[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

[[Page 77654]]

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]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P