[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10324-10325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05297]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO230000.L11100000.PH0000.LXSGPL000000.HAG 19-0055]


Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Approved 
Resource Management Plan Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse 
Conservation, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Greater Sage-Grouse 
conservation for the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Sub-Region. The Acting 
State Director signed the ROD on March 15, 2019, which constitutes the 
final decision of the BLM and makes the approved ROD effective 
immediately.

ADDRESSES: The ROD is available on the BLM ePlanning project website at 
https://goo.gl/4CNtH8. Click the Documents and Reports link on the left 
side of the screen to find the electronic version of these materials. 
Paper copies of the ROD are also available for public inspection at the 
Oregon State Office and the Burns, Lakeview, Prineville, and Vale BLM 
District Offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Regan-Vienop, Planning and

[[Page 10325]]

Environmental Coordinator, at 503-808-6062; 1220 SW 3rd Ave. Suite 
1305, Portland, OR 97204; [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, to leave a message or question with Mr. Regan-Vienop. You 
will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM developed the Oregon Greater Sage-
Grouse Approved RMP Amendment to enhance cooperation with states by 
improving alignment with state management plans and strategies for 
Greater Sage-Grouse, while continuing to conserve, enhance, and restore 
Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat.
    The BLM developed the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Approved RMP 
Amendment in collaboration with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, State 
wildlife managers, and other concerned organizations and individuals 
largely through the Western Governors Association's Sage-Grouse Task 
Force. Using its discretion and authority under the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act, the BLM amends land use plans that address Greater 
Sage-Grouse management to further improve alignment with the State of 
Oregon plans and management strategies in accordance with the BLM's 
multiple use and sustained yield mission. The Oregon Greater Sage-
Grouse Approved RMP Amendment is one of six separate plan amendments 
developed and issued in response to Secretarial Order (SO) 3353 
(Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation and Cooperation with Western States) 
and in accordance with SO 3349 (American Energy Independence). The six 
amendments refine the previous management plans adopted in 2015 and aim 
to strike a regulatory balance and build greater trust among 
neighboring interests in Western communities.
    The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Approved RMP Amendment specifically 
addresses the availability or unavailability of livestock grazing in 13 
key Research Natural Areas and clarifies plan provisions related to 
compensatory mitigation. The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Approved RMP 
Amendment amends the following RMPs for lands administered by the BLM 
in Oregon:

 Andrews (2005)
 Baker (1989)
 Brothers/La Pine (1989)
 Lakeview (2003)
 Southeastern Oregon (2002)
 Steens (2005)
 Three Rivers (1992)
 Upper Deschutes (2005)

    The planning area includes approximately 60,649 acres of lands 
administered by the BLM in three Oregon counties: Harney, Lake, and 
Malheur. Within the decision area, the BLM administers approximately 
21,959 acres of public lands, all of which is Greater Sage-Grouse 
habitat. Surface management decisions made in the Oregon Greater Sage-
Grouse Approved RMP Amendment apply only to lands administered by the 
BLM in the decision area.
    The BLM prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to analyze 
the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed action and the alternatives. The ROD approves the 
agency preferred alternative identified in the Final EIS. The BLM 
issued the ROD based on compliance with relevant laws, regulations, 
policies, and plans, including those guiding agency decisions that may 
have an impact on resources and their values, services, and functions.
    On December 10, 2018, the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the 
Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS (83 FR 
63524) was published in the Federal Register. The publication of the 
NOA initiated a 30-day protest period for the proposed land use 
planning decision. The protest period was later extended an additional 
seven days to help account for technical issues the public encountered 
when submitting protests during the partial Federal Government shutdown 
in January 2019. The NOA publication also initiated a simultaneous 60-
day review by the Governor of Oregon to identify any inconsistencies 
with State or local plans, policies, or programs. At the close of the 
protest period, 12 protests had been received. These protests were 
resolved by the BLM Director; individual protest response letters were 
sent to all protesting parties. Protest resolution is contained in the 
Director's Protest Summary Report, which is available online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/protest-resolution-reports. The Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed RMP 
Amendment was not modified as a result of the protest resolution. The 
Oregon Governor's consistency review identified the following 
inconsistency: Language in the Proposed RMPA/Final EIS related to 
compensatory mitigation failed to fully acknowledge the State of 
Oregon's jurisdiction, authorities, and abilities to require 
compensatory mitigation for impacts to Greater Sage-Grouse. The BLM 
clarified in the ROD for the Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Proposed RMP 
Amendment that, when the State of Oregon requires compensatory 
mitigation as a component of compliance with the State's mitigation 
program, policy, or state regulation, the BLM will incorporate and 
enforce that compensatory mitigation as a condition of permits or 
authorizations issued by BLM Oregon.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6.

Theresa M. Hanley,
Acting State Director, BLM Oregon/Washington.
[FR Doc. 2019-05297 Filed 3-19-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-84-P