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

This order partially revokes a Public Land Order insofar as if affects 40.16 acres of public land withdrawn for use by the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, now New Mexico State University, for research purposes in connection with Federal programs.

In compliance with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) planning regulations, title 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1610.2(f)(3) and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, title 40 CFR 1502.9(a), the BLM hereby gives notice that the Lake Havasu Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) is available for public review and comment. The planning area encompasses more than 1.3 million acres of the BLM-administered lands.

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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend the Caliente Resource Management Plan (RMP) to cover newly transferred lands at NPR-2 and prepare an environmental assessment to analyze the effects of that action. The lands addressed by this amendment were formerly under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy. However, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) transferred management responsibility from the DOE to the BLM effective August 8, 2005. As directed in the Act, ``the principal purpose of the lands subject to transfer * * * is the production of hydrocarbon resources, and the Secretary of the Interior shall manage the lands in a fashion consistent with this purpose.'' Accordingly, this plan amendment will specify management prescriptions at NPR-2 for oil and gas related operations and specific realty actions covered under 43 CFR part 2000 by extending existing management prescriptions from the current Caliente RMP. The proposed action identifies the suitability of the newly transferred lands for leasing for oil and gas exploration and development and any constraints thereon, in addition to addressing both ongoing and new oil and gas related activities on lands that are already leased. The amendment will also identify guidance for specific realty program actions, including any constraints on repositioning land through exchange, sale or acquisition. The land affected comprises only the federal portion of NPR-2. Total acreage is approximately 10,451 acres, located in Townships 31 South, Ranges 23-24 East; and 32 South, Ranges 23-25 East, MDBM. Approximately 7,919 acres, 76% of the transferred land, already contain ongoing oil and gas operations and little change is expected in those areas. Approximately 2,532 acres, or 24% of the transferred land, is unleased.

This notice is published in accordance with section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-463). Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture have renewed the Bureau of Land Management's Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretaries with respect to the preparation and implementation of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Management Plan.

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) will meet in Pinedale, Wyoming, for a business meeting. Group meetings are open to the public.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Montana State Office, Billings, Montana, (30) days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease or conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act approximately 82.81 acres of public land in Nye County, Nevada. The Nye County School District proposes to use the land for school site purposes.

Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart 8341.2(a), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the closure of certain BLM-administered public lands to all types of motor vehicle use to protect the National Historic Trails (NHT), which includes the Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, California, and Pony Express Trails. This closure affects public lands located within Fremont County on the NHTs in the area known as Rocky Ridge. The closure area extends for approximately 2 miles from near the Lower Monument over Rocky Ridge to the western edge of the BLM-administered public land in Section 28, T29N, R97W.

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 WYW146280 from Gulf Exploration LLC for lands in Converse 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 WYW144552 from Chris S. Glade for lands in Natrona 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.

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), the lessees, Headington Oil, Limited Partnership, Upton Resources U.S.A., Inc., Northern Energy Corporation, and W.H. Champion, timely filed petitions for reinstatement of oil and gas leases NDM 85983, NDM 85987, NDM 85992, NDM 85998, and NDM 92293, Billings County, North Dakota. The lessees paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination, February 1, 2005. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessees agree 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 for each lease. The lessees paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of each lease and $155 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessees met the requirements for reinstatement of the leases per Sec. 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the leases, effective the date of termination, February 1, 2005, subject to: The original terms and conditions of each lease; The increased rental of $10 per acre for each lease; The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate for each lease; and The $155 cost of publishing this Notice.

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 WYW146283 from Gulf Exploration LLC for lands in Converse 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 WYW157569 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing, Inc. for lands in Hot Springs 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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Ukiah Field Office.

This notice amends the Notice of Realty Action for Competitive Sale of Public Lands in Clark County, Nevada; Termination of Recreation and Public Purposes Classification and Segregation; Withdrawal of the formerly classified lands by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act printed in the Federal Register: Vol. 70, No. 159 Thursday, August 18, 2005. The number of parcels being offered for sale is corrected to read, 87 parcels. This sale includes parcel N-78217 which was omitted from the original notice. Under the section entitled DATES, the correct acres for the proposed SNPLMA sale in the Las Vegas Valley is 3,197.00 acres. Under the section entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, the following corrections are made: The first sentence after the legal descriptions is corrected to read ``87 parcels''. In the first and second sentences after the legal descriptions, all references to the North Las Vegas ``parcel'' should read ``parcels'', and the second sentence is to also include (N-78217 and N-79580). In the second full paragraph after the legal descriptions, regarding BLM reservation/conveyance of the mineral interests, N-78217 is added to the parcels referenced. Under the section entitled ``Terms and Conditions of Sale'', the following corrections are made: No. 7. should read, ``Unless otherwise stated herein, maps delineating the individual proposed sale parcels and current appraisals for each parcel are available for public review at the BLM LVFO.'' No. 8. (a), should read, ``Parcels N-78217 and N-79580 will be put up for purchase and sale together at the oral auction. A sealed bid for these parcels will not be accepted. If these parcels are not sold at the oral auction, they will not be offered later on an online Internet auction.'' No. 11., the last sentence should read, ``For parcels N-78217 and N-79580, arrangements may be made for Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) of the required, combined 20 percent deposit for both parcels by notifying BLM no later than October 31, 2005 of your intent to use EFT.'' No. 14., second sentence should read, ``For parcels N-78217 and N- 79580 each prospective bidder will be required to present a certified check, postal money order, bank draft, or cashier's check made payable in U.S. dollars to the Bureau of Land Management for an amount of money which shall be no less than 20 percent of the combined federally approved FMV for both designated parcels, in order to be eligible to bid on them.'' Under the section entitled ``Additional Information'', the following corrections are made: Paragraph one, the second sentence should read, ``Unsold parcels, with the exception of parcels N-78217 and N-79580, may be offered for sale in a future online Internet auction.'' Paragraph three should read, ``Parcel N-78217. Potential bidders for parcels N-78217 and N-79580 should be aware of the content of a document entitled, ``A Conservation Agreement for the Management of Special Resources on the Bureau of Land Management Parcels Nominated for Disposal by the City of North Las Vegas'' entered into by BLM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nevada Division of Forestry and the City of North Las Vegas (the ``Conservation Agreement''). Under the Conservation Agreement, BLM retains ownership of approximately 300 acres partially surrounded by parcel N-78217 for protection and preservation of certain special plant and paleontological resources. BLM makes no warranty or representation that this Conservation Agreement is the full extent of federal or state requirements that may impact parcel N-78217.

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), the Western Montana Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

This notice announces the establishment of the North Slope Science Initiative Science Technical Group by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) and calls for nominations to serve on the Science Technical Group in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972, 5 U.S.C. Appendix. A copy of the Science Technical Group charter will be filed with the appropriate committees of Congress and the Library of Congress in accordance with Section 9(c) of FACA.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States, Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

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 (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

Under Section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Rawlins Field Office, announces its intent to prepare an EIS on the potential impacts of a proposed natural gas development project consisting primarily of conventional gas well development, but also including approximately 100 coal bed natural gas wells. In April 2005, the BLM received a proposal from Devon Energy Corporation representing themselves and other lease holders in the area, to drill and develop up to 1,250 wells from an estimated 1000 well pad sites and install and operate associated facilities. The proposed project area encompasses approximately 184,000 acres of mixed Federal, State, and private land, and overlies a natural gas field analyzed under the Creston/Blue Gap Natural Gas Project Final EIS (1994). Project development and the operational period is expected to have a 30 to 40 year life. The project area is located approximately 40 air miles southwest of the city of Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming.

The plats of survey described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the New Mexico State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Santa Fe, New Mexico, (30) thirty calendar days from the date of this publication.

This document provides notice that the BLM intends to revise six Resource Management Plans (RMP) with a single associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Coos Bay District, Eugene District, Medford District, Roseburg District, Salem District, and the Klamath Falls Resource Area of the Lakeview District (planning area).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has officially filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho, effective 9 a.m., on the dates specified.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) requires that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) change its fee collection at the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area (RNCA) from Recreation Use Permits to Special Recreation Permits. This change will only affect the Gila River floatboat put-in facility along the Gila River. The fee remains the same.