Bureau of Land Management 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the West Coal Creek Coal Lease-by- Application (LBA) included in the South Gillette Area Coal Lease Applications Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing supplementary rules for all BLM-managed public lands within the approximate 119 miles of river corridor addressed in the Snake River Activity/Operations Plan Revision Environmental Assessment (hereafter referred to as the Snake River Plan), which was developed jointly by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and approved July 8, 2008. The Decision Record for the Snake River Plan identifies implementation level decisions which describe an array of management actions designed to conserve natural and cultural resources on lands managed by the BLM and the USFS while providing for recreational opportunities in the area. These supplementary rules will help enforce the decisions in the Snake River Plan and will be enforced on lands managed by the BLM.

In accordance with the Decision Record for the California Desert District (CDD) Supplementary Rules for Recreation Environmental Assessment, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), CDD office and the five field offices within the CDD, are issuing Final Supplementary Rules for public lands administered by the BLM. Upon publication, these Final Supplementary Rules will supersede the Interim Final Supplementary Rules that the BLM published on June 25, 2010. These Final Supplementary Rules are necessary to enhance the safety of visitors, protect natural resources, improve recreation experiences and opportunities, and protect public health. These rules do not impose or implement any land use limitations or restrictions other than those included within the CDD Supplementary Rules for Recreation Environmental Assessment Decision Record.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposing to extend the Fort Carson-Pi[ntilde]on Canyon Military Lands Withdrawal created by Subtitle A of Public Law 104-201 of September 23, 1996 (110 Stat 2807), for an additional 15 years. A withdrawal extension would continue to protect the following lands and minerals and reserve them for use by the Secretary of the Army Fort Carson Military Reservation which includes 3,133 acres of public lands and 11,415 acres of federally owned minerals; and Pi[ntilde]on Canyon Maneuver Site which includes 2,517 acres of public lands and approximately 130,139 acres of federally owned minerals. The withdrawal extension would protect the surface and mineral estates from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws including mining and mineral laws, geothermal leasing laws and mineral materials disposal laws. The withdrawal created by Public Law 104-201 will expire on September 22, 2011, unless extended. This notice gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed action to extend the withdrawal and gives notice of the opportunity for a public meeting.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eugene District Office, Eugene, Oregon, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area comprises approximately 1,340 acres of acquired lands that do not have an existing RMP.

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold two public meetings in connection with a proposed withdrawal published April 21, 2011, in the Federal Register [77 FR 22414]. The first meeting will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130. A second meeting will be held Thursday, July 7, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Ambassador Hotel Victorville, 15494 Palmdale Road, Victorville, California 92392. The public will have an opportunity to provide oral and written comments at these meetings.

In accordance with the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ukiah Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ukiah Field Office, is issuing interim final supplementary rules and requesting comments. These interim final supplementary rules will apply to public lands within the Ukiah Field Office's jurisdiction. The BLM has determined that these interim final supplementary rules are necessary to enhance visitor safety, protect natural resources, improve recreation opportunities, and protect public health. These rules only implement land use limitations and restrictions that were analyzed in the Ukiah RMP.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado River Valley Field Office, examined approximately 62.5 acres of public land in Garfield County, Colorado, and found the land suitable for classification for conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP). The City of Glenwood Springs proposes to use the land to expand its existing South Canyon Landfill.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), La Jara Field Office, La Jara, Colorado, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) related to the potential renewal of domestic sheep grazing permits on 12 allotments and 1 cattle grazing allotment in the southern San Luis Valley. This notice initiates the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues relevant to the EIS.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RRAC) Work Group will meet in Sedona, Arizona, as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ukiah Field Office proposes to sell an 80-acre parcel of public land in Lake County, California. The sale will be conducted as a competitive bid auction in which interested bidders must submit written sealed bids equal to, or greater than, the appraised fair market value of the land.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Schell Field Office, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a right-of-way (ROW) application submitted by Wilson Creek Power Partners, LLC, for a wind energy generation project and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public input on the identification of issues. The BLM may also determine that the proposed project would require an amendment to the Ely Resource Management Plan, in which case the EIS would support any planning amendment.

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) Salem District Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (FLREA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

Under the Class II provisions of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease NMNM 112879 from the lessee Crown Oil Partners LP for lands in Eddy County, New Mexico. 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 (BLM) proposes to sell a parcel of public land totaling 7.45 acres in Jerome County, Idaho, to the owners of the adjacent private land, Todd and Bridget Buschhorn, for the appraised fair market value of $5,600.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issue a new control number for two formsForm 3830-4, Affidavit of Annual Assessment Work; and Form 3830-5, Maintenance Fee Payment Form. As required by the PRA, the BLM is soliciting public comments on the proposed forms. Upon approval of the new control number by the OMB, the BLM will consider requesting that the new control number be combined with existing control number 1004-0114, Recordation of Location Notices and Mining Claims; Payment of Fees (43 CFR parts 3832-3838).

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Shoshone Field Office, Shoshone, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a possible amendment to the 1985 Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP), Shoshone, Idaho, to identify a specific 7.45 acre parcel of land for potential direct sale. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

On April 21, 2011, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a notice in the Federal Register [77 FR 22414] announcing a public meeting in connection with a proposed withdrawal to be held on Monday, May 23, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the BLM Southern Nevada District Office. The BLM has cancelled the meeting. The BLM will reschedule the meeting later.

Pursuant to the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from John Wolcott, for competitive oil and gas leases NVN-84801 and NVN-84802 on land in Elko County, Nevada. The petition was timely filed and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the leases terminated under the law. No valid leases have been issued affecting the lands.

Pursuant to the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from SandRidge Energy, Inc. and DY Exploration, Inc., for noncompetitive oil and gas lease NVN-75901 on land in Nye County, Nevada. The petition was timely filed and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the lease terminated under the law. No valid lease has been issued affecting the lands.

In accordance with 30 U.S.C. 188(d), Kykuit Resources, LLC, timely filed a petition for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas leases MTM 99624 and MTM 99625, Fergus County, Montana. The lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessee agrees to new lease terms for rentals and royalties of $10 per acre and 16\2/3\ percent. The lessee paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of each lease and $163 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessee met the requirements for reinstatement of the leases per Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the leases, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the leases; The increased rental of $10 per acre; The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent; and The $163 cost of publishing this Notice.

Under the Class II provisions of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease NMNM 112906 from the lessee Crown Oil Partners, LP, for lands in Eddy County, New Mexico. 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 extends the duration of the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6856 for an additional 20-year period. The extension is necessary to continue protection of the unique natural and ecological research values of the Abbott Creek Research Natural Area, which would otherwise expire on May 5, 2011.