[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34929-34930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15032]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDC00000.13XL1109AF.L102000000.MJ000.4500054065]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Cottonwood Resource Management Plan 
and Prepare an Environmental Assessment and Notice of Realty Action: 
Proposed Sale of Public Land in Idaho County, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of realty action.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides for two related actions, one a proposed 
land use plan amendment involving approximately 19,054 acres of public 
land in Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho, and Adams counties 
of Idaho; and the other proposed land sales involving 22.46 acres of 
public land in Idaho County being considered in the proposed plan 
amendment. 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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Cottonwood Field Office, Cottonwood, Idaho, intends to prepare a 
resource management plan (RMP) amendment and associated environmental 
assessment (EA) for the Cottonwood RMP including the proposed land 
sales involving 22.46 acres of public land, and by this notice is 
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify related issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
amendment, proposed land sales of 22.46 acres of public land and 
associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 
July 20, 2015. 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/st/en/Districts-Idaho/CDA.html. In order to be included in the analysis, all 
comments must be received on or 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 RMP amendment and proposed sale by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/Districts-Idaho/CDA.html.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 208-962-3275.
     Mail: BLM Cottonwood Field Office, ATTN: Elk City Mill 
Site, 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, ID 83522.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Cottonwood Field Office, 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, ID 83522. Please 
reference ``Cottonwood RMP Amendment/Notice of Realty Action: Proposed 
Sale of Public Lands'' on all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will Runnoe, Field Manager, at 
telephone: 208-962-3256, address: 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, ID 83522, 
email: [email protected]. Contact Mr. Runnoe 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. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Cottonwood Field Office, Cottonwood, Idaho, intends to prepare an RMP 
amendment and associated EA for the Cottonwood RMP and announces the 
beginning of the scoping process and seeks public input on issues and 
planning criteria. The planning area is located in Latah, Clearwater, 
Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho, and Adams counties of Idaho, and encompasses 
approximately 132,240 acres of public land. 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.
    The purpose of the amendment is to clarify specifically which 
lands, currently designated as available for disposal, meet one or more 
of FLPMA's Section 203 sale criteria. The proposed amendment would 
clarify management direction in the RMP to identify which lands 
currently designated as available for disposal may be further 
designated as either available for disposal through sale or not 
available.
    Amending the Cottonwood RMP would not increase the number of acres 
previously identified in the RMP as available for disposal. It would 
merely clarify which of those parcels meet Section 203 sale criteria. 
The proposed amendment would not change the BLM's ability to dispose of 
those lands through exchange, Recreation & Public Purposes Act leases, 
or other means of conveyance; or to retain them. Any determination of 
the availability of identified BLM parcels for disposal, however, would 
not remove the BLM's obligation to carry out appropriate environmental 
analysis prior to any proposed sale, exchange, issuance of an R&PP Act 
lease, or conveyance through any other means, nor would it change BLM's 
authority to retain those lands under Federal management.
    As part of evaluating the availability of the 19,054 acres for 
potential disposal by sale, the BLM will consider the following 
described public lands in Idaho County, Idaho, for sale under the 
authority of Section 203 of FLPMA if they are found to meet Section 203 
sale criteria:

Boise Meridian

T. 29 N., R. 8 E.,
    Parcel One: sec. 33, lots 19 and 20. (9.97 acres, IDI-37780)
    Parcel Two: sec. 33, lots 5, 14, and 18. (12.49 acres, IDI-
37781)

    The area described for these proposed sales contains 22.46 
acres. As part of the environmental assessment for the proposed 
sales the BLM will consider the appropriate method of sale 
(competitive, modified competitive or direct).


[[Page 34930]]


    In addition to initiating scoping for this RMP amendment, this 
notice also segregates the above-mentioned parcels from appropriation 
under the public land laws, including the mining laws, except the sale 
provisions of FLPMA. The segregation of the public lands being 
considered for sale will be for a period of 2 years. Conveyance of the 
identified public land will be subject to valid existing rights and 
encumbrances of record, including but not limited to rights-of-way for 
roads and public utilities. Conveyance of any mineral interest pursuant 
to Section 209 of FLPMA will be considered as part of processing the 
proposed sales.
    On June 18, 2015, the two above-described parcels identified for 
potential sale will be segregated from appropriation under the public 
land laws, including the United States mining laws, except the sale 
provisions of FLPMA. Until completion of the sale, the BLM will no 
longer accept land use applications affecting the two identified public 
land parcels, except applications for the amendment of previously filed 
right-of-way applications or existing authorizations to increase the 
term of the grants in accordance with 43 CFR 2807.15 and 2886.15. The 
segregative effect will terminate upon issuance of a patent, 
publication in the Federal Register of a termination of the 
segregation, or June 19, 2017, whichever occurs first, unless extended 
by the BLM Idaho State Director in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.1-2(d) 
prior to the termination date.
    The Cottonwood RMP identifies 19,054 acres of public land as 
available for disposal. However, the RMP fails to specify whether those 
lands have been evaluated under FLPMA's Section 203 sale criteria.
    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. A preliminary 
issue for the plan amendment area has been identified by BLM personnel; 
Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. The issue 
is to identify lands currently designated as available for disposal, 
that also meet FLPMA's Section 203 sale criteria (43 U.S.C. 1713(a)).
    Comments may also be submitted regarding the planning criteria. 
Preliminary planning criteria include:
    1. The proposed amendment will only address lands already 
designated as available for disposal (approximately 19,054 acres in 
Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, Idaho, and Adams Counties of 
Idaho) that meet FLPMA's Section 203 sale criteria. No other decisions 
associated with the Cottonwood RMP will be amended.
    2. The plan amendments will comply with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other 
applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
    3. For program-specific guidance regarding decisions at the land 
use planning level, the process will follow the BLM's policies in the 
Land Use Planning Handbook, H-1601-1.
    4. Public participation and collaboration will be an integral part 
of the planning process.
    5. The BLM will strive to make decisions in the plan amendments 
compatible with the existing plans and policies of adjacent local, 
State, and Federal agencies, and affected Native American tribes, as 
long as the decisions are consistent with the purposes, policies, and 
programs of Federal law and regulations applicable to public lands.
    6. The BLM will work collaboratively with cooperating agencies and 
all other interested groups, agencies, and individuals.
    The public is invited to provide scoping comments on issues 
mentioned above, as well as other issues that should be addressed in 
the preparation of the plan amendment or the proposed sales.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing 
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.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help 
fulfill the public involvement requirements under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the proposed actions will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    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 actions 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 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: Minerals and 
geology, forestry, outdoor recreation, archaeology, wildlife and 
fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, and soils.

    Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1713(a); 43 CFR 2711.1-2, 40 CFR 1501.7, 
and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Jeffery L. Foss,
Acting BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-15032 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P