[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39311-39312]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15680]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORP00000.L1920000.ER0000.LRORH1314700-HAG13-0191]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment 
and an Associated Environmental Assessment for the Brothers/La Pine 
Planning Area, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: As required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Prineville District Office, Prineville, Oregon, intends to prepare a 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in order to analyze the plan-level 
decision to change the Visual Resource Management (VRM) classification 
of approximately 45 acres at the top of Glass Buttes from a VRM class 2 
to a VRM class 4. The BLM intends to concurrently analyze the 
implementation-level decision of whether to deny, approve, or approve 
with stipulations the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) and 
American

[[Page 39312]]

Tower Corporation's (AT) requests to construct and maintain 
communication facilities in an existing communication site plan area 
atop Glass Buttes in the BLM Prineville District. This notice announces 
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues.

DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until July 31, 
2013. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local news media, 
newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/index.php. In order to be included in the analysis, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping 
period or 15 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 Glass Buttes Communication Site and VRM Plan Amendment 
EA by any of the following methods:
     Web site: www.blm.gov/or/districts/prineville/index.php
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 541-416-6782
     Mail: Glass Buttes Communication Site and VRM Plan 
Amendment EA, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Prineville District Office, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Kroll, Realty Specialist; 
telephone 541-416-6752; address Mike Kroll, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, 
Prineville, OR 97754; email [email protected]. You may request to have 
your name added to our mailing list. 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 
District Office, Prineville, Oregon, intends to prepare an RMP 
amendment with an associated EA for the Brothers/La Pine planning area, 
announces the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input 
on issues and planning criteria. The affected portion of the Brothers/
La Pine planning area is an approximately 45-acre contiguous parcel of 
land located atop Glass Buttes in Lake County in Oregon as follows: 
Willamette Meridian, Oregon: T. 23 S., R. 22 E., S1/2SW1/4NE1/4SW1/4, 
NE1/4SW1/4SW1/4, S1/2SW1/4SW1/4, NW1/4SE1/4SW1/4, sec.22.
    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 area have been identified by BLM 
personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. 
The issues include: How would the proposed VRM classification change 
affect sage-grouse habitat; how would the proposed VRM classification 
change affect Native American spiritual and traditional uses; and, how 
would the proposed VRM classification affect recreation. The planning 
work will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other 
relevant Federal laws, executive orders, and BLM management policies. 
Where existing planning decisions are still valid, those decisions may 
remain unchanged and be incorporated into the new amendment. The plans 
will recognize valid existing rights, Native American tribal 
consultations will be conducted in accordance with policy, and tribal 
concerns will be given due consideration. The planning process will 
include the consideration of any impacts on Indian trust assets. 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 15 days after the last public meeting, 
whichever is later.
    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 Native American 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 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 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 
amendment 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: Rangeland 
management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, visual resource 
management, archeology, paleontology, wildlife, botany, lands and 
realty, hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Jerome E. Perez,
BLM State Director, Oregon/Washington.
[FR Doc. 2013-15680 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P