[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70252-70253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28877]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO210000.16X.L11100000.PH0000 LXSISGST0000]
Extension of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public Scoping
Meetings and Public Meetings for the Proposed Withdrawal of Sagebrush
Focal Areas in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming, and
an Associated Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On September 24, 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
published a Notice of Proposed Withdrawal; Sagebrush Focal Areas;
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming and Notice of Intent
to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed
Withdrawal in the Federal Register. This notice extends the comment
period for both the proposed withdrawal and initial scoping for the
environmental impact statement (EIS) being prepared to consider the
merits of the proposed withdrawal and announces the times, dates, and
locations of public meetings.
DATES: Written or emailed comments for scoping for the EIS and on the
proposed withdrawal may be submitted through January 15, 2016. In
addition, through this Notice the BLM is also announcing that it will
hold public meetings in December 2015 to focus on relevant issues and
environmental concerns, identify possible alternatives, help determine
the scope of the EIS, and provide an opportunity for public comments on
the proposed withdrawal. For dates and locations for the scoping
meetings, please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the BLM Director, 1849 C
Street NW. (WO-200), Washington, DC 20240 or emailed to
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Mark Mackiewicz, BLM, by
telephone at 435-636-3616. Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to reach the BLM contact person. 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: The BLM filed an application requesting the
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management to
withdraw, subject to valid existing rights, approximately 10 million
acres of BLM-managed public and National Forest System lands located in
the States of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming from
location and entry under the United States mining law, but not from
leasing under the mineral or geothermal leasing or mineral materials
laws.
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA), the BLM will prepare an EIS and conduct public
scoping meetings on the withdrawal from the mining law of approximately
10 million acres of BLM- and United States Forest Service-administered
public lands, in 6 western states as identified in the Federal Register
notice of September 24, 2015 (80 FR 57635). The period for initial
scoping comments from the public has been extended from December 23,
2015, to January 15, 2016. These public scoping meetings will also meet
the requirements under 43 CFR 2310 to provide public meetings for
comment on the Notice of Proposed Withdrawal that published on
September 24, 2015.
The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are as follows:
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Dates & times Locations BLM contact
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Dec. 14, 2051:
5 p.m. to 7 p.m........... Harney County Chamber Jody Weil, 503-
of Commerce, 484 808-6287.
North Broadway,
Burns, OR 97720.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m........... Lakeview BLM District Jody Weil, 503-
Office, 1301 South G 808-6287.
Street, Lakeview, OR
97630.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m........... Salt Lake City BLM Megan Crandall,
Office, 2370 South 801-539-4020.
Decker Lake Drive,
West Valley City, UT
84119.
Dec. 15, 2015:
4 p.m. to 6 p.m........... Best Western Vista Inn Erin Curtis, 208-
& Conference Center, 373-4016.
2645 Airport Way,
Boise, ID 83709.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m........... Rock Springs BLM Field Kristen
Office, 280 Highway Lenhardt, 307-
191 North, Rock 775-6015.
Springs, WY 82901.
5 p.m. to 7 p.m........... The Nugget, 1100 Steve Clutter,
Nugget Avenue, 775-861-6629.
Sparks, NV 89431.
Dec. 16, 2015.............
2 p.m. to 4 p.m........... Great Northern Hotel, Al Nash, 406-896-
2 South 1st Street 5260.
East, Malta, MT 59538.
4 p.m. to 6 p.m........... Shiloh Suites Erin Curtis, 208-
Conference Hotel, 780 373-4016.
Lindsay Blvd., Idaho
Falls, ID 83402.
[[Page 70253]]
5 p.m. to 7 p.m........... Elko Conference Steve Clutter,
Center, 724 Moren 775-861-6629.
Way, Elko, NV 89801.
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The EIS will consider a No Action alternative and consider
reasonably foreseeable mineral development activities. The EIS does not
support a land-use plan or a land-use plan amendment. It will provide a
comprehensive programmatic NEPA analysis for the proposed action of the
Secretary of the Interior withdrawing these public lands from operation
of the mining law for the conservation benefit of the Greater Sage-
grouse.
The BLM has initially identified the following issues for analysis
in this EIS: Air quality/climate, American Indian resources, cultural
resources, wilderness and wilderness characteristics, mineral
resources, public health and safety, recreation, social and economic
conditions, soil resources, soundscapes, special status species,
vegetation resources, visual resources, water resources, and fish and
wildlife habitat.
In addition, the BLM expects to address economic effects of
withdrawing these public lands from operation of the mining law,
wildlife habitat conservation; improvement, restoration of ecosystem
processes; protection of cultural resources, watershed and vegetative
community health, new listings of threatened and endangered species and
consideration of other sensitive and special status species.
Steve Ellis,
Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-28877 Filed 11-12-15; 8:45 am]
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