[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 86338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28806]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCON04000 L16100000.DP0000-16X]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision Adopting U.S. 
Forest Service's Final Environmental Impact Statement for Oil and Gas 
Leasing on Lands Administered by the White River National Forest, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the 
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) adopting the Final United 
States Forest Service's (USFS) ``White River National Forest Oil and 
Gas Leasing Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS),'' which 
identifies the lands available for oil and gas leasing in the White 
River National Forest, including stipulations to protect surface 
resources.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available for public inspection at the 
BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, 
CO 81652. Interested persons may also review the ROD on the project Web 
site at https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Larson, Project Manager, at the 
address above, by telephone at 970-876-9000, or by email at 
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS 
is available 24 hours a day, seven 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's ROD formally adopts the USFS, 
December 2014, White River National Forest Oil and Gas Leasing Final 
EIS. The Department of the Interior (DOI) and the BLM concur with the 
selection of a combination of Alternatives B and C as described in the 
USFS ROD (December 3, 2015). As identified in 40 CFR 1506.3(a), ``[a]n 
agency may adopt a Federal draft or final . . . [EIS] or portion 
thereof provided that the statement or portion thereof meets the 
standards for an adequate statement under these [the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ)] regulations.'' The BLM affirms that this 
Final EIS meets all requirements of the CEQ, DOI and BLM for 
preparation of an EIS.
    Oil and gas leasing on National Forest System Lands is a 
collaborative process between the USFS and the BLM. The USFS is 
responsible for making land availability decisions, while the BLM is 
responsible for issuing and managing oil and gas leases, as described 
in the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act.
    The BLM was a Cooperating Agency in the preparation of the USFS's 
Final EIS. Per 40 CFR 1506.3(c), the BLM adopts the Final EIS without 
re-circulating, as the BLM has concluded that its comments and 
suggestions were incorporated during the NEPA process.
    This decision is approved by the Deputy Secretary of DOI; 
therefore, it is not subject to administrative appeal (43 CFR 
4.410(a)(3)).

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-28806 Filed 11-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P