[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 136 (Wednesday, July 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41594-41595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16225]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[14XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 241A 4500059789]


Notice of Intent To Amend the 1999 Owyhee Resource Management 
Plan and Prepare an Associated Environmental Assessment, Idaho

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) Owyhee Field 
Office, Marsing, Idaho, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
the Owyhee Field Office. 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 August 15, 
2014. 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: http://www.blm.gov/id. 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 Owyhee RMP amendment/EA by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/nepa_register/rmp_amendment__proposed.html.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 208-384-3326.
     Mail: BLM Boise District Office, 3948 Development Avenue, 
Boise, Idaho 83705.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Owyhee 
Field Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, ID 83639, or at the BLM 
Boise District Office, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sullivan, Supervisory Resource 
Management Specialist; telephone 208-384-3338, BLM Boise District 
Office, at the above address; or email [email protected]. Contact Mr. Sullivan 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 Mr. Sullivan during normal business hours. The 
FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or 
question for Mr. Sullivan. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Owyhee Field Office, Marsing, Idaho, intends to prepare an RMP 
amendment with an associated EA for the Owyhee Field Office, announces 
the beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues 
and planning criteria. The planning area is located in Owyhee County 
and encompasses approximately 1,320,000 acres of public land; however, 
this plan amendment is only intended to address the land-tenure 
classification of 560.62 acres. 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 issue involves a change in the land-tenure 
classification for 560.62 acres of public land, described as the NW\1/
4\ and SW\1/4\ of Section 15, the N\1/2\N\1/2\ of Section 21, and the 
N\1/2\NW\1/4\ of Section 22, all in T. 7 S., R. 3 W, Boise Meridian, 
Owyhee County, Idaho. The above-described public land is currently 
located in Land Tenure Zone 1 (retain lands in public ownership). This 
land-tenure classification would be changed to Land Tenure Zone 3 
(lands available for disposal, excluding sale). This proposed change in 
land-tenure classification would allow the above-described lands to be 
considered along with approximately 33,400 additional acres of Federal 
public land in a proposed land exchange with the Idaho Department of 
Lands for up to 38,444 acres of State land. Under Federal regulations, 
a land exchange may occur only when it is determined to be in the 
public interest. When considering the public interest the BLM gives 
full consideration to the opportunity to achieve better management of 
Federal lands, to meet the needs of State and local residents and their 
economies, and to secure other important objectives. Acquisition of 
lands of higher environmental values may represent the mitigation for 
the transfer of lands out of Federal ownership. Land exchanges are 
designed to be for equal monetary value and the acreage amounts of 
Federal and state land may be adjusted after appraisals are completed.
    Preliminary planning criteria include directions and requirements 
found in (1) The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009; (2) The 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976; (3) The National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969; (4) The 1999 Owyhee Resource 
Management Plan; and (5) BLM policy manuals 1601 (Land Use Planning) 
and 2200 (Land Exchanges). The proposed land exchange would be 
completed subject to Federal regulatory requirements found at 43 CFR 
2200, which include public notice and an opportunity to comment.
    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.
    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

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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 Draft RMP/Draft 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 and EA in order to consider the variety of resource issues 
and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in the plan amendment and development of 
the associated EA: Rangeland management, geology, soils, wildlife and 
fisheries, archaeology, outdoor recreation, and realty.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Timothy M. Murphy,
Acting BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-16225 Filed 7-15-14; 8:45 am]
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