[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23666-23667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09439]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 1600

[LLWO210000.16X.L16100000.PN0000]
RIN 1004-AE39


Resource Management Planning

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 25, 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to amend existing 
regulations that establish the procedures used to prepare, revise, or 
amend land use plans pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA). The proposed rule would enable the BLM to more readily 
address landscape-scale resource issues, such as wildfire, habitat 
connectivity, or the demand for renewable and non-renewable energy 
sources and to respond more effectively to environmental and social 
changes. The proposed rule would further emphasize the role of science 
in the planning process and the importance of evaluating the resource, 
environmental, ecological, social, and economic conditions at the onset 
of planning. The proposed rule would affirm the important role of other 
Federal agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, and the 
public during the planning process, and would enhance opportunities for 
public involvement and transparency during the preparation of resource 
management plans. Finally, the proposed rule would make revisions to 
clarify existing text and use plain language to improve the readability 
of the planning regulations. This notice extends the public comment 
period for 30 days beyond the initial comment-period deadline.

DATES: Send your comments on this proposed rule to the BLM on or before 
May 25, 2016. The BLM need not consider, or include in the 
administrative record for the final rule, comments that the BLM 
receives after the close of the comment period or comments delivered to 
an address other than those listed below (see ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 2134 LM, 1849 C St. NW., 
Washington, DC 20240, Attention: 1004-AE39. Personal or messenger 
delivery: Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134 LM, 
Attention: Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20003. Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
at this Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Baker, Division Chief, Decision 
Support, Planning and NEPA, at 202-912-7282, for information relating 
to the BLM's national planning program or the substance of this 
proposed rule. For information on procedural matters or the rulemaking 
process, you may contact Charles Yudson at 202-912-7437. 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. FIRS is available 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question with the above 
individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

[[Page 23667]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comment Procedures

    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
several methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Please make your 
comments as specific as possible by confining them to issues directly 
related to the content of the proposed rule, and explain the basis for 
your comments. The comments and recommendations that will be most 
useful and likely to influence agency decisions are:
    1. Those supported by quantitative information or studies; and
    2. Those that include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable 
laws and regulations.
    The BLM is not obligated to consider or include in the 
Administrative Record for the rule comments received after the close of 
the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address 
other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the address listed under ADDRESSES 
during regular hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday, 
except holidays.
    Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your 
comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Background

    The proposed rule was published on February 25, 2016 (81 FR 9674), 
with a 60-day comment period closing on April 25, 2016. Since 
publication, the BLM has received requests to extend the comment period 
on the proposed rule. After considering these requests, the BLM 
determined that it is appropriate to grant the requests to extend the 
comment period, and the BLM is hereby extending the comment period on 
the rule for 30 days. The closing date of the extended comment period 
is May 25, 2016.

Janice M. Schneider,
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-09439 Filed 4-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-84-P