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

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 Hee-yea-lingde Corporation. The lands are located in the vicinity of Grayling, Alaska, within the following townships:

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Advisory Board will meet September 19, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (PDT) at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 22267 Highway 86, Baker City, OR 97914. Meeting topics will include a Center update, education and outreach, and other topics as may come before the board. The meeting is open to the public. Public comment is scheduled for 10 to 10:15 a.m.

The Bureau of Land Management has examined and found suitable for classification for lease/conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) 1.65 acres of public land in La Plata County, Colorado. The Upper Pine Fire Protection District proposes to use the land for a fire station along U.S. Highway 160, approximately six miles west of Bayfield, Colorado.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease or conveyance to the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) 9.4 acres of public land in Baker County, Oregon. The Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation proposes to use the land as part of the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area.

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 Azachorok Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of the Native village of Mountain Village, Alaska, and are located in: U.S. Survey No. 4055, Alaska.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests comments and suggestions to assist in the writing of a proposed rule to establish a commercial leasing program for oil shale. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) Complete a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for a commercial leasing program for oil shale and tar sands resources on public lands, with emphasis on the most geologically prospective lands within Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, and (2) Publish a final rule establishing such program, not later than 180 days after completion of the PEIS. On May 18, 2006, BLM published a final rule for the leasing of tar sands. As an aid in preparing the proposed rule to establish an oil shale commercial leasing system and regulate oil shale mining operations, we encourage members of the public to provide comments and suggestions on the following key components; royalty rate; fair market value for conversion of preference right acreage and for commercial leasing; diligence; royalty determination point; and small tract leasing. See Section III for a list of specific questions relating to these topics.

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) Front Range Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to section 2(b) the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 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 Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, (CFR), Subpart 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1 are hereby invited to participate with Ark Land Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in a program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in the following described lands in Garfield County, Colorado.

National Petroleum ReserveAlaska; Notice of Sale and Notice of Availability of the Detailed Statement of Sale for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 2006. The Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, will hold an oil and gas lease sale bid opening for the Northeast and Northwest Planning Areas of the National Petroleum ReserveAlaska. Tracts offered for competitive bid in the Northeast Planning Area cover land not previously offered for sale, as identified in the January 11, 2006, Record of Decision on the Amended Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement; land previously offered in Sale Numbers 991 (1999) and 2002, but for which no bid was received; and land from leases issued after the 2002 Sale that have been relinquished by lessees. All the tracts in the Northwest Planning Area cover land offered in the 2004 Sale but that did not receive any bid.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northeast California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana State Office, will offer coal reserves in the lands described below in Oliver County, North Dakota, hereinafter described as Federal coal lease application (LBA) NDM 95104 for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions for competitive lease sales in 43 CFR 22.2(a), and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).

The Bureau of Land Management published a notice in the Federal Register concerning the filing of a plat of survey. The notice contained an incorrect filing time period.

This notice is published in accordance with Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, Public Law 92-463. Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) has renewed the Bureau of Land Management's Steens Mountain Advisory Council. The purpose of the Council will be to advise the Secretary with respect to the preparation and implementation of the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area Management Plan.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 and other regulatory requirements, the Joint Lead Agencies announce the availability of the Northern San Juan Basin Coal Bed Methane Development Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for coal bed natural gas development in the northern portion of the San Juan Basin, in La Plata and Archuleta Counties, Colorado. The Joint Lead Agencies have prepared the FEIS to provide agency decision makers and the public with comprehensive environmental impact information on which to base coal bed natural gas project development decisions.

The Bureau of Land Management has received an application has been filed for the conveyance of the Federally owned mineral interest in the tract of land described below in this notice. Publication of this notice temporarily segregates the mineral interests in the public lands covered by the application from appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws while the application is being processed.

This notice is to inform the public that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to temporarily restrict all forms of motorized travel within 122.02 acres of public land. The public lands affected by this temporary restriction are located in lots 1, 18, and 19, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and Tract 38, section 6, Township 11 South, Range 22 East, San Bernardino Meridian, Imperial County, California. Employees of the BLM and any other local, state, and Federal wildlife management, law enforcement, and fire protection personnel, while operating within the scope of their official duties, are exempt from this restriction. Access by additional parties may be allowed, but must be approved in advance in writing by the BLM Yuma Field Manager. The BLM has issued this restriction by the authority provided in 43 Code of Federal Regulations 8341.2(a), 8364.1, and 9268.3, promulgated pursuant to the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of October 21, 1976, as amended (90 Stat. 2763; 43 United States Code 1732). The BLM is implementing this restriction to minimize damage to soil, watershed, vegetation, and cultural resources of the public lands. Violations of this restriction are punishable by a fine not to exceed $100,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months as authorized by Title 18, United States Code, Sections 3571 and 3581.

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), Eastern Montana Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) subpart 8364, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Hollister Field Office will seasonally restrict public access to certain BLM-administered public lands during the period of June 1, 2006 through October 15, 2006. This seasonal closure is needed to ensure visitor safety and protect public land users from potential health risks associated with naturally occurring asbestos found within the closure area. This seasonal closure affects public lands located within the 30,000-acre Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) situated within the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA). Public access within this area will only be allowed on county roads and the following route segments: R011 to Wright Mountain Gate, R016, T153 from the junction of R011 to San Carlos peak, and R02 to the junction of T107. Limited non-motorized use will be allowed adjacent to the routes identified above, or by written authorization from the Hollister Field Manager. Personnel of the BLM, California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and law enforcement, fire, and emergency personnel are exempt from this closure only when performing official duties. Operators of communication facilities may perform maintenance activities; livestock operators may perform permitted activities, and private in-holders may access their private property, as approved.

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 lands within the State of Colorado for possible acquisition by the Federal Government acting through the federal agencies identified below. Such lands must be (1) inholdings within a federally designated area or (2) lands that are adjacent to federally designated areas and contain exceptional resources.

The Federal Register Notice has an incorrect date for nominations to be submitted to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The corrected notice extends the date to September 5, 2006. The nominations should be submitted to the National Wild Horse and Burro Program, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, P.O. Box 12000, Reno, Nevada 89520-0006, Attn: Ramona DeLorme: fax (775) 861-6711.

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), Coastal Petroleum Company timely filed petitions for reinstatement of oil and gas leases MTM 93186 and MTM 93187, Valley County, Montana. The lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessee agrees to new lease terms for rentals and royalties of $5 per acre and 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate. The lessee paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of each lease and $163 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessee met the requirements for reinstatement of the leases per Sec. 31 (d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the leases, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the leases; The increased rental of $5 per acre for each lease; The increased royalty of 16 \2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate for each lease; and The $163 cost of publishing this Notice.

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.

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease. NDM 94462, Mountrail County, North Dakota. The lessee paid the required rental accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessee agrees to new lease terms for rental and royalty of $10 per acre and 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate. The lessee paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of the lease and $163 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessee met the requirements for reinstatement of the lease per Sec. 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the lease, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the lease; The increased rental of $10 per acre for the lease; The increased royalty 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentage above the existing competitive royalty rate for the lease; and The $163 cost of publishing this Notice.