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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell 51 parcels of public land in the Riverside County, California, aggregating approximately 274.37 acres. The sale will be conducted as a competitive sealed bid auction, in which interested bidders must submit written sealed bids equal to or greater than the appraised fair market value of the land. The sale will be completed under the authority of Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1719) and the implementing regulations at 43 CFR 2710 and 2720. The purpose of the sale is to dispose of lands which are difficult and uneconomic to manage as part of the public lands.

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, as amended, approximately 25 acres of public land in Clark County, Nevada. The City of Las Vegas proposes to use the land for a public park. This land disposal action has been coordinated with the unit of local government in whose jurisdiction such lands are located for Joint Selection purposes pursuant to Sec. 4 (d)(1) of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, Pub. L. 105-263, (112 Stat. 2345).

In the Public Land Order No. 7616, 69 FR 59951-59953, published October 6, 2004, as FR Doc. 04 22391, make the following corrections: On page 59951, in the Title, and in the Summary, ``7 Secretarial Orders'', should read ``5 Secretarial Orders''. In the Summary, ``17,789.94 acres'', and ``7,975.30 acres'', should read ``17,769.94 acres'', and ``7,955.30 acres'', respectively. In paragraph 2 of the Order, delete ``September 2, 1914, November 4, 1914,''. On page 59952, column 1, in T. 20 S., R. 46 E., delete ``Sec. 20, S\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/ 4\''. In column 3, ``7,975.30 acres'', should read ``7,955.30 acres''.

On March 7, 2007, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management jointly published a final rule (72 FR 10308). The dates heading on page 10308 incorrectly set out the effective date as April 6, 2007. The correct effective date of the final rule is May 7, 2007, consistent with the chart on page 10328.

This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office, Montrose, Colorado proposes to initiate a comprehensive planning effort that would amend the Uncompahgre Basin and San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to address travel management within the Field Office until a Resource Management Plan Revision can be completed.

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), Elko Field Office will be preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update the cumulative effects analysis for Newmont Mining Corporation's Leeville gold mine in Elko County, Nevada. The project was authorized in 2002.

This final rule revises existing Onshore Oil and Gas Order Number 1 which was published in the October 21, 1983, edition of the Federal Register. The Order provides the requirements necessary for the approval of all proposed oil and gas exploratory, development, or service wells on all Federal and Indian (other than those of the Osage Tribe) onshore oil and gas leases, including leases where the surface is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (FS). It also covers most approvals necessary for subsequent well operations, including abandonment. The revision is necessary due to provisions of the 1987 Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act (Reform Act), the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Act), legal opinions, court cases since the Order was issued, and other policy and procedural changes. The revised Order addresses the submittal of a complete Application for Permit to Drill or Reenter package (APD), including a Drilling Plan, Surface Use Plan of Operations, evidence of bond coverage and Operator Certification. The final rule ensures that the processing of APDs is consistent with the Act and clarifies the regulations and procedures that are to be used when operating in split estates, including those lands within Indian country. The final rule addresses using Master Development Plans (which address two or more APDs) to approve multiple well development proposals and encourages the voluntary use of Best Management Practices as a part of APD processing. Finally, the rule requires additional bonding on certain off-lease facilities and clarifies the BLM's authority to require this additional bond.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) subparts 1500- 1508, and 43 CFR subpart 3809, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Battle Mountain Field Office will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mount Hope Project, a proposed open pit molybdenum mine, mill, and associated facilities, located on public and private lands in Eureka County, Nevada.

Pursuant to 43 CFR 8364.1, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Upper Snake Field Office (USFO) will temporarily close parts of four sections of public lands to car and truck traffic. This closure will cut off of certain roads to target shooting. BLM is taking this action because of uncontrolled, open, illegal dumping by members of the public of unwanted and waste items. Any person who fails to comply with a closure or restriction order issued under this authority may be subject to the penalties provided in 43 CFR 8360.0-7. The closure is effective immediately upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kremmling and Glenwood Springs Field Office, Colorado intends to prepare Resource Management Plans (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Kremmling and Glenwood Springs planning areas and by this notice is announcing public scoping meetings. The Field Offices will simultaneously revise their respective RMPs for the BLM- administered public lands within each Field Office under one EIS. The RMPs will replace the existing Kremmling and Glenwood Springs RMPs.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/ Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the El Centro Field Office. The Draft RMP/EIS addresses public lands managed by the El Centro Field Office in the eastern portion of San Diego County, California, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending the supplementary rules published in 2003 (January 14, 203, 68 FR 1858) for the public lands within the State of Colorado. The supplementary rules relate to the illegal use of alcohol and drugs on the public lands. The amended supplementary rules are necessary to protect natural resources and the health and safety of public land users. These amended supplementary rules will allow BLM personnel to continue enforcement of existing public land regulations pertaining to alcohol and drug use in a manner consistent with current state laws as contained in the Colorado Revised Statutes.

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.