Bureau of Land Management May 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 3425.4, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah State Office, hereby gives notice that Environmental Assessments (EA) and Documentation of NEPA Adequacy (DNA) are available and a public hearing will be held to lease Federal coal. The EA/DNA analyzes and discloses direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of issuing a Federal coal lease competitively for 213.57 acres in Emery County, Utah. The purpose of the public hearing is to solicit comments from the public on (1) the proposal to issue a Federal coal lease; (2) the proposed competitive lease sale; (3) the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the Federal coal; and (4) Maximum Economic Recovery (MER) of the Federal coal included in the tract.

Pursuant to section 2(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 1083, 30 U.S.C. 201 (b), and to the regulations adopted as 43 CFR part 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to participate with Cordero Mining Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in the following-described lands in Campbell County, WY:

Two applications have been filed by Robert P. Brown, Attorney at Law on behalf of Dale L. Becker and Evelyn M. Becker (personal representative of the estate of Donald S. Becker, deceased), for recordable disclaimers of interest in certain lands by the United States.

This notice is published in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Meeting notice is hereby given for the Eugene District BLM Resource Advisory Committee pursuant to section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000. Topics to be discussed by the Eugene BLM District Resource Advisory Committee include selection of a chairperson, public forum and proposed projects for funding in Fiscal Year 2007.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Hot Springs Resources Ltd. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW148949 for land in Natrona County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Pennaco Energy Inc. for noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW143159 for land in Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

This notice terminates a non-suitable Desert Land Entry classification on 3.09 acres, so the land can be patented under sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Office, Taos, New Mexico, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan Revision with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Taos Field Office and by this notice is announcing public scoping meetings. The RMPR will revise the existing Taos Resource Management Plan.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell public lands within the City of North Las Vegas in Clark County, Nevada. These lands, consisting of 20.42 acres more or less (10.42 acres considered developable) have been authorized for disposal under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2343), as amended by the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002 (116 Stat. 1994) (hereinafter ``SNPLMA''). The land will be offered for sale utilizing modified competitive bidding procedures in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1719), respectively, its implementing regulations, and in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.3-2, and BLM land sale and mineral conveyance regulations at 43 CFR Parts 2710 and 2720.

The newly appointed McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA) Advisory Council will hold its first meeting on June 22, 2006. The meeting will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will be held at the Mesa County Administration Building; 544 Rood Avenue, Grand Junction, CO. Additional meetings for 2006 will be determined at the June 22nd meeting and published in the Federal Register.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Eastern Washington Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell a 1.556 acre triangular parcel of public land in the northwest portion of the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, to the owner of lands adjoining two sides of the parcel. The third side is bounded by a street right-of-way. The adjoining private owner has requested that the parcel be sold to him by direct sale at not less than the appraised market value of the land.

In accordance with the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act of 2000 (43 U.S.C. 2303) (FLTFA), this notice provides the public the opportunity to nominate inholding properties within the States of Oregon and Washington for possible acquisition by the Federal agencies identified below.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

The State of Alaska has filed applications for recordable disclaimers of interest in certain lands underlying Chilkat Lake, Chilkat River, Tsirku River, and Klehini River in Southeast Alaska by the United States.

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (the Act) (Pub. L. 102-486) requires that the Secretary of the Interior administer a Federal program to regulate coalbed methane development in states where coalbed methane development has been impeded by disputes or uncertainty over ownership of coalbed methane gas. As required by the Act, the Department of the Interior, with the participation of the Department of Energy, developed a List of Affected States to which this program would apply (58 FR 21589, April 22, 1993). Section 1339 of the Act provides three mechanisms by which a state may be removed from the List of Affected States. The List of Affected States is currently comprised of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. Section 387 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) provided a three-year period for state action to seek removal from the List of Affected States, including action taken prior to enactment of that Act (August 8, 2005). In 2004, the Kentucky General Assembly passed and the Governor signed a coalbed methane law, codified as Chapter 349 of Kentucky Revised Statutes. The law created a state authority and procedures to facilitate coalbed methane development. It further explicitly sought, in subsection 349.005(4)(e), deletion of Kentucky from the List of Affected States. We find that this Kentucky statute fulfills two of the Act's Section 1339 removal standards: (a) A law requesting removal and (b) a law permitting and encouraging the development of coalbed methane. Therefore, the State of Kentucky is officially removed from the List of Affected States.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to extend on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6631 for an additional 20 year period. PLO No. 6631 withdrew 24.65 acres of public land in Okanogon County, Washington, from settlement, sale, location or entry under the general land laws, including the United States mining laws, to protect the natural and recreational values, and the investment in Federal funds at the Split Rock Recreation Area. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Montana State Office, Billings, Montana, thirty (30) days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

This notice announces a meeting of the Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The business meeting will be held on June 8, 2006, in Elgin, Arizona, at the National Audubon Society Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch located at 366 Research Ranch Road (approximately 55 miles from Tucson east on I-10 and south on State Route 83S past Sonoita, AZ). It will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. The agenda items to be covered include: Review of the March 2, 2006 Meeting Minutes; BLM State Director's Update on Statewide Issues; Presentations on BLM's Invasive Weeds Program and the San Juan Bautista De Anza TrailArizona segment, Updates on the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee and Arizona Land Use Planning; RAC Questions on Written Reports from BLM Field Managers; Field Office Rangeland Resource Team Proposals; Reports by the Standards and Guidelines, Recreation, Off-Highway Vehicle Use, Public Relations, Land Use Planning and Tenure, and Wild Horse and Burro Working Groups; Reports from RAC members; and Discussion of future meetings. A public comment period will be provided at 11:30 a.m. on June 8, 2006, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (1972), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG) was planned to meet in Pinedale, Wyoming, for a business meeting. Due to lack of PAWG member availability, this meeting has been cancelled.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease NMNM 105214 from the lessee, CHI Energy, Inc., for lands in Eddy County, New Mexico. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) NLCS survey will provide us with social science input to support planning for facilities, programs, services, and interpretive exhibits. The BLM anticipates that the information we collect could lead to revisions in processes, policies, and improvement in serving the American public. The study will use the surveys to: (1) Better understand the needs and desires of the public; and (2) respond to those needs and desires accordingly.

This order partially revokes a Public Land Order insofar as it affects 200 acres of National Forest System lands withdrawn for the Clear Creek Recreation Area.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Twin Hills Native Corporation, for lands in the vicinity of Twin Hills, Alaska, and located in: