Land Management Bureau June 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 3410, all interested parties are hereby invited to participate with Bridger Coal Co. on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in the following-described land in Sweetwater County, WY:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) that analyzes additional oil and gas development in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is extending the call for nominations for six membership positions on the PAWG. The original notice calling for nominations was published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2008 [73 FR 29532]. The original deadline for the call for nominations was June 20, 2008, 30 days from the publication of the original notice. The purpose of the Working Group and Task Groups will be to advise the BLM, Pinedale Field Office Manager, regarding recommendations on matters pertinent to the BLM's responsibilities related to the Pinedale Anticline Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.

This order modifies an Executive Order and a Secretarial Order insofar as they affect 20 acres of public lands withdrawn by Power Site Reserve No. 141. This action also notifies the public of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission determination that opens 10 acres within a Power Project overlapping the Power Site Reserve. The combined actions will open the lands to a land exchange subject to Section 24 of the Federal Power Act.

This order extends the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 3708, as modified by Public Land Order No. 6709, and partially revoked by Public Land Order No. 7682, for an additional 20-year period. The extension is necessary to continue protection of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Gilmore Satellite Tracking Station, also known as the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station, located near Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend its regulations in 43 CFR part 3500 for leasing of solid minerals other than coal and oil shale to distinguish fringe acreage lease requirements from lease modification requirements, and to describe acceptable justifications for a lease modification. The proposed rule would also identify changes in the associated procedural requirements and update the filing fees. The proposed changes are based on statutory authorities, which authorize the BLM to issue regulations for leasing of minerals and to charge for administrative processing costs, and on policy guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) requiring the BLM to charge these fees.

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 The Kuskokwim Corporation, Successor in Interest to Upper Kalskag, Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of Upper Kalskag, Alaska, and are located in:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The ICR is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2008. The BLM may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB regulations, the BLM may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB. On January 25, 2008, the BLM published the required 60-day notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 4621), requesting comments on this proposed collection. The comment period ended on March 25, 2008. The BLM received no comments. You may obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and related forms and explanatory material by contacting the BLM Information Collection Clearance Officer at the telephone number listed in the ADDRESSES section below.

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Public Laws 92-463 and 94-579, that the California Desert District Advisory Council to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, will meet in formal session on Friday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, July 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Riverside Marriot, 3400 Market St., Riverside, CA 92501. Agenda topics for the two sessions will include updates by Council members and reports from the BLM District Manager and five field office managers. Additional agenda topics are being developed. Once finalized, the meeting agenda will be published in a news release prior to the meeting and posted on the BLM California state Web site at https:// www.blm.gov/ca/news/rac.html.

In accordance with 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 (BLM) Eastern Washington Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

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

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface estate for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Atqasuk Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Atqasuk, Alaska, and are located in:

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) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting as indicated below.

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) Burns District in Burns, Oregon, intends to amend the Three Rivers Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) that also analyzes effects of undertaking the Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Improvement Project (GSHIP) located in Harney County, Oregon. The objective of the proposal is to improve sage-grouse habitat and reestablish once open sagebrush habitats encroached upon by western juniper. The BLM also intends to consider allowance for harvest of downed western juniper trees south of U.S. Highway 20 and west of Oregon State Highway 205 for fuel wood, posts and poles, and for commercial harvest of juniper boughs for use in holiday decorating. Allowance for harvest of downed juniper trees and juniper boughs would amend the Three Rivers RMP. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the public scoping process.

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 Kongnikilnomuit Yuita Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Bill Moores Slough, Alaska, and are located in:

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 COC68788 from Gunnison Energy Corp., and SG Interests VII, LTD, for lands in Gunnison 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.

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 COC68790 from Gunnison Energy Corp., and SG Interests VII, LTD, for lands in Gunnison 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.

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 COC68787 from Gunnison Energy Corp., and SG Interests VII, LTD, for lands in Gunnison 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 plats of survey of the following described lands were officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington State Office, Portland, Oregon, on March 21, 2008.

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. Contact Information: Bureau of Land Management, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153. Attn: Cadastral Survey.

Members of the public are hereby invited to participate with Spring Creek Coal Company in a program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in lands located in Big Horn County, Montana, encompassing 4,589.36 acres.

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 Sanak Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Pauloff Harbor, Alaska, and are located in:

This order revokes two Secretarial Orders in their entireties, as they affect approximately 278 acres of National Forest System lands withdrawn for use by the Forest Service for a tree nursery and an administrative site. This order opens 120 acres to such forms of disposition as may by law be made of National Forest System lands and to mining. The remaining lands are located within an overlapping withdrawal.

This order revokes a Bureau of Reclamation Order and a Secretarial Order in their entireties as they affect 60 acres of National Forest System lands in Salt Lake and Wasatch Counties withdrawn from surface entry and mining and reserved on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation for the Provo River Project. The lands are no longer needed for reclamation purposes. This order opens the lands to such forms of disposition as may by law be made of National Forest System lands and to mining.