[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9539-9540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04483]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTC02200-L14400000-DU0000-17XL1109AF.MO#4500106565]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Miles City Field Office 2015 
Resource Management Plan and To Prepare an Associated Environmental 
Assessment, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Miles 
City Field Office (MCFO), Miles City, Montana, intends to prepare an 
amendment to the MCFO Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an 
associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the sale of the 
reversionary interest held by the United States (U.S.) in 11.83 acres 
of land previously conveyed out of Federal ownership, and by this 
Notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit 
public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP 
Amendment with an associated EA. Comments on issues may be submitted in 
writing until April 5, 2018. The BLM does not plan to hold any scoping 
meetings for this Plan Amendment. In order to be included in the 
analysis, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-
day scoping period. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation as appropriate.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Field Manager, Miles City Field 
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 
59301. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
MCFO.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Klempel, telephone 406-233-2800, 
or email [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 Ms. Klempel during normal business hours. The FRS 
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. Normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
MCFO, Miles City, MT, intends to prepare an amendment to the MCFO RMP 
with an associated EA, announces the beginning of the scoping process, 
and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The planning 
area is located in Custer County, Montana, and encompasses the 
reversionary interest held by the U.S. in 11.83 acres of land 
previously conveyed out of Federal ownership. The BLM has received a 
request from the current owner to purchase the reversionary interest 
held by the U.S. in the following described land:

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 7 N., R. 47 E.,
    Sec. 5, Tract X.

    The area described contains 11.83 acres in Custer County, Montana.
    In 1992, the BLM conveyed the land described above to the Miles 
Community College under the authority of the Recreation and Public 
Purposes Act of June 14, 1926 (R&PP) for educational and recreational 
purposes. Under the college's development plan with the BLM, it has 
used the land for a rodeo arena, equestrian events, recreation 
facilities, agriculture-related courses, and programs for the community 
college's use. If the college purchases the U.S.' reversionary 
interest, the college could also allow the public to rent the 
facilities for community use or large events, such as indoor rodeos, 
concerts, and agriculture and recreation expos. When public land is 
conveyed under the authority of the R&PP, the U.S. retains a 
reversionary interest in the land, which could result in title to the 
land reverting to the U.S. if the land is not used for the purposes for 
which it was conveyed, or if the land is sold or transferred without 
the BLM's approval. The BLM is responsible for monitoring the 
reversionary interest in perpetuity to ensure the land is used for the 
purposes for which it was conveyed.
    The reversionary interest in the land described above was not 
specifically identified for sale in the 2015 MCFO RMP and a Plan 
Amendment is required to process a direct sale. 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 BLM anticipates that the EA will consider both a Plan Amendment 
and possible subsequent sale of the Federal reversionary interest. The 
BLM anticipates that the EA will include, at a minimum, input from the 
disciplines of land-use planning, renewable resources, and non-
renewable resources. This Plan Amendment will be limited to an analysis 
of whether the reversionary interest in the land described above meets 
the criteria for sale under Section 203 of FLPMA.
    You may submit comments in writing to the BLM as shown in the 
ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, your comments should be 
submitted by the close of the 30-day scoping period.
    The BLM will use its fulfillment of the NEPA public participation 
requirements to assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement 
requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation 
Act (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 in the context of both NEPA and 
Section 106 of the NHPA.
    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

[[Page 9540]]

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 evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the Plan 
Amendment, 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 Amendment. 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.
    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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2)

Diane M. Friez,
Eastern Montana/Dakotas District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018-04483 Filed 3-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P