[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33357-33359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14087]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLAZC01000.L1430000.ES0000; AZA 32905]


Notice of Realty Action; Recreation and Public Purposes Act 
Classification; and Notice of Intent To Prepare an Amendment to the 
Kingman Resource Management Plan; Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Realty Action.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined for 
classification approximately 1.31 acres of public land located in 
Mohave County, Arizona, and has found the surface of the land suitable 
for lease to the Pinion Pine Fire District under the provisions of the 
Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, to be used as a 
fire station. In order to implement the classification decision, the 
BLM intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the 
proposed amendment to the BLM Kingman Resource Management Plan (RMP) by 
identifying the subject land as available for conveyance under the R&PP 
Act, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: Comments of interested persons are invited. Comments must be 
postmarked no later than June 29, 2011. Only written comments will be 
accepted. Please reference ``Proposed Pinion Pine Fire District 
Station'' on all correspondence. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
the local news media. In order to be included in the EA, all comments 
must be postmarked no later than July 25, 2011. The BLM will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation during the planning 
process.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Kingman RMP/EA by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 928-718-3761.
     Mail: Ruben Sanchez, BLM Field Manager, Kingman Field 
Office, 2755 Mission Boulevard, Kingman, Arizona 86401.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM Kingman 
Field Office at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m.),

[[Page 33358]]

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Andy Whitefield, 
Environmental Protection Specialist, telephone 928-718-3746; address 
BLM Kingman Field Office, 2755 Mission Boulevard, Kingman, Arizona 
86401; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In September 2004, the Pinion Pine Fire 
District (District) submitted an application for the conveyance of 
lands under the authority of the R&PP Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et 
seq.). A portion of the lands for which the application was made were 
under a lease with the former landowner which subsequently expired in 
December 2004. In its application, the District also applied for lands 
in addition to those under the lease so the District could continue to 
use and expand the fire station facilities. These lands were acquired 
in a land exchange. When acquired, these lands became ``public lands,'' 
pursuant to Section 205(c) of the FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1715(c), and thus 
made subject to the BLM classification and planning requirements. The 
parcel of land for which application was made is described as follows:

Gila and Salt River Meridian

T. 20 N., R. 16 W.,
    Sec. 1, lot 5.

    The area described contains approximately 1.31 acres in Mohave 
County.

    The surface of the above-described land in Mohave County, Arizona, 
has been examined and found suitable for classification for a non-
profit, public purpose--specifically a site that may be leased and/or 
conveyed for use as a fire station, serving the immediate community, 
under the provisions of the R&PP Act, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 869 et 
seq., and is hereby classified accordingly pursuant to the Taylor 
Grazing Act, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 315(f). The land is not needed for 
any Federal purpose, and its proposed disposal will be determined upon 
completion of the RMP amendment process, which includes addressing the 
public interest.
    Effective upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register, 
the public land described above is segregated from all other forms of 
appropriation under the public land laws, except for leasing and/or 
conveyance under the R&PP Act. Segregation from the mining and mineral 
leasing laws does not apply, because the United States of America does 
not hold title to the mineral estate. The land is, however, segregated 
from the operation of the Materials Act, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 601 et 
seq., to the extent of the BLM's authority to dispose of mineral 
materials that are considered a part of the surface estate.
    The above-described land has not been classified until now. The 
land was acquired along with other lands pursuant to an exchange 
executed under the authority of Section 206 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act (FLPMA), as amended, 43 U.S.C. 1716. When acquired, 
these lands became ``public lands,'' pursuant to Section 205 (c) of 
FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1715 (c), and thus made subject to BLM classification 
and planning requirements.
    The BLM Kingman RMP does not identify the above described parcel 
for uses under the R&PP Act or for disposal. Therefore, the BLM is 
proposing to amend the Kingman RMP, in accordance with 43 CFR 1610.5-5, 
to identify the above-described land as being subject to surface 
occupancy and use under the terms and conditions of a lease and/or 
conveyance pursuant to the R&PP Act. The amendment would fulfill the 
needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), FLPMA, and BLM management policies.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis of 
both the proposed lease/conveyance under the R&PP Act, as well as any 
associated proposed plan amendment under FLPMA, including alternatives, 
and guide the process for developing the EA. At present, the BLM has 
identified the following preliminary issue:
     The denial of the District's application and removal of 
its fire station would significantly reduce the effectiveness of the 
District's ability to respond to emergencies within the area.
    As noted above, authorization of this proposed lease and/or 
conveyance of public land would require amendment of the Kingman RMP, 
March 1995. By this notice, the BLM is complying with requirements in 
43 CFR 1610.2(c) to notify the public of potential amendments to land 
use plans, predicated on the findings that may result from preparation 
of an EA. The BLM will integrate the land use planning process with the 
NEPA process for this project.
    The BLM will also utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting 
process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for 
in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be 
conducted in accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given 
due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.
    If and when the BLM State Director does or does not approve an 
amendment to the Kingman RMP, the public will be notified accordingly.
    Any lease and/or conveyance of the subject public land will be made 
subject to the provisions of the R&PP Act and the applicable 
regulations of the Secretary of the Interior. Any lease and/or 
conveyance of this land will also contain the following reservations to 
the United States:
    1. Provisions of the R&PP Act, including but not limited to, the 
terms required by 43 CFR 2741.9;
    2. A right-of-way thereon for ditches and canals constructed by the 
authority of the United States, Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C. 945); 
and
    3. The United States would reserve to itself, its successors, 
assigns and permit holders the rights to maintain, operate, and 
terminate a road, as granted in right-of-way AZA 33596, and the rights 
to construct, operate, maintain, and terminate a fence as granted in 
right-of-way AZA 33619.
    Any lease or conveyance will also be subject to valid existing 
rights, including outstanding mineral rights; will contain any terms or 
conditions required by law or regulation, including, but not limited 
to, any terms or conditions required by 43 CFR 2741.9; and will contain 
an appropriate indemnification clause protecting the United States from 
claims arising out of the lessee's or grantee's use, occupancy, or 
operations on the leased or patented lands. It will also contain any 
other terms or conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the 
authorized officer.
    RMP Amendment Comments: The public is invited to provide comments 
on the proposed Kingman RMP amendment, including planning criteria to 
consider regarding the proposed RMP amendment, concerns, issues, or 
proposed alternatives.
    R&PP Classfication Comments: Interested parties may submit written 
comments involving the suitability of the land for the fire station. 
Comments on the classification should be limited to whether the land is 
physically suited

[[Page 33359]]

for the fire station, whether the use will maximize the future use or 
uses of the land, whether the use is consistent with local planning and 
zoning, as well as State and Federal programs, and whether the use 
takes into consideration germane tribal plans and policies.
    R&PP Application Comments: Interested parties may submit written 
comments regarding the specific use proposed in the R&PP application, 
proposed action and plan of development, whether the BLM followed 
proper administrative procedures in reaching the decision, or any other 
factor not directly related to the suitability of the land for the fire 
station. Copies of the application, proposed action, and plan of 
development are available from the BLM Kingman Field Office.
    Any adverse comments concerning the classification decision stated 
in this Notice will be reviewed by the Field Manager, Kingman Field 
Office, who may sustain, vacate or modify that realty action. In the 
absence of any objection or adverse comment, the classification 
decision will become the final determination of the Department of the 
Interior. In such case, the classification will become effective on 
August 8, 2011.
    In any event, the land will not be offered for an R&PP Act lease 
and/or conveyance until after the classification decision takes effect 
and at least 30 days have elapsed following public notice of the BLM 
State Director's approval of the BLM Kingman RMP amendment. Any 
comments received during the scoping period, or following publication 
of the draft RMP amendment and draft supporting NEPA analysis, and/or 
protests associated with the planning process will be subject to the 
applicable provisions of the BLM planning regulations at 43 CFR part 
1610.
    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.
(Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2, 43 CFR 1610.5-5, 43 CFR 2741.5(h)).


Ruben A. S[aacute]nchez,
Kingman Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-14087 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P