................................................................
Brisbane Valley Monkey Flower ..................................................................................................
Bristol ...........................................................................................................................................
Cadiz Valley .................................................................................................................................
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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8,800
6,800
114,000
148,410
640
49,900
1,500
19,100
440
9,800
25,000
310
4,200
51,300
11,700
213,600
191,200
E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM
14JAN1
Alternative 1
acres
8,800
6,200
72,760
134,410
640
0
1,500
19,100
0
9,800
24,600
310
4,200
0
11,700
116,400
67,600
Alternative 2
acres
8,800
6,200
72,760
134,410
640
0
1,500
19,100
0
9,800
24,600
310
4,200
0
11,700
116,400
67,600
3183
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 1—ACECS PROPOSED FOR BOUNDARY MODIFICATION OR ELIMINATION—Continued
No action
acres
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
ACEC name
Cady Mountains WSA .................................................................................................................
Calico Early Man Site ..................................................................................................................
Carbonate Endemic Plants RNA .................................................................................................
Castle Mountain ...........................................................................................................................
Cerro Gordo .................................................................................................................................
Cerro Gordo WSA .......................................................................................................................
Chemehuevi .................................................................................................................................
Chuckwalla ...................................................................................................................................
Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi tortoise linkage ...............................................................................
Chuckwalla Valley Dune Thicket .................................................................................................
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard ...........................................................................................
Conglomerate Mesa ....................................................................................................................
Coolgardie Mesa ..........................................................................................................................
Corn Springs ................................................................................................................................
Coyote Mountains Fossil Site ......................................................................................................
Cronese Basin .............................................................................................................................
Dagget Ridge Monkey Flower .....................................................................................................
Dead Mountains ...........................................................................................................................
Death Valley 17 WSA ..................................................................................................................
Denning Springs ..........................................................................................................................
Desert Lily Preserve ....................................................................................................................
Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area ......................................................................................
Dos Palmas .................................................................................................................................
Eagles Flyway ..............................................................................................................................
East Mesa ....................................................................................................................................
El Paso to Golden .......................................................................................................................
Fossil Falls ...................................................................................................................................
Fremont-Kramer ...........................................................................................................................
Granite Mountain Corridor ...........................................................................................................
Great Falls Basin .........................................................................................................................
Halloran Wash .............................................................................................................................
Harper Dry Lake ..........................................................................................................................
Horse Canyon ..............................................................................................................................
Independence Creek WSA ..........................................................................................................
Indian Pass ..................................................................................................................................
Ivanpah ........................................................................................................................................
Jawbone/Butterbredt ....................................................................................................................
Juniper Flats ................................................................................................................................
Kingston Range ...........................................................................................................................
Kingston Range WSA ..................................................................................................................
Lake Cahuilla ...............................................................................................................................
Lake Cahuilla Shoreline ...............................................................................................................
Last Chance Canyon ...................................................................................................................
Manix ...........................................................................................................................................
Manzanar .....................................................................................................................................
Marble Mountain Fossil Bed ........................................................................................................
McCoy Valley ...............................................................................................................................
McCoy Wash ...............................................................................................................................
Mesquite Hills/Crucero .................................................................................................................
Mesquite Lake .............................................................................................................................
Middle Knob .................................................................................................................................
Mohave Ground Squirrel .............................................................................................................
Mojave Fishhook Cactus .............................................................................................................
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard ...........................................................................................................
Mopah Spring ..............................................................................................................................
Mountain Pass Dinosaur Trackway .............................................................................................
Mule McCoy Linkage ...................................................................................................................
Mule Mountains ...........................................................................................................................
Northern Lucerne Wildlife Linkage ..............................................................................................
Ocotillo .........................................................................................................................................
Olancha Greasewood ..................................................................................................................
Old Woman Springs Wildlife Linkage ..........................................................................................
Ord-Rodman ................................................................................................................................
Owens Lake .................................................................................................................................
Palen Dry Lake ............................................................................................................................
Palen Ford ...................................................................................................................................
Panamint Lake .............................................................................................................................
Panamints and Argus ..................................................................................................................
Parish’s Phacelia .........................................................................................................................
Patton Military Camps .................................................................................................................
Picacho ........................................................................................................................................
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101,400
840
5,000
3,180
10,400
630
864,200
512,300
318,600
2,200
10,300
1,700
9,800
2,500
5,900
8,500
26,100
27,200
20,600
390
2,100
22,200
8,600
10,900
88,500
57,800
1,700
236,000
39,300
10,300
1,700
490
1,500
6,500
1,900
78,600
145,700
2,400
18,900
40,000
8,600
11,900
5,100
2,900
540
230
26,200
6,400
5,000
6,800
17,800
165,200
637
22,500
1,900
630
51,200
4,100
21,900
14,600
25,600
55,600
195,300
10,200
3,600
41,400
21,700
102,900
560
16,400
183,500
E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM
14JAN1
Alternative 1
acres
0
840
5,000
0
9,700
0
578,600
319,400
269,900
2,200
10,300
1,700
9,800
900
5,900
0
26,100
0
0
0
2,100
22,200
8,600
0
38,200
57,800
1,700
236,000
0
0
1,700
490
1,500
0
1,900
63,900
114,900
2,400
15,200
0
8,600
11,900
3,500
2,900
540
0
26,200
6,400
5,000
6,800
17,800
170,800
635
11,500
0
630
51,200
4,100
21,900
14,600
19,500
43,200
140,700
10,200
3,600
25,600
0
71,500
560
21,100
133,600
Alternative 2
acres
101,400
840
5,000
0
9,700
0
578,600
319,400
269,900
2,200
10,300
1,700
9,800
900
5,900
0
26,100
0
0
0
2,100
22,200
8,600
0
88,500
57,800
1,700
236,000
34,500
0
1,700
490
1,500
0
1,900
78,600
114,900
2,400
15,200
0
8,600
11,900
3,500
2,900
540
0
26,200
6,400
5,000
6,800
17,800
170,800
635
11,500
0
630
51,200
4,100
21,900
14,600
19,500
55,600
140,700
10,200
3,600
41,400
0
71,500
560
21,100
133,600
3184
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices
TABLE 1—ACECS PROPOSED FOR BOUNDARY MODIFICATION OR ELIMINATION—Continued
No action
acres
ACEC name
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Pilot Knob ....................................................................................................................................
Pinto Mountains ...........................................................................................................................
Pipes Canyon ..............................................................................................................................
Pisgah ..........................................................................................................................................
Piute-Fenner ................................................................................................................................
Plank Road ..................................................................................................................................
Rainbow Basin/Owl Canyon ........................................................................................................
Red Mountain Spring ...................................................................................................................
Rodman Mountains Cultural Area ...............................................................................................
Rose Spring .................................................................................................................................
Saline Valley ................................................................................................................................
Salt Creek Hills ............................................................................................................................
Salton Sea Hazardous ACEC .....................................................................................................
San Sebastian Marsh/San Felipe Creek .....................................................................................
Sand Canyon ...............................................................................................................................
Santos Manuel .............................................................................................................................
Shadow Valley .............................................................................................................................
Short Canyon ...............................................................................................................................
Sierra Canyons ............................................................................................................................
Singer Geoglyphs ........................................................................................................................
Soda Mountains Expansion .........................................................................................................
Soda Mountains WSA .................................................................................................................
Soda Mountains ...........................................................................................................................
Soggy Dry Lake Creosote Rings .................................................................................................
Southern Inyo WSA .....................................................................................................................
Steam Well ..................................................................................................................................
Superior-Cronese .........................................................................................................................
Surprise Canyon ..........................................................................................................................
Symmes Creek WSA ...................................................................................................................
Trona Pinnacles ...........................................................................................................................
Turtle Mountains ..........................................................................................................................
Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Rings ............................................................................................
Upper McCoy ...............................................................................................................................
Warm Sulfur Springs ...................................................................................................................
West Mesa ...................................................................................................................................
West Paradise .............................................................................................................................
Western Rand Mountains ............................................................................................................
Whipple Mountains ......................................................................................................................
White Mountain City ....................................................................................................................
White Mountains WSA .................................................................................................................
Whitewater Canyon .....................................................................................................................
Yuha Basin ..................................................................................................................................
A more detailed description of all
proposed ACEC modifications,
including maps, is included in the Draft
LUPA/EIS and Appendix B of the Draft
LUPA/EIS.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA process to help fulfill the
public involvement process under the
National Historic Preservation Act (54
U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). The BLM will continue to
consult with Indian tribes on a
government-to-government basis, in
accordance with Executive Order 13175
and other policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets
and potential impacts to cultural
resources, will continue to be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with tribes and other
stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed action that the
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20:43 Jan 13, 2021
Jkt 253001
BLM is evaluating, are invited to
participate in the comment period.
Please note that public comments and
information submitted, including
names, street addresses, and email
addresses of persons who submit
comments, will be available for public
review and disclosure at the BLM
California State Office (see ADDRESSES)
during regular business hours (8 a.m. to
4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
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
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
860
108,200
8,700
46,600
155,500
420
4,100
700
6,200
840
1,400
2,200
5,100
6,600
2,600
27,500
197,300
750
26,300
2,000
16,700
88,800
0
180
2,700
40
315,800
4,600
8,400
4,100
50,400
330
37,400
350
82,500
240
30,400
2,800
820
1,600
14,900
77,300
Alternative 1
acres
Alternative 2
acres
860
84,200
4,600
46,600
146,200
420
4,100
700
0
840
0
1,600
5,100
6,600
0
0
159,700
0
27,000
2,000
0
0
0
180
0
0
310,900
0
0
4,100
0
330
37,400
350
18,700
0
30,400
2,100
820
0
2,800
73,600
860
84,200
4,600
46,600
146,200
420
4,100
700
0
840
0
1,600
5,100
6,600
0
0
159,700
0
27,000
2,000
0
0
33,300
180
0
0
310,900
0
0
4,100
0
330
37,400
350
82,500
0
30,400
2,100
820
0
2,800
73,600
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10)
Karen E. Mouritsen,
State Director, California.
[FR Doc. 2021–00579 Filed 1–13–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[212.LLWO230000.
L11700000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000]
Notice of Availability of the Record of
Decision for Greater Sage-Grouse
Management, Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM
14JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3181-3184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00579]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[(LLCA930000.L13400000.DS0000.21X) MO#450014117]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Desert Plan Amendment and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement, California
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
Draft Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), for an amendment to the California Desert Conservation
Area (CDCA) Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource Management
Plans (RMPs). The Desert Plan Amendment Draft LUPA/EIS includes
consideration of changes to the management or modification to the
boundaries of 129 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). By
this notice, the BLM is announcing the availability of the Draft LUPA/
EIS. In order to comply with Federal regulations, the BLM is also
announcing a comment period on proposed changes to the ACECs within the
planning area.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft LUPA/EIS within 90 days following the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of the
Draft LUPA/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, news releases, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: The Desert Plan Amendment Draft LUPA/EIS are available on
the BLM ePlanning project website at https://go.usa.gov/x7hdj. Click
the ``Documents'' link on the left side of the screen to find the
electronic version of these materials. Hard copies of the Desert Plan
Amendment Draft LUPA and Draft EIS are also available for public
inspection at the following BLM locations:
California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, CA
95825;
California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos,
Moreno Valley, CA 92553;
Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311;
El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243;
Needles Field Office, 1303 S. Highway 95, Needles, CA 92363;
Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555;
Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308;
and
Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514.
You may submit written comments related to the Desert Plan
Amendment by either of the following methods:
Website: https://go.usa.gov/x7hdj.
Mail: Bureau of Land Management, California State Office,
Attn: Desert Plan Amendment, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623,
Sacramento, CA 95825.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremiah Karuzas, Renewable Energy
Program Manager, telephone: 916-978-4644, email: [email protected];
address Bureau of Land Management, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1623,
Sacramento, CA 95825. Persons who use a telecommunications device for
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
[[Page 3182]]
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. Karuzas 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: In September 2016, the BLM issued a Record
of Decision (ROD) for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
(DRECP) LUPA, which amended the CDCA Plan, the Bishop RMP, and the
Bakersfield RMP in the Mojave and Colorado/Sonoran Desert regions of
southern California. The 2016 ROD was intended to address the
streamlining of renewable energy development, conservation of desert
resources, and to support multiple use and recreation on the nearly 11
million acres of BLM-managed public land in the planning area. In
response to challenges that arose with the implementation of the 2016
DRECP LUPA, as well as in response to Executive Order 13783, Promoting
Energy Independence and Economic Growth, and Executive Order 13821 on
Streamlining and Expediting Requests to Locate Broadband Facilities in
Rural America, the BLM published a Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register on February 2, 2018 (83 FR 4921) initiating a 45-day public
comment period. The BLM sought comments on:
The potential impacts that land use designations contained
in the amended Land Use Plans will have on commercial-scale renewable
energy projects, including wind, solar and geothermal energy;
ACECs that were designated, including where private lands
lie within the external boundaries of such designations, as well as
comments on increasing opportunities for increased renewable energy
development, recreational and off-highway vehicle access, mining
access, and grazing; and
The impact that land-use designations, land-disturbance
limits (``disturbance caps''), and visual-management classifications
contained in the plans may have on the deployment of future
communications infrastructure.
The BLM used public scoping comments to help identify planning
issues to formulate alternatives and frame the scope of analysis in the
Draft LUPA/EIS. Issues considered in the Draft LUPA/EIS are management
actions associated with conservation areas, biological resources
(including special status species), cultural resources, renewable
energy, minerals, livestock grazing, visual resources, air resources,
water resources, and recreation. The LUPA also considers decisions
regarding ACECs, California Desert National Conservation Lands (CDNCL),
and management of lands with wilderness characteristics. The Desert
Plan Amendment Draft LUPA/EIS evaluates the No Action Alternative and
two action alternatives (Alternatives 1 and 2). The BLM identifies
Alternative 1 as the Preferred Alternative. This alternative, however,
does not represent the final agency direction. After the public comment
period closes, the BLM will prepare a Proposed LUPA, which may reflect
changes or adjustments based on information received during public
comment on the Draft LUPA/EIS, new information, or changes in BLM
policies or priorities.
The No Action Alternative would retain the decisions specified in
the 2016 ROD for the DRECP LUPA, as recently modified by Public Law
116-9. Alternative 1 would reduce the number of ACECs from 129 to 97
thus reducing the acreage of the ACECs by approximately 1.8 million
acres; reduce the areas identified as CDNCL by approximately 2.2
million acres; and result in an additional 450,000 acres of General
Public Lands (GPL). Alternative 1 would also modify or eliminate 68
Conservation Management Actions (CMAs), which would also change the
manner in which disturbance caps are implemented, including elimination
of disturbance caps in CDNCL, as well as allowing renewable energy
development in Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMA).
Alternative 2 would reduce the number of ACECs to 100, and reduce
the acreage of the ACECs by approximately 1.5 million acres; reduce the
areas identified as CDNCL by approximately 2.1 million acres; and
result in an additional approximate 274,000 acres of General Public
Lands (GPL). Alternative 2 would also modify or eliminate the same 68
CMAs, which would also change the manner in which disturbance caps are
implemented similar to Alternative 1 but Alternative 2 would retain the
one percent disturbance cap for CDNCL. Alternative 2 CMAs would be
modified to only allow renewable energy development in a SRMA where
there is overlap with Development Focus Areas (DFAs). All other land
use allocation decisions and CMAs from the 2016 ROD would be retained
in both Alternative 1 and Alternative 2.
As a result of proposed CMA changes, the resource use limitations
of the 129 ACECs within the planning area will also change. Therefore,
pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent
public comment period on proposed management changes (including
alteration or elimination of disturbance caps), and boundary
modifications or elimination of the existing ACECs as identified in
Table 1.
Table 1--ACECs Proposed for Boundary Modification or Elimination
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No action Alternative 1 Alternative 2
ACEC name acres acres acres
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afton Canyon.................................................... 8,800 8,800 8,800
Alligator Rock.................................................. 6,800 6,200 6,200
Amargosa North.................................................. 114,000 72,760 72,760
Amargosa South.................................................. 148,410 134,410 134,410
Amboy Crater.................................................... 640 640 640
Avawatz Mountains WSA........................................... 49,900 0 0
Ayers Rock...................................................... 1,500 1,500 1,500
Barstow Woolly Sunflower........................................ 19,100 19,100 19,100
Bedrock Spring.................................................. 440 0 0
Bendire's Thrasher.............................................. 9,800 9,800 9,800
Big Morongo Canyon.............................................. 25,000 24,600 24,600
Big Rock Creek Wash............................................. 310 310 310
Bigelow Cholla.................................................. 4,200 4,200 4,200
Black Mountain.................................................. 51,300 0 0
Brisbane Valley Monkey Flower................................... 11,700 11,700 11,700
Bristol......................................................... 213,600 116,400 116,400
Cadiz Valley.................................................... 191,200 67,600 67,600
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Cady Mountains WSA.............................................. 101,400 0 101,400
Calico Early Man Site........................................... 840 840 840
Carbonate Endemic Plants RNA.................................... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Castle Mountain................................................. 3,180 0 0
Cerro Gordo..................................................... 10,400 9,700 9,700
Cerro Gordo WSA................................................. 630 0 0
Chemehuevi...................................................... 864,200 578,600 578,600
Chuckwalla...................................................... 512,300 319,400 319,400
Chuckwalla to Chemehuevi tortoise linkage....................... 318,600 269,900 269,900
Chuckwalla Valley Dune Thicket.................................. 2,200 2,200 2,200
Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard............................. 10,300 10,300 10,300
Conglomerate Mesa............................................... 1,700 1,700 1,700
Coolgardie Mesa................................................. 9,800 9,800 9,800
Corn Springs.................................................... 2,500 900 900
Coyote Mountains Fossil Site.................................... 5,900 5,900 5,900
Cronese Basin................................................... 8,500 0 0
Dagget Ridge Monkey Flower...................................... 26,100 26,100 26,100
Dead Mountains.................................................. 27,200 0 0
Death Valley 17 WSA............................................. 20,600 0 0
Denning Springs................................................. 390 0 0
Desert Lily Preserve............................................ 2,100 2,100 2,100
Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area........................... 22,200 22,200 22,200
Dos Palmas...................................................... 8,600 8,600 8,600
Eagles Flyway................................................... 10,900 0 0
East Mesa....................................................... 88,500 38,200 88,500
El Paso to Golden............................................... 57,800 57,800 57,800
Fossil Falls.................................................... 1,700 1,700 1,700
Fremont-Kramer.................................................. 236,000 236,000 236,000
Granite Mountain Corridor....................................... 39,300 0 34,500
Great Falls Basin............................................... 10,300 0 0
Halloran Wash................................................... 1,700 1,700 1,700
Harper Dry Lake................................................. 490 490 490
Horse Canyon.................................................... 1,500 1,500 1,500
Independence Creek WSA.......................................... 6,500 0 0
Indian Pass..................................................... 1,900 1,900 1,900
Ivanpah......................................................... 78,600 63,900 78,600
Jawbone/Butterbredt............................................. 145,700 114,900 114,900
Juniper Flats................................................... 2,400 2,400 2,400
Kingston Range.................................................. 18,900 15,200 15,200
Kingston Range WSA.............................................. 40,000 0 0
Lake Cahuilla................................................... 8,600 8,600 8,600
Lake Cahuilla Shoreline......................................... 11,900 11,900 11,900
Last Chance Canyon.............................................. 5,100 3,500 3,500
Manix........................................................... 2,900 2,900 2,900
Manzanar........................................................ 540 540 540
Marble Mountain Fossil Bed...................................... 230 0 0
McCoy Valley.................................................... 26,200 26,200 26,200
McCoy Wash...................................................... 6,400 6,400 6,400
Mesquite Hills/Crucero.......................................... 5,000 5,000 5,000
Mesquite Lake................................................... 6,800 6,800 6,800
Middle Knob..................................................... 17,800 17,800 17,800
Mohave Ground Squirrel.......................................... 165,200 170,800 170,800
Mojave Fishhook Cactus.......................................... 637 635 635
Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard....................................... 22,500 11,500 11,500
Mopah Spring.................................................... 1,900 0 0
Mountain Pass Dinosaur Trackway................................. 630 630 630
Mule McCoy Linkage.............................................. 51,200 51,200 51,200
Mule Mountains.................................................. 4,100 4,100 4,100
Northern Lucerne Wildlife Linkage............................... 21,900 21,900 21,900
Ocotillo........................................................ 14,600 14,600 14,600
Olancha Greasewood.............................................. 25,600 19,500 19,500
Old Woman Springs Wildlife Linkage.............................. 55,600 43,200 55,600
Ord-Rodman...................................................... 195,300 140,700 140,700
Owens Lake...................................................... 10,200 10,200 10,200
Palen Dry Lake.................................................. 3,600 3,600 3,600
Palen Ford...................................................... 41,400 25,600 41,400
Panamint Lake................................................... 21,700 0 0
Panamints and Argus............................................. 102,900 71,500 71,500
Parish's Phacelia............................................... 560 560 560
Patton Military Camps........................................... 16,400 21,100 21,100
Picacho......................................................... 183,500 133,600 133,600
[[Page 3184]]
Pilot Knob...................................................... 860 860 860
Pinto Mountains................................................. 108,200 84,200 84,200
Pipes Canyon.................................................... 8,700 4,600 4,600
Pisgah.......................................................... 46,600 46,600 46,600
Piute-Fenner.................................................... 155,500 146,200 146,200
Plank Road...................................................... 420 420 420
Rainbow Basin/Owl Canyon........................................ 4,100 4,100 4,100
Red Mountain Spring............................................. 700 700 700
Rodman Mountains Cultural Area.................................. 6,200 0 0
Rose Spring..................................................... 840 840 840
Saline Valley................................................... 1,400 0 0
Salt Creek Hills................................................ 2,200 1,600 1,600
Salton Sea Hazardous ACEC....................................... 5,100 5,100 5,100
San Sebastian Marsh/San Felipe Creek............................ 6,600 6,600 6,600
Sand Canyon..................................................... 2,600 0 0
Santos Manuel................................................... 27,500 0 0
Shadow Valley................................................... 197,300 159,700 159,700
Short Canyon.................................................... 750 0 0
Sierra Canyons.................................................. 26,300 27,000 27,000
Singer Geoglyphs................................................ 2,000 2,000 2,000
Soda Mountains Expansion........................................ 16,700 0 0
Soda Mountains WSA.............................................. 88,800 0 0
Soda Mountains.................................................. 0 0 33,300
Soggy Dry Lake Creosote Rings................................... 180 180 180
Southern Inyo WSA............................................... 2,700 0 0
Steam Well...................................................... 40 0 0
Superior-Cronese................................................ 315,800 310,900 310,900
Surprise Canyon................................................. 4,600 0 0
Symmes Creek WSA................................................ 8,400 0 0
Trona Pinnacles................................................. 4,100 4,100 4,100
Turtle Mountains................................................ 50,400 0 0
Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Rings................................ 330 330 330
Upper McCoy..................................................... 37,400 37,400 37,400
Warm Sulfur Springs............................................. 350 350 350
West Mesa....................................................... 82,500 18,700 82,500
West Paradise................................................... 240 0 0
Western Rand Mountains.......................................... 30,400 30,400 30,400
Whipple Mountains............................................... 2,800 2,100 2,100
White Mountain City............................................. 820 820 820
White Mountains WSA............................................. 1,600 0 0
Whitewater Canyon............................................... 14,900 2,800 2,800
Yuha Basin...................................................... 77,300 73,600 73,600
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A more detailed description of all proposed ACEC modifications,
including maps, is included in the Draft LUPA/EIS and Appendix B of the
Draft LUPA/EIS.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help
fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
The BLM will continue to consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis, in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources, will continue to be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate
in the comment period.
Please note that public comments and information submitted,
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who
submit comments, will be available for public review and disclosure at
the BLM California State Office (see ADDRESSES) during regular business
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10)
Karen E. Mouritsen,
State Director, California.
[FR Doc. 2021-00579 Filed 1-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
