[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35043-35044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12938]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL05000.L17110000. DO0000. LXSSF2300000 MO# 4500090967]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for Basin 
and Range National Monument, Nevada, and an Associated Environmental 
Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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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) Ely District 
Office, Ely, Nevada intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Basin 
and Range National Monument (BARNM) and by this notice is announcing 
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues. The new, stand-alone RMP will tier to and may 
incorporate by reference portions of the existing Ely District Record 
of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (2008), as amended by 
the Greater Sage-Grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment 
signed in 2015.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing 
until July 1, 2016. The date(s) and location(s) 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/nv/st/en/prog/nlcs_new/Basin_and_Range_National_Monument.htm.
    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. Additional 
opportunities for public participation will be provided for upon 
publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to Basin and Range National Monument Resource Management Plan 
and associated Environmental Impact Statement by any of the following 
methods:

 Email: [email protected]
 Fax: 775-726-8111
 Mail: BLM Basin and Range National Monument, PO Box 237, 
Caliente, NV 89008

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Basin and 
Range National Monument Office, located at BLM Caliente Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Styles, Monument Manger; 
telephone: 775-726-8100; address: P.O. Box 237, Caliente, NV 89008; 
email: [email protected]. Contact Ms. Styles 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 
District Office, Ely, Nevada, intends to prepare an RMP with an 
associated EIS for the Basin and Range National Monument, announces the 
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on issues and 
planning criteria. The planning area is located in Lincoln and Nye 
Counties, Nevada and encompasses approximately 704,000 acres of public 
land.
    As the Proclamation indicates, the President established the 
Monument to ``preserve its cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy 
and maintain its diverse array of natural and scientific resources, 
ensuring that the prehistoric, historic and scientific values of this 
area remain for the benefit of all Americans.'' The Proclamation 
further states: ``For purposes of the care and management of the 
objects identified above, the Secretary, through BLM, shall, within 3 
years of the date of this proclamation prepare and maintain a 
management plan for the monument and shall provide for maximum public 
involvement in the development of that plan including, but not limited 
to, consultation with State, tribal, and local governments.''
    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 number of 
preliminary issues for the planning area have been identified by BLM 
personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders. 
The issues include: Cultural and historic resources; tribal use; 
vegetation resources; wild horse and burros; social and economic 
values; climate change; special areas (Worthington Mountains 
Wilderness, Shooting Gallery Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC), and 
Mt. Irish ACEC); visual resources; lands and realty; outdoor 
recreation; livestock grazing; minerals; paleontological resources; 
research; wildland fire; and military uses. Preliminary planning 
criteria will conform to 43 CFR 1610.4-2.
    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 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/Draft 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 utilize and coordinate NEPA scoping process to help 
fulfil the

[[Page 35044]]

public involvement process 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.
    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.
    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, paleontology, 
outdoor recreation, wildlife and fisheries, rangeland management, lands 
and realty, hydrology, soils, minerals and geology, sociology and 
economics, wildland fire, and public affairs.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

John F. Ruhs,
State Director, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2016-12938 Filed 5-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P