[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35043-35044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12938]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVL05000.L17110000. DO0000. LXSSF2300000 MO# 4500090967]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for Basin
and Range National Monument, Nevada, and an Associated Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District
Office, Ely, Nevada intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP)
with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Basin
and Range National Monument (BARNM) and by this notice is announcing
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues. The new, stand-alone RMP will tier to and may
incorporate by reference portions of the existing Ely District Record
of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (2008), as amended by
the Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment
signed in 2015.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing
until July 1, 2016. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media,
newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/nlcs_new/Basin_and_Range_National_Monument.htm.
In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be
received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. Additional
opportunities for public participation will be provided for upon
publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to Basin and Range National Monument Resource Management Plan
and associated Environmental Impact Statement by any of the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 775-726-8111
Mail: BLM Basin and Range National Monument, PO Box 237,
Caliente, NV 89008
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Basin and
Range National Monument Office, located at BLM Caliente Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Styles, Monument Manger;
telephone: 775-726-8100; address: P.O. Box 237, Caliente, NV 89008;
email: [email protected]. Contact Ms. Styles to add your name
to our mailing list. 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
District Office, Ely, Nevada, intends to prepare an RMP with an
associated EIS for the Basin and Range National Monument, announces the
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and
planning criteria. The planning area is located in Lincoln and Nye
Counties, Nevada and encompasses approximately 704,000 acres of public
land.
As the Proclamation indicates, the President established the
Monument to ``preserve its cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy
and maintain its diverse array of natural and scientific resources,
ensuring that the prehistoric, historic and scientific values of this
area remain for the benefit of all Americans.'' The Proclamation
further states: ``For purposes of the care and management of the
objects identified above, the Secretary, through BLM, shall, within 3
years of the date of this proclamation prepare and maintain a
management plan for the monument and shall provide for maximum public
involvement in the development of that plan including, but not limited
to, consultation with State, tribal, and local governments.''
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. A number of
preliminary issues for the planning area have been identified by BLM
personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders.
The issues include: Cultural and historic resources; tribal use;
vegetation resources; wild horse and burros; social and economic
values; climate change; special areas (Worthington Mountains
Wilderness, Shooting Gallery Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC), and
Mt. Irish ACEC); visual resources; lands and realty; outdoor
recreation; livestock grazing; minerals; paleontological resources;
research; wildland fire; and military uses. Preliminary planning
criteria will conform to 43 CFR 1610.4-2.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 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 30-day
scoping period or within 15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. 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. 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;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS 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
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate NEPA scoping process to help
fulfil the
[[Page 35044]]
public involvement process 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.
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 BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan
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: archaeology, paleontology,
outdoor recreation, wildlife and fisheries, rangeland management, lands
and realty, hydrology, soils, minerals and geology, sociology and
economics, wildland fire, and public affairs.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.
John F. Ruhs,
State Director, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2016-12938 Filed 5-31-16; 8:45 am]
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