Land Management Bureau April 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (1972), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG) Air Quality Task Group (subcommittee) will meet in Pinedale, Wyoming, for a business meeting. Task Group meetings are open to the public.

Under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) for public lands and resources administered by the BLM's Dillon Field Office. The PRMP/FEIS provides direction and guidance for the management of approximately 900,000 acres of public land and 1.3 million acres of Federal mineral estate located in Beaverhead and Madison Counties in southwestern Montana and replaces the Dillon Management Framework Plan approved in September 1979.

The Medford District Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Medford to gain a common understanding of the process related to Pub. L. 106-393, tour project sites, and discuss proposed fiscal year 2006 projects. Agenda topics include background and history of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, election of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, and development of a common vision; on-site inspections of 2005 projects and proposed 2006 projects; and presentations and discussions regarding proposed 2006 Title II projects.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing the six-month notification to suspend all royalty reductions for the production of heavy oil under the regulations at 43 CFR 3103.4-3(b)(6)(i) and of the termination of availability of further heavy oil relief. In addition, BLM is requesting comments on the conditions under which the suspension of the program should end.

This order revokes a Secretarial Order in its entirety as it affects 9 acres of public land withdrawn for the Bureau of Land Management's Power Site Classification No. 229. This order also opens the land to surface entry subject to valid existing rights and other segregations of record.

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 Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, notice is hereby given that the Winnemucca Field Office (WFO) of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is initiating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed coal-fired power plant.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from applicants to lease and develop solid minerals other than coal and oil shade. BLM uses the information to determine whether an applicant, permittee, or lessee is qualified to hold an interest under the terms of the implementing regulations at 43 CFR part 3500.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from those persons who submit a Color-of-Title Application to apply for public lands under a color-of-title claim. BLM uses forms 2540-1, 2540- 2, and 2540-3 for color-of-title transactions on public lands.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease WYW159119 for lands in Weston County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease WYW153617 for lands in Park County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Under the provisions of section 31(d) of the Mineral Leasing Act, (30 U.S.C. 188(d)), a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease NMNM 106897 for lands in Quay County, New Mexico, was timely filed and was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from September 1, 2004, the date of termination.

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), the lessee timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease MTM 93052, Pondera County, Montana. The lessee paid the required rental accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessee agrees to new lease terms for rentals and royalties of $10 per acre and 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate. The lessee paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of the lease and $155 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessee met the requirements for reinstatement of the lease per Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the lease, effective January 1, 2005 subject to: The original terms and conditions of the lease; The increased rental of $10 per acre; The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate; and The $155 cost of publishing this Notice

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

This notice advises the public and other agencies of availability of the Draft Alamosa River Watershed Restoration Master Plan (ARWRMP) for comment. The draft plan describes the Alamosa River environment and the impacts to watershed resources and land uses, and briefly describes proposed restoration projects. It comprehensively addresses all watershed restoration needs, including those resulting from injuries pursuant to the federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) regulations in CFR 43 part 11, as well as restoration needs arising from other impacts. The draft plan also outlines several sets of projects based on competing needs and limited funding, and proposes a preferred restoration alternative, consisting of a project set that best addresses the various resource impacts. The preferred alternative provides for natural resource restoration within the Alamosa River watershed. The draft plan envisions funds from the NRDAR settlement, along with matching funds, grants, and other funding sources, to support the preferred alternative. The restoration actions ultimately undertaken will result from proposals for specific actions that respond to the needs and selected projects identified in the preferred restoration alternative.

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

The plats of survey of the following described land will be officially filed in the Colorado State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Lakewood, Colorado, effective 10 a.m., April 6, 2005. All inquiries should be sent to the Colorado State Office, Bureau of Land Management, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093. The plat, representing the dependent resurveys and surveys in Township 2 North, Range 81 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Group 1397, Colorado, was accepted March 25, 2005. The supplemental plat, amending the erroneously numbered lot 45, as shown on the plat approved October 30, 1997, to lot 47, and creating new lot 48, is based upon the survey plats approved November 29, 1984 and October 30, 1997 and the mineral survey M.S. 6771, The Cleveland Placer, approved May 16, 1891, and the mineral survey M.S. 1148, Rosa, cancelled August 9, 1984. This supplemental plat was accepted February 9, 2005. The supplemental plat, correcting the numerical errors in the longitudes for the two witness posts on the Colorado/Wyoming State Boundary and Interstate Highway 25 (I-25) and the distance between Witness Point 44+58.83 and Mile Post 45, as shown on the plat approved May 18, 1998, and is based upon the dependent resurvey plat approved May 18, 1998, and was accepted March 31, 2005. These plats and resurvey notes were requested by the Bureau of Land Management for administrative and management purposes. The plat of survey requested by the Realty Staff, White River National Forest, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on August 11, 2004, for the purpose of identifying the boundaries of National Forest lands to be conveyed and patented out of federal ownership in conjunction with a land exchange at the base of the ski area in Vail, Colorado, under Group 1415 was accepted February 3, 2005. This plat was requested by the U.S. Forest Service, to facilitate a land exchange, and for administrative and management purposes.

On January 21, 2005, the State of Utah and Millard County submitted two applications for recordable disclaimers of interest from the United States. These recordable disclaimer of interest applications are identified by BLM Serial Number UTU-82199 for Alexa Lane and UTU- 82200 for Snake Pass Road, both in Millard County, Utah. Recordable disclaimers of interest, if issued, would confirm that the United States has no property interest in the identified public highway rights-of-way. This Notice is intended to notify the public of the pending applications and the State's and County's grounds for supporting them. Specific details of the applications are provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

This notice announces a meeting and tour of the Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The business meeting will be held on May 3, 2005, in Kingman, Arizona, at the Dambar and Steakhouse banquet room located on 1960 E. Andy Devine Avenue. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. The agenda items to be covered include: Review of the January 25, 2005 Meeting Minutes; BLM State Director's Update on Statewide Issues; Presentations on Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act, Designated Off-Highway Vehicle Areas, and Arizona Land Use Planning Updates; RAC Questions on Written Reports from BLM Field Managers; Field Office Rangeland Resource Team Proposals; Reports by the Standards and Guidelines, Recreation, Off-Highway Vehicle Use, Public Relations, Land Use Planning and Tenure, and Wild Horse and Burro Working Groups; Reports from RAC members; and Discussion of future meetings. A public comment period will be provided at 11 a.m. on May 3, 2005, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council. On May 4, the RAC will tour the Pine Lake subdivision in the Hualapai Mountains. BLM will highlight the fuel reduction projects, thinning and prescribed fire, it's jointly conducting with the Pine Lake Working Group to protect the area from catastrophic wildfires. The tour will be conducted from approximately 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The April 18 and 19, 2005, Steens Mountain Advisory Council Meeting, previously scheduled to be held at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738, has been cancelled. The original Federal Register notice announcing the meeting was published Tuesday, December 14, 2004, page number 74535.

Notice is hereby given that approximately 988 acres of public land north of the Pasadena Valley Road in Elmore County, Idaho, will remain closed to the use of motorized vehicles. The public land is located approximately two (2) miles east of Glenns Ferry, Idaho, known as the Paradise or Pasadena off-highway vehicle (OHV) area. The closure applies to all types of motor and off-highway vehicles with the exception of those authorized for fire fighting, law enforcement, access to private lands, administrative operations and/or other BLM authorized activities.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Las Vegas Field Office, will be directing the preparation of an EIS for the Virgin and Muddy Rivers Surface Water Development pipeline and associated facilities and initiate the public scoping process.

Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, hereby gives notice that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the environmental impact statement, maximum economic recovery, and fair market value of federal coal to be offered. An application for coal lease was filed by Ark Land Company. The Bureau of Land Management offers for competitive lease 1,517.13 acres of Federal coal in Gunnison County, Colorado, Gunnison National Forest.

Pursuant to the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC59640 for lands in Routt County, Colorado, was timely filed and was accompanied by all the required rentals accruing from the date of termination.

This notice cancels and terminates the segregative effect of a proposed land exchange (U-81066) on 15 acres of public land. The 15 acre parcel of public land, located in Washington County, Utah, has been examined and found suitable for classification for lease/ conveyance (U-81083) to the Washington County School District under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended.