[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20905-20907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08310]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Application for Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public 
Meeting; San Bernardino, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Forest Service (USFS) filed an application 
with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM),

[[Page 20906]]

requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw, for 20 years, 
subject to valid existing rights, approximately 4,203 acres of Federal 
lands in the San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF), California, from 
location and entry under the United States mining laws in order to 
maintain and conserve habitat for four listed threatened and endangered 
species (Cushenbury buckwheat, Cushenbury Milk-vetch, Cushenbury 
oxytheca, and Parish's daisy). The application also requests that 
approximately 440 acres of non-Federal lands within the boundaries of 
the lands proposed for withdrawal be included in the withdrawal if they 
are acquired by the United States. This notice temporarily segregates 
the lands for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United 
States mining laws, but not from the mineral material sales or mineral 
or geothermal leasing, to protect the biological resources while the 
withdrawal application is being processed. This notice also provides 
the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed withdrawal 
application and to request a public meeting.

DATES: Comments, including requests for a public meeting, must be 
received by July 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the California State Director, 
Bureau of Land Management, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, Sacramento, 
CA 95825-1886.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Easley, BLM California State 
Office, 916-978-4673 or Scott Eliason, San Bernardino National Forest, 
909-382-2830. 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. 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: The USFS filed an application requesting 
that the Secretary of the Interior withdraw, for 20 years, subject to 
valid existing rights, the following described lands located in San 
Bernardino County, California, from location and entry under the United 
States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral or 
geothermal leasing, or disposal under the Materials Act of 1947.
    The intent of this description is to include the following lands as 
defined under the April 29, 2003, Carbonate Habitat Management 
Strategy, within the San Bernardino National Forest Boundary: (1) All 
Priority Areas within the Furnace Unit; (2) All occupied and designated 
critical habitat within the Initial Habitat Reserve; and (3) Additional 
lands being offered for species and habitat conservation as part of two 
current proposed mine plans.

(a) National Forest System lands

San Bernardino Meridian

T. 3 N., R. 1 W.,
    sec. 10, SE\1/4\;
    sec. 14, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    sec. 15, NE\1/4\;
    sec. 22, SE\1/4\;
    sec. 23, W\1/2\NW\1/4\, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/
4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, 
S\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 24, S\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
and S\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    sec. 26, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    sec. 27, lot 1, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 3 N., R. 1 E.,
    sec. 13, E\1/2\ and NW\1/4\;
    sec. 14, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/
2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/
4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    sec. 19, lot 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    sec. 23, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    sec. 24, NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    sec. 30.
T. 3 N., R. 2 E.,
    PB 39, unsurveyed;
    PB 46, unsurveyed.
    The areas described aggregate 3,039.48 surveyed acres and 1,164 
unsurveyed acres, totaling approximately 4,203 acres, more or less, in 
San Bernardino County, California. (b) The following described non-
Federal lands are located within the boundaries of the proposed 
withdrawal areas. In the event that these non-Federal lands return to 
public ownership, the application requests that they be subject to the 
terms and conditions described above.

Non-Federal lands

San Bernardino Meridian

T. 3 N., R. 1 E.,
    sec. 13, SW\1/4\;
    sec. 14, NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 440 acres, more or less, in San 
Bernardino County, California.
    The purpose of the withdrawal is to protect the biological 
resources within the SBNF, which include four listed threatened and 
endangered plant species and their designated critical habitat. The 
withdrawal will implement provisions of the Carbonate Habitat 
Management Strategy under the SBNF Land Management Plan. It will allow 
the species and habitat conservation measures needed to offset species 
and habitat losses specifically associated with two currently proposed 
mine development projects on the SBNF. These two projects are the Omya 
Inc. Butterfield Quarry Expansion and the Mitsubishi Cement Company 
South Quarry project.
    No alternative sites were considered, as these lands correspond 
with the distribution of the listed species habitats, and meet 
provisions of the Carbonate Habitat Management Strategy.
    The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative 
agreement would not provide adequate protection from mineral 
activities.
    The USFS does not need to acquire water rights to fulfill the 
purpose of the requested withdrawal.
    The above-described lands are National Forest System lands, and as 
such, the Secretary will approve a withdrawal only with the consent of 
the head of the department or agency administering these lands.
    The temporary land uses, which may be permitted during this 
segregative period, include leases, licenses, permits, rights-of-way, 
and other non-mineral uses consistent with the SBNF Management Plan, 
other than under the mining laws.
    Records relating to the application may be examined by contacting 
the BLM Public Room at the above address or phone.
    On or before July 14, 2014, all persons who wish to submit 
comments, suggestions, objections or request a public meeting in 
connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their views in 
writing to the BLM State Director at the address indicated above.
    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. Individuals 
who submit written comments may request confidentiality by asking us in 
your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from 
public review; however, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do 
so.

[[Page 20907]]

    Notice is hereby given that the opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
parties who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the State 
Director, California State Office, BLM at the address indicated above 
by July 14, 2014. If the BLM authorized officer determines that the BLM 
will hold a public meeting, the BLM will publish a notice of the time 
and place in the Federal Register and a local newspaper at least 30 
days before the scheduled date of the meeting. The application will be 
processed in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 
2300.
    For a period until April 14, 2016, the lands described in this 
notice will be segregated from location and entry under the United 
States mining laws unless the application is denied or cancelled or the 
withdrawal is approved prior to that date.

Cynthia Staszak,
Associate Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2014-08310 Filed 4-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P