Bureau of Land Management June 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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Director intends to develop a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (Monument) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues, is providing the planning criteria for public review, and is issuing a call for nominations for areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs). The Mimbres RMP currently provides for BLM management in this new planning area. The RMP revision would replace the existing Mimbres RMP within the now-established National Monument.

On April 3, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that, pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and other relevant authorities, would advance the BLM's mission to manage the public lands for multiple use and sustained yield by prioritizing the health and resilience of ecosystems across those lands. To ensure that health and resilience, the proposed rule provides that the BLM will protect intact landscapes, restore degraded habitat, and make wise management decisions based on science and data. The BLM has determined that it is appropriate to extend the comment period for the docket until July 5, 2023, to allow for additional public comment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend its existing right-of-way (ROW) regulations, issued under authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). The principal purpose of these amendments would be to facilitate responsible solar and wind energy development on public lands managed by the BLM. The rule would adjust acreage rents and capacity fees for solar and wind energy, provide the BLM with more flexibility in how it processes applications for solar and wind energy development inside designated leasing areas, and update agency criteria on prioritizing solar and wind applications. The rule would also make technical changes, corrections, and clarifications to the existing ROW regulations. This rule would implement the authority granted to the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) in the Energy Act of 2020 to ``reduce acreage rental rates and capacity fees'' to ``promote the greatest use of wind and solar energy resources'' and achieve other enumerated policy goals.

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) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment/Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 2002 Southeastern Oregon RMP, and by this notice is announcing the start of a 30-day protest period of the Proposed RMP Amendment.

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

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 NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., an Alaska Native regional corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), as amended.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), Presidential Proclamations entitled ``Establishment of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument'' (June 9, 2000) and ``Boundary Enlargement of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument'' (January 12, 2017), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon/Washington (OR/WA) and California (CA) State Offices intend to revise a resource management plan (RMP) with an associated environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (Monument). With this notice, the BLM announces the beginning of a 60-day public scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues, provide the planning criteria for public review, and issue a call for nominations for areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs). This RMP revision would replace the existing 2008 Monument RMP.

This Order withdraws approximately 336,404.42 acres of public lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from location and entry under the United States mining laws and from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, but not the mineral materials laws, subject to valid existing rights. The purpose of this withdrawal is to protect these public lands and the greater connected landscape with a rich Puebloan, Tribal Nation, and cultural legacy in the New Mexico counties of San Juan, Sandoval, and McKinley for a period of 20 years.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior withdraw 3,739 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands located within the Prescott National Forest from location and entry under the U.S. mining laws, and from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, for a 20-year term, subject to valid existing rights. The purpose of the withdrawal requested is to protect the Hassayampa River Riparian Corridor, located in Yavapai County, Arizona, from potential adverse impacts from mining, mineral, and geothermal leasing. Publication of this notice temporarily segregates the lands for up to two years, initiates a 90-day public comment period, and announces to the public an opportunity to request a public meeting on the withdrawal application.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Office intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and potential associated amendments to the 1998 Las Vegas Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the proposed solar development referred to as the Bonanza Solar Project. EDF Renewables Development Inc. is proposing to build the Bonanza Solar Project in Clark and Nye counties, Nevada. Publication of this notice initiates the scoping process and a 45-day public comment period to solicit public comments on the scope of the analysis, including issues and alternatives, and to solicit public comments on the planning criteria.