[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 217 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63624-63625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22010]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UTU 85338]


Notice of Proposed Land Transfer; Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Realty Action.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy has filed an application requesting 
the Secretary of the Interior to permanently transfer 500 acres of 
public land to the Department of Energy (DOE) to be used for the 
Crescent Junction Uranium Mill Tailings Repository. As a result of the 
transfer, except for oil and gas leasing, the land would no longer be 
subject to the general land laws, including the United States mining 
laws, other mineral or geothermal leasing, and

[[Page 63625]]

mineral material sales. The Secretary of the Interior would retain 
jurisdiction of any prior existing claims, rights, and interests in 
this land.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Moab Field Office Manager, 
Bureau of Land Management, 82 East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, Utah 84532.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary von Koch, Realty Specialist, Moab 
Field Office at the above address, 435-259-2128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE has filed an application with the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting transfer of the following 
described land to the DOE, subject to valid existing rights:

Salt Lake Meridian

T. 21 S., R. 19 E.,
    Sec. 22, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\; NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/
2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, S\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/
2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\, and E\1/
2\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\

    The area described contains 500 acres in Grand County.

    The purpose of the proposed land transfer is to protect public 
health and safety by permanently transferring the land to the DOE to be 
used for the disposal of the Moab Mill Site uranium mill tailings. The 
land would become a United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
licensed disposal site for permanent custody and care of uranium 
byproduct materials. The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 
1978 (42 U.S.C. 7916 (2000)), as amended, designates the DOE as the 
custodial agency.
    The land proposed for transfer is located within a temporary 
withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 7649 and is therefore 
currently closed to mining and mineral leasing.
    The oil and gas portion of the mineral estate would be reserved to 
the Secretary of the Interior.
    As a result of the transfer, except for oil and gas leasing, the 
land would no longer be subject to the general land laws, including the 
United States mining laws, other mineral or geothermal leasing, and 
mineral material sales.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed action may present their 
views in writing to the BLM Moab Field Office Manager, at the address 
noted above.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, and 
records relating to the proposed land transfer will be available for 
public review during regular business hours at the BLM Moab Field 
Office at the address specified above. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. Before including your address, phone number, 
e-mail 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.
    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed land transfer. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed transfer must submit a written request to the BLM Moab 
Field Office at the address indicated above within 90 days from the 
date of publication of this notice. If the authorized officer 
determines that a public meeting will be held, a notice of the time and 
place will be published in the Federal Register at least 30 days before 
the scheduled date of the meeting.
    There are no suitable alternatives. A right-of-way, interagency, or 
cooperative agreement would not permanently transfer the land to the 
DOE as directed by the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, and 
they would not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses that could 
adversely affect public health and safety.
    Under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act, the DOE 
permanently acquires a disposal site for perpetual surveillance and 
maintenance. The Secretary of the Interior would retain the authority 
to administer any existing claims, rights, and interests in this land 
that were established before the effective date of the land transfer.
    Prior to selecting the Crescent Junction Uranium Mill Tailings 
Repository site, all potential sites within a reasonable vicinity of 
the Moab Mill Site were evaluated. In addition to site suitability 
studies, extensive opportunity for input was afforded to government 
agencies and the general public.
    This application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR 2300.

(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1)

    Dated: November 2, 2007.
Selma Sierra,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E7-22010 Filed 11-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P