Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30711-30714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12948]
[[Page 30711]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO2100000 L11100000.DQ0000.LXSISGST0000]
Notice of Availability of the Great Basin Region Greater Sage-
Grouse Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments and Final Environmental Impact
Statements for the Sub-Regions of Idaho and Southwestern Montana;
Nevada and Northeastern California; Oregon; and Utah
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the Resources Planning Act of 1974, as
amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (Forest
Service) have prepared Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments (LUPA) and
Final Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for planning units in
Idaho, Southwestern Montana, Nevada, Northeastern California, Oregon,
and Utah. There are four separate Final EISs being conducted in the
Great Basin Region and this notice announces the availability of all
four.
DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's and
Forest Service's Proposed LUP/Final EIS. A person who meets the
conditions and files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of
the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice
of Availability in the Federal Register. In accordance with 36 CFR
219.59, the Forest Service will waive its objection procedures of this
subpart and instead adopt the BLM's protest procedures outlined in 43
CFR 1610.5-2.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Nevada and
Northeastern California, Oregon, and Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed
LUPAs/Final EISs have been sent to affected Federal, State and local
government agencies, tribal governments, and to other stakeholders and
members of the public who have requested copies. Copies of the Proposed
LUPAs/Final EISs are available for public inspecton at the addresses
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Interested persons may
also review the Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs on the internet at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse.html.
All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following
addresses:
Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator,
P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383.
Overnight Delivery: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest
Coordinator, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the Idaho and Southwestern Montana
Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Jonathan Beck, BLM Idaho
State Office GRSG Planning Lead, telephone 208-373-4070; address 1387
South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709; email jmbeck@blm.gov.
For the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse
Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Lauren Mermejo, BLM Nevada State Office GRSG
Project Lead, telephone 775-861-6580; address 1340 Financial Boulevard,
Reno, NV 89502; email lmermejo@blm.gov.
For the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Joan
Suther, BLM Oregon State Office GRSG Planning Lead, telephone 541-573-
4445; address BLM Burns District, 28910 Hwy 20, West Hines, OR 97738;
email jsuther@blm.gov.
For the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Quincy
Bahr, BLM Utah State Office GRSG Project Lead, telephone 801-539-4122;
address 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1345;
email qfbahr@blm.gov.
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 individuals 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: The BLM and Forest Service prepared the
Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, and
Utah Greater Sage-Grouse LUPAs and EISs. The Oregon LUPA/EIS was
prepared solely by the BLM because there were no National Forest System
lands involved. All four of these Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs address a
range of alternatives focused on specific conservation measures across
the range of the Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG). All four of these EISs are
part of a total of 15 separate EISs that make up the BLM and Forest
Service National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. These four EISs
will amend the following BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and
Management Framework Plans (MFPs) and Forest Service Land and Resource
Management Plans (LRMP) in the Great Basin Region:
California
Alturas RMP (2008)
Eagle Lake RMP (2008)
Surprise RMP (2008)
Idaho
Birds of Prey NCA RMP (2008)
Bruneau RMP revision (and existing 1983 Bruneau MFP)
Challis RMP (1999)
Craters of the Moon NM RMP (2006)
Four Rivers RMP revision (and existing 1988 Cascade RMP and
1983 Kuna and Bruneau MFPs)
Jarbidge RMP revision (and existing 1987 Jarbidge RMP)
Lemhi RMP (1987)
Owyhee RMP (1999)
Pocatello RMP revision
Shoshone-Burley RMP revision (and existing 1980 Bennett Hills/
Timmerman Hills, 1985 Cassia, 1975 Magic, 1985 Monument, 1981 Sun
Valley, and 1982 Twin Falls MFPs/RMPs)
Upper Snake RMP revision (and existing 1983 Big Lost, 1985
Medicine Lodge, 1981 Big Desert, and 1981 Little Lost-Birch Creek MFPs/
RMPs)
Boise National Forest, LRMP (2003)
Curlew National Grassland Management Plan, LRMP (2002)
Caribou National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Targhee National Forest LRMP
(1997)
Salmon-Challis National Forest, Challis National Forest LRMP
(1987)
Salmon-Challis National Forest, Salmon National Forest LRMP
(1988)
Sawtooth National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
Montana
Dillon RMP (2006)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, LRMP (2009)
Nevada
Battle Mountain RMP revision (and existing 1997 Tonopah and
1986 Shoshone-Eureka RMPs)
Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon NCA RMP (2004)
Carson City RMP revision (and existing 2001 Carson City
Consolidated RMP)
Elko RMP (1987)
Ely RMP (2008)
[[Page 30712]]
Wells RMP (1985)
Winnemucca RMP revision (and existing 1982 Paradise-Denio MFP
and 1982 Sonoma-Gerlach RMP)
Humboldt National Forest, LRMP (1986)
Toiyabe National Forest, LRMP (1986)
Oregon
Andrews RMP (2005)
Baker RMP revision (and existing 1989 Baker RMP)
Brothers-LaPine RMP (1989)
Lakeview RMP amendment (and existing 2003 Lakeview RMP)
Southeastern Oregon RMP amendment (and existing 2003
Southeastern Oregon RMP)
Steens RMP (2005)
Three Rivers RMP (1992)
Upper Deschutes RMP (2005)
Utah
Box Elder RMP (1986)
Cedar/Beaver/Garfield/Antimony RMP (1986)
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan
(2000)
House Range RMP (1987)
Kanab RMP (2008)
Park City MFP (1975)
Pinyon MFP (1978)
Pony Express RMP (1990)
Price RMP (2008)
Randolph MFP (1980)
Richfield RMP (2008)
Salt Lake District Isolated Tracts Planning Analysis (1985)
Vernal RMP (2008)
Warm Springs RMP (1987)
Dixie National Forest, LRMP (1986)
Fishlake National Forest, LRMP (1986)
Uinta National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
Ashley National Forest, LRMP (1986)
Manti-La Sal National Forest, LRMP (1986)
Management decisions made as a result of these Proposed LUPAs/Final
EISs will apply only to BLM-administered and National Forest System
lands in the planning area. The planning areas for all four EISs
includes approximately 194.0 million acres of BLM, National Park
Service, Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State, tribal,
local, and private lands located in 28 Idaho counties (Ada, Adams, Bear
Lake, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Caribou, Cassia,
Clark, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi,
Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Oneida Owyhee, Payette, Power, Twin Falls,
and Washington), 7 Montana counties (Montana, Beaverhead, Deer Lodge,
Fremont, Clark, Madison, and Silver Bow), 16 Nevada counties (Carson
City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander,
Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine),
5 California counties (Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Siskiyou, and Sierra), 8
Oregon counties (Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur,
and Union), 24 Utah counties (Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon,
Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Morgan,
Piute, Rich, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch,
Wayne, and Weber), and 2 Wyoming counties (Sweetwater and Uinta). The
decision area for these Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs is defined as those
BLM-administered and National Forest System lands and Federal mineral
estate within the following habitat management categories:
Priority Habitat Management Area (PHMA)--Areas identified
as having the highest conservation value for maintaining sustainable
GRSG populations; includes breeding, late brood-rearing, and winter
concentration areas.
Important Habitat Management Area (IHMA) (applicable to
Idaho only)--Areas identified as having generally moderate to high
conservation value habitat and/or populations that provide a management
buffer for the PHMA and to connect patches of PHMA.
General Habitat Management Area (GHMA)--Areas of seasonal
or year-round GRSG habitat outside of PHMAs.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the Idaho and Southwestern
Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, Oregon, and Utah Greater
Sage-Grouse LUPAs/EISs was published in the Federal Register on
December 9, 2011. A Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Idaho and
Southwestern Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, and Utah
Draft LUPAs/EISs was published in the Federal Register on November 1,
2013. The Oregon Draft LUPA/EIS was released to the public on November
26, 2013. Comments on the Draft LUPAs/EISs received from the public and
internal BLM and Forest Service review were considered and
incorporated, as appropriate, into the Proposed Plan.
The alternatives presented in Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs are
described below:
Alternative A would retain the current management goals,
objectives and direction specified in the existing BLM RMPs and the
Forest Service LRMPs.
Alternative B is based on the conservation measures
developed by the National Technical Team (NTT) planning effort in
Washington Office Instructional Memorandum (IM) Number 2012-044. As
directed in the IM, the conservation measures developed by the NTT must
be considered and analyzed, as appropriate, through the land use
planning process and NEPA by all BLM state and field offices that
contain occupied GRSG habitat. Most management actions included in
Alternative B would be applied to PHMA.
Alternative C is based on a citizen groups' recommended
alternative. This alternative emphasizes improvement and protection of
habitat for GRSG and is applied to all occupied GRSG habitat.
Alternative C would limit commodity development in areas of occupied
GRSG habitat, and would close or designate portions of the planning
area to some land uses. The Utah LUPA/Draft EIS combined this
alternative with Alternative F (discussed below).
Alternative D, which was identified as the Preferred
Alternative in the Draft EIS, balances opportunities to use and develop
the planning area and protects GRSG habitat based on scoping comments
and input from Cooperating Agencies involved in the alternatives
development process. Protective measures would be applied to GRSG
habitat.
Alternative E is the alternative provided by the State or
Governor's offices for inclusion and analysis in the EISs. It
incorporates guidance from specific State Conservation strategies and
emphasizes management of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats and
maintaining habitat connectivity to support population objectives. This
alternative was identified as a co-Preferred Alternative in the Idaho
and Southwestern Montana Draft EIS.
Alternative F is also based on a citizen group recommended
alternative. This alternative emphasizes improvement and protection of
habitat for GRSG and defines different restrictions for PHMA and GHMA.
Alternative F would limit commodity development in areas of occupied
GRSG habitat, and would close or designate portions of the planning
area to some land uses. This alternative does not apply to the Utah
sub-regional planning effort, as it was combined with Alternative C.
The Proposed LUPA incorporates guidance from specific
State Conservation strategies, as well as
[[Page 30713]]
additional management based on the NTT recommendations. This
alternative emphasizes management of GRSG seasonal habitats and
maintaining habitat connectivity to support population objectives.
The BLM and Forest Service received approximately 4,990 substantive
comments, contained in 74,240 submissions during the four Draft EISs'
comment periods. Based on comments received during the NEPA process,
the following comment topics were frequently identified:
General (Process/Policy);
Lands and Realty;
Livestock Grazing;
Minerals and Energy;
Predation;
Recreation;
Socioeconomic;
Special Management Area Designations;
Special Status Species (Including GRSG);
Travel and Access Management;
Vegetation;
Wildland Fire Management;
Wildlife and Fisheries.
For the Idaho and Southwestern Montana GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final
EIS, the BLM and Forest Service conducted seven public meetings. These
meetings were held in Murphy, Idaho Falls, Salmon, Pocatello, Twin
Falls, and Boise in Idaho and Dillon in Montana during January 2014.
For the Nevada and Northeastern California GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final
EIS, the BLM and Forest Service conducted seven public meetings. These
meetings were held in Cedarville and Susanville, California, and in
Reno, Tonopah, Ely, Elko, and Winnemucca, Nevada in early December
2013. For the Oregon GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final EIS, the BLM conducted
seven public meetings. These meetings were held in Baker City, Burns,
Durkee, Jordan Valley, Lakeview, Ontario and Prineville, Oregon during
January 2014. For the Utah GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final EIS, the BLM and
Forest Service conducted eight public meetings. These meetings were
held in Cedar City, Panguitch, Price, Randolph, Richfield, Salt Lake
City, Snowville, and Vernal, Utah during November and December 2013.
Comments on the Draft LUPAs/Draft EISs received from the public and
internal BLM and Forest Service review were carefully considered and
incorporated as appropriate into the proposed LUPAs/Final EISs. The BLM
and Forest Service, via the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies (WAFWA) Management Zone Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Team,
will develop a Regional Mitigation Strategy to guide the application of
the mitigation hierarchy to address impacts within that Zone. The
Regional Mitigation Strategy should consider any State-level GRSG
mitigation guidance that is consistent with the requirements. The
Regional Mitigation Strategy will be developed in a transparent manner,
based on the best science available and standardized metrics.
Copies of the Idaho and Southwestern Montana GRSG Proposed LUPA/
Final EIS are available for public inspection at:
BLM Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709
BLM Boise District Office, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, ID
83705
BLM Owyhee Field Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, ID
83639
BLM Idaho Falls District Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho
Falls, ID 83401
BLM Salmon Field Office, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, ID
83467
BLM Challis Field Office, 1151 Blue Mountain Road, Challis, ID
83226
BLM Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID
83204
BLM Twin Falls District Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin
Falls, ID 83301
BLM Shoshone Field Office, 400 West F Street, Shoshone, ID
83352
BLM Burley Field Office, 15 East 200 South, Burley, ID 83318
BLM Coeur d'Alene District Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur
d'Alene, ID 83815
BLM Cottonwood Field Office, 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, ID
83522
BLM Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT
59101
BLM Butte District Office, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, MT 59701
BLM Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59725-
9431
Caribou-Targhee National Forest Headquarters, 1405 Hollipart
Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401
Beaverhead-Deerlodge Supervisor's Office, 420 Barrett Street,
Dillon, MT 59725
Salmon-Challis Supervisor's Office, 1206 S. Challis Street,
Salmon, ID 83467
Boise Supervisor's Office, 1206 Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise,
ID 83709
Sawtooth Supervisor's Office, 2647 Kimberly Road, East, Twin
Falls, ID 83301
Copies of the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-
Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS are available for public inspection at:
BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV
89502
BLM Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Boulevard,
Winnemucca, NV 89445
BLM Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV
89301
BLM Elko District Office, 3900 E. Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801
BLM Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson
City, NV 89701
BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, NV 89820
BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623,
Sacramento, CA 95825
BLM Alturas Field Office, 708 W. 12th Street, Alturas, CA
96101
BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville,
CA 96130
BLM Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler Street, Cedarville, CA
96104
Austin Ranger District, 100 Midas Canyon Road, Austin, NV
89310
Carson Ranger District, 1536 South Carson Street, Carson City,
NV 89701
Ely Ranger District, 825 Avenue East, Ely, NV 90301
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters, 1200 Franklin
Way, Sparks, NV 89431
Jarbidge Ranger District, 140 Pacific Avenue, Wells, NV 89835
Modoc National Forest, 225 West 8th, Alturas, CA 96101
Mountain City Ranger District, 2035 Last Chance Road, Elko, NV
89801
Santa Rosa Ranger District, 1200 East Winnemucca Boulevard,
Winnemucca, NV 89445
Tonopah Ranger District, 1400 S. Erie Mian Street, Tonopah, NV
89049
Copies of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS
are available for public inspection at:
BLM Oregon State Office, 1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR
97204
BLM Baker Resource Area Office, 3100 H Street, Baker City, OR
97814
BLM Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, OR
97738
BLM Lakeview District Office, 1301 S. G Street, Lakeview, OR
97630
BLM Prineville District Office, 3050 NE. 3rd Street,
Prineville, OR 97754
BLM Vale District Office, 100 Oregon Street, Vale, OR 97918
Copies of the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS are
available for public inspection at:
BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt
Lake City, UT 84101
BLM Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive,
Cedar City, UT 84721
BLM Fillmore Field Office, 95 East 500 North, Fillmore, UT
84631
BLM Kanab Field Office and Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, UT 84741
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BLM Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, UT 84501
BLM Richfield Field Office, 150 East 900 North, Richfield, UT
84701
BLM Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Boulevard,
West Valley City, UT 84119
BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078
Ashley National Forest, 355 N. Vernal Avenue, Vernal, UT 84078
Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, UT
84721
Fishlake National Forest, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, UT
84701
Manti-LaSal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive,
Price, UT 84501
Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 857 W. South Jordan
Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095
United States Forest Service Intermountain Region, 324 25th
Street, Ogden, UT 84401
Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM
regarding the Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs may be found in the ``Dear
Reader'' Letter of the Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs and at 43 CFR 1610.5-
2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate
address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed protests
will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also
provides the original letter by either regular mail or overnight
delivery postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these
conditions, the BLM and Forest Service will consider an emailed protest
as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish
to provide the BLM and Forest Service with such advance notifications,
please direct emails to protest@blm.gov.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be
aware that your entire protest--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may
ask us in your protest to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: 36 CFR 219.59, 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR
1610.2; 43 CFR 1610.5
Amy Lueders,
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable Resources & Planning.
[FR Doc. 2015-12948 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am]
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