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

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 Delta Petroleum Corporation for competitive oil and gas leases WAOR61140 and WAOR61142, for lands in Benton County, Washington. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the leases terminated under the law.

In Federal Register [73 FR 50342] on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, make the following correction. Under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION heading, the legal description should read:

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 Kuskokwim Corporation, Successor in Interest to Lower Kalskag Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of Lower Kalskag, 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 an Additional Air Quality Impact Assessment to Support the Draft Resource Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) for the Little Snake Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) proposes that 9 withdrawals for the Provo River Project be continued for 20 years. The lands are still needed for the purpose for which they were withdrawn. The lands would remain withdrawn as specified in the orders.

The plats of survey of the following described land will be officially filed in the Colorado State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Lakewood, Colorado, effective 10 a.m., September 30, 2008. All inquiries should be sent to the Colorado State Office (CO-956), Bureau of Land Management, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093. The supplemental plat of section 24, in Township 15 South, Range 70 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado was accepted on April 17, 2008. The plat, in duplicate, of the entire record, of the dependent resurvey, in Township 6 North, Range 93 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on June 19, 2008. The supplemental plat in sections 23, 24, 26, 27 of Township 13 South, Range 82 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on June 25, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and surveys in Township 35 North, Ranges 11 and 12 West, of the New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on August 26, 2008. The plat (in seven sheets) and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and the resurvey of certain mineral surveys in section 19, Township 1 North, Range 71 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 9, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and section subdivision in Township 43 North, Range 10 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, and the plat (in 3 sheets) and field notes, in duplicate of the dependent resurvey of a portion of the north and west boundaries of the Luis Maria Baca Land Grant No. 4, a portion of the south boundary of Township 43 North, Range 11 East, and the metes-and-bounds survey of the north, east, and a portion of the west boundary of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge within the Luis Maria Baca Land Grant No. 4, in the state of Colorado were accepted on September 12, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and survey, in section 33, Township 22 South, Range 69 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 16, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey of a portion of the west boundary and subdivisional lines and the subdivision of section 7, in Township 21 South, Range 71 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 17, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and surveys in Township 50 North, Range 9 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 22, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and section subdivision of sections 14, 23 and 26, Township 45 North, Range 6 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 23, 2008.

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. Contact Information: Bureau of Land Management, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153. Attn: Cadastral Survey.

Gunnison Aggregate Resources has submitted a proposal for a land use authorization to operate an asphalt batch plant and other materials processing and temporary storage pursuant to Section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and regulations at Title 43 CFR 2920. The land consists of approximately 1.25 acres of public lands approximately 5 miles southwest of Gunnison in Gunnison County, Colorado, within a portion of the SW\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\ of Section 17, T.49N., R.1W., New Mexico Principal Meridian. The land is within a 50-acre parcel of public land designated as the McCabe Lane community gravel pit. The proponent is a permit holder authorized to extract gravel from the McCabe Lane pit.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend its regulations to remove the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) as one of the authorities of our Recreation regulations, in accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (REA). The rule will also amend and reorder the prohibitions to separate those that apply specifically to campgrounds and picnic areas from those with more general applications. The reordering is necessary to broaden the scope to include all areas where standard amenity, expanded amenity, and special recreation permit fees are charged under REA. The proposed rule would remove an unnecessary provision that has been interpreted to require the BLM to publish supplementary rules concerning failure to pay fees established by the recreation regulations, thus relieving the BLM from publishing such separate specific supplementary rules for each area. Finally, it will make technical changes to maintain consistency with other BLM regulations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has received a request for lease and subsequent conveyance of approximately 19.375 acres of public land in the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) proposes to use the land for a public Park and Ride bus facility.

In accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (FLREA) (Pub. L. 108-447), the Recreation Subcommittee of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Nevada Resource Advisory Committees will hold a meeting to discuss fee proposals to increase fees at campgrounds managed by the Forest Service in the Ely area, increase fees at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and to initiate a meeting room reservation fee at the California National Historic Trail Interpretive Center managed by the BLM Nevada Elko District Office.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Needles Field Office intends to prepare an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan with an associated environmental assessment (EA). This notice initiates the public participation and scoping processes for the CDCA Plan amendment and environmental assessment.

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., Successor in Interest to Napaaktukmeut Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Noatak, Alaska, and are located in:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/Final EIS) for the Butte Field Office, Montana.

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.), a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been prepared for the Montana Tunnels Mine ``M'' Pit Mine Expansion. The mine permit is administered by the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) Butte Field Office and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Operations on public lands in the permit area are on mining claims located in accordance with the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.).

The Bureau of Land Management's California Desert District is soliciting nominations from the public for five members of its District Advisory Council to serve the 2009-2011 three-year term. Council members provide advice and recommendations to BLM on the management of public lands in southern California. Public notice begins with the publication date of this notice. Nominations will be accepted through Saturday, October 30, 2008. The three-year term would begin January 1, 2009. The five positions to be filled include:

As required by 43 CFR 2310.3-1, notice is hereby given that on the behalf of the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to extend Public Land Order No. 6776 for a 20-year period. This order withdrew approximately 8,950 acres of National Forest System land from surface entry and mining to protect the natural, scenic, and recreational values, and the investment in federal funds in the North Cascades Scenic Highway Zone. The withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6776 will expire on April 17, 2010, unless extended. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District Office, Carson City, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Sierra Pacific Power Company's Blackhawk to Heybourne Transmission Line Project which will run through Storey, Lyon, Carson City and Douglas counties. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process and solicits input on the identification of issues.

This final rule amends the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mineral resources regulations to update some fees that cover the BLM's cost of processing certain documents relating to its mineral programs and some filing fees for mineral-related documents. These updates include fees for actions such as lease applications, name changes, corporate mergers, and lease consolidations.

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 persons who seek to acquire the Federally-owned (reserved) mineral interests underlying their surface estate. BLM collects this information to verify that the applicant is the surface owner that overlies the Federally- owned mineral rights and that statutory requirements for their conveyance are met. The regulations under 43 CFR Part 2720 authorize BLM to collect information (no specific form is required) to convey Federally-owned mineral interests to surface owners if certain conditions are met.

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 Department of Energy (DOE) has filed an application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 936 acres of land from the United States mining and mineral leasing laws and transfer jurisdiction to the DOE. The land would be used for ancillary facilities at the DOE's Crescent Junction Uranium Mill Tailings Repository in connection with moving the Moab Mill Site uranium mill tailings to the Repository. Except for existing claims, rights, and interests, including oil and gas leases that would be retained by the Secretary of the Interior, full management, jurisdiction, authority, responsibility, and liability for all activities conducted on the land would be vested in the DOE.

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) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Pinedale Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Project located in Sublette County, Wyoming. C. Stephen Allred, Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior signed the ROD on September 12, 2008, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the decisions effective immediately.

Under the Class II provisions of Title IV, Public Law 97-451, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease TXNM 118213 from the lessee, Woodward Development LLC, for lands in Houston County, Texas. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.