[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17227-17229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06331]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYD10000.L14300000.EU0000; WYW-161972; WYW-176935]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Snake River Resource Management
Plan for the Pinedale Field Office and Prepare an Associated
Environmental Assessment; and Notice of Realty Action: Classification
and Direct Sale of Public Land in Teton County, WY
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTIONS: Notice of Intent and Notice of Realty Action.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Pinedale Field Office, Pinedale, Wyoming, intends to prepare a Resource
Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental
assessment (EA) for the Snake River RMP and by this notice is
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues. Three parcels of public land in Teton
County, Wyoming, are being classified as suitable for disposal under
the provisions of Section 203 of FLPMA and are being proposed for
direct sale at no less than the appraised fair market value.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
amendment with the associated EA and segregates the three parcels from
operation of the public land laws as described below. Comments
regarding the proposed amendment, classification, or sale must be
received by the BLM at the address below no later than May 6, 2013. The
date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local news media and newspapers. In
order to be included in the analysis, all comments must be received
prior to the close of the 45-day scoping period or 30 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional
opportunities for public participation as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the plan amendment and realty action by any of the following
methods:
Mail: Field Manager, Pinedale Field Office, P.O. Box 768,
1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, WY 82941.
Email: [email protected] with ``Snake River Amendment'' in
the subject line. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined
at the Pinedale Field Office at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Hoover, Realty Specialist, BLM
Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, WY 82941;
telephone 307-367-5342; email [email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
Wyoming Pinedale Field Office intends to prepare an RMP amendment with
an associated EA for the Snake River RMP, announces the beginning of
the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and planning
criteria. The three parcels are located in Teton County, Wyoming, and
encompass approximately 2.01 acres of public land. The purpose of the
public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the planning process. Preliminary issues for
the plan
[[Page 17228]]
amendment area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, state
and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issues include:
revision of disposal language to include private individuals as well as
governmental entities.
The BLM is proposing to amend the April 5, 2004 Snake River RMP to
identify and allow for the direct sale of three surveyed parcels of
public land totaling 2.01 acres located in Teton County, Wyoming, near
Jackson. The three parcels that comprise the subject of the plan
amendment and are described as:
Sixth Principal Meridian
T. 40 N., R. 116 W., (Parcel 1, 0.13 acres)
sec. 34, lot 14.
T. 40 N., R. 117 W., (Parcel 2, 0.82 acres)
sec. 25, lot 14.
T. 41 N., R 117 W., (Parcel 3, 1.06 acres)
Tract 46B.
Under Section 203 of the FLPMA, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1713), if the
BLM determines that the three parcels of public land are suitable for
disposal, then the BLM may propose to offer them for direct sale at the
appraised fair market value.
To resolve unintentional unauthorized uses, including residences
and agricultural buildings, Parcel 1 is proposed for direct sale to
adjacent landowner Sewell Partners and 2 is proposed for direct sale to
adjacent landowner Evans Land & Cattle Company. These parcels are the
minimum size possible to ensure that all the improvements are included,
but also to ensure that the parcels cannot be resold or used as
building sites unto themselves. The appraised fair market value for
Parcel 1 is $4,200 and Parcel 2 is $3,500. Parcel 3 is proposed for
direct sale to TSR Limited because its inaccessible location makes it
difficult and uneconomical for the BLM to manage and it is not suitable
for management by another agency. An appraisal will be completed on
Parcel 3 at a later date.
A direct sale to resolve unintentional trespass is consistent with
the objectives, goals and decision of the BLM Snake River RMP. A direct
sale to dispose of a tract of land that is difficult and uneconomical
for the BLM to manage, and is not suitable for management by another
government agency, is also consistent with the objectives, goals and
decision of the BLM Snake River RMP.
In accordance with 43 CFR 2710.0-6(c)(3)(iii) and 43 CFR 2711.3-
3(a), direct sale procedures are appropriate to resolve an inadvertent,
unauthorized occupancy of the land or to protect existing equities in
the land. The sales, when completed, would protect the improvements
involved and resolve the inadvertent encroachment on two parcels and
eliminate a difficult management situation on another. The three
parcels of land are not required for other Federal purposes and do not
contain other known public values. Conveyance of the identified public
lands will be subject to valid existing rights and encumbrances of
record, including, but not limited to, rights-of-way for roads and
public utilities. The patent will include an appropriate
indemnification claim protecting the United States from claims arising
out of the patentee's use occupancy or occupations on the patented
lands. No warranty of any kind, express or implied, is given by the
United States as to the title, physical condition, or potential uses of
the parcels of land proposed for sale. The BLM will retain all mineral
rights.
Upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the lands
will be segregated from all forms of appropriation under the public
land laws, including the general mining laws, except for conveyance
under the FLPMA and leasing under the mineral leasing laws. Until
completion of the sale, the BLM will no longer accept land use
applications affecting the identified public land, except applications
for the amendment of previously filed right-of-way applications or
existing authorizations to increase the term of the grants, in
accordance with 43 CFR 2807.15 and 2886.15. This segregative effect
will end upon issuance of the patent, publication in the Federal
Register of a termination of the segregation, or March 20, 2015, unless
extended by the BLM State Director in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.1-
2(d) prior to the termination date.
The following reservations, rights, and conditions would be
included in the patent that may be issued for the above parcels of
public land:
1. A reservation of all minerals to the United States;
2. A right-of-way thereon for ditches or canals constructed by the
authority of the United States pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1890
(43 U.S.C. 945); and
3. All valid existing rights of record, including those documented
on the official public land records at the time of patent issuance.
Detailed information concerning these actions is available for
review at the address above during normal business hours, 7:45 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria regarding
the RMP amendment process, as well as written comments concerning the
lands being considered for sale, including notification of any
encumbrances or other claims relating to the identified lands in
writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit
them to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section above. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the
close of the 45-day scoping period or within 30 days after the last
public meeting, whichever is later.
The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to
assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16
U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about
historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by
the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106
of the NHPA.
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, state, and local agencies, along with tribes
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis
as a cooperating agency. The minutes and list of attendees for each
scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days
after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he
or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be
addressed in the plan and will place them into one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP Amendment/
Draft EA as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The
public is also encouraged to help identify any management questions and
concerns that should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management
decisions that are best
[[Page 17229]]
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan
amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following
disciplines will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland
management, minerals and geology, forestry, outdoor recreation,
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty,
hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so. Any adverse comments will be reviewed by the State
Director, who may sustain, vacate, or modify this realty action. In the
absence of timely filed objections, this realty action will become the
final determination of the Department of the Interior.
Authority: 43 CFR 2711.1-2(a), 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2
Dated: January 10, 2013.
Donald A. Simpson,
State Director, Wyoming.
[FR Doc. 2013-06331 Filed 3-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P