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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments (ARMPAs) for the Great Basin Region Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) sub-regions of Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, Oregon, and Utah. The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior signed the ROD.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD); and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments (ARMPAs) for the Rocky Mountain Region Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) sub-regions of Lewistown, North Dakota, Northwest Colorado, and Wyoming; and Approved Resource Management Plans (ARMPs) for Billings, Buffalo, Cody, HiLine, Miles City, Pompeys Pillar National Monument, South Dakota, and Worland. The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management of the U.S. Department of the Interior signed the ROD.

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 Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) will meet as indicated below:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 860 et seq.), approximately 19.34 acres of public land in Chaffee County, Colorado. The BLM proposes to amend the Colorado Parks and Wildlife's (CPW) existing R&PP Lease (COC-49757) to include the following 19.34 acres in the BLM Salida East Recreation area. The BLM and CPW jointly manage a number of recreation sites in the Arkansas River corridor under a cooperative management agreement. Public lands jointly managed by the BLM and CPW are designated as the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). The lands requested in the CPW's lease amendment application are located on public lands within the river corridor and are currently managed by the BLM as a developed recreational facility. If the lease is approved the lands will become part of the AHRA. An R&PP lease to CPW will allow improvements in the Salida East facilities and enhance opportunities for public recreation and public safety.

Notice is hereby given that an appealable decision will be issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), approving conveyance of the surface estate in the lands described below to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., Successor in Interest to Deering Ipnatchiak Corporation, and Katyaak Corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., when the surface estate is conveyed to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., as Successor in Interest to Deering Ipnatchiak Corporation, and Katyaak Corporation.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collection of information regarding leases of solid minerals other than coal and oil shale. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0121 to this information collection.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Jarbidge Field Office located in the Twin Falls District (Idaho and Nevada). The Idaho State Director signed the ROD on September 2, 2015, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for conveyance under the Taylor Grazing Act, and the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, 160 acres of public land in Utah County, Utah. Utah County proposes to develop a public shooting range facility on the land.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a collection of information to support recreation planning and management on public lands. The respondents will be recreationists visiting BLM-managed areas and members of communities near BLM-managed areas. The BLM invites public comments on this proposed collection. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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 Resource Advisory Councils. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0204 to this information collection.

This proposed rule would replace Onshore Oil and Gas Order No. 3, Site Security (Order 3), with new regulations that would be codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Order 3 establishes minimum standards for oil and gas facility site security. It includes provisions intended to ensure that oil and gas produced from Federal and Indian (except Osage Tribe) oil and gas leases are properly and securely handled, so as to ensure accurate measurement, production accountability, and royalty payments, and to prevent theft and loss. Order 3 was issued in 1989. The changes proposed as part of this proposed rule would allow the BLM to strengthen its policies governing production verification and accountability by updating Order 3's requirements to address changes in technology and industry practices that have occurred in the 25 years since Order 3 was issued, and to respond to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) with respect to the BLM's production verification efforts. The proposed rule addresses Facility Measurement Points (FMPs), site facility diagrams, the use of seals, bypasses around meters, documentation, recordkeeping, commingling, off- lease measurement, and the reporting of incidents of unauthorized removal or mishandling of oil and condensate. The proposed rule also identifies certain acts of noncompliance that would result in an immediate assessment. Finally, it sets forth a process for the BLM to consider variances from the requirements of this proposed regulation. The BLM believes these proposed changes will enhance its overall production verification and accountability efforts. As part of those efforts, the BLM also anticipates that it will separately propose new regulations to update and replace Onshore Oil and Gas Orders Nos. 4 (Order 4) and 5 (Order 5) related to measurement of oil and gas, respectively.

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) is scheduled to meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Colorado River Valley Field Office located in portions of Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties in northwest Colorado. The Colorado State Director signed the ROD on June 11, 2015, which constitutes the BLM's final decision and makes the approved RMP effective immediately.

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.

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.