Land Management Bureau July 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) to amend selected portions of the 1994 Record of Decision for the Northwest Forest Plan by removing the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines. The ROD amends Resource Management Plans for the BLM Districts in western Oregon and northwestern California. The U.S. Forest Service is expected to concurrently announce a similar decision amending their respective Land and Resource Management Plans. Under the Northwest Forest Plan, Survey and Manage added conservation measures for rare and little known species to BLM and U.S. Forest Service requirements for providing for late successional and old growth forest-related species. These Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines had made it difficult for the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service to meet the other resource management goals set forth in the Northwest Forest Plan (i.e. timber harvest, hazardous fuels treatment, and ecosystem restoration). Although the Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines are removed with this decision, conservation of rare and little known species will continue to be accomplished through the other elements of the Northwest Forest Plan and the BLM and U.S. Forest Service's Special Status Species Programs.

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 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW157978 for land 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.

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 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW157980 for land 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.

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 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW159720 for land 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.

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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to initially lease and then convey 21.4 acres of public land located south of the town of Searchlight, Nevada, for a public airport. An existing airport is located on public and private lands, and the center portion of the airport runway is located on lands currently owned by Searchlight Airpark Developers, LLC (Searchlight). Searchlight proposes to develop a residential airpark on the remaining portion of its private lands and use its 1,600 feet of private runway in conjunction with the 3,700 feet of runway located on public lands. Searchlight has requested that the existing airport runway be leased and then conveyed to it at the appraised fair market value of the land. At a future date, the BLM proposes to sell the 21.4 acres of public airport runway to Searchlight by non-competitive (direct) sale at not less than the appraised fair market value. The sale of the airport runway will require a cadastral survey and updated appraisal prior to conveyance.

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 Calista Corporation for lands located in the vicinity of Eek and Goodnews Bay, Alaska. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Anchorage Daily News.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s Billings Field Office is proposing to begin collecting fees in 2007 at the Shepherd Ah Nei OHV Area in Yellowstone County, Montana, located in Township 3 N, Range 27 E, Section 1 and Township 3 N, Range 28 E, Section 6. Under Section 2 (13) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), L. 108-447, the Shepherd Ah Nei OHV Area qualifies as a site wherein visitors can be charged a ``Special Recreation Permit Fee'' authorized under section 3(h). In accordance with REA, and implementing regulations at 43 CFR Part 2930, visitors participating in OHV use (e.g. ATVs, motorcycles, quads), could purchase a Special Recreation Permit (SRP) to operate their vehicle within the riding area. Each OHV operating within the recreation area would be required to purchase and display the permit. Permits would expire on December 31 of the issue year, regardless of when the permit was purchased. Opportunity to purchase an individual SRP pass for the day would be available onsite to facilitate less frequent users. BLM provides individual special recreation permits for management of special areas as defined in 43 CFR Part 2932.11. 1-2., and in REA under section 3(h). The America The BeautifulThe National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, including the Annual, Senior, Access, and Volunteer passes would not be honored and do not apply to the SRP fee. The National Park Passports, Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access Passports would also not be honored and do not apply to the SRP fee.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) North Dakota Field Office (NDFO) and South Dakota Field Office (SDFO) intend to prepare Resource Management Plans with associated Environmental Impact Statements (RMP/ EIS) for the NDFO and SDFO planning areas. These RMPs will replace the current North Dakota and South Dakota RMPs.

The BLM is publishing this Notice under Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act to solicit public nominations for four members on the Gila Box Riparian NCA Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee was created through Title 2, Section 201, of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act of 1990 to provide informed advice to the Safford Field Manager on management of public lands in the Gila Box Riparian NCA in southeastern Arizona. Any individual or organization may nominate one or more persons to serve on the Advisory Committee. Persons wishing to nominate themselves or other individuals should submit an application form, which is available from the BLM Safford Field Office or online at https:// www.blm.gov/az as a link in the News Release section. The application must include at least one letter of recommendation that addresses the nominee's qualifications.

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.

Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), 16 U.S.C. 6801, et seq., the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s Coeur d'Alene Field Office is proposing to begin collecting fees in 2008 at the Mineral Ridge Public Boat Launch site on Lake Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho. The site is located within section 1 of Township 49 North, Range 3 West.

One parcel of public land (Parcel N-66141) located southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, and totaling 177.31 acres, has been examined and found suitable for disposal utilizing direct sale procedures. The authority for the sale is found under Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (Pub. L. 94- 579), 43 U.S.C. 1713, 1719.

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.

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.

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 Unalakleet Native Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Unalakleet, Alaska, and are located in:

The plats of survey of the following described land was officially filed in the Colorado State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Lakewood, Colorado, effective 10 a.m., June 29, 2007. All inquiries should be sent to the Colorado State Office (CO-956), Bureau of Land Management, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215- 7093. The plats and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurveys and corrective dependent resurvey of a portion of the subdivisional lines, the subdivision of certain sections, and metes-and-bounds surveys, in Townships 2 North, Ranges 76 (4 Sheets) and 77 West (5 Sheets), Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado were accepted on April 10, 2007. The plat, and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurveys in Townships 17 South, Ranges 45 and 46 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado were accepted on April 17, 2007. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and surveys in Township 51 North, Range 1 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado were accepted on April 26, 2007. This plat which includes the field notes, and is the entire record of this resurvey, in duplicate, in Township 33\1/2\ North, Range 17 West, Sec. 21, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado were accepted on April 26, 2007. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and surveys in Townships 50 and 51 North, Range 8 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on April 27, 2007. The plat, and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey of a portion of the subdivisional lines and section subdivision of Section 23, Township 37 North, Range 7 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado were accepted on May 16, 2007. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey of certain mineral claims in Township 43 North, Range 4 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on June 6, 2007. The plat, and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey in Township 8 South, Range 76 West, and the plat, in duplicate, of the entire record, of the dependent resurvey of a portion of the west boundary of Township 9 South, Range 76 West, both of the Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado were accepted on June 19, 2007.

In accordance with Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office, Nevada intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the Las Vegas Disposal Boundary Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to analyze a possible adjustment of the boundary of the Conservation Transfer Area (CTA) referenced in the December 2004 FEIS and Record of Decision (ROD). Analysis of this possible boundary adjustment will include the management of approximately 13,400 acres of lands managed by the BLM. Under the ROD for the 2004 FEIS, approximately 5,000 acres were determined to be subject to a process of more study, collaboration, further NEPA analysis, and approval of a conservation agreement, prior to the transfer of title. The conservation agreement would determine the allowable uses to protect the resources within the CTA. Furthermore, the ROD stated that the boundary of the CTA would be adaptable to the needs and concerns of interested parties. The option was open to increase or decrease the size of the CTA with additional analysis. The SEIS to be prepared will analyze the effects of a variety of options for a final boundary for the CTA, as well as the impacts of several proposed uses, and the effect of retention of the CTA by the United States for management by the BLM. This analysis, and any decision made on the basis of this analysis, will ensure the direction reflected in the 2004 FEIS and ROD is met. This action is consistent with the Las Vegas Resource Management Plan of 1998, as superseded by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) of 1998 and the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act (Clark County Act) of 2002.

As required by 43 CFR 2310.3-1 notice is hereby given that a public meeting will be held regarding the proposed extension of the withdrawal to protect the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station (also known as the Gilmore Satellite Tracking Station). The station is operated by NOAA's National Satellite Information Services (also known as the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 3708, as modified by PLO No. 6709 (54 FR 6919, February 15, 1989) for an additional 20 year period. The lands comprise approximately 8,500 acres and are located in T. 2 N., R. 1 E., and T. 2 N., R. 2 E., Fairbanks Meridian near Fox, Alaska. A complete description can be provided by the BLM Fairbanks District Office at the address below.

Under the provisions of Public Law 97-451, Carneros Energy, Inc timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease CACA 44895 for lands in Kern County, California, and it was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from January 1, 2007, the date of termination.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Casper Field Office announces its intent to prepare one EIS on the potential impacts of leasing four tracts of Federal coal. The EIS will be called the Wright Area Coal EIS. Under the provisions of 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3425.1, the BLM received the following applications to lease maintenance tracts (a maintenance tract is a parcel of land containing Federal coal reserves that can be leased to maintain production at an existing mine) in Campbell County, Wyoming: Ark Land Company applied for a maintenance coal lease for approximately 4,590.19 acres (approximately 588.2 million tons of coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent to the Black Thunder Mine. The tract, which is referred to as the Hilight Field Tract, has been assigned case number WYW164812. Ark Land Company applied for a maintenance coal lease for approximately 2,370.52 acres (approximately 428 million tons of coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent to the Black Thunder Mine. The tract, which is referred to as the West Hilight Field Tract, has been assigned case number WYW172388. Jacobs Ranch Coal Company applied for a maintenance coal lease for approximately 5,944.37 acres (approximately 956 million tons of coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent to the Jacobs Ranch Mine. The tract, which is referred to as the West Jacobs Ranch Tract, has been assigned case number WYW172685. BTU Western Resources, Inc. applied for a maintenance coal lease for approximately 5,116.65 acres (approximately 598 million tons of coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent to the North Antelope Rochelle Mine. The tract, which is referred to as the Porcupine Tract, has been assigned case number WYW173408. Consistent with Federal regulations under NEPA and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the BLM must prepare an environmental analysis prior to holding a competitive Federal coal lease sale. The Powder River Regional Coal Team recommended that BLM process these four coal lease applications after they reviewed the Hilight Field, West Hilight Field, and West Jacobs Ranch Tracts at a public meeting held on April 19, 2006, in Casper, Wyoming, and the Porcupine Tract at a public meeting held on January 18, 2007, in Casper, Wyoming.