[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 170 (Thursday, September 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54482-54483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22346]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDT020000.L10200000.EE0000.241A.00]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Shoshone Basin Grazing Permit Renewal

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) Burley Field 
Office, Burley, Idaho intends to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments should be submitted within 30 days of the date of this posting 
to be included in the analysis. The date(s) and location(s) of any 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local media and the BLM Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id. In order to be 
included in the draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the 
close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, 
whichever is later.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and issues related to the Shoshone 
Basin Grazing EIS by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/burley.html.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: 208-677-6699.
     Mail: 15 East 200 South, Burley, Idaho 83318.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Burley 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Scott Sayer, Natural 
Resource Specialist, telephone (208) 677-6630, e-mail [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Burley Field Office, Burley, Idaho, intends to prepare an EIS for 
grazing permit renewals in the Shoshone Basin area, announces the 
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues. The 
planning area is located in Twin Falls County, Idaho, and encompasses 
approximately 125,800 acres of public land. The purpose of the public 
scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the 
scope of the EIS, including the alternatives. Preliminary issues for 
the planning area have been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, 
State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The primary issue is 
the cumulative effects to a highly mobile sage-grouse population. These 
effects come from a variety of sources, including the proposed China 
Mountain Wind Project, Jack Ranch Wind Project (private), Gollaher 
Mountain Wind Project (private), Southwest Intertie (500 kV) 
transmission line, Gateway West (500kV) transmission line, numerous 
wildfires, and grazing.
    The Burley Field Office will consult with the Shoshone-Paiute and 
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on this action during regular consultation 
proceedings and briefings. The BLM will also brief county 
commissioners, Congressional delegations and grazing permittees during 
the EIS process.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared for the Horse Creek, 
Magic Common, South Big Creek, Kerr Lost Creek, and Baker Lost Creek 
allotments in the Shoshone Basin. An EA was also prepared for grazing 
permit renewal for the Western Stock Growers, Hub Butte, and Squaw Joe 
allotments. In those EAs, the BLM concluded that direct and indirect 
impacts from livestock grazing alone were not significant. However, 
large energy projects proposed in the area could, if constructed result 
in significant cumulative effects on Greater sage-grouse. The EIS will 
explore potential impacts from proposed grazing against the backdrop of 
wildfire and the development of energy projects that are reasonably 
foreseeable in the Browns Bench/Shoshone Basin area.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
to the BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section 
above. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the close of 
the 30-day scoping period. 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

[[Page 54483]]

identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    The public is also encouraged to help identify any other management 
questions and concerns that should be addressed in the EIS.
    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: Range management, wildlife 
biology, archaeology, riparian, soils, and outdoor recreation.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Michael C. Courtney,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-22346 Filed 8-31-11; 8:45 am]
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