Bureau of Land Management 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is reopening the comment period for the proposed rule to amend the BLM's commercial oil shale regulations that published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2013. The 60-day comment period for the proposed rule ended on May 28, 2013. This notice reopens the comment period for 30 days.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision will be issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to The Kuskokwim 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 The Kuskokwim Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Georgetown, Alaska, and are located in:

On May 11, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to regulate hydraulic fracturing on Federal and Indian land. Due to the complexity of the rule and the issues surrounding it, the BLM extended the comment period for 60 days beyond the end of the initial comment period. On May 24, 2013, the BLM published a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comment. Key issues in the revised proposed rule include: the use of an expanded set of cement evaluation tools to help ensure that usable water zones have been isolated and protected from contamination and more detailed guidance on how trade secrets claims will be handled. The revised proposed rule would also provide opportunities for the BLM to coordinate standards and processes with individual States and tribes to reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency. This notice extends the public comment period on the revised proposed rule for 60 days beyond the initial comment period.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on, and plans to request approval to continue, the collection of information for the regulations at 43 CFR Parts 3832 through 3838. These regulations pertain to the location, recording, and maintenance of mining claims and sites. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004- 0114 to this information collection.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office is issuing a call for nominations and comments on tracts for oil and gas leasing for the 2013 National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) oil and gas lease sale. A map of the NPR-A showing available areas is online at https://www.blm.gov/ak.

The purpose of this notice is to reopen the request for public nominations for certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have member terms expiring this year. These RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning for management of the National System of Public Lands within their respective geographic areas. The RACs covered by this request for nominations are identified below. The BLM will accept public nominations for 30 days after the publication of this notice.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Needles Field Office, proposes to sell a parcel of public land totaling approximately 133.19 acres in San Bernardino County, California. The public land would be sold to the California Department of Transportation for the appraised fair market value of $55,000.

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.

On May 11, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule entitled Oil and Gas; Well Stimulation, Including Hydraulic Fracturing, on Federal and Indian Lands. The BLM has used the comments on that draft to make improvements and is now seeking additional comment on a revised proposed rule. Key issues in this updated draft include: the use of an expanded set of cement evaluation tools to help ensure that usable water zones have been isolated and protected from contamination; and more detailed guidance on how trade secrets claims will be handled, modeled on the procedures promulgated by the State of Colorado. The revised proposed rule would also provide opportunities for the BLM to coordinate standards and processes with individual States and tribes to reduce administrative costs and to improve efficiency.

The Approved Land Use Plan Amendments/Record of Decision (ROD) for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming was signed by the BLM Principal Deputy Director on March 22, 2013. The ROD constitutes the final decision of the BLM and the Approved Plan Amendments were effective immediately upon its signing. In accordance with its regulations, the BLM is publishing the reasons for rejecting the recommendations of the Governors of Utah and Wyoming regarding the Land Use Plan Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the BLM in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, which were published as proposed in November, 2012.

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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Mohave County Wind Farm Project (Project) and by this notice is announcing its availability.

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 Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (D-E NCA) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the public comment period. Congress designated the D-E NCA, as well as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness (Wilderness), through the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (Omnibus Act). The Omnibus Act also established the purpose of the D-E NCA to ``conserve and protect for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generationsthe unique and important resources and values of the land and the water resources of area streams.''

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on, and plans to request approval to continue, the collection of information needed to evaluate and process applications for commercial, competitive, and organized group recreational uses of the public lands, and individual use of special areas. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0119 to this information collection.

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) Northeast California Resource Advisory Council and Northwest California Resource Advisory Council will meet jointly and individually, as indicated below, in Weaverville, Calif.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for upcoming vacancies on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) which has four members with terms expiring on January 12, 2014. The RAC provides advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within Utah. The BLM will accept public nominations for 45 days after the publication of this notice.

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.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision will be issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to Kotlik Yupik Corporation. The decision approves the surface estate in certain lands 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 Kotlik Yupik Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Kotlik, Alaska, and are located in:

The plats of survey described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the New Mexico State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Santa Fe, New Mexico, thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States office in Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget proposes to withdraw on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 1,140.82 acres of public lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing laws, to protect the geological, cultural, botanical, recreational, and biological resources within the New River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) located in Coos and Curry Counties, Oregon. This notice segregates the lands for up to 2 years from mining and gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed withdrawal application and to request a public meeting.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested State and local government officials of the filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada.

The Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intent to clarify the scope of the Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Document and Proposed Plan Amendment for the West Mojave (WEMO) Plan, Motorized Vehicle Access Element, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, CA, which was published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2011 (76 FR 56466). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of a further, more focused scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues related to the clarified scope of the West Mojave (WEMO) Route Network Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Plan Amendment as described under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer three parcels of land in one sale totaling approximately 26.39 acres in Lincoln County, Nevada, by modified competitive sale. Bidding on the subject parcels will begin at not less than the appraised fair market value (FMV) of $15,800. The BLM has examined these parcels and found them suitable for disposal by modified competitive sale. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Sections 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1713, and the regulations at 43 CFR 2710.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Montana State Office, Billings, Montana, on May 31, 2013.

This notice terminates the existing classifications in their entirety for public lands at three locations that were classified as suitable for lease/disposal under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act of June 14, 1926, as amended. Additionally, this notice opens these public lands to the operation of the public land laws generally, including the 1872 Mining Law. The classification termination and opening order will affect 30 acres of public lands within Nye County, Nevada, and 40 acres of public lands within Esmeralda County, Nevada.