BLM Director's Response to the Montana Governor's Appeal of the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director's Governor's Consistency Review Determination for the Miles City Field Office Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 107156-107157 [2024-31413]
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khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
107156
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 250 / Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / Notices
I. Section 207(c)(3)(A) (12 U.S.C.
1713(c)(3)(A));
II. Section 213(b)(2)(A) (12 U.S.C.
1715e(b)(2)(A));
III. Section 220(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I) (12 U.S.C.
1715k(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I));
IV. Section 221(d)(3)(ii)(I) (12 U.S.C.
1715l(d)(3)(ii)(I));
V. Section 221(d)(4)(ii)(I) (12 U.S.C.
1715l(d)(4)(ii)(I));
VI. Section 231(c)(2)(A) (12 U.S.C.
1715v(c)(2)(A)); and
VII. Section 234(e)(3)(A) (12 U.S.C.
1715y(e)(3)(A)).
Section 206A goes on to state that the
preceding
(a) ‘‘Dollar Amounts’’ shall be
adjusted annually (commencing in
2004) on the effective date of the
Federal Reserve Board’s adjustment of
the $400 figure in the Home Ownership
and Equity Protection Act of 1994
(HOEPA). The adjustment of the Dollar
Amounts shall be calculated using the
percentage change in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers
(CPI–U) as applied by the Federal
Reserve Board for purposes of the
above-described HOEPA adjustment.
(b) Notification. The Federal Reserve
Board on a timely basis shall notify the
Secretary, or his designee, in writing of
the adjustment described in subsection
(a) and of the effective date of such
adjustment in order to permit the
Secretary to undertake publication in
the Federal Register of corresponding
adjustments to the Dollar Amounts. The
dollar amount of any adjustment shall
be rounded to the next lower dollar.
Note that 206A has not been updated
to reflect the fact that HOEPA has been
revised to use $1,000 as the basis for the
adjustment rather than $400, and the
Consumer Finance Protection Bureau
has replaced the Federal Reserve Board
in administering the adjustment. These
changes were made by the Dodd-Frank
Wall Street Reform and Consumer
Protection Act’s amendments to the
Truth in Lending Act, as further
explained in the regulatory
implementation of said changes found
in 78 FR 6856, 6879 (Jan. 31, 2013).
The percentage change in the CPI–U
used for the HOEPA adjustment is a 3.4
percent increase and the effective date
of the HOEPA adjustment is January 1,
2025. The Dollar Amounts under
Section 206A have been adjusted
correspondingly and have an effective
date of January 1, 2025. (see 89 FR
95080, Dec. 2, 2024).
These revised statutory limits may be
applied to FHA multifamily mortgage
insurance applications submitted or
amended on or after January 1, 2025, so
long as the loan has not been initially
endorsed.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:31 Dec 30, 2024
Jkt 265001
The adjusted Dollar Amounts for
Calendar Year 2025 are shown below.
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).
Basic Statutory Mortgage Limits for
Calendar Year 2025 Multifamily Loan
Program
Section 207—Multifamily Housing;
Section 207 pursuant to Section 223(f)—
Purchase or Refinance Housing; and,
Section 220—Housing in Urban
Renewal Areas
Jeffrey D. Little,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Housing.
Bedrooms
0 ................
1 ................
2 ................
3 ................
4+ ..............
Non-elevator
$67,188
74,427
88,903
109,580
124,056
Section 213—Cooperatives
Bedrooms
0 ................
1 ................
2 ................
3 ................
4+ ..............
Non-elevator
$72,813
83,956
101,254
129,607
144,391
Elevator
0 ................
1 ................
2 ................
3 ................
4+ ..............
Non-elevator
$74,299
85,670
103,320
132,254
147,337
0 ................
1 ................
2 ................
3 ................
4+ ..............
Non-elevator
$66,864
75,904
91,749
115,160
130,129
0 ................
1 ................
2 ................
3 ................
4+ ..............
Non-elevator
$63,570
71,068
84,867
102,134
120,077
106,814
138,184
151,687
AGENCY:
Elevator
$78,191
89,634
108,998
141,008
154,782
Elevator
$72,228
82,802
100,689
130,257
142,986
Elevator
$72,228
82,802
100,689
130,257
142,986
Section 207—Manufactured Home Parks
per Space—$30,844
Environmental Impact
This issuance establishes mortgage
and cost limits that do not constitute a
development decision affecting the
physical condition of specific project
areas or building sites. Accordingly,
under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6), this notice is
categorically excluded from
environmental review under the
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Bureau of Land Management
BLM Director’s Response to the
Montana Governor’s Appeal of the
BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director’s
Governor’s Consistency Review
Determination for the Miles City Field
Office Proposed Resource
Elevator
Management Plan Amendment and
Final Supplemental Environmental
$77,531
Impact Statement
87,840
Section 231—Housing for the Elderly
Bedrooms
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[PO# 4820000251]
Section 221(d)(4)—Moderate Income
Housing
Bedrooms
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
$78,368
86,835
106,477
133,357
150,791
Section 234—Condominium Housing
Bedrooms
[FR Doc. 2024–31184 Filed 12–30–24; 8:45 am]
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of response.
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is publishing this
notice of the reasons for the BLM
Director’s determination to reject the
Governor of Montana’s
recommendations regarding the Miles
City Field Office Proposed Resource
Management Plan Amendment (RMPA)
and Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (Final SEIS).
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Record of
Decision and Approved RMPA for the
Miles City Field Office RMPA/Final
SEIS is available on the BLM website at:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2021155/570.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Heather Bernier, Division Chief for
Decision Support, Planning, and
National Environmental Policy Act;
telephone 303–239–3635; address P.O.
Box 151029, Lakewood, CO 80215;
email hbernier@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. Bernier. 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.
SUMMARY:
On May
17, 2024, the BLM released the
Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS for the
Miles City Field Office planning effort
(89 FR 43432). In accordance with the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM
31DEN1
khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 250 / Tuesday, December 31, 2024 / Notices
regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e), the
BLM submitted the Proposed RMPA/
Final SEIS for the Miles City Field
Office planning effort to the Governor of
Montana for a 60-day Governor’s
Consistency Review in order for the
Governor to review the Proposed RMPA
and identify any inconsistencies with
State plans, policies, or programs. On
July 16, 2024, the Governor of Montana
submitted a response for the Miles City
Field Office RMPA/Final SEIS to the
BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director.
The State Director reviewed the
Governor’s response and the alleged
consistency issues and did not accept
the Governor’s recommendations. The
BLM sent a written response to the
Governor on August 12, 2024.
On September 18, 2024, the Governor
of Montana appealed the State Director’s
decision to the BLM Director. In
reviewing these appeals, the regulations
at 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e) state that ‘‘[t]he
Director shall accept the (consistency)
recommendations of the Governor(s) if
he/she determines they provide for a
reasonable balance between the state’s
interest and the national interest.’’ On
November 6, 2024, the BLM Director
issued a response to the Governor
detailing the reasons that the
recommendations did not meet this
standard. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.3–
2(e), the basis for the BLM’s
determination on the Governor’s appeal
is presented below. The appeal response
is being published verbatim.
‘‘I am in receipt of your letter dated
September 18, 2024, which contains the
State of Montana’s appeal to the Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) Montana/
Dakotas State Director’s response to the
Governor’s consistency review of the
Miles City Field Office Proposed
Resource Management Plan Amendment
(RMPA) and Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
The Governor’s consistency review is an
important part of the BLM land use
planning process, and we appreciate the
significant time and attention that you
and your staff have committed to this
effort.
The applicable regulations at 43 CFR
1610.3–2(e) provide you with the
opportunity to appeal the State
Director’s decision to not accept the
recommendations you made in your
consistency review letter. These
regulations also guide my review of the
appeal, in which I must consider
whether you have raised inconsistencies
with State or local plans, policies, and
or programs. If inconsistencies are
raised, I consider whether your
recommendations address the
inconsistencies and provide for a
reasonable balance between the national
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:31 Dec 30, 2024
Jkt 265001
interest and the State of Montana’s
interest.
I have completed my review of your
appeal and determined that the
recommendation you have provided
does not meet this standard for the
reasons detailed in the following
paragraphs.
In your appeal, you allege the three
consistency issues below:
• ‘‘Alternative D is inconsistent with
Montana’s Constitutional Mandate to
utilize State Trust Lands to fund schools
and other public institutions.’’
• ‘‘Alternative D is inconsistent with
Montana’s ‘All-Of-The-Above’ Energy
Strategy, and the SEIS fails to consider
critical local energy plan.’’
• ‘‘Alternative D conflicts with
Montana’s Coal Revenue Trust Fund
Policy.’’
It is your recommendation that ‘the
BLM withdraw the Miles City Field
Office RMPA/SEIS and work
collaboratively with the State to form
alternatives that honor State plans,
policies, and programs.’
Upon review, I find that your
recommendation does not present a
reasonable balance between the national
and the State’s interest. The Proposed
RMPA/Final SEIS is a land use level
review specific to the Miles City Field
Office and is in response to the Federal
district court’s order in Western
Organization of Resource Councils, et al.
v. Bureau of Land Management, Civil
Action No. CV–00076–GF–BMM (D.
Mont. 2022). The BLM developed a
range of alternatives to meet the purpose
and need of the Proposed RMPA/Final
SEIS and the court’s order, such as to
complete new coal screens in
accordance with 43 CFR 3420.1–4;
provide additional land use planning
level analysis that considers no-leasing
and limited coal leasing alternatives;
and disclose the public health impacts,
both climate and non-climate, of
burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas)
from the planning area.
While there are State and Federal
policies that may encourage coal mining
and facilitate the orderly development
of coal resources, they do not mandate
that coal mining would be authorized
wherever coal reserves may be present.
The Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS also
only applies to federally administered
coal in the Miles City Field Office
planning area and does not make
decisions on State lands or privately
owned coal resources. Similarly, the
BLM’s regulatory process does not apply
to State lands and does not preclude the
State from making management
decisions for State trust lands, nor
preclude the State’s authority to
manage[ ], permit, and bill other uses of
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
107157
State lands accordingly to meet the
State’s fiduciary responsibility.
Additionally, under Alternative D, the
State’s mineral estate was determined to
not have development potential or not
expected to be leased or mined within
the life of the plan. This is due to: (1)
no new mines projected, (2) the
Rosebud Mine having sufficient coal
reserves from existing leases, and (3) the
Spring Creek Mine projecting needs
from pending Federal leases and
subsequent 1,300 acres of Federal coal
leases. The BLM also carefully
considered current and future coal
demand with national and international
trends as they relate to coal
development in the Miles City planning
area. The BLM recognizes a potential
future decrease, but that is expected as
the national coal market is in decline
and trending to continue that decline
throughout the life of the plan.
Finally, the BLM has prepared the
Miles City Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS
in accordance with all applicable
Federal laws, regulations, and policies.
The BLM did carefully review and
consider applicable State, local, and
other Federal agency plans, policies,
and programs in the development of the
Miles City Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS.
The BLM is consistent, to the extent
practicable, with these plans as per the
provisions of the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act and the planning
regulations at 43 CFR 1610–3–2.’’
(Authority: 43 CFR 1610.3–2(e))
Nada Wolff Culver,
Principal Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2024–31413 Filed 12–30–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–20–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NVNV106695370]
Withdrawal Application and Public
Meeting for the Ruby Mountains;
Nevada
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal
application.
AGENCY:
The United States Forest
Service (USFS) has filed an application
requesting that the Secretary of the
Interior withdraw approximately
264,441.79 acres of Federal lands in the
Ruby Mountains from leasing under the
mineral and geothermal laws, for 20
years, subject to valid existing rights.
The application also includes
approximately 44,670.87 acres of non-
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM
31DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107156-107157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31413]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[PO# 4820000251]
BLM Director's Response to the Montana Governor's Appeal of the
BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director's Governor's Consistency Review
Determination for the Miles City Field Office Proposed Resource
Management Plan Amendment and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of response.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is publishing this notice
of the reasons for the BLM Director's determination to reject the
Governor of Montana's recommendations regarding the Miles City Field
Office Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS).
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Record of Decision and Approved RMPA for the
Miles City Field Office RMPA/Final SEIS is available on the BLM website
at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021155/570.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Bernier, Division Chief for
Decision Support, Planning, and National Environmental Policy Act;
telephone 303-239-3635; address P.O. Box 151029, Lakewood, CO 80215;
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. Bernier. 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: On May 17, 2024, the BLM released the
Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS for the Miles City Field Office planning
effort (89 FR 43432). In accordance with the
[[Page 107157]]
regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e), the BLM submitted the Proposed RMPA/
Final SEIS for the Miles City Field Office planning effort to the
Governor of Montana for a 60-day Governor's Consistency Review in order
for the Governor to review the Proposed RMPA and identify any
inconsistencies with State plans, policies, or programs. On July 16,
2024, the Governor of Montana submitted a response for the Miles City
Field Office RMPA/Final SEIS to the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Director.
The State Director reviewed the Governor's response and the alleged
consistency issues and did not accept the Governor's recommendations.
The BLM sent a written response to the Governor on August 12, 2024.
On September 18, 2024, the Governor of Montana appealed the State
Director's decision to the BLM Director. In reviewing these appeals,
the regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e) state that ``[t]he Director shall
accept the (consistency) recommendations of the Governor(s) if he/she
determines they provide for a reasonable balance between the state's
interest and the national interest.'' On November 6, 2024, the BLM
Director issued a response to the Governor detailing the reasons that
the recommendations did not meet this standard. Pursuant to 43 CFR
1610.3-2(e), the basis for the BLM's determination on the Governor's
appeal is presented below. The appeal response is being published
verbatim.
``I am in receipt of your letter dated September 18, 2024, which
contains the State of Montana's appeal to the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) Montana/Dakotas State Director's response to the Governor's
consistency review of the Miles City Field Office Proposed Resource
Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) and Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS). The Governor's consistency review is an
important part of the BLM land use planning process, and we appreciate
the significant time and attention that you and your staff have
committed to this effort.
The applicable regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e) provide you with
the opportunity to appeal the State Director's decision to not accept
the recommendations you made in your consistency review letter. These
regulations also guide my review of the appeal, in which I must
consider whether you have raised inconsistencies with State or local
plans, policies, and or programs. If inconsistencies are raised, I
consider whether your recommendations address the inconsistencies and
provide for a reasonable balance between the national interest and the
State of Montana's interest.
I have completed my review of your appeal and determined that the
recommendation you have provided does not meet this standard for the
reasons detailed in the following paragraphs.
In your appeal, you allege the three consistency issues below:
``Alternative D is inconsistent with Montana's
Constitutional Mandate to utilize State Trust Lands to fund schools and
other public institutions.''
``Alternative D is inconsistent with Montana's `All-Of-
The-Above' Energy Strategy, and the SEIS fails to consider critical
local energy plan.''
``Alternative D conflicts with Montana's Coal Revenue
Trust Fund Policy.''
It is your recommendation that `the BLM withdraw the Miles City
Field Office RMPA/SEIS and work collaboratively with the State to form
alternatives that honor State plans, policies, and programs.'
Upon review, I find that your recommendation does not present a
reasonable balance between the national and the State's interest. The
Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS is a land use level review specific to the
Miles City Field Office and is in response to the Federal district
court's order in Western Organization of Resource Councils, et al. v.
Bureau of Land Management, Civil Action No. CV-00076-GF-BMM (D. Mont.
2022). The BLM developed a range of alternatives to meet the purpose
and need of the Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS and the court's order, such as
to complete new coal screens in accordance with 43 CFR 3420.1-4;
provide additional land use planning level analysis that considers no-
leasing and limited coal leasing alternatives; and disclose the public
health impacts, both climate and non-climate, of burning fossil fuels
(coal, oil, and gas) from the planning area.
While there are State and Federal policies that may encourage coal
mining and facilitate the orderly development of coal resources, they
do not mandate that coal mining would be authorized wherever coal
reserves may be present. The Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS also only applies
to federally administered coal in the Miles City Field Office planning
area and does not make decisions on State lands or privately owned coal
resources. Similarly, the BLM's regulatory process does not apply to
State lands and does not preclude the State from making management
decisions for State trust lands, nor preclude the State's authority to
manage[ ], permit, and bill other uses of State lands accordingly to
meet the State's fiduciary responsibility.
Additionally, under Alternative D, the State's mineral estate was
determined to not have development potential or not expected to be
leased or mined within the life of the plan. This is due to: (1) no new
mines projected, (2) the Rosebud Mine having sufficient coal reserves
from existing leases, and (3) the Spring Creek Mine projecting needs
from pending Federal leases and subsequent 1,300 acres of Federal coal
leases. The BLM also carefully considered current and future coal
demand with national and international trends as they relate to coal
development in the Miles City planning area. The BLM recognizes a
potential future decrease, but that is expected as the national coal
market is in decline and trending to continue that decline throughout
the life of the plan.
Finally, the BLM has prepared the Miles City Proposed RMPA/Final
SEIS in accordance with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and
policies. The BLM did carefully review and consider applicable State,
local, and other Federal agency plans, policies, and programs in the
development of the Miles City Proposed RMPA/Final SEIS. The BLM is
consistent, to the extent practicable, with these plans as per the
provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the
planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610-3-2.''
(Authority: 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e))
Nada Wolff Culver,
Principal Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-31413 Filed 12-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-20-P
