Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the North Dakota Field Office, 3757-3758 [2023-00929]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2023 / Notices
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
The authority for this action is the
PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Sarah J. Ryker,
Associate Director for Energy and Mineral
Resources, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2023–01020 Filed 1–19–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Disease Control and Prevention public
health guidelines, the BLM may need to
hold public meetings in virtual format if
county-level transmission of COVID–19
is ‘‘high’’ at the time of the public
meetings. In that case, the BLM will
hold three virtual public meetings.
In all cases, the dates and locations of
meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance through local media,
social media, newspapers, and the
ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES
section).
The Draft RMP/EIS is
available for review on the BLM
ePlanning project website at https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/1505069/510. The ePlanning
website also includes background
information on the North Dakota RMP
revision.
Written comments related to the
North Dakota Draft RMP/EIS may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/
eplanning-ui/project/1505069/510.
• Mail: North Dakota Field Office,
Attention: North Dakota RMP/EIS, 99
23rd Ave. West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND
58601.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined online at the
ePlanning project website and at the
North Dakota Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristine Braun, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator for the
Eastern Montana/Dakotas District,
telephone (701) 227–7725; address
North Dakota Field Office, 99 23rd Ave.
West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601;
email kebraun@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 for
contacting Mrs. Braun. 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.
ADDRESSES:
Bureau of Land Management
[L16100000.DP0000 LX.SS.E0900000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Resource Management Plan and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the North Dakota Field Office
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) has prepared
a draft resource management plan
(RMP) and draft environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the North Dakota
Field Office and by this notice
announces the opening of the comment
period on the Draft RMP/EIS. This
notice also announces the comment
period on the BLM’s proposed area of
critical environmental concern (ACEC)
within the RMP area.
DATES: This notice announces the
opening of a 90-day comment period for
the Draft RMP/EIS beginning with the
date of the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) publication of its Notice
of Availability (NOA) of the Draft RMP/
EIS in the Federal Register. The EPA
usually publishes its NOAs on Fridays.
To afford the BLM the opportunity to
consider comments in the Proposed
RMP/Final EIS, please ensure that the
BLM receives your comments prior to
the close of the 90-day public comment
period or 15 days after the last public
meeting, whichever is later.
In addition, this notice also
announces the opening of a concurrent
60-day comment period for the ACEC
proposed in the Draft RMP.
The BLM will hold a total of three
public meetings. One meeting will be
held virtually and two meetings will be
held in-person. In-person meeting
locations will be announced along with
details of all meetings once they are
known. In compliance with Centers for
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 Jan 19, 2023
Jkt 259001
This
document provides notice that the BLM
Montana/Dakotas State Director has
prepared a Draft RMP/EIS, provides
information announcing the opening of
the comment period on the Draft RMP/
EIS, and announces the comment period
on the BLM’s proposed ACEC. The
planning area includes the entire state
of North Dakota and encompasses
approximately 58,500 acres of BLMmanaged public land and 4.1 million
acres of BLM-managed mineral estate.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3757
Purpose and Need for the Planning
Effort
The need for the North Dakota RMP
revision is to address changes in
resource conditions, shifting demands
for resource uses, new technologies,
new program and resource guidance and
policies, and new scientific information
since the development of the 1988 RMP.
The purpose of this RMP revision is to
develop management direction to guide
future land management for BLMmanaged lands and minerals in North
Dakota. The BLM has identified four
specific purposes to describe BLM’s
distinctive role in the North Dakota
landscape: (1) Provide recreational
opportunities and improve access to
BLM-managed lands; (2) Contribute to
the conservation and recovery of
threatened and endangered and special
status species; (3) Manage mineral and
energy development on BLM-managed
lands; and (4) Manage for other social
and scientific values.
Alternatives Including the Preferred
Alternative
The BLM has analyzed four
alternatives in detail, including the no
action alternative. Alternative A is the
No Action Alternative, which is a
continuation of current management
direction in the existing 1988 North
Dakota RMP and associated
amendments.
Alternative B emphasizes sustaining
the ecological integrity of habitats for all
priority plant, wildlife, and fish species,
while allowing appropriate
development scenarios for allowable
uses, including opportunities for
mineral and energy development.
Where Federal oil and gas is available
for leasing, major stipulations would
apply to most areas. Alternative B
would designate one special recreation
management area (SRMA), two
backcountry conservation areas (BCAs),
and one ACEC, and would find three
eligible Wild and Scenic River segments
suitable for designation.
Alternative B.1 is a sub-alternative to
Alternative B that provides the same
management opportunities and
protections as found under Alternative
B for all resources except for coal.
Alternative B.1 further restricts Federal
coal leasing to only those areas within
existing Federal mine permit
boundaries.
Alternative C is similar to Alternative
B but provides for more flexibility in
management of natural and cultural
resources while providing modest
development of resource uses.
Alternative C provides opportunities for
Federal mineral and energy
E:\FR\FM\20JAN1.SGM
20JAN1
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
3758
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 13 / Friday, January 20, 2023 / Notices
development with fewer restrictions
than Alternative B, but more than
Alternative A, in terms of major
stipulations and areas determined
unacceptable for Federal coal leasing.
Alternative C provides for the same
number of designated areas (one SRMA,
two BCAs, one ACEC), but with reduced
sizes and/or less restrictive management
actions.
The BLM further considered six
additional alternatives but dismissed
these alternatives from detailed analysis
as explained in the Draft RMP/EIS.
The State Director has identified
Alternative B as the preferred
alternative. Alternative B was found to
best meet the State Director’s planning
guidance and, therefore, selected as the
preferred alternative because it best
meets the purpose and need, while
aligning with Department of the Interior
priorities.
accordance with Executive Order 13175,
BLM Manual 1780, and Departmental
policies. Tribal concerns, including
impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources,
will be given due consideration.
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.
ACECs
Consistent with land use planning
regulations at 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), the
BLM is announcing the opening of a
concurrent comment period on the
ACEC proposed for designation in the
preferred alternative. Comments may be
submitted using any of the methods
listed in the ADDRESSES section.
There is one proposed ACEC included
in the preferred alternative: Mud Buttes
(960 acres) located in Bowman County,
North Dakota.
• Alternatives B and C: no surface
occupancy for fluid minerals,
unacceptable for coal leasing, closed to
mineral material disposal, casual
collection of invertebrate or plant fossils
prohibited.
• Alternative B: right-of-way
exclusion area, closed to nonenergy
solid leasable minerals, and
recommended for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry.
• Alternative C: right-of-way
avoidance area, no surface disturbance
allowed for nonenergy solid leasable
mineral development.
[FR Doc. 2023–00929 Filed 1–19–23; 8:45 am]
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
The BLM will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
consistent with the NEPA and land use
planning processes, including a 30-day
public protest period and a 60-day
Governor’s consistency review on the
Proposed RMP. The Proposed RMP/
Final EIS is anticipated to be available
for public protest in the summer of
2023, with an approved RMP and
Record of Decision in the fall of 2023.
The BLM will continue to consult
with Indian Tribal Nations on a
government-to-government basis in
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:29 Jan 19, 2023
Jkt 259001
(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10,
43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.7–2.)
Sonya Germann,
Montana/Dakotas State Director.
BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_ID_FRN_MO4500168895]
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey,
Idaho
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of official filing of plats
of surveys.
AGENCY:
The plat of survey of the
following described lands are scheduled
to be officially filed in the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), Idaho State
Office, Boise, Idaho, 30 calendar days
from the date of this publication. The
surveys, which were executed at the
request of the BLM, are necessary for the
management of the Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area.
SUMMARY:
Boise Meridian, Idaho
T. 1 N., R. 1 W., Sections 15, 17, 21, 22, 27
and 28, accepted December 23, 2022.
A copy of the plat may be
obtained from the Public Room at the
BLM, Idaho State Office, 1387 S Vinnell
Way, Boise, Idaho 83709, upon required
payment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel S. Young, Branch of Cadastral
Survey, BLM, 1387 South Vinnell Way,
Boise, Idaho 83709–1657; (208) 373–
3994; email: dsyoung@blm.gov.
Individuals in the United States who are
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have
a speech disability may dial 7–1–1
(TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
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.
The plat,
in one sheet, incorporating the field
notes of the dependent resurvey of a
portion of the subdivisional lines and
the subdivision of sections 17, 21 and
22, Township 1 North, Range 1 West,
Boise Meridian, Idaho, was accepted
December 23, 2022.
A person or party who wishes to
protest one or more plats of survey
identified above must file a written
notice of protest with the Chief
Cadastral Surveyor for Idaho, BLM
within 30 calendar days from the date
of this publication at the address listed
in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
The protest must identify the plat(s) of
survey that the person or party wishes
to protest and contain all reasons and
evidence in support of the protest. The
protest must be filed before the
scheduled date of official filing for the
plat(s) of survey being protested. Any
protest filed after the scheduled date of
official filing will be untimely and will
not be considered. A protest is
considered filed on the date it is
received by the Chief Cadastral
Surveyor for Idaho during regular
business hours; if received after regular
business hours, a protest will be
considered filed the next business day.
If a protest against a plat of survey is
received prior to the scheduled date of
official filing, the official filing of the
plat of survey identified in the protest
will be stayed pending consideration of
the protest. A plat of survey will not be
officially filed until the next business
day following dismissal or resolution of
all protests of the plat.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in a
protest, you should be aware that the
documents you submit, including your
personal identifying information, may
be made publicly available in their
entirety at any time. While you can ask
us to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(Authority: 43 U.S.C., chapter 3)
Daniel S. Young,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Idaho.
[FR Doc. 2023–01075 Filed 1–19–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–19–P
E:\FR\FM\20JAN1.SGM
20JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 13 (Friday, January 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3757-3758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00929]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L16100000.DP0000 LX.SS.E0900000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the North Dakota Field Office
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
draft resource management plan (RMP) and draft environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the North Dakota Field Office and by this notice
announces the opening of the comment period on the Draft RMP/EIS. This
notice also announces the comment period on the BLM's proposed area of
critical environmental concern (ACEC) within the RMP area.
DATES: This notice announces the opening of a 90-day comment period for
the Draft RMP/EIS beginning with the date of the Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) publication of its Notice of Availability
(NOA) of the Draft RMP/EIS in the Federal Register. The EPA usually
publishes its NOAs on Fridays.
To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the
Proposed RMP/Final EIS, please ensure that the BLM receives your
comments prior to the close of the 90-day public comment period or 15
days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
In addition, this notice also announces the opening of a concurrent
60-day comment period for the ACEC proposed in the Draft RMP.
The BLM will hold a total of three public meetings. One meeting
will be held virtually and two meetings will be held in-person. In-
person meeting locations will be announced along with details of all
meetings once they are known. In compliance with Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention public health guidelines, the BLM may need to
hold public meetings in virtual format if county-level transmission of
COVID-19 is ``high'' at the time of the public meetings. In that case,
the BLM will hold three virtual public meetings.
In all cases, the dates and locations of meetings will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through local media, social media,
newspapers, and the ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES section).
ADDRESSES: The Draft RMP/EIS is available for review on the BLM
ePlanning project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1505069/510. The ePlanning website also includes background
information on the North Dakota RMP revision.
Written comments related to the North Dakota Draft RMP/EIS may be
submitted by any of the following methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1505069/510.
Mail: North Dakota Field Office, Attention: North Dakota
RMP/EIS, 99 23rd Ave. West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at the
ePlanning project website and at the North Dakota Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristine Braun, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator for the Eastern Montana/Dakotas District,
telephone (701) 227-7725; address North Dakota Field Office, 99 23rd
Ave. West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601; email [email protected].
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 for contacting
Mrs. Braun. 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: This document provides notice that the BLM
Montana/Dakotas State Director has prepared a Draft RMP/EIS, provides
information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft
RMP/EIS, and announces the comment period on the BLM's proposed ACEC.
The planning area includes the entire state of North Dakota and
encompasses approximately 58,500 acres of BLM-managed public land and
4.1 million acres of BLM-managed mineral estate.
Purpose and Need for the Planning Effort
The need for the North Dakota RMP revision is to address changes in
resource conditions, shifting demands for resource uses, new
technologies, new program and resource guidance and policies, and new
scientific information since the development of the 1988 RMP. The
purpose of this RMP revision is to develop management direction to
guide future land management for BLM-managed lands and minerals in
North Dakota. The BLM has identified four specific purposes to describe
BLM's distinctive role in the North Dakota landscape: (1) Provide
recreational opportunities and improve access to BLM-managed lands; (2)
Contribute to the conservation and recovery of threatened and
endangered and special status species; (3) Manage mineral and energy
development on BLM-managed lands; and (4) Manage for other social and
scientific values.
Alternatives Including the Preferred Alternative
The BLM has analyzed four alternatives in detail, including the no
action alternative. Alternative A is the No Action Alternative, which
is a continuation of current management direction in the existing 1988
North Dakota RMP and associated amendments.
Alternative B emphasizes sustaining the ecological integrity of
habitats for all priority plant, wildlife, and fish species, while
allowing appropriate development scenarios for allowable uses,
including opportunities for mineral and energy development. Where
Federal oil and gas is available for leasing, major stipulations would
apply to most areas. Alternative B would designate one special
recreation management area (SRMA), two backcountry conservation areas
(BCAs), and one ACEC, and would find three eligible Wild and Scenic
River segments suitable for designation.
Alternative B.1 is a sub-alternative to Alternative B that provides
the same management opportunities and protections as found under
Alternative B for all resources except for coal. Alternative B.1
further restricts Federal coal leasing to only those areas within
existing Federal mine permit boundaries.
Alternative C is similar to Alternative B but provides for more
flexibility in management of natural and cultural resources while
providing modest development of resource uses. Alternative C provides
opportunities for Federal mineral and energy
[[Page 3758]]
development with fewer restrictions than Alternative B, but more than
Alternative A, in terms of major stipulations and areas determined
unacceptable for Federal coal leasing. Alternative C provides for the
same number of designated areas (one SRMA, two BCAs, one ACEC), but
with reduced sizes and/or less restrictive management actions.
The BLM further considered six additional alternatives but
dismissed these alternatives from detailed analysis as explained in the
Draft RMP/EIS.
The State Director has identified Alternative B as the preferred
alternative. Alternative B was found to best meet the State Director's
planning guidance and, therefore, selected as the preferred alternative
because it best meets the purpose and need, while aligning with
Department of the Interior priorities.
ACECs
Consistent with land use planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610.7-
2(b), the BLM is announcing the opening of a concurrent comment period
on the ACEC proposed for designation in the preferred alternative.
Comments may be submitted using any of the methods listed in the
ADDRESSES section.
There is one proposed ACEC included in the preferred alternative:
Mud Buttes (960 acres) located in Bowman County, North Dakota.
Alternatives B and C: no surface occupancy for fluid
minerals, unacceptable for coal leasing, closed to mineral material
disposal, casual collection of invertebrate or plant fossils
prohibited.
Alternative B: right-of-way exclusion area, closed to
nonenergy solid leasable minerals, and recommended for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry.
Alternative C: right-of-way avoidance area, no surface
disturbance allowed for nonenergy solid leasable mineral development.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes,
including a 30-day public protest period and a 60-day Governor's
consistency review on the Proposed RMP. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS is
anticipated to be available for public protest in the summer of 2023,
with an approved RMP and Record of Decision in the fall of 2023.
The BLM will continue to consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order
13175, BLM Manual 1780, and Departmental policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due consideration.
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, 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR
1610.7-2.)
Sonya Germann,
Montana/Dakotas State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-00929 Filed 1-19-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P