Land Management Bureau – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), together with the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission), (hereinafter jointly referred to as the Agencies) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Staff Assessment (EIS/SA), and a Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment, for the Stirling Energy Systems (SES) Solar Two Project (Project), a Stirling engine systems solar dish project in Imperial County, California. SES is seeking approval to construct and operate an electrical generating facility with a nominal capacity of 750 megawatts (MW), using concentrated solar thermal power. The approximately 6,500 acres of land needed to develop the Project consists of approximately 6,140 acres of BLM administered public land and approximately 360 acres of privately owned land. SES has submitted an application to the BLM requesting a right-of- way (ROW) to construct the Project and related facilities. Pursuant to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980, as amended), sites associated with power generation or transmission not identified in the CDCA Plan will be considered through the plan amendment process. Under Federal law, BLM is responsible for processing requests for rights-of-way to authorize such proposed projects and associated transmission lines and other appurtenant facilities on land it manages. BLM must comply with the requirements of NEPA to ensure that environmental impacts associated with construction, operation, and decommissioning will be identified, analyzed and considered in the application process. In the case of solar thermal power plant projects, this will be accomplished through coordination of the state and federal application processes, public participation, environmental analysis, and the preparation of Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in coordination with the Energy Commission and its Preliminary and Final Staff Assessments. Under California law, the Energy Commission is responsible for reviewing the applications for certification filed for thermal power plants over 50 MW, and also has the role of lead agency for the environmental review of such projects under the CEQA (Public Resources Code, section 25500 et seq.; and Public Resources Code, section 21000 et seq.) The Energy Commission conducts this review in accordance with the administrative adjudication provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Gov. Code, section 11400 et seq.) and its own regulations governing site certification proceedings (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 20, section 1701 et seq.), which have been deemed CEQA equivalent by the Secretary of Resources. SES Solar Two, LLC has submitted an Application for Certification (AFC) to the Energy Commission. The AFC facilitates analysis and review by staff prior to an Energy Commission decision.

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 Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the South Gillette Area Coal project that contains four Federal Coal Lease By Applications (LBAs), and by this Notice is announcing a public hearing requesting comments on the DEIS, Maximum Economic Recovery (MER), and Fair Market Value (FMV) pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3425.4.

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 NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., Successor in Interest to Katyaak Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Kiana, Alaska, and are located in:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands.

The BLM has examined and found suitable approximately 10 acres of public land in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico for classification for lease or subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended (44 Stat. 741, as amended; 43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) and section 212 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended. Do[ntilde]a Ana County proposes to use the land for the proposed Rodey Community Resource Center in Rodey, New Mexico.

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 Newtok and Chefornak, Alaska. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Anchorage Daily News.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification and conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, approximately 80 acres of public land in Lander County, Nevada. Lander County proposes to use the land for a waste water treatment facility.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 550 acres of public land from surface entry and mining for reclamation purposes on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation. This notice segregates the lands for up to 2 years from surface entry and mining while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. The lands will remain open to mineral and geothermal leasing and mineral material sales.

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 Delta Petroleum Corporation for competitive oil and gas leases WAOR61140 and WAOR61142, for lands in Benton County, Washington. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the leases terminated under the law.

In Federal Register [73 FR 50342] on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, make the following correction. Under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION heading, the legal description should read:

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 Lower Kalskag Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of Lower Kalskag, Alaska, and are located in:

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 an Additional Air Quality Impact Assessment to Support the Draft Resource Management Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) for the Little Snake Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) proposes that 9 withdrawals for the Provo River Project be continued for 20 years. The lands are still needed for the purpose for which they were withdrawn. The lands would remain withdrawn as specified in the orders.

The plats of survey of the following described land will be officially filed in the Colorado State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Lakewood, Colorado, effective 10 a.m., September 30, 2008. All inquiries should be sent to the Colorado State Office (CO-956), Bureau of Land Management, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7093. The supplemental plat of section 24, in Township 15 South, Range 70 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado was accepted on April 17, 2008. The plat, in duplicate, of the entire record, of the dependent resurvey, in Township 6 North, Range 93 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on June 19, 2008. The supplemental plat in sections 23, 24, 26, 27 of Township 13 South, Range 82 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted on June 25, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and surveys in Township 35 North, Ranges 11 and 12 West, of the New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on August 26, 2008. The plat (in seven sheets) and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and the resurvey of certain mineral surveys in section 19, Township 1 North, Range 71 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 9, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and section subdivision in Township 43 North, Range 10 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, and the plat (in 3 sheets) and field notes, in duplicate of the dependent resurvey of a portion of the north and west boundaries of the Luis Maria Baca Land Grant No. 4, a portion of the south boundary of Township 43 North, Range 11 East, and the metes-and-bounds survey of the north, east, and a portion of the west boundary of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge within the Luis Maria Baca Land Grant No. 4, in the state of Colorado were accepted on September 12, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and survey, in section 33, Township 22 South, Range 69 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 16, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey of a portion of the west boundary and subdivisional lines and the subdivision of section 7, in Township 21 South, Range 71 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 17, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and surveys in Township 50 North, Range 9 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 22, 2008. The plat and field notes, in duplicate, of the dependent resurvey and section subdivision of sections 14, 23 and 26, Township 45 North, Range 6 East, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on September 23, 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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that land located in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico is suitable for classification for lease and/or conveyance to New Mexico State University (NMSU) under authority of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP), as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq. ). NMSU proposes to use the land as a new satellite campus for the Do[ntilde]a Ana Community College.

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 Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Cortez Gold Mines (CGM) proposed Cortez Hills Expansion Project (project) and by this Notice is announcing its availability.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada's three Resource Advisory Council will hold a joint meeting.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Needles Field Office intends to prepare an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan with an associated environmental assessment (EA). This notice initiates the public participation and scoping processes for the CDCA Plan amendment and environmental assessment.

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 NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., Successor in Interest to Napaaktukmeut Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Noatak, Alaska, and are located in:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/Final EIS) for the Butte Field Office, 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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been prepared for the Montana Tunnels Mine ``M'' Pit Mine Expansion. The mine permit is administered by the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) Butte Field Office and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Operations on public lands in the permit area are on mining claims located in accordance with the General Mining Law of 1872, as amended (30 U.S.C. 22 et seq.).

The Bureau of Land Management's California Desert District is soliciting nominations from the public for five members of its District Advisory Council to serve the 2009-2011 three-year term. Council members provide advice and recommendations to BLM on the management of public lands in southern California. Public notice begins with the publication date of this notice. Nominations will be accepted through Saturday, October 30, 2008. The three-year term would begin January 1, 2009. The five positions to be filled include:

As required by 43 CFR 2310.3-1, notice is hereby given that on the behalf of the United States Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management proposes to extend Public Land Order No. 6776 for a 20-year period. This order withdrew approximately 8,950 acres of National Forest System land from surface entry and mining to protect the natural, scenic, and recreational values, and the investment in federal funds in the North Cascades Scenic Highway Zone. The withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6776 will expire on April 17, 2010, unless extended. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District Office, Carson City, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Sierra Pacific Power Company's Blackhawk to Heybourne Transmission Line Project which will run through Storey, Lyon, Carson City and Douglas counties. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process and solicits input on the identification of issues.