Bureau of Land Management – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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.