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

Pursuant to the provisions of 43 CFR 3108.2-3(b)(2), Capital Land Services, Inc. timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas leases OKNM 117608 and OKNM 117609 for lands in Woodward County, Oklahoma, and was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from March 1, 2008, the date of termination.

Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) subpart(s) 8341, 8364, and 9268, the Bureau of Land management (BLM) announces the seasonal closure of certain BLM-administered public lands under the jurisdiction of the Pinedale, Wyoming Field Office to all types of motor vehicle use (i.e., snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and any other motorized vehicles including trucks, sport-utility vehicles, cars, motorcycles, etc.) each year during the period of January 1 through April 30. Elk feedground areas will be closed each year to any human presence from November 15 through April 30. This seasonal closure is needed to protect public lands and resources and to minimize stress to wintering elk, moose, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer. This seasonal closure affects public lands located within the Mesa, Ryegrass, Bench Corral, Deer Hills, Calpet, and Miller Mountain winter ranges as well as the Franz, Finnegan, Bench Corral, Scab Creek, Fall Creek, Black Butte, and North Piney elk feedgrounds as more particularly described in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Except for travel on highways or county roads, motorized vehicle travel within these areas will only be allowed with written authorization from the Pinedale Field Manager. Personnel of the BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS and Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and law enforcement personnel are exempt from this closure only when performing official duties. Operators of existing oil and gas facilities may perform maintenance and pumping, as approved, and livestock operators may perform permitted activities.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), 5 U.S.C., the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will hold three meetings in Nevada during fiscal year 2009. All meetings are open to the public.

The McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA) Advisory Council has scheduled its 2009 meetings. During these meetings, the Advisory Council will discuss matters relevant to management of McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area and may develop resolutions and/or recommendations to provide to the Bureau of Land Management on proposed projects, plans, and programs. These meetings are open to the public.

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 Bering Straits Native Corporation for lands located in the vicinity of Council and Elim, Alaska. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Nome Nugget.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lake Havasu Field Office announces the temporary closure of selected public lands under its administration in La Paz County, Arizona. This action is being taken to help ensure public safety and prevent unnecessary environmental degradation during the permitted running of the Best in the Desert 2009 Parker 250, and 2009 Blue Water Resort and Casino Parker 425 Desert Races. Areas subject to this closure include all public land, including county maintained roads and highways located on public lands that are located within two miles of the designated course. The race course and closure areas are described in the Supplementary Information section of this notice and maps of the designated race course are maintained in the Bureau of Land Management Lake Havasu Field Office, 2610 Sweetwater Avenue, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406.

In accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations implementing the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and applicable agency guidance, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Pony Express Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment have been prepared in response to UNEV, LLC's right-of- way (ROW) application to construct and operate a liquid petroleum products pipeline on public lands from Woods Cross, Utah, to northeast Las Vegas, Nevada.

Graymont Western U.S., Inc. submitted a Plan of Operations on February 22, 2006, to expand their Limestone Hills quarry operation on unpatented mining claims on public lands west of Townsend, Montana. 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.), a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been prepared for the Graymont Western U.S., Inc. Proposed Mine Expansion administered by the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Butte Field Office and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Operations on public lands are on mining claims located in accordance with the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended (30 U.S.C. 22, et seq.). The DEIS addresses alternatives associated with Graymont Western U.S., Inc. Proposed Mine Expansion and recommends a preferred Alternative, allowing the expansion.

Public Land Order No. 7708 partially revoked 3 Public Land Orders and revoked 1 Public Land Order in its entirety. This order opens part of those previously withdrawn lands to mining and opens the remainder to such forms of disposition as may by law be made of National Forest System lands and to mining.

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.

This order revokes a Public Land Order insofar as it affects 50 acres of National Forest System land withdrawn from mining on behalf of the Department of Agriculture to protect the Splash Dam Recreation Area and also opens that land to mining. This order also modifies the same Public Land Order to correct errors in the legal land descriptions for the Grandview and Spirit Lake Recreation Areas.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Doyon, Limited. The lands are in the vicinity of Wiseman, 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 from Chesapeake Exploration, LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW153113 for land in Converse 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 Chesapeake Exploration, LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW153114 for land in Converse 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 Chesapeake Exploration, LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW153111 for land in Converse 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 Chesapeake Exploration, L.L.C. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW172444 for land in Converse 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.

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

A parcel of public land totaling 80 acres in Tehama County, California, is being considered for sale under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), at no less than the appraised fair market value.

Three parcels of public land totaling 320 acres in Butte County, California, are being considered for direct sale to the CSU Chico Research Foundation under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), at no less than the appraised fair market value.

Under the Class II provisions of Title IV, Public Law 97-451, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease OKNM 113435 from the lessee, Chesapeake Energy Corporation for lands in Woods County, Oklahoma. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The BLM Las Cruces District Office, New Mexico, intends to prepare an RMPA with an associated EA to analyze the possible disposal by either exchange or sale, of BLM-administered public lands in Grant County in southwestern New Mexico.

This order extends the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6693 for an additional 20-year period. This extension is necessary to continue protection of the Natural Corrals Archeological Site in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

Notice is hereby given that certain coal resources in the North Maysdorf Coal Tract described below in Campbell County, Wyoming, will be reoffered for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).

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 Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation for competitive oil and gas lease WYW174821 for land in Lincoln 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) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA) Resource Management Plan (RMP) located in Southwestern Idaho.