[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30711-30714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-12948]



[[Page 30711]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO2100000 L11100000.DQ0000.LXSISGST0000]


Notice of Availability of the Great Basin Region Greater Sage-
Grouse Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments and Final Environmental Impact 
Statements for the Sub-Regions of Idaho and Southwestern Montana; 
Nevada and Northeastern California; Oregon; and Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the Resources Planning Act of 1974, as 
amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (NFMA), the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (Forest 
Service) have prepared Proposed Land Use Plan Amendments (LUPA) and 
Final Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for planning units in 
Idaho, Southwestern Montana, Nevada, Northeastern California, Oregon, 
and Utah. There are four separate Final EISs being conducted in the 
Great Basin Region and this notice announces the availability of all 
four.

DATES: BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the 
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's and 
Forest Service's Proposed LUP/Final EIS. A person who meets the 
conditions and files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of 
the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice 
of Availability in the Federal Register. In accordance with 36 CFR 
219.59, the Forest Service will waive its objection procedures of this 
subpart and instead adopt the BLM's protest procedures outlined in 43 
CFR 1610.5-2.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Nevada and 
Northeastern California, Oregon, and Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed 
LUPAs/Final EISs have been sent to affected Federal, State and local 
government agencies, tribal governments, and to other stakeholders and 
members of the public who have requested copies. Copies of the Proposed 
LUPAs/Final EISs are available for public inspecton at the addresses 
listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Interested persons may 
also review the Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs on the internet at http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/sagegrouse.html.
    All protests must be in writing and mailed to one of the following 
addresses:

Regular Mail: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest Coordinator, 
P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024-1383.
Overnight Delivery: BLM Director (210), Attention: Protest 
Coordinator, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the Idaho and Southwestern Montana 
Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Jonathan Beck, BLM Idaho 
State Office GRSG Planning Lead, telephone 208-373-4070; address 1387 
South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709; email [email protected].
    For the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse 
Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Lauren Mermejo, BLM Nevada State Office GRSG 
Project Lead, telephone 775-861-6580; address 1340 Financial Boulevard, 
Reno, NV 89502; email [email protected].
    For the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Joan 
Suther, BLM Oregon State Office GRSG Planning Lead, telephone 541-573-
4445; address BLM Burns District, 28910 Hwy 20, West Hines, OR 97738; 
email [email protected].
    For the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS: Quincy 
Bahr, BLM Utah State Office GRSG Project Lead, telephone 801-539-4122; 
address 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101-1345; 
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 individuals 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: The BLM and Forest Service prepared the 
Idaho and Southwestern Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, and 
Utah Greater Sage-Grouse LUPAs and EISs. The Oregon LUPA/EIS was 
prepared solely by the BLM because there were no National Forest System 
lands involved. All four of these Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs address a 
range of alternatives focused on specific conservation measures across 
the range of the Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG). All four of these EISs are 
part of a total of 15 separate EISs that make up the BLM and Forest 
Service National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy. These four EISs 
will amend the following BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and 
Management Framework Plans (MFPs) and Forest Service Land and Resource 
Management Plans (LRMP) in the Great Basin Region:

California

 Alturas RMP (2008)
 Eagle Lake RMP (2008)
 Surprise RMP (2008)

Idaho

 Birds of Prey NCA RMP (2008)
 Bruneau RMP revision (and existing 1983 Bruneau MFP)
 Challis RMP (1999)
 Craters of the Moon NM RMP (2006)
 Four Rivers RMP revision (and existing 1988 Cascade RMP and 
1983 Kuna and Bruneau MFPs)
 Jarbidge RMP revision (and existing 1987 Jarbidge RMP)
 Lemhi RMP (1987)
 Owyhee RMP (1999)
 Pocatello RMP revision
 Shoshone-Burley RMP revision (and existing 1980 Bennett Hills/
Timmerman Hills, 1985 Cassia, 1975 Magic, 1985 Monument, 1981 Sun 
Valley, and 1982 Twin Falls MFPs/RMPs)
 Upper Snake RMP revision (and existing 1983 Big Lost, 1985 
Medicine Lodge, 1981 Big Desert, and 1981 Little Lost-Birch Creek MFPs/
RMPs)
 Boise National Forest, LRMP (2003)
 Curlew National Grassland Management Plan, LRMP (2002)
 Caribou National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
 Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Targhee National Forest LRMP 
(1997)
 Salmon-Challis National Forest, Challis National Forest LRMP 
(1987)
 Salmon-Challis National Forest, Salmon National Forest LRMP 
(1988)
 Sawtooth National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)

Montana

 Dillon RMP (2006)
 Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, LRMP (2009)

Nevada

 Battle Mountain RMP revision (and existing 1997 Tonopah and 
1986 Shoshone-Eureka RMPs)
 Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon NCA RMP (2004)
 Carson City RMP revision (and existing 2001 Carson City 
Consolidated RMP)
 Elko RMP (1987)
 Ely RMP (2008)

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 Wells RMP (1985)
 Winnemucca RMP revision (and existing 1982 Paradise-Denio MFP 
and 1982 Sonoma-Gerlach RMP)
 Humboldt National Forest, LRMP (1986)
 Toiyabe National Forest, LRMP (1986)

Oregon

 Andrews RMP (2005)
 Baker RMP revision (and existing 1989 Baker RMP)
 Brothers-LaPine RMP (1989)
 Lakeview RMP amendment (and existing 2003 Lakeview RMP)
 Southeastern Oregon RMP amendment (and existing 2003 
Southeastern Oregon RMP)
 Steens RMP (2005)
 Three Rivers RMP (1992)
 Upper Deschutes RMP (2005)

Utah

 Box Elder RMP (1986)
 Cedar/Beaver/Garfield/Antimony RMP (1986)
 Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan 
(2000)
 House Range RMP (1987)
 Kanab RMP (2008)
 Park City MFP (1975)
 Pinyon MFP (1978)
 Pony Express RMP (1990)
 Price RMP (2008)
 Randolph MFP (1980)
 Richfield RMP (2008)
 Salt Lake District Isolated Tracts Planning Analysis (1985)
 Vernal RMP (2008)
 Warm Springs RMP (1987)
 Dixie National Forest, LRMP (1986)
 Fishlake National Forest, LRMP (1986)
 Uinta National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
 Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Revised LRMP (2003)
 Ashley National Forest, LRMP (1986)
 Manti-La Sal National Forest, LRMP (1986)

    Management decisions made as a result of these Proposed LUPAs/Final 
EISs will apply only to BLM-administered and National Forest System 
lands in the planning area. The planning areas for all four EISs 
includes approximately 194.0 million acres of BLM, National Park 
Service, Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State, tribal, 
local, and private lands located in 28 Idaho counties (Ada, Adams, Bear 
Lake, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Caribou, Cassia, 
Clark, Custer, Elmore, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi, 
Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Oneida Owyhee, Payette, Power, Twin Falls, 
and Washington), 7 Montana counties (Montana, Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, 
Fremont, Clark, Madison, and Silver Bow), 16 Nevada counties (Carson 
City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, 
Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine), 
5 California counties (Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Siskiyou, and Sierra), 8 
Oregon counties (Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur, 
and Union), 24 Utah counties (Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, 
Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Morgan, 
Piute, Rich, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, 
Wayne, and Weber), and 2 Wyoming counties (Sweetwater and Uinta). The 
decision area for these Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs is defined as those 
BLM-administered and National Forest System lands and Federal mineral 
estate within the following habitat management categories:
     Priority Habitat Management Area (PHMA)--Areas identified 
as having the highest conservation value for maintaining sustainable 
GRSG populations; includes breeding, late brood-rearing, and winter 
concentration areas.
     Important Habitat Management Area (IHMA) (applicable to 
Idaho only)--Areas identified as having generally moderate to high 
conservation value habitat and/or populations that provide a management 
buffer for the PHMA and to connect patches of PHMA.
     General Habitat Management Area (GHMA)--Areas of seasonal 
or year-round GRSG habitat outside of PHMAs.
    The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the Idaho and Southwestern 
Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, Oregon, and Utah Greater 
Sage-Grouse LUPAs/EISs was published in the Federal Register on 
December 9, 2011. A Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Idaho and 
Southwestern Montana, Nevada and Northeastern California, and Utah 
Draft LUPAs/EISs was published in the Federal Register on November 1, 
2013. The Oregon Draft LUPA/EIS was released to the public on November 
26, 2013. Comments on the Draft LUPAs/EISs received from the public and 
internal BLM and Forest Service review were considered and 
incorporated, as appropriate, into the Proposed Plan.
    The alternatives presented in Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs are 
described below:
     Alternative A would retain the current management goals, 
objectives and direction specified in the existing BLM RMPs and the 
Forest Service LRMPs.
     Alternative B is based on the conservation measures 
developed by the National Technical Team (NTT) planning effort in 
Washington Office Instructional Memorandum (IM) Number 2012-044. As 
directed in the IM, the conservation measures developed by the NTT must 
be considered and analyzed, as appropriate, through the land use 
planning process and NEPA by all BLM state and field offices that 
contain occupied GRSG habitat. Most management actions included in 
Alternative B would be applied to PHMA.
     Alternative C is based on a citizen groups' recommended 
alternative. This alternative emphasizes improvement and protection of 
habitat for GRSG and is applied to all occupied GRSG habitat. 
Alternative C would limit commodity development in areas of occupied 
GRSG habitat, and would close or designate portions of the planning 
area to some land uses. The Utah LUPA/Draft EIS combined this 
alternative with Alternative F (discussed below).
     Alternative D, which was identified as the Preferred 
Alternative in the Draft EIS, balances opportunities to use and develop 
the planning area and protects GRSG habitat based on scoping comments 
and input from Cooperating Agencies involved in the alternatives 
development process. Protective measures would be applied to GRSG 
habitat.
     Alternative E is the alternative provided by the State or 
Governor's offices for inclusion and analysis in the EISs. It 
incorporates guidance from specific State Conservation strategies and 
emphasizes management of greater sage-grouse seasonal habitats and 
maintaining habitat connectivity to support population objectives. This 
alternative was identified as a co-Preferred Alternative in the Idaho 
and Southwestern Montana Draft EIS.
     Alternative F is also based on a citizen group recommended 
alternative. This alternative emphasizes improvement and protection of 
habitat for GRSG and defines different restrictions for PHMA and GHMA. 
Alternative F would limit commodity development in areas of occupied 
GRSG habitat, and would close or designate portions of the planning 
area to some land uses. This alternative does not apply to the Utah 
sub-regional planning effort, as it was combined with Alternative C.
     The Proposed LUPA incorporates guidance from specific 
State Conservation strategies, as well as

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additional management based on the NTT recommendations. This 
alternative emphasizes management of GRSG seasonal habitats and 
maintaining habitat connectivity to support population objectives.
    The BLM and Forest Service received approximately 4,990 substantive 
comments, contained in 74,240 submissions during the four Draft EISs' 
comment periods. Based on comments received during the NEPA process, 
the following comment topics were frequently identified:
     General (Process/Policy);
     Lands and Realty;
     Livestock Grazing;
     Minerals and Energy;
     Predation;
     Recreation;
     Socioeconomic;
     Special Management Area Designations;
     Special Status Species (Including GRSG);
     Travel and Access Management;
     Vegetation;
     Wildland Fire Management;
     Wildlife and Fisheries.
    For the Idaho and Southwestern Montana GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final 
EIS, the BLM and Forest Service conducted seven public meetings. These 
meetings were held in Murphy, Idaho Falls, Salmon, Pocatello, Twin 
Falls, and Boise in Idaho and Dillon in Montana during January 2014. 
For the Nevada and Northeastern California GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final 
EIS, the BLM and Forest Service conducted seven public meetings. These 
meetings were held in Cedarville and Susanville, California, and in 
Reno, Tonopah, Ely, Elko, and Winnemucca, Nevada in early December 
2013. For the Oregon GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final EIS, the BLM conducted 
seven public meetings. These meetings were held in Baker City, Burns, 
Durkee, Jordan Valley, Lakeview, Ontario and Prineville, Oregon during 
January 2014. For the Utah GRSG Proposed LUPA/Final EIS, the BLM and 
Forest Service conducted eight public meetings. These meetings were 
held in Cedar City, Panguitch, Price, Randolph, Richfield, Salt Lake 
City, Snowville, and Vernal, Utah during November and December 2013. 
Comments on the Draft LUPAs/Draft EISs received from the public and 
internal BLM and Forest Service review were carefully considered and 
incorporated as appropriate into the proposed LUPAs/Final EISs. The BLM 
and Forest Service, via the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife 
Agencies (WAFWA) Management Zone Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Team, 
will develop a Regional Mitigation Strategy to guide the application of 
the mitigation hierarchy to address impacts within that Zone. The 
Regional Mitigation Strategy should consider any State-level GRSG 
mitigation guidance that is consistent with the requirements. The 
Regional Mitigation Strategy will be developed in a transparent manner, 
based on the best science available and standardized metrics.
    Copies of the Idaho and Southwestern Montana GRSG Proposed LUPA/
Final EIS are available for public inspection at:

 BLM Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709
 BLM Boise District Office, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, ID 
83705
 BLM Owyhee Field Office, 20 First Avenue West, Marsing, ID 
83639
 BLM Idaho Falls District Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho 
Falls, ID 83401
 BLM Salmon Field Office, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, ID 
83467
 BLM Challis Field Office, 1151 Blue Mountain Road, Challis, ID 
83226
 BLM Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 
83204
 BLM Twin Falls District Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin 
Falls, ID 83301
 BLM Shoshone Field Office, 400 West F Street, Shoshone, ID 
83352
 BLM Burley Field Office, 15 East 200 South, Burley, ID 83318
 BLM Coeur d'Alene District Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur 
d'Alene, ID 83815
 BLM Cottonwood Field Office, 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, ID 
83522
 BLM Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 
59101
 BLM Butte District Office, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, MT 59701
 BLM Dillon Field Office, 1005 Selway Drive, Dillon, MT 59725-
9431
 Caribou-Targhee National Forest Headquarters, 1405 Hollipart 
Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401
 Beaverhead-Deerlodge Supervisor's Office, 420 Barrett Street, 
Dillon, MT 59725
 Salmon-Challis Supervisor's Office, 1206 S. Challis Street, 
Salmon, ID 83467
 Boise Supervisor's Office, 1206 Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, 
ID 83709
 Sawtooth Supervisor's Office, 2647 Kimberly Road, East, Twin 
Falls, ID 83301

    Copies of the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-
Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS are available for public inspection at:

 BLM Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, NV 
89502
 BLM Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Boulevard, 
Winnemucca, NV 89445
 BLM Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 
89301
 BLM Elko District Office, 3900 E. Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801
 BLM Carson City District Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson 
City, NV 89701
 BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle 
Mountain, NV 89820
 BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1623, 
Sacramento, CA 95825
 BLM Alturas Field Office, 708 W. 12th Street, Alturas, CA 
96101
 BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, 
CA 96130
 BLM Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler Street, Cedarville, CA 
96104
 Austin Ranger District, 100 Midas Canyon Road, Austin, NV 
89310
 Carson Ranger District, 1536 South Carson Street, Carson City, 
NV 89701
 Ely Ranger District, 825 Avenue East, Ely, NV 90301
 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters, 1200 Franklin 
Way, Sparks, NV 89431
 Jarbidge Ranger District, 140 Pacific Avenue, Wells, NV 89835
 Modoc National Forest, 225 West 8th, Alturas, CA 96101
 Mountain City Ranger District, 2035 Last Chance Road, Elko, NV 
89801
 Santa Rosa Ranger District, 1200 East Winnemucca Boulevard, 
Winnemucca, NV 89445
 Tonopah Ranger District, 1400 S. Erie Mian Street, Tonopah, NV 
89049

    Copies of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS 
are available for public inspection at:

 BLM Oregon State Office, 1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 
97204
 BLM Baker Resource Area Office, 3100 H Street, Baker City, OR 
97814
 BLM Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, OR 
97738
 BLM Lakeview District Office, 1301 S. G Street, Lakeview, OR 
97630
 BLM Prineville District Office, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, 
Prineville, OR 97754
 BLM Vale District Office, 100 Oregon Street, Vale, OR 97918

    Copies of the Utah Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed LUPA/Final EIS are 
available for public inspection at:

 BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt 
Lake City, UT 84101
 BLM Cedar City Field Office, 176 East D.L. Sargent Drive, 
Cedar City, UT 84721
 BLM Fillmore Field Office, 95 East 500 North, Fillmore, UT 
84631
 BLM Kanab Field Office and Grand Staircase-Escalante National 
Monument, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, UT 84741

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 BLM Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, UT 84501
 BLM Richfield Field Office, 150 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 
84701
 BLM Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 S. Decker Lake Boulevard, 
West Valley City, UT 84119
 BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078
 Ashley National Forest, 355 N. Vernal Avenue, Vernal, UT 84078
 Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, UT 
84721
 Fishlake National Forest, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 
84701
 Manti-LaSal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, 
Price, UT 84501
 Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 857 W. South Jordan 
Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095
 United States Forest Service Intermountain Region, 324 25th 
Street, Ogden, UT 84401

    Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM 
regarding the Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs may be found in the ``Dear 
Reader'' Letter of the Proposed LUPAs/Final EISs and at 43 CFR 1610.5-
2. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate 
address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Emailed protests 
will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also 
provides the original letter by either regular mail or overnight 
delivery postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these 
conditions, the BLM and Forest Service will consider an emailed protest 
as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish 
to provide the BLM and Forest Service with such advance notifications, 
please direct emails to [email protected].
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be 
aware that your entire protest--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
ask us in your protest to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 36 CFR 219.59, 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 
1610.2; 43 CFR 1610.5

Amy Lueders,
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable Resources & Planning.
[FR Doc. 2015-12948 Filed 5-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P