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

This notice announces a meeting of the Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The business meeting will be held on December 6, 2005, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Arizona State Office located at One North Central Avenue, 8th floor. 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 August 23, 2005 Meeting Minutes; BLM State Director's Update on Statewide Issues; New RAC Member Orientation; Presentations on San Pedro Water Rights Issues; Rangeland Inventory and Monitoring; Arizona Land Use Planning Update; 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 11:30 a.m. on December 6, 2005, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/EIS) for public land and resources in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, Montana. BLM invites the public to review and comment on the range and adequacy of the draft alternatives and their associated environmental effects. The DRMP/EIS provides direction and guidance for the management of about 375,000 acres of public land and 42,800 acres of existing oil and gas leases.

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., October 18, 2005. All inquiries should be sent to the Colorado State Office (CO-956), Bureau of Land Management, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093. The plat (in two sheets) which includes the field notes, and is the entire record of this survey of Tract 37, in suspended Township 44 North, Range 5 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted August 17, 2005. The supplemental plat of section 24, in Township 1 North, Range 72 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, created new Lots 106, 107 and 108 in the NW\1/4\NW\1/4\ of Section 24, and is based upon the boundaries of the Whitedare unpatented Mining Claim, CMC-115653, as defined by the dependent resurvey accepted August 20, 2003, was accepted August 16, 2005. The supplemental plat of Tract 39, patented April 3, 1986, Patent No. 05-86-0022 in Township 1 North, Range 72 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, which added the patented acreage value of Tract 39, that was omitted from the June 20, 1985 plat which created Tract 39, was accepted August 16, 2005. The supplemental plat which corrects and supersedes the supplemental plat accepted April 19, 2005, which incorrectly depicted the mineral survey number of the Mayflower and Little Boy Lodes in Township 48 North, Range 2 East, Sec. 29, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on July 27, 2005. The plat and field notes of the dependent resurveys and surveys, facilitating a land exchange in Township 1 North, Range 79 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted August 11, 2005. The field notes, as depicted on two plat-only plats, of the remonumentation of certain corners was requested by the Geographic Coordinate Data Base Program Manager, Washington Office, under BPA: NAB-000008, Task Order No. NAD-000095, in Townships 12 North, Ranges 68 and 69 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 1, 2005. The supplemental plat of section 20, creating new Lot 111 in the NE\1/4\NE\1/4\ of Section 20, is based upon Mineral Survey No. 19744, Roberta, Golden Rule, and Queen of the Valley approved October 19, 1916, and the dependent resurvey accepted March 13, 1963, in Township 1 North, Range 71 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was requested by the Canon City Field Office and was accepted on September 12, 2005. The plat and field notes, of the dependent resurvey and surveys was requested by the Uncompahgre Field Office, with the approval of the State Director, Colorado, in order to identify public land boundaries and a portion of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Boundary, in Township 51 North, Range 9 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on September 28, 2005. These plats and resurvey notes were requested by the Bureau of Land Management for administrative and management purposes. The plat and field notes of the dependent resurveys and surveys requested by the USDA Forest Service, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, through the State Director, Colorado, in order to identify the National Forest boundaries in Township 6 North, Range 77 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on August 24, 2005. The plat and field notes of the dependent resurvey and survey requested by the Regional Director of Lands, Rocky Mountain Region, USDA, Forest Service, through the State Director, Colorado, in order to identify the National Forest boundaries for management purposes in Township 10 North, Ranges 73 and 74 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on August 26, 2005. The plat (in 2 sheets), which is the entire record, of the dependent resurvey and survey, requested by the Pike and San Isabel National Forests, through the State Director, Colorado, in order to locate certain forest service boundaries that pertain to fuel reduction projects north of Gardner, CO., in Township 25 South, Range 70 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on September 1, 2005. The plat and field notes, of the dependent resurvey and survey, was requested by the Rocky Mountain Region, USDA, Forest Service, through the State Director, Colorado, in order to identify the National Forest boundaries for fuels reduction management purposes in Township 5 South, Range 72 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on September 7, 2005. The plats and field notes, representing the dependent resurvey and surveys in Townships 36 and 37 North, Range 14 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Group 1391,Colorado, were accepted August 10, 2005. These surveys were requested by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the approval of the State Director, Colorado, in order to identify the boundary of Ute Mountain Ute lands for management purposes. The plat and field notes, of the completion survey of Township 33 North, Range 19 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, was requested by the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Albuquerque, New Mexico, with the approval of the State Director, Colorado, in order to identify the reservation boundaries, was accepted September 7, 2005. 8,404.14 acres are included in this original survey.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is extending the call for nominations for ten membership positions on the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area Advisory Council. The original notice calling for nominations published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2005 [70 FR 54403]. The original deadline for the call for nominations was October 14, 2005. The purpose of this notice is to extend the nomination period until October 31, 2005. The Council advises the Secretary and the BLM on resource management issues associated with the McInnis Canyons NCA and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness.

Notice is hereby given that certain public lands are temporarily closed to public use for the purpose of discharge of firearms, from September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006. The authorized BLM officer has determined that shooting within one-quarter mile of Frenchglen, Oregon, may be a safety hazard to the residents. During the closure period, BLM will prepare National Environmental Policy Act documentation to consider a permanent closure. The closed area occurs on BLM land around Frenchglen, Oregon, in Willamette Meridian, T. 32 S., R. 32 E., Section 02, Lots 3 and 4 east of the 115 kV power transmission line OR-012617, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ east of the 115kV power transmission line OR-012617, N\1/2\SW\1/4\ north of Hwy 205, E\1/2\SW\1/4\ east of Elbow Springs Road, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\ east of Elbow Springs Road. Closure signs will be posted at main entry points to the area and along the boundary as necessary. Maps of the closure area and information may be obtained from the BLM Burns District Office and at various locations in Burns, Hines, and Frenchglen.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Advisory Board will meet December 6, 2005, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (PST) at the Best Western Sunridge Inn, One Sunridge Way, Baker City, Oregon. Meeting topics will include a Center Update, Marketing, and other topics as may come before the board. The meeting is open to the public. Public comment is scheduled for 10 to 10:15 a.m.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Castle Peak and Eight Mile Flat oil and gas expansion project proposed by Newfield Rocky Mountains, Inc., formerly Inland Resources, Inc. This FEIS and ROD are being announced concurrently per 40 CFR part 1506 (b) (2).

This notice contains proposed supplementary rules which will apply to the public lands within the Adaptive Management Area (AMA) in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) managed by the El Centro Field Office in Imperial County, California. This action is necessary in order to maintain viable populations of all native species, maintain habitat connectivity, and provide high quality, unique, world-class, day-use, semi-primitive, motorized recreation opportunities for off-highway vehicle (OHV) activities and non- vehicular recreational activities throughout the Adaptive Management Area and Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. We intend the supplementary rules to allow the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to manage AMA area in order to provide recreational opportunities while allowing for the conservation of habitat and plants and species of concern.

In accordance with the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act of 2000, 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, and the Steens Mountain Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

This notice announces the intent to hold a Resource Advisory Council (RAC) meeting in the Twin Falls District of Idaho on Tuesday, November 29, 2005. The meeting will be held in the Cedar Conference Room at the Red Lion Canyon Springs Hotel, 1357 Blue Lakes Boulevard North, in Twin Falls, Idaho.

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 Hollister Field Office.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policies, the BLM announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Upper Deschutes RMP located in Klamath, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties in Central Oregon. The Oregon/ Washington State Director has approved the RMP/ROD, which becomes effective immediately.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested State and local government officials of the filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada.

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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on September 29, 2005

The TRI RAC will hold a joint meeting for all members on Monday November 7, 2005 from 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PT) to 5 p.m. Tuesday November 8, 2005. The meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. and end about noon. The meeting is being held at the Running Y Ranch Resort, Conference Room, 5500 Running Y Road, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601. Meeting sessions are open to the public. A comment period is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. (PT) on Monday November 7, 2005. The meeting topics to be discussed include: New member orientation and video, a BLM and Forest Service update by the State Director and Regional Forester, Congressional updates, and a panel discussion on RAC involvement. Grazing regulations, the wild horse and burro program, and planning and implementation updates will follow. There will be a panel discussion on volunteerism and outside funding, stewardship contracting, proactive strategies and a RAC restructuring proposal. There may also be other issues that may come before the Councils. The Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council will hold a brief meeting Sunday November 6, 2005, at the Running Y Ranch Resort at 3 p.m. (PT) in the Board Room. The John Day-Snake Resource Advisory Council will hold a brief meeting on Tuesday November 8, 2005 following the close of the TRI RAC meeting. These additional meetings will be to discuss the same issues and concerns that are scheduled for the TRI RAC meeting.

Under Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Kemmerer 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, in the Moxa Arch area, Wyoming. The proposed additional wells would fill in or ``infill'' among existing wells drilled and developed under the Expanded Moxa Arch Area Natural Gas Development Project EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) (1997). Drilling is proposed to occur over a 10-year period and the life- of-project is anticipated to be 40 years. The project area is located west of Green River, east of Lyman and Opal, and south of the Fontenelle Reservoir.

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 Title IV of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (Pub. L. 97-451), Eclipse Exploration Corporation filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas leases UTU75761 and UTU76326 for lands in Grand County, Utah, and it was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from April 1, 2003 and October 1, 2003, respectively, the dates of termination.

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 WYW152216 from Freeman Investments for lands in Sweetwater 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.

The Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States (BLM-ES) is temporarily closing the Maryland Point property formerly known as the Maryland Point Naval Observatory. This closure complies with the requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to provide for the safety of the public. The authority for this closure is found in 43 CFR 8364.1. The closure is necessary to protect the public from hazardous materials and conditions remaining from past military use.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) originally published this notice on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 [70 FR 51364] and solicited public comments on the report which affirms the existing policy on the criteria used to establish the potash enclave. The BLM gave the public 30 days to comment on these Policy Standards. The public comment period ended on Thursday, September 29, 2005. The BLM received numerous requests to lengthen the comment period. The BLM will re-issue a comment period for 120 days.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) inadvertently published a draft version of a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Project, Carbon and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming in the Federal Register on Thursday, September 8, 2005 (70 FR 53381). The BLM is publishing this correction notice to strike the last sentence. The sentence being removed is ``A decision for the Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Project (C/BG2 Project) will not be made nor implemented until after a Record of Decision is issued for the Rawlins RMP revision FEIS''. Any such decision will be in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit public nominations for three members to the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The Board provides advice concerning management, protection and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on the public lands administered by the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, and the Department of Agriculture, through the Forest Service.

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.