[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3766-3767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01437]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD06800.L17110000.KD0000.16X]


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
and Notice of Decision for Proposed Land Exchange Between the Bureau of 
Land Management and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and decision.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau 
of Land Management (BLM)-Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office 
announces the availability of an abbreviated Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed land 
exchange between the BLM and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians 
(Tribe). The BLM will issue the ROD concurrently with the Final EIS, 
but will not implement the ROD until after the 45-day protest period 
(43 CFR 2201.7-1). The Environmental Protection Agency's 30-day 
``cooling off'' period will run concurrently with the protest period. 
The Decision approving the land exchange was issued by Douglas J. 
Herrema, Field Manager, BLM-Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office on 
January 18, 2018.

DATES: A Decision to complete an exchange is subject to protest for 45 
days beginning on the first day of publication of this Notice. Thereby, 
all protests must be written and received by the BLM at the address 
below, no later than March 12, 2018. Protests related to NEPA 
documentation or other content of the decision document will be 
considered by the BLM. Verbal protests will not be accepted.

ADDRESSES: You may submit a protest of the proposed ROD by either of 
the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: Field Manager, BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field 
Office, 1201 Bird Center Dr., Palm Springs, CA, 92262.
    Copies of the proposed ROD and Final EIS for the proposed land 
exchange are available for public review in the Palm Springs-South 
Coast Field Office at the above address, during regular business hours 
(8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Monday through Friday (except holidays), or on the 
internet at https://goo.gl/qyjNJa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Adams, Monument Manager, 
telephone 760-833-7100; address BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field 
Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262; email 
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The Service 
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: Approval of the proposed land exchange 
transfers 2,560 acres of Federal lands, appraised in the amount of 
$795,000, to the Tribe in exchange for 1,471.24 acres of tribally-owned 
properties, appraised in the amount of $845,000. Since the appraised 
value of the offered Tribal lands exceeds the appraised valued of the 
selected Federal lands, the BLM will make a cash payment of $50,000 to 
the Tribe in order to equalize values. The selected Federal lands and 
offered Tribal lands all occur within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto 
Mountains National Monument (Monument).
    Federal land to be patented to the Tribe:

San Bernardino and Base Meridian, California

T. 5 S., R. 4 E.
    Sections 16, 21, 27, and 29.

    The area described aggregates 2,560 acres.

    The patent that conveys the Federal lands will reserve a Right-of-
Way for ditches and canals constructed by the authority of the United 
States pursuant to the Act of August 30, 1890 (43 U.S.C. 945).
    Non-Federal land to be conveyed to the United States:

[[Page 3767]]

San Bernardino and Base Meridian, California

T. 5 S., R. 5 E.,
    Section 7,
    Section 19,
    Section 20, W1/2W1/2.

    The area described aggregates 1,471.24 acres.

    The purpose of the land exchange is to reduce the extent of 
``checkerboard'' land ownership, thereby providing the BLM and the 
Tribe with more effective and efficient land management 
responsibilities within the Monument. The public interest will be well 
served by making this exchange.
    Lands acquired by the BLM will be managed in accordance with 
applicable statutes and regulations, as well as the California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan, as amended, and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto 
Mountains National Monument Management Plan. Lands acquired by the 
Tribe will be managed in accordance with its Land Use Ordinance, Indian 
Canyons Master Plan, and Tribal Habitat Conservation Plan.
    In 2008, the proposed land exchange was announced in a Notice of 
Exchange Proposal (NOEP), which included a 45-day public comment 
period. In 2010, an Environmental Assessment was released for public 
review, which allowed for a 30-day comment period. Based on their 
findings, the BLM determined that preparation of an EIS was necessary.
    In 2012, the BLM initiated a public scoping process and 
subsequently released a Draft EIS with a 90-day public comment period, 
which concluded on March 29, 2015. Comments on the Draft EIS received 
from the public and internal BLM review were considered and 
incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS. The BLM concluded that 
changes to the Draft EIS were minor, and as a result, an abbreviated 
Final EIS was completed. Those changes were primarily related to the 
exchange value equalization efforts based on a current appraisal. As a 
result, the amount of trails that were identified for disposal by the 
BLM were reduced.
    Before including your 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 can 
ask the BLM in your protest to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 2200

Douglas J. Herrema,
Field Manager, Palm Springs--South Coast Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-01437 Filed 1-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P