Bureau of Land Management 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has officially filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho, effective 9:00 a.m., on the dates specified.

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 Elk Mine lease modifications underlying National Forest System (NFS) lands included in the Federal Coal Lease Modifications COC-1362 and COC-67232 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Right-of-Way (ROW). The Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior approved the ROD on December 19, 2012, which constitutes the final decision of the Department of the Interior and makes the decision effective immediately.

The plats of survey of the described lands were officially filed in the Arizona State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix, Arizona, on dates indicated.

Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease OKNM 110359 from the lessee Chesapeake Exploration LLC, for lands in Canadian County, Oklahoma. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a proposed California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) plan amendment and final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the McCoy Solar Energy Project (project)a photovoltaic solar electricity generation projectand by this notice is announcing its availability.

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

Notice is hereby given that the Con Shea closures are in effect on public lands administered by the Owyhee Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA-BLM). Two roads will be closed to motorized vehicle traffic due to hazardous road conditions. One area closure will be designated and closed to all uses due to special resource concerns as a result of impacts from wildfire.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act Land the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), pursuant to their regulations, has closed approximately 900 acres of public land on the Lake Mountains in Utah County, Utah, to recreational target shooting to protect public safety. This closure does not restrict other public activities or access to the Lake Mountains area.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget has approved an amendment to a previously filed application to withdraw public lands in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the public land laws, including the United States mining laws, on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to protect and preserve Solar Energy Zones (SEZ) for future solar energy development. This Notice amends the prior proposal notice of which was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2011 (76 FR 22414), to increase the proposed withdrawal term from 5 to 20 years, decrease the acreage proposed for withdrawal, and provide revised legal descriptions for the 17 remaining SEZs presented in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States (Programmatic EIS). This Notice also terminates the segregative effect as to lands no longer included in the application. The purpose of the proposed withdrawal has also changed so that the lands would now be protected for future solar energy development.

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) Idaho Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Continental Divide-Creston Natural Gas Development Project, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision to Swan Lake Corporation. The decision approves the surface estate in the lands described below for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq). The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to Calista Corporation when the surface estate is conveyed to Swan Lake Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Sheldon Point, Alaska, and are located in:

Under the authority of the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended, on December 3, 2012 the Secretary of the Interior issued Order 3324 (2012 Secretary's Order) to address oil, gas, and potash leasing and development within the Designated Potash Area in Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico. The 2012 Secretary's Order supersedes a previous Order issued in 1986 and corrected in 1987 that addresses these issues. In developing the 2012 Secretary's Order, a draft Order was released for a public comment period that began on July 13, 2012 and ended on August 31, 2012, 77 FR 41442. This Notice announces the availability of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) responses to the comments that were received during the comment period and the availability of the Environmental Assessment that was prepared by the BLM in developing the 2012 Secretary's Order.

Members of the public are hereby invited to participate with Ambre Energy on a pro rata cost sharing basis in a program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in lands located in Big Horn County, Montana, encompassing 9,474.45 acres.

In accordance 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) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Chocolate Mountains Renewable Energy Evaluation Area (REEA) and a California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Proposed Plan Amendment, and by this notice is announcing its availability.

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) Eastern Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the Stateline Solar Farm Project (Stateline) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has closed approximately 210 acres of public land described as the Airport Mesa/Carrizo Creek shooting area located in eastern San Diego County, California. The closure order prohibits recreational shooting and target practice. The use of firearms will continue to be allowed for hunting consistent with California Department of Fish and Game regulations and seasons. This closure order is necessary in order to protect U.S. Border Patrol agents as they perform their duties along the top of Airport Mesa.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 days from the date of this publication.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA); the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended; and the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA); the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bishop Field Office, Bishop, California; the United States Forest Service (USFS) Inyo National Forest; and the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD) (a California state agency) have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project near the Town of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California. This notice announces the opening of the public comment period.

In accordance 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) has prepared a Proposed California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Desert Harvest Solar Project and by this notice is announcing its availability.

This notice corrects acreages and information referenced in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of a notice that published in the Federal Register on Friday, October 26, 2012 (77 FR 65401). The correct acreages were presented and analyzed in the final Environmental Impact Statement. On page 65402, column 1, line 59 of the notice, which reads, ``approximately 298,400 acres of,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``approximately 266,100 acres of.'' On page 65402, column 2, line 7 of the notice, which reads, ``approximately 213,500 acres of BLM-,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``approximately 185,700 acres of BLM-.'' On page 65402, column 2, line 11 of the notice, which reads, ``by identifying approximately 106,800,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``by identifying approximately 82,500.'' On page 65402, column 2, line 17 of the notice, which reads, ``for 298,400 acres of potential REDAs to,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``for 266,100 acres of potential REDAs to.'' On page 65402, column 2, line 23 of the notice, which reads, ``adjustments by identifying about 25,500,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``adjustments by identifying about 21,700.'' On page 65402, column 2, line 32, which reads, ``Alternative 6 identifies about 222,800,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``Alternative 6 identifies about 192,100.'' On page 65402, column 2, line 59 of the notice, which reads, ``Alternative 6, with 222,800 acres of,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``Alternative 6, with 192,100 acres of.'' On page 65403, column 1, line 17 of the notice, which reads, ``defining the REDAs and general,'' is hereby corrected to read, ``defining the REDAs and the SEZ and general.''

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing supplementary rules relating to camping, the discharge of firearms, and the use of motor vehicles, to protect public safety and resources on public land within the Water Canyon Recreation Area. These proposed supplementary rules would include limitations and restrictions included within the decisions of the Water Canyon Recreation Area Management Plan, Environmental Assessment (EA), Decision Record, and Cooperative Management Agreement approved August 15, 1997, and the Water Canyon Implementation Plan Amendment EA signed August 2005.