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

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a combined Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument within the Billings Field Office of the BLM Montana/ Dakotas State Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

Pursuant to section 808 of the California Military Lands Withdrawal and Overflight Act of 1994 (Act), the Department of the Navy (DoN), on behalf of the U.S. Marines, has filed an application to modify and extend the current legislative withdrawal of public lands from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including the mining laws, the mineral leasing laws, and the geothermal leasing laws, for military use of the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (CMAGR) in Imperial and Riverside Counties, California. The lands are currently withdrawn under the Act, which is a part of the California Desert Protection Act, which reserves these lands for defense-related purposes for a period of 20 years. Unless Congress extends the withdrawal, it will expire on October 30, 2014. The extension application includes a request that additional Federal lands be withdrawn in aid of a proposed legislative adjustment to the boundary for the purpose of improving management. This notice gives an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed withdrawal expansion and extension and announces the date, time, and location of a public meeting.

The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert District is soliciting nominations from the public for five members to serve 3-year terms on its Desert District Advisory Council. Council members provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the management of public lands in Southern California.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, for the Desert Harvest Solar Project (DHSP), in Riverside County, California. The Secretary of the Interior approved the ROD on March 13, 2013, which constitutes the final decision of the Department.

The meeting of the Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2013, and Tuesday, April 23, 2013, is cancelled. The event is cancelled due to budget sequestration and will not be rescheduled.

In compliance 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) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Pan Mine Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

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 Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the HiLine District in Montana and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office, Pinedale, Wyoming, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental assessment (EA) for the Snake River RMP and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. Three parcels of public land in Teton County, Wyoming, are being classified as suitable for disposal under the provisions of Section 203 of FLPMA and are being proposed for direct sale at no less than the appraised fair market value.

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 Chugach Alaska Corporation. The decision will approve conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq). The lands are located southwest of Eyak, AK, and contain 169.55 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times for four consecutive weeks in the Anchorage Daily News.

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 Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Lower Sonoran Field Office (LSFO), proposes a noncompetitive direct sale of one land parcel totaling approximately 160 acres in Pinal County, Arizona. The public land would be sold to the Ak-Chin Indian Community (Community) at not less than the appraised fair market value (FMV). The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA) and sales and mineral conveyance regulations.

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) revision and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Miles City Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. The RMP/EIS revision will replace the Powder River and Big Dry RMPs.

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.

Pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, and to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations, all interested parties are hereby invited to participate with Black Butte Coal Company on a pro rata cost-sharing basis, in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

Pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, and to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations, all interested parties are hereby invited to participate with Black Butte Coal Company on a pro rata cost-sharing basis, in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

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) Mojave- Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold three meetings in Nevada in fiscal year 2013. The meetings are open to the public.

This notice announces the availability of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) first Rapid Ecoregional Assessment (REA) covering land in four western states. The Colorado Plateau REA includes parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. It has an area of 32,387 square miles and includes all or portions of 16 BLM field offices.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Northeastern States Field Office, proposes to offer for sale a 0.82-acre parcel of public land in Marquette County, Michigan. The sale will be subject to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and BLM land sale regulations. The BLM proposes to conduct the sale using sealed bid modified competitive procedures pursuant to BLM regulations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the intent to officially file the survey plats listed below and afford a proper period of time to protest this action prior to the plat filing. During this time, the plats will be available for review in the BLM Colorado State Office.

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 Resource Management Plan (RMP)/final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Lander, Wyoming, Field Office and by this notice is announcing its availability.

This order withdraws 183.46 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for a period of 20 years to protect one of the few remaining stands of old- growth western red cedar trees in the Settler's Grove of Ancient Cedars Botanical and Recreation Area within the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

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/Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alta East Wind Project (Project), and by this notice is announcing its availability.

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 Chugach Alaska Corporation. The decision will approve conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq). The lands are located south of Tatitlek, Alaska, and contain 65.05 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times for four consecutive weeks in the Anchorage Daily News.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing supplementary rules to regulate conduct on public lands within the Arkansas River Travel Management Area (ARTMA) in Chaffee, Custer, and Fremont Counties, Colorado. These supplementary rules address decisions found in the Arkansas River Travel Management Plan (ARTMP). Travel management actions and changes to the off-highway vehicle (OHV) designations were detailed and analyzed in an Environmental Assessment (EA). The Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on December 18, 2007. The BLM issued two Decision Records following the ARTMP EA: one on April 29, 2008, to amend OHV designations identified in the EA, and a second on May 21, 2008, to implement the travel management actions identified in the EA. The rules were published in the Federal Register as a proposal on July 23, 2010 and public comment was solicited. The Decision Records included revising travel regulations for the area including bicycle use, identifying shooting restrictions, and limiting an area to a certain vehicle type. These travel regulations are designed to provide for public health and safety and to protect natural resources within the ARTMA.

In accordance with the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ukiah Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing final supplementary rules. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) identified and thoroughly analyzed the effects of land use limitations and restrictions, and specified that supplementary rules would be required for resource protection and visitor safety. Upon publication, these final supplementary rules will supersede the interim final supplementary rules that apply to public lands within the Ukiah Field Office's jurisdiction. The BLM has determined that these final supplementary rules are necessary to enhance visitor safety, protect natural resources, improve recreation opportunities, and protect public health. These rules do not impose or implement any land use limitations and restrictions other than those included within the Ukiah RMP.