[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 101 (Friday, May 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24177-24178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10738]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[Docket No. 19X.LLIDB00000. L16100000.DP0000. LXSS053D0000.241A. 
4500133829


Notice of Availability for the Draft Four Rivers Field Office 
Resource Management Plan and Associated Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Four Rivers Field 
Office (FRFO), Boise, Idaho, has prepared a Draft Resource Management 
Plan (RMP) and associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
and by this notice is announcing the release of the Draft RMP.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS within 90 days following 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The 
BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public 
participation activities at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the FRFO Draft RMP/Draft 
EIS by any of the following methods:
     Website: http://go.usa.gov/xnsn6 (case sensitive)
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 208-384-3326.
     Mail: Four Rivers Field Office, Attn: Brent Ralston, 3948 
S Development Ave. Boise, Idaho 83705.
    Copies of the FRFO Draft RMP/Draft EIS are available in the Boise 
District Office at the above address; at the Idaho BLM State Office, 
1387 South Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709; and online at the following 
website: http://go.usa.gov/xnsn6.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: For further information, contact Pam 
Murdock, Project Lead, telephone 208-384-3300; address 3948 S 
Development Ave., Boise, Idaho 83705; 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. 
Murdock. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a 
message or question with Ms. Murdock. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRFO encompasses an area located in 
southwestern Idaho extending north of the Snake River from 
approximately Glenns Ferry in the southeast, west to Weiser, and north 
to McCall. The planning area includes all of the FRFO located outside 
the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area 
which is governed by a separate RMP. The planning area encompasses 
approximately 783,000 surface acres and 1,173,150 acres of mineral 
estate in Ada, Adams, Boise, Camas, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, 
Payette, Valley and Washington counties administered by the BLM. Much 
of the planning area comprises interspersed sections of public, 
private, State or Forest Service lands.
    The FRFO currently manages land in accordance with the 1983 Kuna 
Management Framework Plan (MFP), the 1987 Jarbidge RMP, and the 1988 
Cascade RMP. These plans have been amended since originally approved. 
This planning effort will identify goals and objectives and update 
management guidance to create a new RMP. The BLM engaged in public 
scoping to help identify planning issues that directed the formulation 
of alternatives and framed the analysis in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. 
Issues include managing the scattered BLM-administered land base, 
balancing increasing public demand with conservation of fragile 
resources and balancing resource uses (including energy development). 
The planning effort also considers socio-economic concerns and special 
designations including lands with wilderness characteristics, wild and 
scenic rivers and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).
    The Draft RMP/Draft EIS evaluates four alternatives in detail. 
Alternative A is the No Action Alternative, which is a continuation of 
current management, public use, resource protection, and conservation 
prescriptions in the existing RMPs and MFP, as amended. It does not 
address issues that were nonexistent or unforeseen when the BLM 
prepared the original RMPs and MFP.
    Alternative B emphasizes protecting natural resource values from 
potential impacts of population growth and increased use and 
incorporates protective measures for plants and wildlife compared to 
other alternatives. While some areas would still emphasize recreation 
and community development

[[Page 24178]]

uses, the primary emphases are for conservation and reduction of 
habitat fragmentation and resource degradation.
    Alternative C focuses on accommodating increased population growth 
and use of public lands within the planning area by emphasizing land 
disposal for local community expansion, providing economic expansion 
through extractive and renewable energy resource use and continues to 
provide recreational opportunities.
    Alternative D is the Preferred Alternative, and emphasizes managing 
public lands to promote economic development while maintaining natural 
resource values. This alternative recognizes the diverse issues and 
needs throughout the planning area by promoting a balanced use of 
resources including management for oil and gas leasing and development, 
livestock grazing, recreational use and wildlife habitat, including big 
game winter range and migration corridors.
    In the Draft EIS, the BLM proposes and evaluates ACECs to protect 
specific resource values and other uses where appropriate. Pursuant to 
43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent public comment 
period for potential ACECs. A more detailed summary of all proposed 
ACECs is available at the project website provided above.

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                                                   Alternative A   Alternative B   Alternative C   Alternative D
                    ACEC name                          acres           acres           acres           acres
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Bannister Basin.................................  ..............           5,840  ..............  ..............
Boise Front.....................................          11,360          24,630  ..............  ..............
Buckwheat Flats.................................  ..............             200  ..............  ..............
Cartwright Canyon...............................             400  ..............  ..............  ..............
Cherry Gulch....................................  ..............           3,070  ..............  ..............
Hixon-CSTG Habitat..............................           4,170          21,100          12,870          18,660
Goodrich Creek..................................  ..............             450  ..............  ..............
Hulls Gulch.....................................             120  ..............  ..............  ..............
King Hill Creek.................................             840           2,840  ..............  ..............
Curlew Habitat..................................          45,020          46,310          26,810          26,810
Lost Basin......................................  ..............              60  ..............  ..............
Mountain Home...................................  ..............             520  ..............  ..............
Rebecca Sandhill................................  ..............           1,250  ..............  ..............
Sand-capped Knob................................              40             180  ..............  ..............
Sand Hollow.....................................           1,300           1,330  ..............  ..............
Sheep Creek.....................................  ..............           1,970  ..............  ..............
Summer Creek....................................  ..............             630  ..............  ..............
Willow Creek....................................           1,010           1,120  ..............  ..............
Woods Gulch.....................................              40              40  ..............  ..............
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    Pertinent information regarding the ACECs proposed for designation 
in Alternative D:
     Hixon Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (CSTG) Habitat ACEC: 
The 1988 Cascade RMP designated 4,170 acres as the Hixon CSTG Habitat 
ACEC to intensify habitat management for one of the last remaining 
populations of CSTG in western Idaho. Alternative D expands the ACEC to 
include lands acquired through purchase or exchange since the last 
planning effort and maintains habitat management objectives. The 
alternative would allow development activities within the ACEC, subject 
to restrictions, in order to maintain CSTG habitat. Salable mineral 
development would be allowed on sites more than 0.5 miles from key 
nesting and brood-rearing habitat as long as it does not exceed two 
acres in size, and would be subject to seasonal restrictions; the ACEC 
would be open to fluid mineral leasing subject to moderate constraints; 
all rights-of-way would be subject to timing restrictions and 
aboveground facilities would only be authorized if co-located with 
existing facilities; renewable energy development would not be allowed; 
and livestock grazing would be managed to maintain or enhance CSTG 
habitat.
     Long-billed Curlew Habitat ACEC: The 1988 Cascade RMP 
designated this ACEC to protect crucial nesting habitat for the curlew. 
Alternative D retains the ACEC designation for areas that continue to 
provide suitable habitat. The ACEC includes the following management 
prescriptions: Salable mineral development is allowed on sites more 
than 0.5 miles from key nesting and brood-rearing habitat, as long as 
it does not exceed five acres in size and conforms to seasonal 
restrictions; fluid mineral leasing is open subject to moderate 
constraints; and excludes wind energy rights-of-way.
    The BLM initiated the land-use planning process on April 3, 2008, 
through a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register (73 FR 
18298), notifying the public of a formal scoping period and soliciting 
public participation. Since 2008, the BLM has held multiple meetings 
with Tribal governments, stakeholders, interest groups, cooperating 
agencies, counties and the public.
    After the public comment period, the BLM will use substantive 
public comments to revise the Draft RMP/Draft EIS in preparation for 
its release as the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The Notice of Availability 
for the Proposed RMP/Final EIS will be published in the Federal 
Register.
    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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

John F. Ruhs,
Idaho BLM State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-10738 Filed 5-23-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P