[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 202 (Thursday, October 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64124-64125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25593]



[[Page 64124]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 4500031158]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Cascade Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) and the Kuna and Bruneau Management Framework Plans (MFP) for the 
Bruneau, Four Rivers Field Offices in Idaho and the Associated 
Environmental Assessment

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 (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District 
Office, Boise, Idaho, intends to prepare Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
and Management Framework Plan (MFP) amendments with an associated 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Bruneau and Four Rivers Field 
Offices and by this notice announcing the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues.. The amendments 
would clarify the subset of lands, designated as eligible or 
potentially eligible for disposal, that meet FLPMA's Section 203 sale 
criteria. The BLM Boise District Office will also analyze approximately 
1,600 acres of public land, currently identified as Category I 
(retention), for reclassification as suitable for sale under FLPMA 
Section 203, exchange or Recreation and Public Purpose patent. This 
reclassification could result in a net benefit to BLM programs and aid 
in blocking up State and Federal management units. The BLM will apply 
Section 203 criteria to determine whether the parcels will be 
considered eligible for disposal through sale or through exchange or 
Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act conveyance or leases.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP and 
MFP amendments with associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted 
in writing until November 19, 2012. In order to be included in the 
analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-
day scoping period or 30 days after the last public meeting, whichever 
is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Cascade RMP (1988), Bruneau MFP (1983), and Kuna MFP 
(1983) proposed amendments and associated EA by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/nepa.html.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (208) 384-3326.
     Mail: BLM Boise District Office, Attn: Kelley Moore, 3948 
Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM's 
Boise District Office at 3894 Development Ave, Boise, ID 38705.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and/or to have your name added to our 
mailing list, contact Kelley Moore, Realty Specialist, telephone: 208-
384-3339; address: 3894 Development Ave, Boise, ID 38705; email: 
[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 (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). 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, 
Boise District Office, Boise, Idaho, intends to prepare RMP and MFP 
amendments with an associated EA to analyze proposed amendments to the 
1983 Bruneau MFP, the 1983 Kuna MFP, and the 1988 Cascade RMP, 
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input 
on issues and planning criteria. The planning areas are located in Ada, 
Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Valley, and Washington counties in 
Idaho and encompasses approximately 780,000 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 plan amendment areas have been 
identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and 
other stakeholders. The issues include:
    (1) Identify lands currently designated as eligible or potentially 
eligible for disposal, that also meet FLPMA Section 203 sale criteria 
(43 U.S.C. 1713(a)). The land disposal classifications within each of 
the above land use plans fail to identify parcels of public land that 
have been evaluated for disposal by sale under FLPMA Section 203. The 
quoted language from each of the plans would be clarified in these 
amendments so that public lands currently designated as ``potentially 
eligible'' for disposal are designated as either eligible through sale 
or not. The proposed amendments would not change the BLM's ability to 
dispose of those lands through exchange, R&PP Act leases or other means 
of conveyance, or to retain them; and
    (2) Analyze the reclassification to ``available for disposal,'' 
approximately 1,600 acres presently classified for ``retention'' in the 
Kuna MFP. Preliminary planning criteria are FLPMA's Section 203 sale 
criteria for the clairification parcels and BLM's planning handbook (H-
1601-1) for the reclassification parcels. The clairification and 
reclassification would not have any on-the-ground impacts so no other 
preliminary planning criteria are being considered.
    Disposal of BLM parcels considered suitable for conveyance by sale 
or other accepted methods may lead to economic benefits to the local 
community, while blocking up Federal and State management units in the 
area. Pursuant to Section 1505 of the Omnibus Public Land Management 
Act of 2009, Public Law 111-11, the proceeds from the sale of eligible 
parcels could allow BLM to acquire lands that are of higher social, 
cultural or environmental value, and/or could be more efficiently and 
economically managed. Any determination of the suitability of 
identified BLM parcels for disposal, however, would not remove the 
BLM's obligation to carry out a detailed environmental analysis prior 
to any proposed sale, exchange, issuance of an R&PP Act lease, or 
conveyance through any other means. Nor would it change BLM's authority 
to retain those lands under Federal management.
    The public is invited to provide scoping comments on the above 
mentioned issues, as well as other issues that should be addressed in 
the preparation of the plan amendments. You may submit comments on 
issues and planning criteria in writing to the BLM at any public 
scoping meeting, or you may submit them 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 or 
within 30 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.

[[Page 64125]]

    The BLM will use the NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about 
historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by 
the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating 
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 
of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
as a cooperating agency. Before including your address, phone number, 
email 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. The BLM will evaluate 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 amendment;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the EA as to why an issue 
was 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 
amendments 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: lands and realty, 
rangeland management, minerals and geology, forestry, outdoor 
recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, 
hydrology, and soils.

    Authorities:  43 U.S.C. 1713(a); 43 CFR 1610.5-5 & 43 CFR 2710.

Allen Sieglitz,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2012-25593 Filed 10-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P