Bureau of Land Management September 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend existing regulations to facilitate responsible solar and wind energy development and to receive fair market value for such development. The proposed rule would promote the use of preferred areas for solar and wind energy development and establish competitive processes, terms, and conditions (including rental and bonding requirements) for solar and wind energy development rights-of-way both inside and outside these preferred areas. In the proposed rule, preferred areas for solar and wind energy development would be called ``designated leasing areas.'' The proposed rule would also make technical changes, corrections, and clarifications to existing rights-of-way regulations. Some of these changes would affect all rights-of-way and some provisions would affect particular types of actions, such as transmission lines with a capacity of 100 Kilovolts (kV) or more, or pipelines 10 inches or more in diameter.

As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations, certain public land near Do[ntilde]a Ana International Jetport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, will be temporarily closed to all public use to provide for public safety during the Amigo Airsho event to be held from October 29 through November 2, 2014.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA); the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA); and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA); the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have partnered with the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) (collectively, the Agencies) to prepare the Draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR). The Draft DRECP includes Draft BLM Land Use Plan Amendments for the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, Bishop Resource Management Plan (RMP), and the Caliente/ Bakersfield RMP; a FWS-proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (General Conservation Plan); and a CDFW-proposed Natural Community Conservation Plan. The Draft DRECP covers parts of Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties, California. By this notice, the Agencies are announcing the availability of the Draft DRECP and Draft EIS/EIR, the receipt of permit applications under Section 10 of the ESA from CEC and the California State Lands Commission (CSLC), and the opening of the comment period on the Draft DRECP and Draft EIS/EIR and the information provided in the permit applications.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease and subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, approximately 5 acres of public land in San Juan County, New Mexico. The San Juan County Soil and Water Conservation District proposes to use the land for an office building, shop, parking, and outdoor educational classroom.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces District Office is restricting recreational target shooting on approximately 290 acres of public land near the Prehistoric Trackways National Monument (Monument). The restriction is needed to ensure public safety near the Monument entrance which is the Permian Tracks Road in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell a 5-acre public land parcel located in the southern portion of the Las Vegas Valley in Clark County, Nevada, under the authority of Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the BLM land sale conveyance regulations, and the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA), as amended. The BLM proposes that the parcel be sold by direct sale to the Nevada Housing Division, a division of the State of Nevada, Department of Business and Industry, at less than the parcel's appraised fair market value (FMV) consistent with SNPLMA and applicable BLM policy.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to withdraw approximately 2,560 acres of public lands in Yuma County, Arizona, from location or entry under the United States mining laws, to protect and preserve for a 20-year period, the Agua Caliente Solar Energy Zone (SEZ). The lands will remain open to leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and disposal under the Materials Act of 1947.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (RAC) is scheduled to meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue the collection of information from those who seek to obtain mineral materials from public lands. OMB has assigned control number 1004-0103 to this collection.

The purpose of this notice is to reopen the request for public nominations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Coeur d'Alene Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) that has member terms expiring this year. The RAC provides advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within the respective geographic area. For 30 days after the publication of this notice, the BLM will accept public nominations for positions in Category Oneholders of Federal grazing permits and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.

Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC timely filed a petition for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas lease NDM 96877, Dunn County, North Dakota. The lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands.

Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, Hess Corporation timely filed a petition for reinstatement of noncompetitive oil and gas lease NDM 93267, Mountrail County, North Dakota. The lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands.

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 plat listed below and afford a proper period of time to protest this action prior to the plat filing. During this time, the plat will be available for review in the BLM Colorado State Office.

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Public Laws 92-463 and 94-579, that the California Desert District Advisory Council (DAC) to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Department of the Interior, will participate in a field tour of BLM-administered public lands on Friday, September 26, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will meet in formal session on Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Pahrump, NV at the Saddle West Hotel, 1220 S. HWY 160, Pahrump, NV 89048. Agenda for the Saturday meeting will include updates by council members, the BLM California Desert District Manager, five Field Managers, and council subgroups. Final agenda items for the field trip and public meeting will be posted on the DAC Web page at https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/rac/dac.html when finalized.

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

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, North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) Science Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) will meet as indicated below.