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

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 plats of survey of lands described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, Sacramento, California.

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 Coastal Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing supplementary rules for all BLM-administered public lands within an approximately 400-acre area in Idaho known as Castle Rocks. The BLM addressed this area in the November 2013 Cassia Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Record of Decision (ROD). The Cassia RMP amendment made implementation-level decisions designed to conserve natural and cultural resources while providing for recreational opportunities. These supplementary rules will allow the BLM and law enforcement partners to enforce those decisions.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States Office, Washington, DC, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

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) Northwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Travel Management Sub-Group 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 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Oil and Gas Sub-Group is scheduled to meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will officially file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States Office, Washington, DC at least 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

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) White River Field Office (WRFO), Meeker, Colorado, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the WRFO. By this notice the WRFO is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application (COC 77206) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 4,200 acres of National Forest System lands within the White River National Forest from location and entry under the United States mining laws for a period of 20 years to protect multiple outstanding features, including scenic, recreational, geologic, ecologic, wildlife, and fisheries values, in the Deep Creek canyon and corridor. The character of the canyon and corridor is natural and essentially primitive, and the lands and free-flowing waters were found to be eligible for Wild and Scenic designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in the 2002 White River National Forest, Land and Resource Management Plan Revision. The Forest Plan decision recommended withdrawal of the canyon and corridor from location and entry under the United States mining laws. This notice temporarily segregates the land for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws while the application is being processed. This notice also provides the public an opportunity to comment on the application and to request a public meeting. The lands have been and will remain open to mineral and geothermal leasing, and to such forms of disposition as may be allowed by law on National Forest System lands.

The Approved Resource Plan Amendments and Approved Resource Plan/Records of Decision (RODs) for the Great Basin Region and Rocky Mountain Regions were signed by the BLM Director and the Assistant Secretary, Lands and Minerals Management, on September 21, 2015. The RODs constitute the final decision of the BLM and the Approved Plan Amendments and Approved Plan were effective immediately upon their signing. In accordance with its regulations, the BLM is publishing the reasons for rejecting the recommendations of the Governors of Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah regarding Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) Proposed Resource Management Plans Amendments (PRMPAs) and Final Environmental Impact Statements (FEISs) and the South Dakota Proposed Resource Management Plan (PRMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which were published on May 29, 2015.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise control number 1004-0179, ``Helium Contracts.'' This request is prompted by the need to update the control number in response to legislation.

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 that is necessary to implement two provisions of the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act one which requires Federal agencies to consult with interested parties to develop a listing of significant caves, and another under which Federal and State governmental agencies and bona fide educational and research institutions may request confidential information regarding significant caves. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) previously approved this information collection activity, and assigned it control number 1004-0165.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on its plans to seek renewal of its authorization under the Paperwork Reduction Act regarding applications for fee title to Federal lands embraced in hardrock mineral claims. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0025 to this information collection.

The administrative boundaries between the Anchorage District Office and Fairbanks District Office have been changed. The administrative boundary adjustments affect two ongoing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planning efforts by shifting 2.8 million acres of the Central Yukon Planning Area, managed by the Fairbanks District Office, into the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area, managed by the Anchorage District Office; and by removing three islands from the Bering Sea-Western Interior Planning Area.

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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received an application for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest (Disclaimer) from the heirs of Virginia C. Yeager and Opal Keating pursuant to Section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the regulations in 43 CFR subpart 1864, for the mineral estate of land lying near Benbrook Lake in Tarrant County, Texas. This notice is intended to inform the public of the pending application, give notice of BLM's intention to grant the requested Disclaimer of Interest, and provide a public comment period for the Disclaimer of Interest.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for one vacant position on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC), with the term expiring January 7, 2016. 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 30 days after the publication of this notice.

This final rule amends the regulations pertaining to execution and filing of forms in order to reflect the new address of the BLM Eastern States Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). All filings and other documents relating to public lands in the States of Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri and all States east of the Mississippi River must be filed at the new address of the State Office.

This final rule amends the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mineral resources regulations to update some fees that cover the BLM's cost of processing certain documents relating to its minerals programs and some filing fees for mineral-related documents. These updated fees include those for actions such as lease renewals and mineral patent adjudications.

This proposed rule would replace Onshore Oil and Gas Order Number 4, Measurement of Oil (Order 4) with new regulations that would be codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Order 4 establishes minimum standards for the measurement of oil produced from Federal and Indian (except Osage Tribe) leases to ensure that production is accurately measured and properly accounted for. Order 4 was issued in 1989. The changes contemplated as part of this proposed rule would strengthen the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) policies governing production accountability by updating its minimum standards for oil measurement to reflect the considerable changes in technology and industry practices that have occurred in the 25 years since Order 4 was issued. This proposed rule addresses the use of new oil meter technology, proper measurement documentation, and recordkeeping; establishes performance standards for oil measurement systems; and includes a mechanism for the BLM to review, and approve for use, new oil measurement technology and systems. The proposed rule expands the acts of noncompliance that would result in an immediate assessment under the existing regulations. Finally, it sets forth a process for the BLM to consider variances from these requirements.

The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Alaska State Office hereby notifies the public it will hold a National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska oil and gas lease sale bid opening for tracts in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The United States reserves the right to withdraw any tract from this sale prior to issuance of a written acceptance of a bid.

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 John Day- Snake and Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) will meet as indicated below:

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 17,486.90 acres of National Forest System lands from the mining laws to protect four Research Natural Areas and seven Botanical Areas within the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota and Wyoming. This notice temporarily segregates the lands for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws while the application is being processed. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed withdrawal application, and announces dates, time and location of two public meetings.