[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77652-77654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31207]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVSO0000.L16100000.DO0000.LXSS100F0000, 241A; 11-08807;
MO4500015402; TAS: 14X1109]
Notice of Intent to Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the
Battle Mountain District and Associated Environmental Impact Statement,
Nevada
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, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Battle Mountain
District, Battle Mountain, Nevada, intends to prepare a Resource
Management Plan (RMP) and associated Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Battle Mountain District, and by this notice is
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues. The new Battle Mountain RMP will cover
both the Mount Lewis Field Office and the Tonopah Field Office and will
replace the existing Shoshone-Eureka and Tonopah RMPs.
[[Page 77653]]
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Battle
Mountain RMP and associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in
writing until February 11, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) of 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/fo/battle_mountain_field.html. In order to be included in the
Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 60-
day scoping period or 30 days after the last public meeting, whichever
is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Battle Mountain RMP and EIS by using any of the
following methods:
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html.
E-mail: BattleMountain [email protected].
Fax: 775-635-4034.
Mail: Bureau of Land Management, 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, NV 89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Battle
Mountain District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the mailing list, call Christopher Worthington,
planning and environmental coordinator, 775-635-4144, or e-mail
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
District Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada intends to prepare a RMP with
an associated EIS for the Battle Mountain District, announces the
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and
planning criteria. The planning area is located in portions of Lander,
Eureka, Nye, and Esmeralda counties, Nevada and encompasses
approximately 10.5 million acres of public land. 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. Preliminary issues for
the planning area have been identified by the BLM, Federal, State, and
local agencies, and other stakeholders. The issues include: managing
vegetative and water resources, including identifying terrestrial and
aquatic wildlife and fish priority habitats; managing noxious and
invasive species; managing renewable energy development for geothermal,
wind, and solar power, including stipulations to protect sensitive
resources; identifying and evaluating areas of critical environmental
concern; identifying lands with wilderness characteristics with an
updated inventory; determining eligibility for wild and scenic rivers;
managing National Historic Trails; identifying off-highway vehicle
designations and travel management; identifying special recreation
management areas to meet increasing recreation demands; managing and
protecting visual resources, cultural, historical, and paleontological
resources, as well as Native American religious and traditional values;
and making land tenure adjustments to meet community growth needs and
sustainable development.
Preliminary planning criteria include: (1) The planning area is
defined as the area covered by the existing Shoshone-Eureka and Tonopah
RMPs. The plan will make resource use determinations for public lands
within the defined planning area boundary. (2) The planning effort will
rely on available inventories of the lands and resources as well as
data gathered during the planning process. (3) The planning will
address requirements for sage-grouse habitat and conservation as
outlined in the National Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy, and
the most current BLM guidance and instruction memoranda will be
followed. (4) The planning process will use Geographic Information
Systems and corporate geospatial data to the extent practicable and
Federal Geographic Data Committee standards and other applicable BLM
data standards will be followed. (5) The plan and associated EIS will
be developed through the BLM's ePlanning system to the extent
consistent with the current functionality of the system and schedule
considerations. (6) The plan will be consistent to the maximum extent
possible with the plans and management programs of local government,
consistent with State and Federal laws and guiding regulations and
coordinated with other Federal agencies where appropriate. (7) The
planning process will use and observe principles of multiple use and
sustained yield. (8) The planning process will involve consultation
with Native American Tribal governments. (9) The plan will recognize
valid existing rights and incorporate valid existing management from
the Shoshone-Eureka and Tonopah RMPs as appropriate. (10) Opportunities
for public involvement will be provided throughout the planning
process. (11) A review of eligibility, findings and tentative
classification of waterways as eligible for inclusion in the National
Wild and Scenic River System will follow the criteria contained in 43
CFR 8351. (12) Environmental protection and energy production are each
desirable and necessary objectives and will not be considered mutually
exclusive priorities.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria to the BLM
using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Before
including an address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that the
entire comment--including 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 minutes and list of
attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and
open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to
clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate the
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 is 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 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: wildlife and fisheries,
threatened and endangered species, special status species, vegetation,
invasive and noxious weeds, renewable energy, lands and realty,
minerals management, outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle and
transportation, air resources, visual resources, cultural resources and
Native American concerns, paleontology, hydrology, public safety, law
enforcement, fire ecology and management, rangeland
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management, sociology and economics, and Geographic Information
Systems.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.
Ron Wenker,
Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-31207 Filed 12-10-10; 8:45 am]
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