Land Management Bureau March 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Burley Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Proposed Cotterel Mountain Wind Power Project and Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Nevada State Office and Ely Field Office, will be initiating the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) and conducting public scoping meetings to analyze the proposed Lincoln County Land Act (LCLA) Groundwater Development Project, which will include production wells, a water transmission pipeline with lateral pipelines, electric lines, and communication lines. The purpose of the project is to develop and convey water from the Tule Desert area to land sold by the BLM under the LCLA, approximately 2 miles north of Mesquite, Nevada.

Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States (BLM-ES), will offer certain coal resources described below as the Blue Hole Federal Mineral Tract (KYES-50213) in Clay County, Kentucky, for competitive sale by sealed bid, in accordance with the provisions for competitive lease sales in 43 CFR part 3422, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), and the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office is issuing supplementary rules to regulate conduct on specific public lands within Park County, Colorado. The rules apply to the public lands called Guffey Gorge, also known as Guffey Gulch. BLM has determined these rules necessary to protect the area's natural resources and to provide for public health and safe public recreation.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and in response to a Right-of-Way (ROW) application filed by Williams Field Services Company (Williams), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Rawlins Field Office, announces its intention to prepare an EIS and conduct public scoping meetings. Williams proposes to construct an approximately 750-mile long, 20-inch diameter natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline originating at existing facilities in Opal, Wyoming, and ending at existing NGL processing facilities in Conway, Kansas. Of the 750 miles, approximately 78 miles of the pipeline would not be located near existing pipelines.

NOA of the DEIS for the Pit 14 Coal LBA, a maintenance lease for Federal coal in the decertified Green River-Hamms Fork Coal Production Region, Wyoming and Notice of Public Hearing.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received an application from Powder River Coal Company, Inc., (PRCC) to exchange portions of two Federal coal leases affecting an alluvial valley floor (AVF) designated as significant to farming. The affected leases are located at the Caballo Mine in Campbell County, Wyoming. The AVF lands will be exchanged for new coal leases adjacent to one or more existing coal leases. This tract, which was applied for as an AVF exchange under the provisions of 43 CFR 3436, is called the Gold Mine Draw Exchange (GMDX) Tract. Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, BLM must prepare an environmental analysis prior to consummating an exchange. BLM is announcing that the Draft Environmental Analysis (EA) is available for public review and that a public hearing will be held to elicit comments from any affected parties concerning the EA or the exchange in general.

Under the provisions of 371(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the lessees: Kay Papulak and Trachyte Oil Company timely filed a petition for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas lease WYW151232 in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The lessees paid the required rental accruing from the date of termination, October 1, 2002. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessees have agreed to the new lease terms for rentals of $10.00 per acre and royalties of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing noncompetitive royalty rates. The lessees have paid the required $500 administrative fee for the reinstatement of the lease and $166 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessees have met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease per Sec. 31(e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188(e)). We are proposing to reinstate the lease, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the lease; The increased rental of $10.00 per acre; and The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rates.

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 43 CFR 8364.1 notice is hereby given that certain public lands will be temporarily closed to all public use located in Washoe County, Nevada. This action is being taken to provide for public safety during the 2006 Pylon Racing Seminar and 2006 Reno National Championship Air Races.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Chaluka Corporation. The lands are located in T. 81 S., R. 133 W.; T. 82 S., Rgs. 133, 134, 135, and 136 W.; T. 83 S., Rgs. 134, 135, and 136 W.; T. 84 S., Rgs. 136 and 137 W.; and T. 85 S., R. 139 W., Seward Meridian, in the vicinity of Nikolski, Alaska, and contain approximately 14,141 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in The Anchorage Daily News.

Pursuant to Section 2(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by Section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 1083, 30 U.S.C. 201(b), and to the regulations adopted as 43 CFR part 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to participate with PacifiCorp on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America immediately west of the Deer Creek Mine state lease (ML-48258) in the Mill Fork West Area, in the following-described lands of Emery County, Utah:

This notice is an invitation to participate in a Coal Exploration program. Ark Land Company has filed the application for the Muddy Canyon Tract. All qualified parties are invited to participate with Ark Land Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of certain Federal coal deposits in the following described lands in Sevier County, Utah:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that 2,808.67 acres of isolated public lands in Grand County, Utah, are suitable for lease pursuant to section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (90 Stat. 2762; 43 U.S.C. 1732) using noncompetitive (direct) lease procedures.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the ROD for the Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, Wyoming.

This order revokes, in its entirety, a public land order which withdrew 120 acres of public land and reserved it for use by the Forest Service as an administrative site. The land was never used for the intended purpose and the withdrawal is no longer needed.

This notice amends the Notice of Realty Action for Direct Sale of Public Lands in Clark County, Nevada, published in 70 FR 77184- 77186. Under the section entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, the following correction is made. The Land Proposed for Sale is changed from:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell directly to Hollis and Dorothy Vaughn a parcel of public land in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, pursuant to sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), at not less than the appraised market value.

Notice is hereby given that approximately 80 acres of public lands have been temporarily closed to all public uses that could result in death or injury to nearby residents or private property damage through the use of firearms, ignition of a wildfire, and/or damaging or destroying vegetation and associated wildlife habitat. Prohibited activities include, but are not limited to the use of firearms for target shooting or hunting, the operation of motorized vehicles or other internal combustion engines in any capacity, camping, or ignition of any open fires. This closure is made under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1 Closure and Restriction Orders. The closed area is in the vicinity of Lake Don Pedro in Tuolumne County, and is within T2S, R15E, Section 31, NE \1/4\, NE \1/4\, and Section 32, NW \1/4\, NW \1/4\, Mount Diablo Baseline and Meridian. All entry will be selectively restricted during this emergency closure to protect persons, property, public lands, and natural resources. Closure signs will be posted at main entry points to this area, and a fence will be constructed to exclude vehicle entry.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Dineega Corporation. The lands are located in T. 7 S., R.16 E.; T. 10 S., R. 17 E.; T. 11 S., R. 17 E.; and T. 8 S., R.18 E., Kateel River Meridian, in the vicinity of Ruby, Alaska, and aggregate 6,929.66 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Pilot Point Native Corporation. The lands are located in T. 32 S., R. 49 W.; T. 29 S., R. 50 W.; T. 29 S., R. 51 W.; and T. 32 S., R. 52 W., Seward Meridian, in the vicinity of Pilot Point, Alaska, and contain 9,502.05 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Bristol Bay Times.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Doyon, Limited. The lands are located in T. 14 N., R 8 W., and T. 13 N., R. 9 W., Fairbanks Meridian, in the vicinity of Stevens Village, Alaska, and aggregating 29,970.39 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

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 COC56695 from Encana Oil and Gas (USA) Inc., for lands in San Miguel County, Colorado. 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 (BLM) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS) request comments and suggestions to assist in the preparation of proposed regulations governing Gas Hydrate Production Incentives. The rule would provide incentives to promote natural gas production from the natural gas hydrate resources on Federal lands in Alaska and in Federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf. We encourage the public to provide comments and suggestions to help clarify and define the requirements for Gas Hydrate Production Incentives as described in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.