Land Management Bureau 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that effective immediately, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Richfield Field Office, is restricting OHV travel to designated routes on 142,023 acres of public lands near Caineville, Utah, known as the Factory Butte area. This restriction does not apply to State or private lands located in the area. Within the Factory Butte area 2,602 acres currently designated as open will remain open and 3,843 acres currently designated as closed will remain closed to OHV travel. The restriction to designated routes affects the remaining 142,023 acres of the area located in portions of T. 27 S., R. 6-10 E.; T. 28 S., R. 7-10 E.; T. 29 S., R. 7 & 8 E.; and T. 30 S., R. 7 & 8 E., Salt Lake Meridian. The purpose of the restriction is to protect threatened and endangered species that have been adversely impacted or are at risk of being adversely impacted by OHV use. This restriction will remain in effect until the conditions giving rise to the restriction have been sufficiently addressed or the Richfield Field Office Resource Management Plan that is currently being prepared is signed by the authorized officer and becomes final.

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 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to participate with Ark Land Company 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 lands in Campbell County, WY:

In accordance with the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act of 2000 (43 U.S.C. 2303) (FLTFA), this notice provides the public the opportunity to nominate lands within the State of Wyoming for possible acquisition by the Federal agencies identified below. Such lands must be (1) inholdings within a federally designated area or (2) lands that are adjacent to federally designated areas and contain exceptional resources.

This order extends Public Land Order No. 6631 for an additional 20-year period. This extension is necessary to continue protection of the Bureau of Land Management's Split Rock Recreation Area.

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/ Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Sierra planning area, managed by the Folsom Field Office. This notice announces the opening of the comment period.

In accordance with the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act of 2000 (43 U.S.C. 2303) (FLTFA), this Notice provides the public the opportunity to nominate lands within the State of New Mexico for possible acquisition by the Federal agencies identified below. Such lands must be (1) Inholdings within a federally-designated area or (2) lands that are adjacent to federally-designated areas and contain exceptional resource values.

A single 39.73 acre parcel of Federal public land located in northwest Beatty, Nye County, Nevada, has been examined and found suitable for sale utilizing competitive sale procedures. The authority for the sale is Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701, 1713 and 1719).

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 participate in a field tour of BLM-administered public lands on Friday, October 13, 2006 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and meet in formal session on Saturday, October 14 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Canyon Conference Center at the Spa Resort Casino located at 100 North Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, California. The Council and interested members of the public will depart for the field tour at 7:30 a.m. from the main lobby of the Spa Resort Casino. The public is welcome to participate in the tour but should plan on providing their own transportation, lunch, and beverage. Agenda topics for the formal session on Saturday 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 field tour and meeting agendas 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.

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 MTNT, Ltd., Successor in Interest to Gold Creek Limited. The lands are in the vicinity of Takotna, Alaska, and are located in:

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer for sale, by public auction, 81 parcels of Federal public land aggregating approximately 2,577.60 acres, more or less, in the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada. The sale will be under the authority of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998, 112 Stat. 2343, as amended by Title IV of the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002, 116 Stat. 1994, (SNPLMA). The SNPLMA sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1719, and BLM land sale and mineral conveyance regulations at 43 CFR parts 2710 and 2720. Maps, the approved appraisal reports, the draft environmental assessment (EA) and other supporting documentation are available for review at the BLM, Las Vegas Field Office (LVFO), Las Vegas, Nevada. Information is also available online at https:// www.nv.blm.gov.

The Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approximately 299.70 acres of public land for a period of 20 years to protect the Kingman Regional Wild Horse and Burro Facility in Mohave County, Arizona. This notice segregates the land for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws.

Pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Malta Field Office intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/ EIS). The planning area is located in Blaine, Choteau, Glacier, Hill, Liberty, Phillips, Toole, and Valley Counties, Montana. The public scoping process will identify planning issues and develop planning criteria, including evaluation of the existing RMPs in the context of the needs and interests of the public. This notice initiates the public scoping process.

The Bureau of Land Management published in the Federal Register of August 18, 2006, (71 FR 47826) a notice inviting all interested parties to participate with Jacobs Ranch Coal Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America. Inadvertently, the following lands included in the exploration license application were omitted from the notice.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management announces the availability of the ROD for the Cassia Resource Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cotterel Wind Power Project, located in south central Idaho. The decision contained in the ROD is two-fold. It approves both the amendment to the Cassia Resource Management Plan and the issuance of a right-of-way grant pursuant to Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

The Bureau of Land Management has received a petition/ application from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to withdraw approximately 427 acres of public land from surface entry and mining to protect and manage migratory bird and other wildlife values. Day-to-day management functions as to the land would be transferred from the Bureau of Land Management to the Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion in the Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. This notice segregates the land from the public land disposal laws, including mining, for up to two years while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. The land will remain open to mineral leasing.

This document corrects editorial and typographical errors in a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 12, 2006, regarding the administration of livestock grazing on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

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, North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) Science Technical Group (STG) will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), together with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), intend to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), and a proposed land use plan amendment to the 1980 California Desert Conservation Area Plan, (CDCA Plan), as amended for the Sunrise Powerlink Project (Project) proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E). The project would consist of the construction and operation of one new 500 kilovolt (kV) and three new 230 kV transmission lines in Imperial and San Diego Counties. BLM is the lead Federal agency for the preparation of this EIS in compliance with the requirements of NEPA. CPUC is the lead State of California agency for the preparation of this EIR in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), Richard A. Horn timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas leases MTM 90699, MTM 90700, MTM 90749, MTM 90750, and MTM 90751, Carter County, Montana. The lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessee agrees to new lease terms for rentals and royalties of $5 per acre and 16\1/ 2\percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate. The lessee paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of each lease and $163 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessee met the requirements for reinstatement of the leases per Sec. 31 (d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the leases, effective the date of termination subject to: The original terms and conditions of the leases; The increased rental of $5 per acre for each lease; The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate for each lease; and The $163 cost of publishing this Notice.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Advisory Board will meet September 19, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. (PDT) at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, 22267 Highway 86, Baker City, OR 97914. Meeting topics will include a Center update, education and outreach, and other topics as may come before the board. The meeting is open to the public. Public comment is scheduled for 10 to 10:15 a.m.

The Bureau of Land Management has examined and found suitable for classification for lease/conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) 1.65 acres of public land in La Plata County, Colorado. The Upper Pine Fire Protection District proposes to use the land for a fire station along U.S. Highway 160, approximately six miles west of Bayfield, Colorado.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease or conveyance to the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) 9.4 acres of public land in Baker County, Oregon. The Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation proposes to use the land as part of the Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area.

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 Azachorok Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of the Native village of Mountain Village, Alaska, and are located in: U.S. Survey No. 4055, Alaska.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests comments and suggestions to assist in the writing of a proposed rule to establish a commercial leasing program for oil shale. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) Complete a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for a commercial leasing program for oil shale and tar sands resources on public lands, with emphasis on the most geologically prospective lands within Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, and (2) Publish a final rule establishing such program, not later than 180 days after completion of the PEIS. On May 18, 2006, BLM published a final rule for the leasing of tar sands. As an aid in preparing the proposed rule to establish an oil shale commercial leasing system and regulate oil shale mining operations, we encourage members of the public to provide comments and suggestions on the following key components; royalty rate; fair market value for conversion of preference right acreage and for commercial leasing; diligence; royalty determination point; and small tract leasing. See Section III for a list of specific questions relating to these topics.