Land Management Bureau 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 43 CFR part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko Field Office will be preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update the cumulative effects analysis for Newmont Mining Corporation's Leeville gold mine in Elko County, Nevada. The project was authorized in 2002.

The McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA) Advisory Council will hold four meetings, scheduled on March 22, 2007; June 21, 2007; September 20, 2007; and December 13, 2007. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. and will be held at the Mesa County Administration Building; 544 Rood Avenue, Grand Junction, CO.

The Field Manager of the Las Vegas Field Office is proposing to close selected public lands under its administration within Nye County, Nevada, to target shooting. The proposed closure is to ensure the safety of persons and property adjacent to these selected public lands. The rapid increase in population and growth of Pahrump, Nevada has created conflicts between new residential areas and traditional public lands users accustomed to target shooting on public lands around Pahrump. There have been incidents of damage to private property and indiscriminate shooting towards residential areas by public land users. Trash accumulation from items used as targets is also affecting the condition of the public lands. This action is being taken to help ensure public safety and prevent environmental degradation. This proposed closure does not apply to hunting under the laws and regulations of the State of Nevada.

This notice is a revision of the April 24, 2002 Notice of Intent (Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79, pages 20152-20153). In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, and the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to initiate a new scoping process for a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS). Previously, the BLM announced that an Environmental Assessment would be prepared in connection with the RMP for the Carrizo Plain National Monument. By this notice, the BLM is announcing public scoping meetings.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) for the Ironwood Forest National Monument and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending the supplementary rules published in 2003 (January 14, 203, 68 FR 1858) for the public lands within the State of Colorado. The supplementary rules relate to the illegal use of alcohol and drugs on the public lands. The amended supplementary rules are necessary to protect natural resources and the health and safety of public land users. These amended supplementary rules will allow BLM personnel to continue enforcement of existing public land regulations pertaining to alcohol and drug use in a manner consistent with current state laws as contained in the Colorado Revised Statutes.

Under the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Office of the Secretary is issuing public notice of our intent to amend the existing Privacy Act system of records entitled, LLM-2 ``Range Management System.'' The system notice is published in its entirety below. Editorial changes have been made to ``Categories of individuals covered by the system'' and ``Categories of Records in the System'' to clarify who is covered and the type of information in the system. Under ``Routine Uses,'' there are changes in the provisions for ``Disclosures outside the Department of the Interior.'' Changes are also made to the ``Record access procedures'' and ``Retention and disposal'' under ``Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system.'' The Department of the Interior is issuing public notice of its intent to amend portions of an existing Privacy Act system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of amendment of an existing records system maintained by the agency (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (U.S. Forest Service), has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw approximately 720 acres of land for the Spencer Glacier Recreation and Mineral Material Site, a part of the Chugach National Forest reservation in Alaska. This notice segregates the land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for 2 years, while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. The land will remain open to all other uses which can by law be made of National Forest lands, including disposition of materials under the Act of July 31, 1947, as amended.

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

This notice announces a meeting of the Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The business meeting will be held on March 8, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Office located at One North Central Avenue, 8th floor. It will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. The morning agenda items to be covered include: Review of the December 7, 2006, Meeting Minutes, BLM State Director's Update on Statewide Issues; Presentations on the Rails to Trails Project and the Arizona Strip Cooperative Rangeland Monitoring Program; RAC Questions on written reports from BLM Field Managers; Field Office Rangeland Resource Team Proposals; and, Reports by the Standards and Guidelines, Recreation, Off-Highway Vehicle Use, Land Use Planning and Tenure, and Wild Horse and Burro Working Groups. A public comment period will be provided at 11:30 a.m. on March 8, 2007, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council on BLM programs and business. Under the Federal Recreation Enhancement Act, the BLM Arizona RAC has been designated the Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RRAC), and has the authority to review all BLM and Forest Service (FS) recreation fee proposals in Arizona. The afternoon meeting agenda on March 8 will be devoted to presenting the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) Working Group Report, and reviewing one FS, and three BLM fee proposals in Arizona: (1) Sycamore Cabin (Prescott National Forest) Less than a 20-minute drive from Phoenix, Flagstaff and Prescott, this historic Prescott National Ranger house is currently available for nightly rental. The fee proposal will consider an increase from $100 to $125 per night (excluding $9 reservation fee). An additional $25 per night will be charged if a Recreational Vehicle is brought to the site. (2) Coyote Buttes Special Management Area (BLM Arizona Strip District) Just south of the Utah-Arizona border, with access located midway between Page, Arizona and Kanab, Utah on U.S. Highway 89. Visitors may hike in scenic Coyote Buttes by obtaining an online permit on a first-come, first-served basis. The existing permit fee is $5 per person, per day. The fee proposal will consider the inclusion of an online lottery for hiking permits and a $5 per application lottery fee. (3) Amenity Fee Site Proposals, Annual Recreation Pass, and Long- Term Visitor Areas (BLM Yuma Field Office). Changes to the recreation fee schedules are proposed, including an increase from $140 to $180 for a 7-month permit, and from $30 to $40 for a 14-day permit at the Field Office's two Long-Term Visitor Areas. In addition, BLM also maintains seven other developed recreation fee sites, six of which are located on the lower Colorado River. The annual pass honored at all seven of these recreation sites is proposed to increase from $50 to $75. At the six Colorado River recreation sites, BLM is proposing to establish a $10 day-use fee and a $15 overnight fee. At the seventh site, the Ehrenberg Sandbowl Off-Highway Vehicle Area, BLM is proposing to establish a $5 day-use fee and a $10 overnight fee. (4) Amenity Fee Site Proposals and Annual Recreation Pass (BLM Lake Havasu Field Office). The Annual Recreation Pass fee is proposed to increase from $50 to $100 per year, the first increase since the program began in 2002. The Annual Pass is used in lieu of paying daily permit fees (typically $4 to $20 each) for an unlimited number of overnight and day-use visits at Lake Havasu shoreline campsites and Parker Strip recreation sites. An increase in Daily Permit Fees is also proposed for the Parker Strip, from $3 to $4 to $5 for day use, and from $4 to $10 to $5 to $10 for overnight. In addition, fees proposed for the Empire Landing Campground (upon its reopening in 2008) would be $25 to $30 per day. Following the FS and BLM proposals, the RRAC will open the meeting to public comments on the fee proposals. After completing their RRAC business, the BLM RAC will reconvene to provide recommendations to the RAC Designated Federal Official on the fee proposals and discuss future RAC meetings and locations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6650 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 6650 withdrew 20 acres of public lands from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, including the mining laws, to protect the Sugarloaf Petroglyphs and Pine Spring Archeological Sites in Sweetwater County. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

This advance notice of proposed rulemaking is related to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) surface management regulations for mining operations authorized by the Mining Law. In a previous Federal district court proceeding, environmental groups challenged the BLM's regulations on surface management under the Mining Law in 43 CFR subpart 3809, issued by the Department in 2001, in part, because the regulations did not require fair market value payment for the use of Federal lands for mining operations when the lands are ``invalidly claimed'' or unclaimed under the Mining Law. For the most part, the court upheld the 3809 regulations, but remanded them in part to the Department ``for evaluation, in light of Congress's expressed policy goal for the United States to `receive fair market value of the use of the public lands and their resources.' '' This advance notice of proposed rulemaking is intended to assist the BLM in the evaluation ordered by the Court.

This final rule updates the regulations of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that explain how to obtain recreation permits for commercial recreational operations, competitive events and activities, organized group activities and events, and individual recreational use of special areas. The final rule is needed to remove from the regulations inconsistencies with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), which authorizes the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify, charge, and collect recreation fees at Federal recreation lands and waters for the next 10 years.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Truckhaven Geothermal Leasing Area and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. The main issues addressed in the Draft EIS are geothermal resource leasing, recreation, and special status species. The area is within the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) and the preferred alternative is in conformance with the land use plan for the area. There are no species listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that occur in the area; however, the listed desert pupfish occurs within two miles of the area and potential impacts to that species are addressed in the Draft EIS. BLM will consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on the desert pupfish. The most common public use of the area currently is motorized recreation. Impacts to recreation are addressed in the Draft EIS. Mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate conflicts with these uses have been developed in coordination with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, a cooperating agency on the project. These measures will apply to both action alternatives.

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 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Pit 14 Coal Lease-by-Application.

Notice is hereby given that effective immediately, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Monticello Field Office, is closing 987 acres of public lands in the Indian Creek Canyon near Monticello, Utah, to overnight camping. The public lands affected by this closure are located along Utah State Highway 211, in the following sections of T. 31 S., R. 22 E., section 31, W\1/2\ and in sections of T. 32 S., R. 22 E., section 5, SW\1/4\; section 6, E\1/2\; section 7, E\1/2\; section 8, W\1/2\; section 14, SW\1/4\; section 15, SE\1/4\; section 16, SW\1/ 4\; section 17; section 20, NE\1/4\; section 21, N\1/2\; section 22, N\1/2\. The purpose of the closure is to provide for public health and safety, and to protect soils and vegetation that have been adversely impacted or are at risk of being adversely impacted by recreational use. The closure will remain in effect until further notice.

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 correcting amendment amends the regulations pertaining to execution and filing of forms in order to correct the post office box number in the address of the Nevada State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the list of State Office addresses.

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 Montana Oil Properties and Wolverine Operations LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW149995 for land in Johnson 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 Montana Oil Properties for competitive oil and gas lease WYW149993 for land in Sheridan 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 (BLM), Salt Lake Field Office, is implementing interim final supplementary rules and requesting comments for the Simpson Springs Recreation Area. The BLM has determined these interim final supplementary rules are necessary to: Enhance the safety of visitors, protect public health, protect natural resources, and improve recreation experiences and opportunities.

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), Whiting Petroleum Corporation timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease UTU79795 for lands in San Juan County, Utah, and it was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from October 1, 2006, the date 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 from John P. Strang for noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW146511 for land in Fremont 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.