[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22893-22894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10473]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[19X.LLIDI02000. L71220000.FR0000. LVTFD1915100. 241A. 4500131504]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Blackrock Land Exchange, Pocatello, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 22894]]

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) Pocatello 
Field Office, in Pocatello, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) 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 
proposed Blackrock Land Exchange EIS. Comments on issues may be 
submitted in writing until July 5, 2019. The BLM will hold two public 
meetings as part of the scoping process. The dates and locations of 
these scoping meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance 
through local media, newspapers and the BLM website at: https://go.usa.gov/xEUuc. In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the 45-day scoping 
period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation 
upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Blackrock Land 
Exchange by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://go.usa.gov/xEUuc
     Fax: 208.478.6376
     Mail: BLM, Pocatello Field Office, Attention: Bryce 
Anderson/Blackrock Land Exchange Project, 4350 S Cliffs Dr., Pocatello, 
ID 83204.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Pocatello Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryce Anderson, Project Manager by 
telephone: 208-478-6353; address: 4350 S Cliffs Dr., Pocatello, ID 
83204; or email: [email protected]. 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 Mr. 
Anderson. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave 
a message or question with Mr. Anderson. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1994, the J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot) 
submitted an application to acquire 719 acres of Federal land managed 
by the BLM in exchange for 667 acres of non-Federal land. The selected 
Federal land is adjacent to Simplot's Don Plant in Power and Bannock 
Counties, Idaho. The offered non-Federal lands are located in the 
Blackrock and Caddy Canyon areas in Bannock County approximately five 
miles east-southeast of Pocatello, Idaho.
    In 1998, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response 
Compensation and Liability Act, the Don Plant facilities and the 
surrounding area known as the Eastern Michaud Flats (EMF) were 
designated a Superfund Site, including a portion of the proposed 
Federal lands to be exchanged. The BLM prepared an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) to analyze the proposed land exchange, and issued a 
Decision Record/Finding of No Significant Impact (DR/FONSI) on December 
21, 2007. The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes litigated the decision in 
District Court. In May 2011, the Court granted the Tribes' motion and 
remanded the DR/FONSI to the BLM, ordering the agency to prepare an 
EIS.
    The BLM's purpose is to evaluate the land exchange proposal. If 
approved, the proposal would improve resource management in an area 
containing crucial mule deer winter range and secure permanent public 
access to a popular recreation area. Simplot's purpose for the proposed 
exchange is to implement legally enforceable controls as directed by 
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Record of Decision (ROD) for 
the EMF Superfund Site and required by a Consent Order (CO) from the 
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. The CO requires Simplot to 
reduce fluoride emissions by 2026. To meet this requirement, Simplot 
has proposed construction of cooling ponds adjacent to its Don Plant in 
Pocatello, Idaho, which would require the acquisition of adjacent 
Federal lands. Additionally, this acquisition would allow for future 
onsite expansion of phosphate processing operations.
    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 process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:
     Concerns with contamination of surface and groundwater 
resources;
     Acquiring crucial mule deer winter range;
     Economic impacts on the region if production at the Don 
Plant slows or ceases (if the exchange is not approved);
     Retaining contaminated lands in Federal ownership; and
     Securing permanent access to Federal lands.
    The BLM will fulfill the public involvement requirements under the 
National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 
CFR 800.2(d)(3) through the NEPA process. Information the BLM receives 
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 Native American Tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. The BLM will give Tribal concerns due consideration, 
including impacts on Native American trust assets and potential impacts 
to cultural resources.
    The BLM invites Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
Tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by 
the proposed Blackrock Land Exchange to participate in the scoping 
process and environmental analysis, and if eligible, as a cooperating 
agency.
    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.

John F. Ruhs,
BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-10473 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P