Notice of Intent To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area Plan for the Morongo Highway 62 Communication Site Project, San Bernardino County, CA, 9376-9377 [2022-03475]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 34 / Friday, February 18, 2022 / Notices
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
proposes to renew an information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before April 19,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Send your written
comments on this information
collection request (ICR) by mail to
Darrin King, Information Collection
Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of
the Interior, Bureau of Land
Management, Attention PRA Office, 440
W 200 S #500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101;
or by email to BLM_HQ_PRA_
Comments@blm.gov. Please reference
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Control Number 1004–0121 in
the subject line of your comments.
Please note that due to COVID–19, the
electronic submission of comments is
recommended.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Elaine Guenaga by
email at eguenaga@blm.gov, or by
telephone at 775–276–0287. Individuals
who are hearing or speech impaired
may call the Federal Relay Service at 1–
800–877–8339 for TTY assistance. You
may also view the ICR at https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all
information collections require approval
under the PRA. We may not conduct or
sponsor, and you are not required to
respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
As part of our continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we invite the public and other
Federal agencies 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 especially interested in public
comment addressing the following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether or not the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
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SUMMARY:
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18:54 Feb 17, 2022
Jkt 256001
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) How might the agency minimize
the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of response.
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
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: The BLM seeks to renew
OMB control number 1004–0121
pertaining to the leasing of solid
minerals other than coal and oil shale
on Federal land, and the development of
those leases. The BLM’s regulations at
43 CFR part 3500 apply to certain types
of leasable minerals (i.e., solid minerals
other than coal and oil shale), but not
to Indian lands or minerals except
where expressly noted. The regulations
at 43 CFR part 3580 apply to gold,
silver, and quicksilver in confirmed
private land grants, and to leasable
minerals in specified locations. The
information collections contained in 43
CFR part 3590 are necessary to enable
the BLM to fulfill its statutory
responsibilities under certain Federal
mineral leasing laws and BLM’s
regulations at 43 CFR part 3500 and
serve to help the BLM to govern the
leasing of solid minerals other than coal
and oil shale on Federal land, and the
development of those leases.
Accordingly, the respondents affected
by this information collection request
are those who desire to obtain lease for
Federal solid minerals other than coal
and oil shale, and operators of such
leases. The regulations at 43 CFR part
3590 apply to operations for discovery,
testing, development, mining,
reclamation, and processing. OMB
control number 1004–0121 is currently
scheduled to expire on October 31,
2022. The BLM plans to request that
OMB renew this OMB control number
of an additional three years.
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Title of Collection: Leasing of Solid
Minerals Other Than Coal and Oil Shale
(43 CFR 3500–3590).
OMB Control Number: 1004–0121.
Form Numbers: BLM Form 3504–001;
BLM Form 3504–003; BLM Form 3504–
004; BLM Form 3510–001; BLM Form
3510–002; and BLM Form 3520–007.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Holders
of Federal leases of solid minerals other
than coal and oil shale.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 170.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 400.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: Varies from 1 hour to 400
hours, depending on activity.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 27,296.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Burden Cost: $2,050,695.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor and, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a person is not
required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
The authority for this action is the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Darrin A. King,
Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022–03523 Filed 2–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–84–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD06000.L51010000.ER0000.
LVRWB20B6000.20X (MO# 4500154620)]
Notice of Intent To Amend the
California Desert Conservation Area
Plan for the Morongo Highway 62
Communication Site Project, San
Bernardino County, CA
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office
in Palm Springs is proposing to amend
the 1980 California Desert Conservation
Area (CDCA) Plan, as amended, and
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 34 / Friday, February 18, 2022 / Notices
prepare an associated environmental
assessment for the Morongo Highway 62
Communication Site (Project). By this
notice, the BLM is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments on issues and
identified planning criteria.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the CDCA Plan
amendment and associated
environmental assessment. Comments
may be submitted in writing until
March 21, 2022. The date(s) and
location(s) of any scoping meetings will
be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local news media,
newspapers, and the Project website:
https://go.usa.gov/x6dCB.
To be included in the analysis, all
comments must be received prior to the
close of the 30-day scoping period. The
BLM will provide at least two additional
opportunities for public participation. A
30-day public comment period will be
provided upon publication of the draft
plan amendment environmental
assessment. After the public-comment
period and review concludes, the BLM
will prepare a decision and initiate a 30day protest period and 60-day
Governor’s Consistency Review.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues and planning criteria by any
of the following methods:
• Email: BLM_CA_PS_
MorongoCommunicationSite@blm.gov.
• Mail: ATTN: Matt Toedtli, Project
Manager, BLM, 1201 Bird Center Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92262.
• Online via ePlanning at: https://
go.usa.gov/x6dCB.
Documents pertinent to this project
may be examined by contacting the
project manager during regular business
hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt
Toedtli, Project Manager, telephone:
(760) 833–7117, email: BLM_CA_PS_
MorongoCommunicationSite@blm.gov.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800)
877–8339 to contact Matt Toedtli 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:
Interconnect Towers, LLC has requested
a right-of-way grant on approximately
2.2 acres for the authorization to
construct, operate, maintain, and
decommission a communication site,
access road, and necessary ancillary
facilities on public lands managed by
the BLM. The proposed project is
located west of Highway 62 in Morongo
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:54 Feb 17, 2022
Jkt 256001
Valley, California. The proposed project
is within general public lands, as
identified in the Desert Renewable
Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP)
amendment to the CDCA Plan.
The BLM published an environmental
assessment for this project in January
2020, followed by a 15-day public
comment period. One comment was
received, which stated that the
communication site would violate the
Visual Resource Management (VRM)
Class II objectives. The CDCA Plan, as
amended, contains Conservation and
Management Actions (CMAs) that are
intended to avoid or minimize impacts
to numerous resources within the plan
area. Application of the relevant CMAs
to the proposed project would preclude
the ability to construct and operate the
communication site in a VRM Class II
designation. As such, the proposed
project would require a plan
amendment to allow the communication
site to be constructed and operated
within the application area.
This notice informs the public that
the BLM intends to prepare a draft
CDCA Plan amendment and revised
environmental assessment. It also
announces the beginning of the scoping
process for this effort and seeks public
input on the proposed land use plan
amendment to change the project area
from VRM Class II to VRM Class III and
also seeks input on potential planning
criteria relevant to the proposed project.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to guide the planning process
and determine the relevant issues that
will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives and mitigation measures.
The BLM has identified one preliminary
issue, which is the potential for adverse
effects to visual resources based on
established visual resource class
objectives. Written comments may be
submitted via one of the methods listed
in the ADDRESSES section earlier. Input
must be received by the close of the 30day public-scoping period.
This notice also initiates a 30-day
review of the BLM’s identified proposed
planning criteria (43 CFR 1610.4–2(b);
43 CFR 1610.2(f)(2)). The BLM will use
these proposed planning criteria to help
guide and define the scope of the plan
amendment:
1. The plan amendment will be
completed in compliance with FLPMA,
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal
laws, executive orders, and BLM
policies.
2. Existing valid plan decisions will
not change and any new plan decisions
will not conflict with existing plan
decisions.
PO 00000
Frm 00071
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
9377
3. The plan amendment will
recognize valid existing rights.
With respect to the potential land use
plan amendment, the BLM will evaluate
identified issues and will place them
into one of three categories:
(a) Issues to be resolved in the plan
amendment.
(b) Issues to be resolved through
policy or administrative action.
(c) Issues beyond the scope of this
plan amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation
in the environmental assessment as to
why an issue was placed in category
two or three. The public is also
encouraged to help identify any
management questions and concerns
that should be addressed in the
environmental analysis.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill
the public-involvement process under
the National Historic Preservation Act
(54 U.S.C. 306108 and 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3)). The information about
historic and cultural resources within
the proposed project area will assist the
BLM in identifying and evaluating
impacts to such resources.
The BLM will 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 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 project are
invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request or
be requested by the BLM to participate
in the development of the
environmental assessment as a
cooperating agency.
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 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2)
Karen E. Mouritsen,
BLM California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022–03475 Filed 2–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
E:\FR\FM\18FEN1.SGM
18FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9376-9377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03475]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD06000.L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB20B6000.20X (MO# 4500154620)]
Notice of Intent To Amend the California Desert Conservation Area
Plan for the Morongo Highway 62 Communication Site Project, San
Bernardino County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm
Springs-South Coast Field Office in Palm Springs is proposing to amend
the 1980 California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, as amended,
and
[[Page 9377]]
prepare an associated environmental assessment for the Morongo Highway
62 Communication Site (Project). By this notice, the BLM is announcing
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments on
issues and identified planning criteria.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the CDCA
Plan amendment and associated environmental assessment. Comments may be
submitted in writing until March 21, 2022. The date(s) and location(s)
of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance
through local news media, newspapers, and the Project website: https://go.usa.gov/x6dCB.
To be included in the analysis, all comments must be received prior
to the close of the 30-day scoping period. The BLM will provide at
least two additional opportunities for public participation. A 30-day
public comment period will be provided upon publication of the draft
plan amendment environmental assessment. After the public-comment
period and review concludes, the BLM will prepare a decision and
initiate a 30-day protest period and 60-day Governor's Consistency
Review.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria by
any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected].
Mail: ATTN: Matt Toedtli, Project Manager, BLM, 1201 Bird
Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
Online via ePlanning at: https://go.usa.gov/x6dCB.
Documents pertinent to this project may be examined by contacting
the project manager during regular business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Toedtli, Project Manager,
telephone: (760) 833-7117, email:
[email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at (800) 877-8339 to contact Matt Toedtli 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: Interconnect Towers, LLC has requested a
right-of-way grant on approximately 2.2 acres for the authorization to
construct, operate, maintain, and decommission a communication site,
access road, and necessary ancillary facilities on public lands managed
by the BLM. The proposed project is located west of Highway 62 in
Morongo Valley, California. The proposed project is within general
public lands, as identified in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation
Plan (DRECP) amendment to the CDCA Plan.
The BLM published an environmental assessment for this project in
January 2020, followed by a 15-day public comment period. One comment
was received, which stated that the communication site would violate
the Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class II objectives. The CDCA
Plan, as amended, contains Conservation and Management Actions (CMAs)
that are intended to avoid or minimize impacts to numerous resources
within the plan area. Application of the relevant CMAs to the proposed
project would preclude the ability to construct and operate the
communication site in a VRM Class II designation. As such, the proposed
project would require a plan amendment to allow the communication site
to be constructed and operated within the application area.
This notice informs the public that the BLM intends to prepare a
draft CDCA Plan amendment and revised environmental assessment. It also
announces the beginning of the scoping process for this effort and
seeks public input on the proposed land use plan amendment to change
the project area from VRM Class II to VRM Class III and also seeks
input on potential planning criteria relevant to the proposed project.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to guide the planning
process and determine the relevant issues that will influence the scope
of the environmental analysis, including alternatives and mitigation
measures. The BLM has identified one preliminary issue, which is the
potential for adverse effects to visual resources based on established
visual resource class objectives. Written comments may be submitted via
one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section earlier. Input must
be received by the close of the 30-day public-scoping period.
This notice also initiates a 30-day review of the BLM's identified
proposed planning criteria (43 CFR 1610.4-2(b); 43 CFR 1610.2(f)(2)).
The BLM will use these proposed planning criteria to help guide and
define the scope of the plan amendment:
1. The plan amendment will be completed in compliance with FLPMA,
NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, executive orders, and BLM
policies.
2. Existing valid plan decisions will not change and any new plan
decisions will not conflict with existing plan decisions.
3. The plan amendment will recognize valid existing rights.
With respect to the potential land use plan amendment, the BLM will
evaluate identified issues and will place them into one of three
categories:
(a) Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment.
(b) Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action.
(c) Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the environmental assessment
as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is
also encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns
that should be addressed in the environmental analysis.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to
help fulfill the public-involvement process under the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108 and 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). The
information about historic and cultural resources within the proposed
project area will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts
to such resources.
The BLM will 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 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 project are invited to participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in
the development of the environmental assessment as a cooperating
agency.
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 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2)
Karen E. Mouritsen,
BLM California State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-03475 Filed 2-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
