Bureau of Land Management February 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Office of the Secretary is issuing public notice of our intent to amend the existing Privacy Act system of records entitled, LLM-2 ``Range Management System.'' The system notice is published in its entirety below. Editorial changes have been made to ``Categories of individuals covered by the system'' and ``Categories of Records in the System'' to clarify who is covered and the type of information in the system. Under ``Routine Uses,'' there are changes in the provisions for ``Disclosures outside the Department of the Interior.'' Changes are also made to the ``Record access procedures'' and ``Retention and disposal'' under ``Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system.'' The Department of the Interior is issuing public notice of its intent to amend portions of an existing Privacy Act system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of amendment of an existing records system maintained by the agency (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (U.S. Forest Service), has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 720 acres of land for the Spencer Glacier Recreation and Mineral Material Site, a part of the Chugach National Forest reservation in Alaska. This notice segregates the land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for 2 years, while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. The land will remain open to all other uses which can by law be made of National Forest lands, including disposition of materials under the Act of July 31, 1947, as amended.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States, Springfield, Virginia, 30 calender 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 March 8, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Office located at One North Central Avenue, 8th floor. It will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. The morning agenda items to be covered include: Review of the December 7, 2006, Meeting Minutes, BLM State Director's Update on Statewide Issues; Presentations on the Rails to Trails Project and the Arizona Strip Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring Program; RAC Questions on written reports from BLM Field Managers; Field Office Rangeland Resource Team Proposals; and, Reports by the Standards and Guidelines, Recreation, Off-Highway Vehicle Use, Land Use Planning and Tenure, and Wild Horse and Burro Working Groups. A public comment period will be provided at 11:30 a.m. on March 8, 2007, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council on BLM programs and business. Under the Federal Recreation Enhancement Act, the BLM Arizona RAC has been designated the Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RRAC), and has the authority to review all BLM and Forest Service (FS) recreation fee proposals in Arizona. The afternoon meeting agenda on March 8 will be devoted to presenting the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) Working Group Report, and reviewing one FS, and three BLM fee proposals in Arizona: (1) Sycamore Cabin (Prescott National Forest) Less than a 20-minute drive from Phoenix, Flagstaff and Prescott, this historic Prescott National Ranger house is currently available for nightly rental. The fee proposal will consider an increase from $100 to $125 per night (excluding $9 reservation fee). An additional $25 per night will be charged if a Recreational Vehicle is brought to the site. (2) Coyote Buttes Special Management Area (BLM Arizona Strip District) Just south of the Utah-Arizona border, with access located midway between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah on U.S. Highway 89. Visitors may hike in scenic Coyote Buttes by obtaining an online permit on a first-come, first-served basis. The existing permit fee is $5 per person, per day. The fee proposal will consider the inclusion of an online lottery for hiking permits and a $5 per application lottery fee. (3) Amenity Fee Site Proposals, Annual Recreation Pass, and Long- Term Visitor Areas (BLM Yuma Field Office). Changes to the recreation fee schedules are proposed, including an increase from $140 to $180 for a 7-month permit, and from $30 to $40 for a 14-day permit at the Field Office's two Long-Term Visitor Areas. In addition, BLM also maintains seven other developed recreation fee sites, six of which are located on the lower Colorado River. The annual pass honored at all seven of these recreation sites is proposed to increase from $50 to $75. At the six Colorado River recreation sites, BLM is proposing to establish a $10 day-use fee and a $15 overnight fee. At the seventh site, the Ehrenberg Sandbowl Off-Highway Vehicle Area, BLM is proposing to establish a $5 day-use fee and a $10 overnight fee. (4) Amenity Fee Site Proposals and Annual Recreation Pass (BLM Lake Havasu Field Office). The Annual Recreation Pass fee is proposed to increase from $50 to $100 per year, the first increase since the program began in 2002. The Annual Pass is used in lieu of paying daily permit fees (typically $4 to $20 each) for an unlimited number of overnight and day-use visits at Lake Havasu shoreline campsites and Parker Strip recreation sites. An increase in Daily Permit Fees is also proposed for the Parker Strip, from $3 to $4 to $5 for day use, and from $4 to $10 to $5 to $10 for overnight. In addition, fees proposed for the Empire Landing Campground (upon its reopening in 2008) would be $25 to $30 per day. Following the FS and BLM proposals, the RRAC will open the meeting to public comments on the fee proposals. After completing their RRAC business, the BLM RAC will reconvene to provide recommendations to the RAC Designated Federal Official on the fee proposals and discuss future RAC meetings and locations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6650 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 6650 withdrew 20 acres of public lands from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, including the mining laws, to protect the Sugarloaf Petroglyphs and Pine Spring Archeological Sites in Sweetwater County. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

Reversionary interest held by the United States in 3.9 acres of land located in Eagle River, Alaska, has been determined to be suitable for direct sale to the Corporation of Saint Andrew's Parish of the Archdiocese of Anchorage under the authority of Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (90 Stat. 2750, 43 U.S.C. 1713) at not less than fair market value of $850,000.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) examined and found suitable for classification for lease and subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, approximately 15 acres of public land in Clark County, Nevada. The Legacy Vineyard Church proposes to use the land for a church and related facilities.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Pinedale Draft Resource Management Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS).

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) that have member terms expiring this year. The RACs provide advice and recommendations to BLM on land use planning and management of the public lands within their geographic areas. The BLM will consider public nominations for 45 days after the publication date of this notice.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arcata Field Office will establish temporary restrictions pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR 8341.2 and 8364.1, to implement interim management guidelines for certain BLM-administered public lands hereafter referred to as ``Lost Coast Headlands,'' located in Township 2 North, Range 3 West, portions of Sections 13 and 24, Humboldt County, California. Lost Coast Headlands consists of approximately 400 acres and is located along the coastal bluffs approximately 6 miles southwest of Ferndale, CA. These restrictions are needed on a temporary basis until a Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment, which will be initiated in 2007, is completed for the area. The area is now open to dispersed recreation with an emphasis on accommodating pedestrian and equestrian access to the coastline. The temporary restrictions are as follows: The area will be open to day use, from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; overnight camping, campfires, firearms use, and archery use will not be allowed; and motorized vehicle use off maintained roads and parking areas will not be allowed. Employees, agents, and permitees of the BLM may be exempt from these restrictions for administrative and emergency purposes only. Penalties include a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, and violators may be subject to the enhanced penalties under 18 U.S.C. 3571 and 18 U.S.C. 3581. These restrictions are necessary to (1) Protect aquatic and terrestrial species from the effects of unregulated impacts, (2) ensure public safety, (3) reduce the potential for wildfires in this wildland urban interface, and (4) minimize inadvertent trespass onto adjoining private property. They will remain in effect until the RMP Amendment, with full public participation, is completed.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lander Field Office, Wyoming intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan revision with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (RMP\EIS) for the Lander Field Office planning area and by this notice is announcing public scoping meetings. The RMP will replace the existing Lander RMP.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Doyon, Limited. The lands are in the vicinity of Galena, Alaska, and are located in:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Little Snake Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

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 Montana Oil Properties for competitive oil and gas lease WYW149994 for land in Sheridan 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 Contex Energy Company for non- competitive oil and gas lease WYW154346 for land in Carbon 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.

On behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6676 for an additional 20-year period. This order withdrew approximately 600 acres of National Forest System land from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws, including the United States mining laws, to protect the Cape Fanshaw Natural Area. This notice gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

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) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting as indicated below.

In accordance with Title IV of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (Pub.L. 97-451), Whiting Petroleum Corporation timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease UTU79796 for lands in San Juan County, Utah, and it was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from October 1, 2006, the date of termination.

By Order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Supplement to the Statewide Oil and Gas Final Environmental Impact Statement and will amend the Powder River and Billings RMPs (Draft SEIS/Amendment).

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested State and local government officials of the filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada.