Bureau of Land Management 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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) announces the availability of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Approval of Herbicide Active Ingredients for Use on Public Lands.

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) California Desert District Office, Palm Springs, California, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the Control-Silver Peak Project (Project) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

The plat of survey of the following described lands is scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of land Management (BLM), Eastern States Office, Falls Church, Virginia, 30 days from the date of this publication. The survey, executed at the request of the Northeastern States District Office, BLMEastern States, is required for the management of these lands.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing a supplementary rule for the Moab Canyons Special Wildlife Area (in and near Mineral and Hell Roaring Canyons) in Grand County, Utah, which prohibits rock climbing except when and where permitted, prohibits other roped and aerial activities, and prohibits the construction or installation of temporary structures. This rule will protect vital wildlife habitat from the impacts of roped and aerial recreational activities.

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) announces the availability of the Draft ANCSA 17(d)(1) Withdrawals Environmental Impact Statement.

At the request of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Secretary of the Interior proposes to extend Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7618, which withdrew public lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, to protect the recreational, scenic, cultural, riparian, and fish and wildlife values of the Colorado, Dolores, and Green River Corridors, for an additional 20-year term. Lands included in PLO No. 7618 have been surveyed or resurveyed and corrected. Their official land description has been changed, requiring that the land descriptions be modified and corrected to include lands that were inadvertently not listed in the original PLO. The acreage has been changed from 111,895 acres to 109,287 acres to reflect the updated land description. The land would remain closed to location and entry under the U.S. mining laws. This notice provides a 90-day public comment period and announces that the BLM will host one in-person public meeting in Moab and one virtual meeting regarding this proposal.

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

On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 312.16 acres of public lands and 400 acres of Federal mineral interest underlying non-Federal surface from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, to protect desert bighorn sheep habitat within the Red Rock Wildlife Area, for a period of 50 years, subject to valid existing rights. Publication of this notice segregates the lands for up to two years from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, but not from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, while the application is being processed. This notice initiates a 90-day public comment period and announces the opportunity to request a public meeting on the proposed withdrawal.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, 30 calendar days from the date of this publication. The surveys, which were executed at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, the BLM, and the Mt. Emmons Mining Company, are necessary for the management of these lands.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Western Montana District Resource Advisory Council (Council) will meet as follows.

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) Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) has scheduled public meetings for December 5-6, 2023.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides constructive notice that it will issue an appealable decision approving conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands to Calista Corporation, an Alaska Native regional corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA).

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 (FLMPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Big Game Habitat Conservation for Oil and Gas Management and by this notice is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft RMP Amendment/EIS.

In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, ST Oil Company, LLC, Moore Energy LLC, Shoreline Company LLC, and Leaf River Resources LLC, filed a timely petition for reinstatement of oil and gas leases UTU88835 and UTU88838 for lands in San Juan County, Utah. The petition was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from April 1, 2018, the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The Bureau of Land Management proposes to reinstate these leases.

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) Yuma Field Office, Yuma, Arizona, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the Ranegras Plains Energy Center Project (Project) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The BLM also announces the segregation of 4,763 acres of public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law, but not the mineral leasing or materials acts, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice, subject to valid existing rights. This segregation will facilitate the orderly administration of the public lands while the BLM considers potential solar and battery energy storage development on the described parcels.

Pursuant to the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Owyhee Field Office will establish a fee area and intends to collect fees at the Jump Creek Recreation Site in Owyhee County, Idaho.

On June 16, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a final rule that codified Onshore Order 1Approval of Operations; Onshore Order 2Drilling Operations on Federal and Indian Oil and Gas Leases; Onshore Order 6Hydrogen Sulfide Operations; and Onshore Order 7Disposal of Produced Water into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This action corrects two cross references in that regulation.

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closures of certain public lands under its administration in Clark County, NV. These temporary closures are being made in the interest of public safety for the SNORE 250, Mint 400, and Legacy Battleground Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) races in the Jean/Roach Dry Lakes Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). The events will individually take place for one-day and two-day periods between the months of December to March from 2023 through 2027. The temporary closures are needed to limit access to the race area and minimize the risk of potential collisions with spectators and racers during the events.

Through this notice the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is segregating public lands included in the right-of-way application for the Pantheon Solar project (N-099861) from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice, subject to valid existing rights. This segregation is to allow for the orderly administration of the public lands to facilitate consideration of development of renewable energy resources. The public lands segregated by this notice total 4,210.06 acres.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Oregon State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 calendar days from the date of this publication.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes a modified competitive sale of an 80-acre parcel of public land in Emery County, Utah. The parcel would be offered for sale pursuant to the John D. Dingell Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The sale would be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and BLM land sale regulations. The surface estate would be sold for no less than the appraised fair market value of $34,000.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for 16 of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) statewide and regional Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have vacant positions or members whose terms are scheduled to expire. These RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within the geographic areas for which the RACs are organized.

On September 8, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that would revise the framework for designating and assuring maximum protection of Special Areas' significant resource values and protect and enhance access for subsistence activities throughout the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The proposed rule would also incorporate aspects of the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan approved in April 2022. The BLM has determined that it is appropriate to extend the comment period for the proposed rule by 10 days, until November 17, 2023, to allow for additional public comment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on October 21, 2021, segregated public lands included in the right-of-way application (N- 089655) for the Copper Rays Solar Project from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for a period of 2 years subject to valid existing rights. This 2-year extension of the segregation is necessary for the orderly administration of the public lands in order to allow the BLM to complete review of the Copper Rays Solar Project application and reach a decision on the application.

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) announces the availability of the Hult Reservoir and Dam Safety Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).