Bureau of Land Management August 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This order withdraws 694,838.84 acres of public land in Churchill, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, and Pershing Counties, Nevada from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including location and entry under the United States mining laws, and leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, for four years for land management evaluation purposes. In addition, 68,809.44 acres of Federal land in the Dixie Valley area (Churchill County, Nevada) are withdrawn from leasing under the mineral leasing laws. Including the 8,722.47 acres of Department of the Navy (DON) lands, the total Federal land withdrawn by this Public Land Order is 772,370.75 acres. Non-Federal lands totaling 66,160.53 acres are described within the withdrawal area. Any current or future Federal estate interest in these non-Federal lands are subject to this withdrawal.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Ten West Link 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendments to the Yuma Field Office RMP and the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the opening of the public comment period on the Draft EIS/Draft RMP Amendments.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to renew an information collection.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a non- competitive (direct) sale of 221.68 acres of public land in Esmeralda County, Nevada, to the Esmeralda County Board of Commissioners. The sale will resolve inadvertent unauthorized occupancy issues within the historic mining town site of Gold Point dating back to the late 1800's. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). The appraised fair market value (FMV) for the sale parcel is $82,000.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Recreational Target Shooting in the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM) in Arizona.

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) Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have prepared Draft Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and Federal lands excluded from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 and by this notice are announcing the opening of the public comment period.

The preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) associated with the Livestock Grazing Monument Management Plan Amendment for the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) is superseded by a Monument Plan Revision and therefore is no longer required. The process is hereby terminated.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a non- competitive (direct) sale of 16.87 acres of public land in Gila County, Arizona, to Mrs. Barbara Lubich. The sale would take place under the provisions of Sections 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), at no less than the appraised fair market value.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer by competitive sale 9 parcels of public land totaling 296.09 acres in Lincoln County, Nevada, pursuant to the Lincoln County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2004 (LCCRDA). BLM cannot sell land at less than Fair Market Value (FMV), as determined by a current appraisal, reviewed and approved by Department of Interior Appraisal Valuation and Services Office. For competitive bidding, the FMV will determine the beginning point for oral bidding on each parcel. The sale will be subject to the applicable provision of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and BLM land sale regulations.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 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 draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and, in collaboration with Riverside County, a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Desert Quartzite Solar Project (DQSP). A draft Land Use Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan (CDCA) is also included. This notice announces the opening of the public comment period, following the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register.

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) Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a potential Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment for the Bakersfield Field Office Resource Management Plan. The supplemental EIS will analyze the impacts of hydraulic fracturing technology on BLM-administered public land and mineral estate in the Bakersfield Field Office Planning Area exclusive of the California Coastal National Monument and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. This effort is in response to a settlement agreement in case No. 2:15-cv-04378-MWF/JEM, filed with, and approved by, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on May 3, 2017. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to renew an information collection.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to dispose of the reversionary interest held by the United States in a 140-acre parcel of public land in Las Vegas, Nevada, pursuant to Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of October 21, 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, for a non-competitive direct sale to the Black Mountain Golf and Country Club (BMGCC). The BLM has found this parcel suitable for disposal under the authority of Section 202 of FLPMA.

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) Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing its availability. The Greater Phoenix Project is owned by Newmont USA Limited and is located approximately 12 miles southwest of the town of Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. The Proposed Project includes expanding the life of the mine from 2040 to 2063; expanding the boundary of the mine by 10,611 acres, from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres; and increasing surface disturbance by 3,497 acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 acres.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

This Order partially revokes a withdrawal created by Secretarial Order dated October 24, 1944, which established Power Site Classification (PSC) No. 361 insofar as it affects 41.42 acres, and modifies Public Land Order No. 7448 by releasing from the effect of the provisions of Section 24 of the Federal Power Act, approximately 81.88 (formerly 80) acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands. This Order opens the lands to such uses as may be made of NFS lands subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of existing withdrawals, other segregations of record, and the requirements of applicable law.

As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, certain public land near Stead, Nevada, will be temporarily closed to all public use to provide for public safety during the 2018 Reno Air Racing Association Racing Seminar and the Reno National Championship Air Races.