[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9539-9540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04483]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMTC02200-L14400000-DU0000-17XL1109AF.MO#4500106565]
Notice of Intent To Amend the Miles City Field Office 2015
Resource Management Plan and To Prepare an Associated Environmental
Assessment, Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Miles
City Field Office (MCFO), Miles City, Montana, intends to prepare an
amendment to the MCFO Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an
associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the sale of the
reversionary interest held by the United States (U.S.) in 11.83 acres
of land previously conveyed out of Federal ownership, and by this
Notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit
public comments and identify issues.
DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
Amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in
writing until April 5, 2018. The BLM does not plan to hold any scoping
meetings for this Plan Amendment. In order to be included in the
analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-
day scoping period. We will provide additional opportunities for public
participation as appropriate.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Field Manager, Miles City Field
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT
59301. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the
MCFO.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Klempel, telephone 406-233-2800,
or email [email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 to contact Ms. Klempel during normal business hours. The FRS
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. Normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
MCFO, Miles City, MT, intends to prepare an amendment to the MCFO RMP
with an associated EA, announces the beginning of the scoping process,
and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The planning
area is located in Custer County, Montana, and encompasses the
reversionary interest held by the U.S. in 11.83 acres of land
previously conveyed out of Federal ownership. The BLM has received a
request from the current owner to purchase the reversionary interest
held by the U.S. in the following described land:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 7 N., R. 47 E.,
Sec. 5, Tract X.
The area described contains 11.83 acres in Custer County, Montana.
In 1992, the BLM conveyed the land described above to the Miles
Community College under the authority of the Recreation and Public
Purposes Act of June 14, 1926 (R&PP) for educational and recreational
purposes. Under the college's development plan with the BLM, it has
used the land for a rodeo arena, equestrian events, recreation
facilities, agriculture-related courses, and programs for the community
college's use. If the college purchases the U.S.' reversionary
interest, the college could also allow the public to rent the
facilities for community use or large events, such as indoor rodeos,
concerts, and agriculture and recreation expos. When public land is
conveyed under the authority of the R&PP, the U.S. retains a
reversionary interest in the land, which could result in title to the
land reverting to the U.S. if the land is not used for the purposes for
which it was conveyed, or if the land is sold or transferred without
the BLM's approval. The BLM is responsible for monitoring the
reversionary interest in perpetuity to ensure the land is used for the
purposes for which it was conveyed.
The reversionary interest in the land described above was not
specifically identified for sale in the 2015 MCFO RMP and a Plan
Amendment is required to process a direct sale. 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.
The BLM anticipates that the EA will consider both a Plan Amendment
and possible subsequent sale of the Federal reversionary interest. The
BLM anticipates that the EA will include, at a minimum, input from the
disciplines of land-use planning, renewable resources, and non-
renewable resources. This Plan Amendment will be limited to an analysis
of whether the reversionary interest in the land described above meets
the criteria for sale under Section 203 of FLPMA.
You may submit comments in writing to the BLM as shown in the
ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, your comments should be
submitted by the close of the 30-day scoping period.
The BLM will use its fulfillment of the NEPA public participation
requirements to assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement
requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (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
[[Page 9540]]
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 evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the Plan
Amendment, 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 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 Amendment. 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.
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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2)
Diane M. Friez,
Eastern Montana/Dakotas District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018-04483 Filed 3-5-18; 8:45 am]
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