[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11220-11221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04289]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLOR930000.L16100000.DO0000.LXSSH0930000.15XL1109AF, HAG 15-0052]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan and 
Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the San Juan Islands 
National Monument

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) the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, (FLPMA) and Presidential Proclamation No. 8947 
(Establishment of the San Juan Islands National Monument) (March 25, 
2013), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District Office, 
Spokane, Washington, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
San Juan Islands National Monument (Monument) 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 RMP 
with an associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until April 1, 2015. The dates and locations of any scoping meetings 
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, 
newspapers, and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/plans. In 
order to be included in the Draft EIS, 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 upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the San Juan Islands RMP/EIS by any of the following 
methods: Email: [email protected]; Fax: 503-808-6333; 
Mail: 1103 N Fancher Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99212.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Spokane 
District Office, 1103 North Fancher Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99212; the 
Wenatchee Field Office, 915 North Walla Walla Street, Wenatchee, WA 
98801; and the Oregon State Office, Public Room, 1220 SW. Third Avenue, 
Portland, OR 97204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lauren Pidot, San Juan National 
Monument RMP Team Lead; telephone 503-808-6297; address 1103 North 
Fancher Road, Spokane Valley, WA 99212; email 
[email protected]. Contact Ms. Pidot to add your name 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 
Spokane District Office, Washington, intends to prepare an RMP with an 
associated EIS for the Monument, announces the beginning of the scoping 
process, and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The 
planning area is located in San Juan, Whatcom, and Skagit Counties, 
Washington, and encompasses approximately 995 acres of public land. The 
Monument was established on March 25, 2013, by Presidential 
Proclamation (Proclamation) for the purposes of protecting objects of 
historical and scientific interest and enhancing areas of unique and 
varied natural, historical, and scientific resources for the benefit of 
all Americans. The Proclamation specified that the BLM ``shall prepare 
and maintain a management plan for the monument and shall establish an 
advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) to provide information and advice regarding the development of 
such plan.'' 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 planning area have been identified by 
BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other 
stakeholders. The issues include those associated with the objects and 
resources for which the monument was designated, including cultural and 
ecological values and wildlife; opportunities for recreation and 
interpretation; traditional uses and tribal interests; land use 
authorizations, such as rights-of-way for access; and travel and 
transportation management. Preliminary planning criteria include: (1) 
The plan will adhere to the mandates of the Proclamation that 
established the Monument; (2) the plan will be developed in compliance 
with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other applicable laws, regulations, Executive 
and Secretarial Orders, and policies; (3) public participation and 
collaboration will be an integral part of the planning process; (4) the 
planning process will provide for ongoing consultation with Native 
American tribal governments and strategies for protecting traditional 
uses; (5) the BLM will work collaboratively with cooperating agencies 
and all other interested groups, agencies, and individuals; (6) the BLM 
will work collaboratively with the Monument Advisory Committee 
established for this planning process; and (7) the plan will recognize 
the jurisdiction of other Federal, State, and local agencies and will 
encourage cooperative partnerships

[[Page 11221]]

with these agencies to support land management in the Monument.
    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) (54 
U.S.C 306108 (as recodified)) 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, are invited to participate in the 
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be asked by the BLM to 
participate as a cooperating agency.
    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. 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;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/EIS 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 
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: archaeology and cultural 
resources, geology, wildlife and fisheries, botany, recreation, and 
lands and realty.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Jerome E. Perez,
Oregon/Washington State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-04289 Filed 2-27-15; 8:45 am]
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