Bureau of Land Management November 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a call for nominations to serve on the North Slope Science Initiative, Science Technical Advisory Panel in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972, 5 U.S.C. Appendix.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Energy (DOE) as co-lead agencies, and the U.S. Forest Service (FS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of the Department of the Interior (DOI) as cooperating Federal Agencies (the Agencies) announce the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States (Final PEIS) (DOE/EIS-0386) that also proposes to amend 138 land use plans. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe, the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the State of Wyoming, and the Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties and conservation districts in Wyoming are also cooperating agencies. The Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are consulting agencies. The Agencies prepared the Final PEIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA regulations, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508; the DOE NEPA regulations, 10 CFR Part 1021; Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review Requirements, 10 CFR Part 1022; the BLM planning regulations, 43 CFR subpart 1610; and applicable FS planning regulations. Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Public Law 109-58, directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, and the Interior, in consultation with FERC, states, tribal or local units of governments, as appropriate; affected utility industries; and other interested persons to designate, under their respective authorities, corridors on Federal land in the 11 Western States for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines as well as electricity transmission and distribution facilities; perform any environmental reviews that may be required to complete the designation of such corridors; and incorporate the designated corridors into relevant agency land use and resource management plans or equivalent plans. The 11 Western States are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request (ICR) to extend a currently approved collection to collect the information listed below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). We use the information we collect to issue rights-of-way grants to use a specific piece of the public lands for certain projects, such as roads, pipelines, transmission lines, and communication sites. The BLM is seeking approval of the information collection on behalf of itself and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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 COC68148 from the following companies: (1) Delta Petroleum Corp., (2) Gasconade Oil Co., (3) Helm Energy, LLC, and (4) Riggs Oil and Gas Corp., for lands in San Miguel County, Colorado. 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 of oil and gas lease COC68150 from the following companies: (1) Delta Petroleum Corp., (2) Gasconade Oil Co., (3) Helm Energy, LLC, and (4) Riggs Oil and Gas Corp., for lands in San Miguel County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 40 acres of public land from surface entry and mining on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management to protect the Parting of the Ways Historic Site in Sweetwater County. This notice segregates the land for up to 2 years from surface entry and mining while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. The land will remain open to the mineral leasing laws.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from individuals submitting nominations for significant caves under the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 and to request confidential cave information. BLM needs the information to determine which caves we will list as significant and decide whether to grant access to confidential cave information.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from those person who wish to transfer interest in oil and gas or geothermal leases by assignment or record title or transfer operating rights (sublease) in oil and gas or geothermal leases under the terms of mineral leasing laws. The BLM uses Form 3000-3, Assignment of Record Title Interest in a Lease for Oil and Gas or Geothermal Resources, and Form 3000-3a, Transfer of Operating Rights (sublease) in a Lease for Oil and Gas or Geothermal Resources, to collect this information. This information allows the BLM to transfer interest in oil or gas or geothermal leases by assignment of record title or transfer operating rights (sublease) in oil or gas or geothermal leases under the regulations at 43 CFR subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216.

The BLM announces the availability of the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Record of Decision (ROD) for the Monticello Field Office located in Utah. The Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management signed the ROD on November 17, 2008, which constitutes the final decision of the Department of the Interior and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register [73 FR 60321] on October 10, 2008, that had incorrect information in the DATES section. The October 10, 2008, Notice of Availability incorrectly indicated that the BLM would receive written comments on the Additional Air Quality Impact Assessment within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published their Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The EPA was not required, nor did it intend to publish such a notice of availability. Therefore, the BLM is publishing this notice of correction to clarify that the BLM will receive written comments on the Additional Air Quality Impact Assessment within 45 days following the date that this notice of correction publishes in the Federal Register.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing regulations to set out the policies and procedures for the implementation of a commercial leasing program for the management of federally-owned oil shale and any associated minerals located on Federal lands. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EP Act) directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to: Make public lands available for conducting oil shale research and development activities; Complete a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for a commercial leasing program for both oil shale and tar sands resources on the BLM-administered lands in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; and Issue regulations establishing a commercial oil shale leasing program. These final regulations incorporate specific provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA) and the EP Act relating to: Oil shale lease size; Acreage limitations; Rental; and Lease diligence. These regulations also address the diligent development requirements of the EP Act by establishing work requirements and milestones to ensure diligent development of leases. The rule also provides for other standard components of a BLM mineral leasing program, including lease administration and operations.

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 NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. for lands located in the vicinity of Buckland and Noatak, Alaska. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Arctic Sounder.

The BLM announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved RMP for the Bay planning area, located in southwest Alaska. The State Director signed the ROD on November 4, 2008. This constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the approved RMP effective immediately.

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 COC70104 from Bill Barrett Corp., for lands in Montrose County, Colorado. 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 has examined and found suitable for direct sale under section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-579, as amended; 43 CFR 2711.3- 3), 4,519.35 sq. feet of public land located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

This is an amended notice for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) No. 20080416, Final EIS, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Oregon (OR), Western Oregon BLM Districts of Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Coos Bay, and Medford Districts, and the Klamath Falls Resource Area of the Lakeview District, Revision of the Resource Management Plans (RMP), Implementation, OR, which originally published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2008 [73 FR 61905]. This amended notice reflects a decision by the BLM to offer a protest period on the proposed revision of the Western Oregon RMPs. Any person who participated in the planning process and has an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the approval of the proposed RMPs may protest such approval. A protest period is not a comment period. A valid protest addresses only those issues which were submitted for the record during the planning process and contains a concise statement explaining why the decision to adopt the proposed plan would violate an applicable statute, regulation or BLM policy.

By Order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, dated April 5, 2005, and pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Supplement to the Montana Statewide Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Amendment (Proposed SEIS/Amendment) of the Powder River and Billings Resource Management Plans (RMPs).

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 Belkofski Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Belkofski, 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 Chinuruk Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of Nightmute, Alaska, and are located in:

The SEORAC will be briefed on BLM's wild horse and burro program, BLM's sagebrush habitat treatments and the current status of the Oregon Explorer grant. Council members will also provide orientation to new members, conduct chair elections, establish their 2009 annual work plan and meeting schedule, receive information from designated federal officials, give constituent updates, implement a subgroup establishment process, present active subgroup reports and identify agenda items for the next meeting. Any other matters that may reasonably come before the SEORAC may also be addressed. The public is welcome to attend all portions of the meeting and may contribute during the public comment period at 11:30 a.m. on November 14, 2008. Those who verbally address the SEORAC during the public comment period are asked to provide a written statement of their comments or presentation. Unless otherwise approved by the SEORAC chair, the public comment period will last no longer than 30 minutes, and each speaker may address the SEORAC for a maximum of five minutes. For Further Information Contact: Program information, meeting records and a roster of council members may be obtained from Scott Stoffel, public affairs specialist, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630, (541) 947-6237. The meeting agenda will be posted at https://www.blm.gov/or/rac/seorrac-minutes.php when available. Should you require reasonable accommodation, please contact the Lakeview District BLM at (541) 947-2177 as soon as possible.

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 NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. The lands are in the vicinity of Ambler, Alaska, and are located in:

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 COC70014 from Nobel Energy, Inc., for lands in Garfield County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.