Bureau of Land Management May 2007 – 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 The Port Graham Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Port Graham, Alaska, and are located in:

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 Gana-a'Yoo, Limited, Successor in Interest to Notaaghleedin, Limited. The lands are in the vicinity of Galena, Alaska, and are located in:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend the Las Vegas Resource Management Plan (RMP) to allow for the relocation of a section of a BLM utility corridor, and to prepare an environmental assessment (EA), pursuant to Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to analyze the effects of that action. The BLM proposes to relocate an 11.4-mile length of the half-mile wide BLM Utility Corridor that currently extends across the southern portion of Indian Springs in Clark County, NV. The Corridor as designated overlaps private lands. The amendment would relocate the Corridor further south behind Grandpa Mountain to avoid the private lands.

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, New Mexico Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vernal and Price Field Offices, Utah, are preparing Supplemental Draft Resource Management Plans/Environmental Impact Statements (Draft RMP/EIS) to include additional information and analyses of wilderness characteristics on lands outside existing Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs). This information and analysis includes multiple areas in both the Vernal and Price Field Office planning areas.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States, Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease or conveyance to the City of Rock Springs under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended, 7.8 acres of public land in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The City of Rock Springs proposes to use the land for a Senior Citizens Center.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), proposes to amend its regulations at 43 CFR part 3130 pertaining to oil and gas resources in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The proposed rule would make oil and gas administrative procedures in NPR-A consistent with Section 347 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The proposed rule would amend the administrative procedures for the efficient transfer, consolidation, segregation, suspension, and unitization of Federal leases in the NPR-A. The rule would also make changes to the way the BLM processes lease renewals, lease extensions, lease expirations, lease agreements, exploration incentives, lease consolidations, and termination of administration for conveyed lands in the NPR-A. Finally, the rule would make the NPR-A regulation on additional bonding consistent with the regulations that apply outside of the NPR-A.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to file the plats of survey of the lands described below thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

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 Kennedy Oil for competitive oil and gas lease WYW138450 for land in Johnson 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.

This order transfers administrative jurisdiction over 15,228.05 acres of public lands from the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service for the expansion of the Petrified Forest National Park.

In accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 43 CFR part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Butte Field Office will be directing the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by a third-party contractor on the potential impacts of a proposed Plan of Operations for a proposed expansion of limestone mining operations by Graymont Western U.S., Inc.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for conveyance under the provisions of the R&PP Act, as amended, (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), the following parcel of public lands located in the Bridger Valley area, in Uinta County, Wyoming. The land has been leased under the R&PP Act to Uinta County for use as a sanitary landfill since 1977. The lands are described as follows:

The purpose of this notice is to solicit public nominations for vacant positions on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The RAC provides advice and recommendations to BLM on land use planning and management of the public lands within New Mexico. Public nominations will be considered until June 18, 2007.

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, Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet on June 8, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Training Center located at 9828 North 31st Avenue in Phoenix from 8 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Morning agenda items include: Review of the March 8, 2007, Meeting Minutes for RAC and RRAC business; BLM State Director's Update on Statewide Issues; Presentations on Proposed Tri-State Shooting Range and Arizona Water Rights; RAC Questions on BLM Field Managers Rangeland Resource Team Proposals; and, Reports by RAC Working Groups. A public comment period will be provided at 11:30 a.m. on June 8, 2007, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council on BLM programs and business. Under the Federal Recreation Enhancement Act, the 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 June 8, will include discussion and review of the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) Working Group Report, updated 4th Quarter Schedule of Fiscal Year 2007 BLM and FS recreation fee proposals, and two FS fee proposals in Arizona: (1) Alto Pit OHV Use Area (Prescott National Forest): Ten minutes from downtown Prescott, and 2 hours from Phoenix and Flagstaff, this fee proposal would add a campground fee at a rate of $10 per night per campsite for single sites and $20 per night for a double site. Improvements include 10 single family sites and one double family site, three toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, loading and unloading area, 9 miles of internal designated trail system, additional external connection trails, 20 acres of designated cross county area, children's OHV play area, and year-round on site host. (2) Haigler Canyon Campground and Day Use Area (Tonto National Forest): Proposed $6 per vehicle fee for overnight camping and day-use at Haigler Canyon Recreation Site near Young, Arizona. Major improvements will increase facilities and services available to the public. Fee revenues will be used for the continued operation and maintenance. A quality, water-based recreational experience will be provided for day-users, campers, hikers, and anglers. The site will include developed campsites and day-use areas plus space for campground hosts. Fourteen campsites will be provided with a picnic table, fire ring with cooking surface, and a tent pad. Campsites will offer hardened sites for tent trailers and tents. Walk-in campsites will be part of developed campsites. Day-use facilities will provide parking for 10-15 vehicles, picnic tables, and barbecue grills. 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) is scheduled to file the plat of survey of the lands described below thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 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.

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 MTNT, Ltd., Successor in Interest to Chamai, Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of McGrath, Alaska, and are located in:

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) Coeur d'Alene District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) subcommittee will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to the provisions of 43 CFR 3108.2-3(b)(2), Energy Equities, Inc. timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease TXNM 115039 for lands in Shelby County, Texas, and was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from December 1, 2006, the date of termination.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease and subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, (43 U.S.C. 869, et seq.) as amended, approximately 34.38 acres of public land in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico. The City of Las Cruces (City) proposes to use the land as a community park and related facilities.

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, (30) days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are to designate which roads or trails on federal lands administered by the BLM and the Forest Service within the Gunnison Field Office area and the Gunnison National Forest are open to motorized and/or mechanized travel. In so doing, both agencies will meet commitments set forth in the 2001 Gunnison Interim Travel Management Plan to further evaluate and analyze motorized travel needs on a route-by-route basis and comply with requirements of the Forest Service 2005 Travel Management Rule (36 CFR part 212) as well as policies for Public Lands found in the BLM Land Use Planning Handbook (H-1601-1). As a result of these travel management decisions, the Forest Service will produce a Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) depicting those routes on the Gunnison National Forest and the Gunnison Field Office Public lands that will remain open to motorized and/or mechanized travel. The MVUM will be the primary tool used to determine compliance and enforcement with motorized and mechanized vehicle use designations on the ground. Those existing routes and other user-created routes not designated open on the MVUM will be legally closed to motorized and mechanized travel. The decisions on motorized and mechanized travel do not include over-snow travel or existing winter- use recreation. Background Information: The Gunnison Interim Travel Management Plan (2001), as an interim plan, was intended to be replaced by a more definitive and comprehensive designated system of routes to be maintained and remain open for motorized travel. The Gunnison Interim Travel Plan did not address whether specific routes were needed or were not needed to provide a manageable and sustainable transportation system on the Gunnison National Forest and Gunnison Field Office Public Lands. Nor did it fully evaluate the desired use by vehicle type or season of use on a route-by-route basis. The 2001 travel plan was implemented as an interim measure intended to halt the proliferation of user-created routes and attempt to restrict motorized travel to the then existing roads and trails. The 2001 travel plan needs to be amended, changed or superseded. In addition to the 2001 commitment by both agencies to complete further travel management planning, the Forest Service 2005 Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 212) requires each National Forest unit to complete travel management planning that will include the designation of routes open to motorized travel culminating with the completion and publication of a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). The Chief of the Forest Service has set a 4-year target to complete these initial motorized use designations that will define the MVUM. It is understood that the BLM will also include their route-by- route designations for motorized and mechanized travel on roads and trails traversing public lands in the Gunnison Field Office area on the Forest Service MVUM. National Forest System (NFS) lands are lands managed by the Forest Service. Public lands are lands managed by BLM. Both National Forest System lands and public lands in the Gunnison Basin will be addressed in this effort. Proposed Action: The proposed action is to designate selected roads and trails open to motorized and/or mechanized travel (wheeled vehicles only) on the Gunnison National Forest (NFS lands) and Gunnison Area public lands (BLM). Where it is appropriate and necessary, the designations will also set specific seasons (i.e., yearlong, summer, fall-summer-spring) of use and type of use (e.g., full-sized vehicles, ATV's, motorcycles, or mountain bikes) for those routes. The Forest Service will produce a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) depicting those routes which are open to the general public for motorized and/or mechanized travel. Possible Alternatives: Alternatives to the proposed action will be considered and evaluated. The No Action alternative would be to adopt the September 1, 2000 map of existing roads and trails as those routes open to motorized and mechanized travel. Alternatives to the Proposed Action and No Action will depict differing combinations of routes to remain open to motorized and/or mechanized travel. The Proposed Action and the alternative actions will provide a system of routes that differ from existing conditions and the No Action alternative. Less restrictive alternatives would generally entail designating a greater number of miles of road or trail to be open for motorized and mechanized travel than the Proposed Action. Alternatives considered to be less restrictive could also include fewer constraints on season of use or vehicle types allowed on designated routes. The less restrictive alternative would generally provide for more motorized and mechanized recreational use opportunities. More restrictive alternatives would generally entail designating fewer miles of road or trail to be open for motorized and mechanized travel than the Proposed Action or have more constraints on season of use and vehicle types using designated routes. The more restrictive alternative(s) would provide motorized and mechanized recreational opportunities yet there may be a greater emphasis on non-motorized recreational opportunities. A consequence of designating routes open for motorized and/or mechanized travel is that those existing routes not designated as open would be identified as closed to motorized and/or mechanized travel. Road closure procedures that involve ground disturbing activities would not be a part of the Proposed Action or alternatives and would generally require separate and distinct site-specific NEPA decisions regarding the implementation aspects of road closures. The environmental consequences of having routes closed to motorized and/or mechanized travel will be evaluated in this environmental assessment. Identification of new routes that would meet the goals and objectives for a motorized and/or mechanized transportation system on both Public lands and NFS lands will be, as appropriate, a part of this travel management planning, but would require separate, site-specific NEPA decisions to implement ground disturbing activities associated with new route construction. Lead Agencies: The Forest Service and the BLM are joint lead agencies (CEQ Sec. 1506.2). USDA, Forest Service, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest. USDI, Bureau of Land Management, Gunnison Field Office. Responsible Officials: The Responsible Official for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest is Charles Richmond, Forest Supervisor, GMUG National Forest, 2250 Highway 50, Delta, CO 81401. The Responsible Official for the BLM Gunnison Field Office is Kenny McDaniel, Manager, Gunnison Field Office, 216 North Colorado, Gunnison, CO 81230. Nature of Decisions To Be Made: Based on the purpose and need for the proposed action, the Forest Supervisor and the Field Office Manager will evaluate the Proposed Action and other alternatives in order to make the following decisions for the specific federal lands they have authority over: Those roads or trails that will be designated as open to the public for motorized and/or mechanized travel; and, The allowed season and/or type of use for those routes open to motorized and/or mechanized travel. Federal land managers are directed (Executive Order 11644, 36 CFR 212, and 43 CFR 8342.1) to ensure that the use of motorized vehicles and off-road vehicles will be controlled and directed so as to protect the resources of those lands, to promote the safety of users, minimize conflicts among the various uses of the federal lands, and to provide for public use of roads and trails designated as open. Permits or Licenses Required: No other permits or licenses are required to be obtained by either the Forest Service or the BLM to make decisions regarding motorized and/or mechanized travel on federal lands managed by the two agencies. Scoping Process: Preliminary public involvement was initiated in the summer 2006 in an effort to educate the public and stakeholders on the objectives of travel management. The public was also asked to provide input to the Forest Service and BLM on routes they wanted to remain open and/or those routes that may be in conflict with other desired conditions sought by the public on Forest and BLM lands. This initial comment period ended in October 2006 with the agencies receiving numerous comments on individual routes, a few general comments and some area-wide comments on travel. There were over 800 route specific comments, many of which addressed the same route(s). This initial public input will help the Forest Service and BLM to develop a preliminary route-by-route proposed action that will be utilized in a more formal scoping process. The Forest Service and the BLM will jointly conduct the following public meetings to solicit for comments and concerns from the public and interested parties on motorized and/or mechanized travel on National Forest System (NFS) lands and Public Lands: