[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7878-7879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3005]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYR01000 L54400000.EQ0000; LVCLK09K0760]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Westside Land Conveyance Project, Washakie and Big 
Horn Counties, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Westside 
Land Conveyance Project and by this notice is announcing its 
availability.

[[Page 7879]]


DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes this notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Westside Land Conveyance Project Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) are available for public inspection at the 
Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, 
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009, and Bureau of Land Management, Worland Field 
Office, 101 S. 23rd, Worland, Wyoming 82401. Interested persons may 
also review the FEIS on the Internet at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/wfodocs/westside.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Tkach, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, telephone: (307) 347-5251; address: Bureau 
of Land Management, Worland Field Office, 101 S. 23rd, Worland, Wyoming 
82401; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS analyzes the environmental 
consequences of a legislated land conveyance to the Westside Irrigation 
District (WID), Worland, Wyoming. Public Law 106-485 (Nov. 9, 2000; 114 
Stat. 2199) directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 
BLM, to convey to WID all right, title and interest, excluding mineral 
interest, in certain Federal land in Washakie and Big Horn Counties, 
Wyoming, upon completion of an environmental analysis under the NEPA 
and mitigation of identified adverse effects of the land transfer. The 
project area comprises approximately 16,500 acres, in Townships 48 N. 
and 49 N.; Ranges 92 W., 92\1/2\; W., and 93 W. The southern end of the 
project area is located approximately 5 miles northwest of Worland, 
Wyoming. The law specifies that acreage may be added to or subtracted 
from the project area to satisfy mitigation as required in the FEIS and 
its Record of Decision (ROD).
    The FEIS analyzes and discloses environmental consequences of four 
alternatives:
     The No Action Alternative--analyzed for a baseline 
comparison although it is not an option under public law.
     Alternative 1--the legislated proposed action conveying 
approximately 16,500 acres.
     Alternative 2--under which only lands suitable for 
irrigation and needed for infrastructure would be conveyed; 
approximately 11,500 acres.
     Alternative 3--under which only lands suitable for 
irrigation and needed for infrastructure, and which exclude certain 
known eligible cultural sites, would be conveyed; approximately 9,740 
acres. This alternative would also widen a wildlife migration corridor 
to the Bighorn River and reduce impacts to winter habitat.
    Alternative 3 is the BLM's preferred alternative.
    The law places no restrictions on the eventual uses or disposal of 
the land, and the BLM would exercise no regulatory control after the 
transfer. The WID has stated it will offer the land for sale for 
agricultural purposes.
    The law further specifies that proceeds from the conveyance shall 
be deposited in a special account in the Treasury of the United States 
and shall be available to the Secretary of the Interior, without a 
further act of appropriation, for the acquisition of land, and 
interests in land, in the Worland District (now Worland Field Office), 
in Wyoming, such that the acquired lands will benefit public 
recreation, public access, fish and wildlife habitat, or cultural 
resources.
    On February 22, 2005, the BLM published in the Federal Register a 
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS under the NEPA. On January 11, 2008, 
the BLM published in the Federal Register a Notice of Availability 
(NOA) of the Draft EIS (DEIS) for the Westside Land Conveyance Project.
    The State of Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC) is a co-
lead agency as provided in 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1580. 
The WWDC will use the FEIS and ROD in support of subsequent funding 
decisions should the irrigation district apply for water supply 
development assistance. Cooperating agencies in the preparation of the 
FEIS include Washakie and Big Horn Counties.
    A ROD will be prepared after the close of the 30-day review period 
for the FEIS. Comments on the DEIS received from the public and 
internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate 
into the FEIS.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10.

Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-3005 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
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