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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests comments and suggestions that might assist the agency in the establishment of a program to capture, use, or destroy waste mine methane that is released into the mine environment and the atmosphere as a direct consequence of underground mining operations on Federal leases for coal and other minerals.

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) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting and participate in a field tour 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, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Gateway West Project Subcommittee of the Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting as indicated below.

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

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Farmington District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

This notice sets forth the schedule and agenda for a public meeting for the Bureau of Land Management's Proposed Withdrawal; North and Middle Fork American River. This meeting will provide the opportunity for public involvement in this proposed withdrawal action. All comments will be considered when a final determination is made on whether this land should be withdrawn.

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.

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 15, 2014.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw, for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights, approximately 4,203 acres of Federal lands in the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF), California, from location and entry under the United States mining laws in order to maintain and conserve habitat for four listed threatened and endangered species (Cushenbury buckwheat, Cushenbury Milk-vetch, Cushenbury oxytheca, and Parish's daisy). The application also requests that approximately 440 acres of non-Federal lands within the boundaries of the lands proposed for withdrawal be included in the withdrawal if they are acquired by the United States. This notice temporarily segregates the lands for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from the mineral material sales or mineral or geothermal leasing, to protect the biological resources while the withdrawal application is being processed. This notice also provides the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed withdrawal application and to request a public meeting.

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) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western), have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for the proposed Southline Transmission Line Project (Project), and by this notice are 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 Koniag, Inc. 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 southeast of Ugashik, Alaska, and aggregate 46.82 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Anchorage Daily News.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO), Silt, Colorado, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to undertake NEPA analysis addressing previous decisions to issue 65 leases underlying White River National Forest (WRNF) lands. In 2007, the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) ruled that before including WRNF parcels in an oil and gas lease sale, the BLM must either formally adopt NEPA analysis completed by the WRNF or conduct a NEPA analysis of its own (see Board of Commissioners of Pitkin County, 173 IBLA 173 (2007)). Because the BLM has determined that the WRNF NEPA analysis conducted is no longer adequate, the BLM will conduct its own NEPA analysis through this EIS regarding these previous decisions to lease WRNF lands for oil and gas development. The BLM will determine whether these 65 leases should be voided, reaffirmed, modified with additional or different terms, or subject to additional mitigation measures for site-specific development proposals. By this notice, the CRVFO is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

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 from applicants for authorization to purchase mineral materials from public lands. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004- 0103 to this information collection.

The BLM's email account that was set up to receive scoping comments on the Gold Rock Mine Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during the initial scoping period (September 5, 2013, through October 7, 2013) was deleted during the recent Federal Government shutdown. Therefore, this second notice for the Gold Rock Mine Project EIS is being issued to extend the scoping period, invite members of the public to submit comments, and request that anyone who submitted comments by email during the initial 30-day scoping period resubmit their comments. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing a 30-day extension of the public input period to solicit public comments and identify issues. The proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 50 miles west of Ely, in the Upper Railroad Valley.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM); U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (FS); and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, are seeking the information described in this notice related to the West-wide Energy Corridor Review.

Notice is hereby given that a temporary closure to public access, use, and occupancy will be in effect for the dates and times specified in this Notice on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Southern Nevada District Office, Las Vegas Field Office, within the Gold Butte, Mormon Mesa, and Bunkerville Flats Areas in the northeastern portion of Clark County, Nevada. This temporary closure is necessary to limit public access, use, and occupancy during an impoundment of illegally grazing cattle to ensure the safety and welfare of the public, contractors, and government employees. On March 10, 2014, the BLM signed a Decision Record to implement the temporary closure (see also Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-NVS010-2014-0020- EA). The temporary closure decision was approved by the Department of the Interior on March 24, 2014.

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 participants in the oil and gas leasing program within the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0196 to this collection.

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

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Las Cruces District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

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 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) Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold two meetings in Nevada in fiscal year 2014. The meetings are open to the public. Dates and Times: May 1-2 at the BLM Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road in Carson City, Nevada and a field trip on May 2; August 28 at Hycroft Mine, 54980 Jungo Road with a field trip the same day. Approximate meeting times are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, meetings could end earlier if discussions and presentations conclude before 4 p.m. All meetings will include a public comment period at approximately 11 a.m.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior withdraw approximately 4,513 acres of National Forest System land from mining in order to protect and preserve existing heritage resources and American Indian spiritual values within the formally designated Medicine Wheel/ Medicine Mountain National Historic Landmark (NHL). Publication of this notice segregates the public lands for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws and gives the public an opportunity to comment on the application and to request a public meeting. The land has been and will remain open to such forms of disposition allowed by law on National Forest System land and to mineral leasing.

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), Challis Field Office, Idaho, has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and draft resource management plan (RMP) amendment for a proposed modified mining plan of operations (MMPO) for the Thompson Creek molybdenum mine and a related Section 404 Clean Water Act (CWA) permit application and land exchange proposal. The BLM announces the availability of the draft EIS/RMP amendment and the start of the comment period for the draft EIS/RMP amendment.

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.

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 Arturo Mine Project and by this notice is announcing its release for public review.