Bureau of Land Management – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 (BLM) Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Council (RAC) is announcing its 2023 fall meeting.

On behalf of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 199.90 acres of public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, for up to 100 years to protect and reserve the land for management as part of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) located in Harney County, Oregon. This notice temporarily segregates these lands for up to 2 years and announces to the public an opportunity to comment and request a public meeting on the proposed withdrawal.

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closure of certain public lands under its administration in Clark County, Nevada. This temporary closure is being made in the interest of public safety for the Rise Lantern Festival over a 2-day period the first full weekend of October of each year from 2023 to 2027. This closure controls access to multiple points of entry to the festival located on the Jean Dry Lake to minimize the risk of vehicle collisions involving festival participants and workers. The temporary closure also ensures adequate time to conduct clean-up of the festival location.

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

On behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Forest Service (USFS) filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7593 for an additional 20- year term. PLO No. 7593 withdrew 80 acres of National Forest System land in Catron County, New Mexico, from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, to protect the Davenport Electronic Site for a period of 20 years. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 7593 will expire on January 27, 2024, unless extended. This notice announces to the public an opportunity to comment on the withdrawal extension application and to request a public meeting.

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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a supplementary rule to protect natural resources and provide for public health and safety. The proposed supplementary rule would apply to all public lands and BLM facilities in Wyoming.

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 Resource Advisory Council (Council) will meet as follows.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a new rule to govern the management of surface resources and Special Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A), consistent with its duties under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act (NPRPA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and other authorities. The proposed rule would revise the framework for designating and assuring maximum protection of Special Areas' significant resource values, and would protect and enhance access for subsistence activities throughout the NPR-A. It would also incorporate aspects of the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) approved in April 2022. The proposed rule would have no effect on currently authorized oil and gas operations in the NPR-A. We solicit comments on all aspects of this proposed action.

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) Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) 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) Missouri Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as follows.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Shoshone Field Office announces the extension of the segregation of 106,555.88 acres of public lands for the Lava Ridge Wind Project (project) for an additional two years, subject to valid existing rights. The public land involved will be segregated from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law of 1872, but not the mineral leasing or material sale laws. This segregation extension is necessary to allow for the orderly administration of the public lands and to facilitate the completion of the BLM's review and decision regarding the project.

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 intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of Nevada Gold Mines LLC's (NGM's) Robertson Mine Project (Project) in Lander County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues and alternatives; it also serves to initiate public consultation, as required, under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho, 30 days from the date of this publication. The plats were prepared to meet certain administrative needs of the Bureau of Land Management.

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) Ridgecrest Field Office, Ridgecrest, California intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the proposed Mojave Precious Metals Exploratory Drilling Project in Inyo County, California, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

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) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM or Monument), and by this notice is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft RMP/EIS and the comment period on the BLM's proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs) and proposed recreational target shooting closures.

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) New Mexico State Director intends to prepare a resource management plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental assessment (EA) for the R[iacute]o Grande del Norte National Monument and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues. We are also providing the planning criteria for public review.

This order partially revokes 8 Public Land Orders (PLOs) insofar as they affect approximately 812,956.96 acres of public lands reserved for study and classification, as appropriate, by the Department of the Interior. This order opens these lands specifically to allow for allotment selection by eligible Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans and possible conveyance under the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program (Allotment Program) established by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 (Dingell Act). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) analyzed partial revocation of these PLOs and opening of the affected lands for allotment selections and possible conveyances in the Alaska Native Vietnam-era Veterans Land Allotment Program Environmental Assessment (Allotment Program EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) signed on April 21, 2022.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado's Northwest, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) to fill existing vacancies, as well as member terms that are scheduled to expire. The RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their geographic areas.

This Order withdraws 1,464 acres of Federal surface/subsurface public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and 1,134 acres of Federal surface public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, and reserves the land for 100 years for management as part of the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) located in La Paz and Mohave Counties, Arizona, subject to valid existing rights.

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 (FLMPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO) and Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO), and by this notice is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft RMP/Supplemental EIS and is announcing the comment period on the BLM's proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides constructive notice that it will issue an appealable decision approving conveyance of the surface estate in certain lands to The Aleut Corporation, an Alaska Native regional corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), as amended. The lands approved for conveyance lie entirely within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and the Alaska Peninsula Unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. As provided by ANCSA, ownership of the subsurface estate in the same lands will be retained by the United States.

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 The Aleut Corporation, an Alaska Native regional corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). The lands approved for conveyance lie entirely within the Aleutian Islands Unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) San Rafael Swell Recreation Area Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below.

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, are necessary for the management of these lands.