Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Consider the Impacts of Opening Lands Subject to ANCSA 17(d)(1) Withdrawals, Including Lands Within the Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula, and Ring of Fire Planning Areas; Alaska, 50875-50876 [2022-17806]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices
XVIII. Authority
This is a discretionary grant program
authorized under the Snyder Act (25
U.S.C. 13), the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2022 (HR 2471–
312), and the American Rescue Plan Act
of 2021 (Pub. L. 117–2). The Snyder Act
authorizes the BIA to expend such
moneys as Congress may appropriate for
the benefit, care, and assistance of
Indians for the purposes listed in the
Act. Broadband deployment or
expansion facilitates two of the
purposes listed in the Snyder Act:
‘‘General support and civilization,
including education’’ and ‘‘industrial
assistance and advancement.’’ The
Consolidated Appropriations Act
authorizes the BIA to ‘‘carry out the
operation of Indian programs by direct
expenditure, contracts, cooperative
agreements, compacts, and grants, either
directly or in cooperation with States
and other organizations.’’
Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022–17783 Filed 8–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[LLAK941000.L14100000.ET0000.223]
Racheal Jones at (907) 290–0307, or by
email at rajones@blm.gov, on questions
specific to NEPA or to have your name
added to our mailing list; and Bettie
Shelby at (907) 271–5596, or by email at
bshelby@blm.gov, on questions specific
to the actions at issue in this EIS.
Individuals in the United States who
are deaf, blind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public
Land Order (PLO) No. 7899, which
would revoke withdrawals established
under ANCSA Section 17(d)(1) on lands
in the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula
planning area, was signed on January
11, 2021, and published in the Federal
Register on January 19, 2021 (86 FR
5236). PLO Nos. 7900, 7901, 7902, and
7903, which would revoke withdrawals
established under ANCSA Section
17(d)(1) on lands in the Ring of Fire,
Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, and
East Alaska planning areas, respectively,
were signed on January 15 and 16, 2021,
but were never published in the Federal
Register. The Department deferred the
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement To
Consider the Impacts of Opening
Lands Subject to ANCSA 17(d)(1)
Withdrawals, Including Lands Within
the Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior,
East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula,
and Ring of Fire Planning Areas;
Alaska
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended; the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (FLPMA), as amended; the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation
Act of 1980 (ANILCA), as amended; and
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(ANCSA), as amended, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) intends to
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of
opening lands subject to withdrawals
established pursuant to section 17(d)(1)
of ANCSA on lands within the Bay,
Bering Sea-Western Interior, East
Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula, and
Ring of Fire planning areas, and by this
SUMMARY:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
notice is announcing the beginning of
the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. The BLM
requests comments concerning the
scope of the analysis, potential
alternatives, and identification of
relevant information by October 17,
2022. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider comments in
the Draft EIS, please ensure your
comments are received prior to the close
of the 60-day scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever
is later.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues related to this process by any
of the following methods:
• ePlanning website: https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2018002/510
• Mail: 222 W 7th Avenue, Stop #13,
Anchorage, Alaska 99513
• More details and instructions for
submitting public comment can be
found on the BLM ePlanning website at
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2018002/510
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the ePlanning
website.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:42 Aug 17, 2022
Jkt 256001
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50875
opening of the lands described in PLO
No. 7899 by 60 days on February 18,
2021, to provide an opportunity to
review the decisions and ensure the
orderly management of the public lands
(86 FR 10131). Subsequently, the
Department identified certain
procedural and legal defects in the
decision-making process for PLO Nos.
7899, 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903,
including insufficient analysis under
NEPA, failure to follow section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA), possible failure to adequately
evaluate impacts under section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA), failure
to secure consent from the Department
of Defense (DOD) with regard to lands
under DOD administration as required
by Section 204(i) of FLPMA (43 U.S.C.
1714(i)), failure to adequately analyze
potential impacts on subsistence
hunting and fishing, and reliance on
potentially outdated data in EISs
prepared in 2006 and 2007. Due to these
identified deficiencies, on April 16,
2021, the Department—relying on its
inherent authority to revisit decisions
based on identified legal errors—
deferred the opening of lands under
PLO No. 7899 and the publication of
PLO Nos. 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 in
order to address the deficiencies in the
decision-making process that led to the
PLOs (86 FR 20193).
As a result, the BLM completed an
environmental assessment on April 21,
2022, to ensure legal compliance for
opening lands within the areas affected
by PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901, 7902,
and 7903 to selection by Alaska Native
Vietnam-era Veterans under Section
1119 of the Dingell Act due to the fiveyear statutory limit on the application
period for allotment selections. The
Secretary issued a public land order to
open the land to allotment selection on
January 19, 2021. The BLM is now
undertaking this process to address the
remaining legal defects in the decisionmaking processes for PLO Nos. 7899,
7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 and to
ensure compliance with the
requirements of NEPA, Section 204(i) of
FLPMA, Section 106 of the NHPA,
Section 7 of the ESA, and Section 810
of ANILCA.
The BLM will consider a range of
alternatives in the EIS, which may
include full or partial revocation of the
ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals, making
one or more withdrawals under FLPMA,
or retention of some or all of the ANCSA
17(d)(1) withdrawals.
Full or partial revocation of the
ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals may result
in changes to land use that could affect
local residents, wildlife, vegetation,
cultural resources, subsistence use, air
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
18AUN1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
50876
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 159 / Thursday, August 18, 2022 / Notices
resources, and water resources across up
to 28 million acres of BLM-administered
land in Alaska.
While BLM currently intends to
prepare a single EIS, we request public
input during the scoping period on
whether the analysis should be
completed through one or multiple EISs.
The BLM is also seeking input on
specific areas within these planning
areas that may experience unique or
otherwise significant impacts as a result
of opening the lands, which would need
to be considered in the analysis.
During this 60-day scoping period, the
BLM does not intend to hold any public
meetings, in-person or virtual. Should
the BLM later determine to hold public
meetings, the specific date(s) and
location(s) of any meeting will be
announced at least 15 days in advance.
The BLM is seeking public comments
on issues, concerns, potential impacts,
alternatives, and mitigation measures
that should be considered in the
analysis. Additional opportunities for
public participation, including at least a
60-day public comment period, will be
provided upon publication of the Draft
EIS. The NEPA process will be
completed consistent with 40 CFR
1501.10(b)(2), following which the
Secretary will make a decision regarding
the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals
The input of Alaska Native Tribes and
Corporations is of critical importance to
this EIS. Therefore, during the planning
process, the BLM will continue to
consult with potentially affected
Federally recognized Tribes on a
government-to-government basis, and
with affected Alaska Native
Corporations in accordance with Public
Law 108–199, Div. H, sec. 161, 118 Stat.
452, as amended by Public Law 108–
447, Div. H, sec. 518, 118 Stat. 3267, as
well as Executive Order 13175, and
other Department and Bureau policies.
We respectfully request participation in
consultation by Alaska Native Tribes
and Alaska Native Corporations to
provide their views and
recommendations on the alternatives
outlined above, including specific lands
to be opened or to remain subject to
withdrawals. The BLM will hold
individual consultation meetings upon
request.
The BLM will also use and coordinate
the NEPA process to help fulfill its
obligations under the NHPA, including
as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
Information about historic and cultural
resources within the area potentially
affected by the proposed action will
assist the BLM in identifying and
evaluating impacts to such resources.
Federal, State, and local agencies, along
with Tribes and other stakeholders that
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:42 Aug 17, 2022
Jkt 256001
may be interested in or affected by the
proposed opening of lands withdrawn
under the authority of Section 17(d)(1)
of ANCSA, are invited to participate in
the scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be asked by the BLM to
participate in the development of the
EIS as cooperating agencies.
It is important that commenters
provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful
to the agency’s preparation of the EIS.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the commenter’s concerns and
contentions. Comments received in
response to this solicitation, including
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be part of the public
record for this proposed action.
Comments submitted anonymously will
be accepted and considered.
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.
Steven Cohn,
State Director, BLM Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2022–17806 Filed 8–17–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS05000.L71220000.PN000.
LVTFC2009000.20X]
Notice of Realty Action: Direct Sale of
Public Land in Delta County, CO
Bureau of Land Management.
Notice of realty action.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is proposing the
noncompetitive (direct) sale of a parcel
of public land in Colorado to resolve
inadvertent and unauthorized use of
public lands. The 6.62-acre parcel is
located in Delta County and will be sold
to Bud Hawkins and Cindy Hawkins at
the appraised fair market value of
$3,500. The sale will be subject to the
applicable provisions of sections 203
and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and
BLM land sale regulations.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Interested parties may submit
written comments regarding this direct
sale by October 3, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to
Jana Moe, Realty Specialist, BLM
Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 S
Townsend Road, Montrose, CO 81401 or
by email to jpmoe@blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jana
Moe, Realty Specialist, BLM,
Uncompahgre Field Office, telephone:
(970) 240–5324; email: jpmoe@blm.gov.
Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
will consider the direct sale, in
accordance with Sections 203 and 209
of FLPMA, of the following public
lands:
DATES:
New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado
T. 51 N., R. 9 W.,
Sec. 17, lots 1 and 4.
The area described contains 6.62 acres,
according to the official plat of survey on file
with the BLM.
There is no known mineral value in
the parcel so the mineral estate would
also be conveyed in accordance with
Section 209 of FLPMA. This sale is in
conformance with the BLM Gunnison
Gorge National Conservation Area
(GGNCA) Record of Decision and
Approved Resource Management Plan
decision LAND C–5, (pages 2–9)
approved in November 2004. The parcel
is located within the GGNCA planning
area but is not located within the
GGNCA boundary. A parcel-specific
environmental assessment (EA),
document number DOI–BLM–CO–
S054–2020–0006 EA, was prepared in
connection with this realty action. It can
be viewed online at https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2000347/510.
The land is suitable for direct sale
under FLPMA, without competition,
consistent with 43 CFR 2711.3–3(a)(5),
because there is a need to resolve an
inadvertent and unauthorized use of
public lands, which are encumbered by
privately owned improvements.
Pursuant to the requirements of 43
CFR 2711.1–2(d), publication of this
notice in the Federal Register will
segregate the land from all forms of
appropriation under the public land
laws, including the mining laws, except
for the sale provisions of FLPMA. Until
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
18AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50875-50876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17806]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAK941000.L14100000.ET0000.223]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To
Consider the Impacts of Opening Lands Subject to ANCSA 17(d)(1)
Withdrawals, Including Lands Within the Bay, Bering Sea-Western
Interior, East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula, and Ring of Fire
Planning Areas; Alaska
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended; the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (FLPMA), as amended; the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), as amended; and the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), as amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to consider the effects of opening lands subject to withdrawals
established pursuant to section 17(d)(1) of ANCSA on lands within the
Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, East Alaska, Kobuk-Seward Peninsula,
and Ring of Fire planning areas, and by this notice is announcing the
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
The BLM requests comments concerning the scope of the analysis,
potential alternatives, and identification of relevant information by
October 17, 2022. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider
comments in the Draft EIS, please ensure your comments are received
prior to the close of the 60-day scoping period or 15 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to this process by
any of the following methods:
ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2018002/510
Mail: 222 W 7th Avenue, Stop #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513
More details and instructions for submitting public
comment can be found on the BLM ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2018002/510
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the
ePlanning website.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Racheal Jones at (907) 290-0307, or by
email at [email protected], on questions specific to NEPA or to have your
name added to our mailing list; and Bettie Shelby at (907) 271-5596, or
by email at [email protected], on questions specific to the actions at
issue in this EIS.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, blind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7899, which
would revoke withdrawals established under ANCSA Section 17(d)(1) on
lands in the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula planning area, was signed on
January 11, 2021, and published in the Federal Register on January 19,
2021 (86 FR 5236). PLO Nos. 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903, which would
revoke withdrawals established under ANCSA Section 17(d)(1) on lands in
the Ring of Fire, Bay, Bering Sea-Western Interior, and East Alaska
planning areas, respectively, were signed on January 15 and 16, 2021,
but were never published in the Federal Register. The Department
deferred the opening of the lands described in PLO No. 7899 by 60 days
on February 18, 2021, to provide an opportunity to review the decisions
and ensure the orderly management of the public lands (86 FR 10131).
Subsequently, the Department identified certain procedural and legal
defects in the decision-making process for PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901,
7902, and 7903, including insufficient analysis under NEPA, failure to
follow section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA),
possible failure to adequately evaluate impacts under section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA), failure to secure consent from the
Department of Defense (DOD) with regard to lands under DOD
administration as required by Section 204(i) of FLPMA (43 U.S.C.
1714(i)), failure to adequately analyze potential impacts on
subsistence hunting and fishing, and reliance on potentially outdated
data in EISs prepared in 2006 and 2007. Due to these identified
deficiencies, on April 16, 2021, the Department--relying on its
inherent authority to revisit decisions based on identified legal
errors--deferred the opening of lands under PLO No. 7899 and the
publication of PLO Nos. 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 in order to address
the deficiencies in the decision-making process that led to the PLOs
(86 FR 20193).
As a result, the BLM completed an environmental assessment on April
21, 2022, to ensure legal compliance for opening lands within the areas
affected by PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 to selection by
Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans under Section 1119 of the Dingell
Act due to the five-year statutory limit on the application period for
allotment selections. The Secretary issued a public land order to open
the land to allotment selection on January 19, 2021. The BLM is now
undertaking this process to address the remaining legal defects in the
decision-making processes for PLO Nos. 7899, 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903
and to ensure compliance with the requirements of NEPA, Section 204(i)
of FLPMA, Section 106 of the NHPA, Section 7 of the ESA, and Section
810 of ANILCA.
The BLM will consider a range of alternatives in the EIS, which may
include full or partial revocation of the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals,
making one or more withdrawals under FLPMA, or retention of some or all
of the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals.
Full or partial revocation of the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals may
result in changes to land use that could affect local residents,
wildlife, vegetation, cultural resources, subsistence use, air
[[Page 50876]]
resources, and water resources across up to 28 million acres of BLM-
administered land in Alaska.
While BLM currently intends to prepare a single EIS, we request
public input during the scoping period on whether the analysis should
be completed through one or multiple EISs. The BLM is also seeking
input on specific areas within these planning areas that may experience
unique or otherwise significant impacts as a result of opening the
lands, which would need to be considered in the analysis.
During this 60-day scoping period, the BLM does not intend to hold
any public meetings, in-person or virtual. Should the BLM later
determine to hold public meetings, the specific date(s) and location(s)
of any meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance. The BLM
is seeking public comments on issues, concerns, potential impacts,
alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be considered in the
analysis. Additional opportunities for public participation, including
at least a 60-day public comment period, will be provided upon
publication of the Draft EIS. The NEPA process will be completed
consistent with 40 CFR 1501.10(b)(2), following which the Secretary
will make a decision regarding the ANCSA 17(d)(1) withdrawals
The input of Alaska Native Tribes and Corporations is of critical
importance to this EIS. Therefore, during the planning process, the BLM
will continue to consult with potentially affected Federally recognized
Tribes on a government-to-government basis, and with affected Alaska
Native Corporations in accordance with Public Law 108-199, Div. H, sec.
161, 118 Stat. 452, as amended by Public Law 108-447, Div. H, sec. 518,
118 Stat. 3267, as well as Executive Order 13175, and other Department
and Bureau policies. We respectfully request participation in
consultation by Alaska Native Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations to
provide their views and recommendations on the alternatives outlined
above, including specific lands to be opened or to remain subject to
withdrawals. The BLM will hold individual consultation meetings upon
request.
The BLM will also use and coordinate the NEPA process to help
fulfill its obligations under the NHPA, including as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Information about historic and cultural resources within
the area potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the
BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources. Federal,
State, and local agencies, along with Tribes and other stakeholders
that may be interested in or affected by the proposed opening of lands
withdrawn under the authority of Section 17(d)(1) of ANCSA, are invited
to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or
be asked by the BLM to participate in the development of the EIS as
cooperating agencies.
It is important that commenters provide their comments at such
times and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's
preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the
commenter's concerns and contentions. Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment,
will be part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered.
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.
Steven Cohn,
State Director, BLM Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2022-17806 Filed 8-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P
