Availability of the Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Grand Junction Field Office and the Colorado River Valley Field Office, Colorado, 84385-84386 [2024-24333]

Download as PDF ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 / Notices This surface density limitation would require the operator to address adverse direct and unavoidable indirect impacts through mitigation. This includes avoidance, minimization, and compensatory mitigation strategies in subsequent implementation-level National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses for proposed actions that may result in big game HPH loss and degradation. Subsequent implementation-level mitigation could limit the duration and extent of development activities in big game HPH through all phases of development by avoiding activities in HPH, applying surface density and timing limitations, and mitigating residual impacts. The BLM may also require compensatory mitigation to offset disturbance or density limitation exceedances and adverse direct and unavoidable indirect impacts that result in the functional loss of habitat from oil and gas development in big game HPH. The BLM, after coordination with CPW, will determine whether compensatory mitigation proposed by the operator is sufficient to protect big game HPH from adverse direct and unavoidable indirect impacts. The BLM has the discretion to require an operator to modify surface operations to change or add specific mitigation measures when supported by scientific analysis and consistent with existing rights. Potential mitigation or conservation measures not already required as stipulations would be analyzed in a site-specific NEPA document and incorporated, as appropriate, as conditions of approval of the permit, plan of development, or other use authorization. The plan would require operators to develop and implement mitigation plans to minimize and offset direct, indirect, and cumulative adverse impacts. The RMP Amendment includes management guidance for enhanced coordination and use of best available science and information during implementation. The BLM provided the Proposed RMP/Final EIS on July 19, 2024, for a 30-day protest period and did not receive any valid protests. No changes to the Proposed RMP Amendment/EIS were necessary. The BLM provided the Proposed RMP Amendment to the Governor of Colorado for a 60-day Governor’s consistency review. No inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs were identified during the Governor’s consistency review of the Proposed RMP Amendment. No changes to the RMP Amendment or EIS were necessary as a result of the Governor’s consistency review. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 21, 2024 Jkt 265001 (Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2) Douglas J. Vilsack, State Director. BILLING CODE 4331–16–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [BLM_CO_FRN_MO4500181910] Availability of the Records of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans for the Grand Junction Field Office and the Colorado River Valley Field Office, Colorado Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Records of Decision (RODs) for the approved Resource Management Plans (RMPs) for the Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO) and the Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) located in western Colorado. The Colorado State Director signed the RODs on October 16, 2024, which constitutes the decision of the BLM and makes the approved RMPs effective immediately. DATES: The Colorado State Director signed the RODs on October 16, 2024. ADDRESSES: The RODs/approved RMPs are available online at https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ project/2016085/510. Printed copies of the RODs/approved RMPs are available for public inspection at the Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction Field Offices or can be provided upon request by contacting BLM Project Manager Heather Sauls at hsauls@blm.gov or 970–878–3855. A copy of the Protest Resolution Report is available at: https:// www.blm.gov/programs/planning-andnepa/public-participation/protestresolution-reports. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Sauls, Project Manager, telephone 970–878–3855; address BLM Upper Colorado River District, 2518 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506; email hsauls@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 Ms. Sauls. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. The planning area is identical to the combined planning areas for the 2015 CRVFO RMP and the 2015 GJFO RMP. Within the CRVFO portion of the supplemental EIS planning area, approximately 517,500 acres of BLMadministered surface lands and approximately 711,300 acres of BLMadministered Federal fluid mineral estate are in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, and Routt Counties in Colorado. Within the GJFO portion of the planning area, approximately 1,067,500 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and approximately 1,235,600 acres of BLMadministered Federal fluid mineral estate are in Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, and Rio Blanco Counties in Colorado. The decision area is BLM-administered surface lands (BLM-administered lands) and the Federal fluid mineral estate below BLM-administered lands, splitestate lands, and other Federal lands (but not National Forest System lands). The BLM prepared a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) to the 2014 CRVFO RMP/final EIS and 2015 GJFO RMP/Final EIS. The BLM issued RODs and approved the RMPs for the CRVFO and GJFO in 2015. The supplemental EIS was written in response to a United States District Court, District of Colorado, opinion and order (1:16–cv–01822–LTB) regarding the CRVFO RMP ROD and a subsequent settlement agreement. The court granted a partial remand without vacating the decisions contained in the EIS and ROD so that the BLM could address two deficiencies identified by the court. The supplemental EIS also responds to a court-approved voluntary remand of the GJFO ROD (1–19–cv–02869–REB) to allow the BLM to address the same deficiencies identified in the CRVFO case. Through this collaborative planning effort, the approved RMPs describe the actions to guide future management and meet desired resource conditions. The proposed RMP (Alternative G) in the final supplemental EIS was carried forward as the approved RMP. As part of this supplemental EIS planning effort, the BLM identified several units within the planning area requiring an updated wilderness characteristics inventory; the updated inventory increased the size of the Flat Tops unit (from 3,500 acres to 6,900 acres) and the Pisgah Mountain unit (from 14,500 acres to 16,300 acres). The approved RMP retains the areas closed to fluid mineral leasing in the 2015 CRVFO and GJFO RMPs and also SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [FR Doc. 2024–24336 Filed 10–21–24; 8:45 am] Sfmt 4703 84385 E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 84386 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2024 / Notices retains the fluid mineral stipulations. Within the CRVFO, areas closed to oil and gas leasing in the 2015 RMP include: all Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs); lands within municipal boundaries; the Upper Colorado River Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA); Blue Hill, Bull Gulch, Deep Creek, and Thompson Creek Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs); Deep Creek, Flat Tops Addition, Pisgah Mountain, and Thompson Creek lands with wilderness characteristics; Deep Creek and two Colorado River segments found eligible for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; and all State wildlife areas. Within the GJFO, areas closed to oil and gas leasing in the 2015 RMP include: all WSAs; Bangs, Dolores River, and Palisade Rim SRMAs; Gunnison River Bluffs Extensive Recreation Management Area; Badger Wash, Dolores River Riparian, Juanita Arch, Rough Canyon, Sinbad Valley, The Palisade, and Unaweep Seep ACECs; Bangs, Maverick, and Unaweep lands with wilderness characteristics; Gunnison sage-grouse critical habitat and greater sage-grouse habitat within 1 mile of an active lek; Grand Junction and Palisade municipal watersheds; and Bureau of Reclamation withdrawal areas. The approved RMPs close the noknown and low oil and gas development potential areas to future fluid mineral leasing, except for the helium potential area (GJFO), which remains open to leasing. Medium oil and gas development potential areas are closed where they are surrounded by low oil and gas development potential areas within the CRVFO. Medium oil and gas development potential areas that are either adjacent to (CRVFO) or surrounded by (GJFO) high oil and gas development potential areas remain open for oil and gas leasing. The high potential areas remain open for fluid mineral leasing. Within the high potential and open medium potential areas, there are areas closed to fluid mineral leasing due to specific resource concerns. Geothermal resources remain open to leasing, except for those within areas closed to oil and gas leasing due to specific resource concerns, and fluid mineral stipulations in the approved RMPs apply. The approved RMPs also close five existing designated ACECs to fluid mineral leasing to protect their relevant and important values, including the Glenwood Springs Debris Flow Hazard Zones and Grand Hogback ACECs in CRVFO, and the Atwell Gulch, Indian Creek, and Pyramid Rock ACECs in GJFO. The approved RMPs expand the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 21, 2024 Jkt 265001 existing Grand Hogback ACEC (CRVFO) and Pyramid Rock ACEC (GJFO). Within the CRVFO, the approved RMP designates the Castle Peak Addition lands with wilderness characteristics unit as a WSA and closes the Thompson Divide Withdrawal Area to oil and gas leasing. Within the GJFO, the approved RMP manages Cone Mountain, Granite Creek, Kings Canyon, Lumsden Canyon, and West Creek units for protection of their wilderness characteristics. Increased protections for the Roan and Carr Creeks ACEC and Jerry Creek, Mesa/Powderhorn, and Collbran municipal water source areas within the GJFO are provided through application of No-Surface-Occupancy stipulations. The BLM provided the proposed RMP/final supplemental EIS on June 21, 2024, for a 30-day protest period and received three protest letters and one comment letter. The BLM Assistant Director resolved all protests. Responses to protest issues have been compiled and documented in a Protest Resolution Report (see ADDRESSES). The BLM provided the proposed RMP/final supplemental EIS to the Governor of Colorado for a 60-day Governor’s consistency review. No inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs were identified during the Governor’s consistency review of the proposed RMP/final supplemental EIS. No changes to the proposed RMP/final supplemental EIS were necessary as a result of the Governor’s consistency review. (Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 43 CFR 1610.5– 1) Douglas J. Vilsack, BLM Colorado State Director. [FR Doc. 2024–24333 Filed 10–21–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4331–16–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0038932; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a known lineal descendant. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or after November 21, 2024. ADDRESSES: June Carpenter, NAGPRA Director, Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665–7820, email jcarpenter@fieldmuseum.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the National Park Service’s administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Field Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. DATES: Abstract of Information Available A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The unassociated funerary object is a ki’i lā’au (represented by Field Museum catalog number 272689). The ki’i lā’au was removed from the Hale o Keawe on the Island of Hawai’i in 1825 by one of the crewmembers of the H.M.S. Blonde. The Field Museum purchased the ki’i lā’au from A.W. F. Fuller in 1958. Fuller acquired the ki’i in 1911 from F.G. Spranger, who received it from a family member. No potentially hazardous substances are known to have been used to treat this item. Determinations The Field Museum has determined that: • The one unassociated funerary object described in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and is connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • A known lineal descendant (name withheld per request) is connected to the cultural item described in this notice. Requests for Repatriation Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item in this E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84385-84386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24333]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_CO_FRN_MO4500181910]


Availability of the Records of Decision and Approved Resource 
Management Plans for the Grand Junction Field Office and the Colorado 
River Valley Field Office, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Records of Decision (RODs) for the approved Resource Management 
Plans (RMPs) for the Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO) and the 
Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) located in western Colorado. The 
Colorado State Director signed the RODs on October 16, 2024, which 
constitutes the decision of the BLM and makes the approved RMPs 
effective immediately.

DATES: The Colorado State Director signed the RODs on October 16, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The RODs/approved RMPs are available online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2016085/510. Printed copies of 
the RODs/approved RMPs are available for public inspection at the 
Colorado River Valley and Grand Junction Field Offices or can be 
provided upon request by contacting BLM Project Manager Heather Sauls 
at [email protected] or 970-878-3855.
    A copy of the Protest Resolution Report is available at: https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Sauls, Project Manager, 
telephone 970-878-3855; address BLM Upper Colorado River District, 2518 
H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506; 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 Ms. Sauls. 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: The planning area is identical to the 
combined planning areas for the 2015 CRVFO RMP and the 2015 GJFO RMP. 
Within the CRVFO portion of the supplemental EIS planning area, 
approximately 517,500 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and 
approximately 711,300 acres of BLM-administered Federal fluid mineral 
estate are in Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, and Routt Counties in 
Colorado. Within the GJFO portion of the planning area, approximately 
1,067,500 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and approximately 
1,235,600 acres of BLM-administered Federal fluid mineral estate are in 
Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, and Rio Blanco Counties in Colorado. The 
decision area is BLM-administered surface lands (BLM-administered 
lands) and the Federal fluid mineral estate below BLM-administered 
lands, split-estate lands, and other Federal lands (but not National 
Forest System lands).
    The BLM prepared a supplemental environmental impact statement 
(EIS) to the 2014 CRVFO RMP/final EIS and 2015 GJFO RMP/Final EIS. The 
BLM issued RODs and approved the RMPs for the CRVFO and GJFO in 2015. 
The supplemental EIS was written in response to a United States 
District Court, District of Colorado, opinion and order (1:16-cv-01822-
LTB) regarding the CRVFO RMP ROD and a subsequent settlement agreement. 
The court granted a partial remand without vacating the decisions 
contained in the EIS and ROD so that the BLM could address two 
deficiencies identified by the court. The supplemental EIS also 
responds to a court-approved voluntary remand of the GJFO ROD (1-19-cv-
02869-REB) to allow the BLM to address the same deficiencies identified 
in the CRVFO case.
    Through this collaborative planning effort, the approved RMPs 
describe the actions to guide future management and meet desired 
resource conditions. The proposed RMP (Alternative G) in the final 
supplemental EIS was carried forward as the approved RMP. As part of 
this supplemental EIS planning effort, the BLM identified several units 
within the planning area requiring an updated wilderness 
characteristics inventory; the updated inventory increased the size of 
the Flat Tops unit (from 3,500 acres to 6,900 acres) and the Pisgah 
Mountain unit (from 14,500 acres to 16,300 acres).
    The approved RMP retains the areas closed to fluid mineral leasing 
in the 2015 CRVFO and GJFO RMPs and also

[[Page 84386]]

retains the fluid mineral stipulations. Within the CRVFO, areas closed 
to oil and gas leasing in the 2015 RMP include: all Wilderness Study 
Areas (WSAs); lands within municipal boundaries; the Upper Colorado 
River Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA); Blue Hill, Bull Gulch, 
Deep Creek, and Thompson Creek Areas of Critical Environmental Concern 
(ACECs); Deep Creek, Flat Tops Addition, Pisgah Mountain, and Thompson 
Creek lands with wilderness characteristics; Deep Creek and two 
Colorado River segments found eligible for inclusion in the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System; and all State wildlife areas. Within the 
GJFO, areas closed to oil and gas leasing in the 2015 RMP include: all 
WSAs; Bangs, Dolores River, and Palisade Rim SRMAs; Gunnison River 
Bluffs Extensive Recreation Management Area; Badger Wash, Dolores River 
Riparian, Juanita Arch, Rough Canyon, Sinbad Valley, The Palisade, and 
Unaweep Seep ACECs; Bangs, Maverick, and Unaweep lands with wilderness 
characteristics; Gunnison sage-grouse critical habitat and greater 
sage-grouse habitat within 1 mile of an active lek; Grand Junction and 
Palisade municipal watersheds; and Bureau of Reclamation withdrawal 
areas.
    The approved RMPs close the no-known and low oil and gas 
development potential areas to future fluid mineral leasing, except for 
the helium potential area (GJFO), which remains open to leasing. Medium 
oil and gas development potential areas are closed where they are 
surrounded by low oil and gas development potential areas within the 
CRVFO. Medium oil and gas development potential areas that are either 
adjacent to (CRVFO) or surrounded by (GJFO) high oil and gas 
development potential areas remain open for oil and gas leasing. The 
high potential areas remain open for fluid mineral leasing. Within the 
high potential and open medium potential areas, there are areas closed 
to fluid mineral leasing due to specific resource concerns. Geothermal 
resources remain open to leasing, except for those within areas closed 
to oil and gas leasing due to specific resource concerns, and fluid 
mineral stipulations in the approved RMPs apply.
    The approved RMPs also close five existing designated ACECs to 
fluid mineral leasing to protect their relevant and important values, 
including the Glenwood Springs Debris Flow Hazard Zones and Grand 
Hogback ACECs in CRVFO, and the Atwell Gulch, Indian Creek, and Pyramid 
Rock ACECs in GJFO. The approved RMPs expand the existing Grand Hogback 
ACEC (CRVFO) and Pyramid Rock ACEC (GJFO).
    Within the CRVFO, the approved RMP designates the Castle Peak 
Addition lands with wilderness characteristics unit as a WSA and closes 
the Thompson Divide Withdrawal Area to oil and gas leasing. Within the 
GJFO, the approved RMP manages Cone Mountain, Granite Creek, Kings 
Canyon, Lumsden Canyon, and West Creek units for protection of their 
wilderness characteristics.
    Increased protections for the Roan and Carr Creeks ACEC and Jerry 
Creek, Mesa/Powderhorn, and Collbran municipal water source areas 
within the GJFO are provided through application of No-Surface-
Occupancy stipulations.
    The BLM provided the proposed RMP/final supplemental EIS on June 
21, 2024, for a 30-day protest period and received three protest 
letters and one comment letter. The BLM Assistant Director resolved all 
protests. Responses to protest issues have been compiled and documented 
in a Protest Resolution Report (see ADDRESSES).
    The BLM provided the proposed RMP/final supplemental EIS to the 
Governor of Colorado for a 60-day Governor's consistency review. No 
inconsistencies with State or local plans, policies, or programs were 
identified during the Governor's consistency review of the proposed 
RMP/final supplemental EIS. No changes to the proposed RMP/final 
supplemental EIS were necessary as a result of the Governor's 
consistency review.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 43 CFR 1610.5-1)

Douglas J. Vilsack,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-24333 Filed 10-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-16-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.