Bureau of Land Management June 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management proposes to withdraw, subject to valid existing rights, approximately 5,216.18 acres of BLM-managed public domain and Revested Oregon California Railroad lands (O&C) and 95,805.53 acres of National Forest System lands for 5 years to preserve the status quo while Congress considers legislation to permanently withdraw those areas. Such legislation is currently pending in the 114th Congress as S. 346 and H.R. 682 and identified as the ``Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act of 2015.'' Subject to valid existing rights, this notice segregates the lands described below for 2 years from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the public land laws, location and entry under the United States mining laws, and operation of the mineral and geothermal leasing laws. This notice gives the public an opportunity to comment on the application and also provides notification of future public meetings.

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) Ukiah Field Office, Ukiah, California intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to modify the boundary of the Knoxville Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC) and identify public lands for exchange in Lake, Napa and Yolo Counties. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a non- competitive (direct) sale of 15 acres of public land in Slana, Alaska, to the adjacent private landowner, Mr. Joseph G. Riley. The sale would take place under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), at no less than the appraised fair market of value (FMV) of $12,000, to resolve an unauthorized use of public lands as a result of a failed trade and manufacturing claim.

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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on the dates indicated.

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

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.

Subject to valid existing rights, this order withdraws 240.59 acres of National Forest System lands in the Fremont National Forest from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, for a period of 20 years for the United States Forest Service to protect the integrity and functionality of the mine reclamation work on the White King/Lucky Lass Mines. The withdrawal will protect the $4.9 million Federal investment for reclamation work that has been completed to contour, cap, and restore vegetation at the mine sites located in the Fremont National Forest in Lake County, Oregon.

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 a land patent under the Color-of-Title Act. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0029 to this information collection.

The purpose of this action is to inform the public that the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), will conduct a Phase B sale and auction of crude helium for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 delivery. For purposes of the Phase B sale, the BLM is seeking comments regarding the methods BLM should use to arrive at the sale price of the helium; the auction format BLM should follow in selling helium; who will be allowed to purchase helium; and the process BLM should follow for allocating helium.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to submit comments on this IC to OMB.

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 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), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Barstow Field Office, Barstow, California, has prepared a Proposed California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment and Joint Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in cooperation with San Bernardino County for the Soda Mountain Solar Project (Project), and by this notice is announcing their availability. The Proposed Project is a 358 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generation facility, along with supporting infrastructure, in rural San Bernardino County. After review, the BLM's Preferred Alternative identified in the Final EIS excludes the proposed northern solar array, includes the Applicant Proposed alignment for Rasor Road, and excludes the proposed brine ponds associated with reverse osmosis treatment of groundwater. The BLM's Preferred Alternative would reduce the Project size from 2,557 to 1,923 acres, and decrease the Project's output from 358 to 264 MW.

On April 21, 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public comments and suggestions that may be used to update the BLM's regulations related to royalty rates, annual rental payments, minimum acceptable bids, bonding requirements, and civil penalty assessments for Federal onshore oil and gas leases. In response to requests received for additional time to provide comment, the BLM is announcing by issuance of this notice that the public comment period for the ANPR will be extended 14 days beyond the end of the initial comment period.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the official filing of the survey plat listed below. The plat will be available for viewing at https://www.glorecords.blm.gov.