Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 78 (Friday, April 22, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23666-23667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09439]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
43 CFR Part 1600
[LLWO210000.16X.L16100000.PN0000]
RIN 1004-AE39
Resource Management Planning
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On February 25, 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to amend existing
regulations that establish the procedures used to prepare, revise, or
amend land use plans pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA). The proposed rule would enable the BLM to more readily
address landscape-scale resource issues, such as wildfire, habitat
connectivity, or the demand for renewable and non-renewable energy
sources and to respond more effectively to environmental and social
changes. The proposed rule would further emphasize the role of science
in the planning process and the importance of evaluating the resource,
environmental, ecological, social, and economic conditions at the onset
of planning. The proposed rule would affirm the important role of other
Federal agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, and the
public during the planning process, and would enhance opportunities for
public involvement and transparency during the preparation of resource
management plans. Finally, the proposed rule would make revisions to
clarify existing text and use plain language to improve the readability
of the planning regulations. This notice extends the public comment
period for 30 days beyond the initial comment-period deadline.
DATES: Send your comments on this proposed rule to the BLM on or before
May 25, 2016. The BLM need not consider, or include in the
administrative record for the final rule, comments that the BLM
receives after the close of the comment period or comments delivered to
an address other than those listed below (see ADDRESSES).
ADDRESSES: Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630),
Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 2134 LM, 1849 C St. NW.,
Washington, DC 20240, Attention: 1004-AE39. Personal or messenger
delivery: Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134 LM,
Attention: Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20003. Federal
eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions
at this Web site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Baker, Division Chief, Decision
Support, Planning and NEPA, at 202-912-7282, for information relating
to the BLM's national planning program or the substance of this
proposed rule. For information on procedural matters or the rulemaking
process, you may contact Charles Yudson at 202-912-7437. 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. FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question with the above
individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
[[Page 23667]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comment Procedures
If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of
several methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Please make your
comments as specific as possible by confining them to issues directly
related to the content of the proposed rule, and explain the basis for
your comments. The comments and recommendations that will be most
useful and likely to influence agency decisions are:
1. Those supported by quantitative information or studies; and
2. Those that include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable
laws and regulations.
The BLM is not obligated to consider or include in the
Administrative Record for the rule comments received after the close of
the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address
other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will
be available for public review at the address listed under ADDRESSES
during regular hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday,
except holidays.
Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your
comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Background
The proposed rule was published on February 25, 2016 (81 FR 9674),
with a 60-day comment period closing on April 25, 2016. Since
publication, the BLM has received requests to extend the comment period
on the proposed rule. After considering these requests, the BLM
determined that it is appropriate to grant the requests to extend the
comment period, and the BLM is hereby extending the comment period on
the rule for 30 days. The closing date of the extended comment period
is May 25, 2016.
Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-09439 Filed 4-21-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P