[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53470-53471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21654]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAC09000 L16100000.DR000 19XL; MO #4500136521]
Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision for the Central
Coast Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Oil
and Gas Leasing and Development, California
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) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Central Coast
Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment. This
plan amendment identifies the Federal mineral estate, located primarily
in Fresno, Monterey and San Benito counties, California, that is
available for oil and gas leasing and development. It also identifies
leasing stipulations to protect resources.
DATES: The BLM California Acting State Director signed the ROD on
October 4, 2019, which constitutes the final decision of the agency and
makes the approved RMP amendment effective immediately. Signing of the
ROD also authorizes the issuance, with controlled surface use
stipulations, of implementation-level decisions regarding 14 previously
litigated oil and gas leases in Monterey and San Benito counties.
Signing of the ROD initiates a 30-day appeal period for these leasing
decisions to the Interior Board of Land Appeals.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD and approved RMP amendment are available
upon request from the Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field
Office, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA 93933 or via the internet at https://go.usa.gov/xyFh5. Copies of the ROD and approved RMP amendment are
available for public inspection at the BLM Central Coast Field Office,
and at the BLM California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1623,
Sacramento, CA 95825.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sky Murphy, BLM Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, telephone: (831) 582-2200; address: Bureau
of Land Management Central Coast Field Office, 940 2nd Ave., Marina, CA
93933; or email: [email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at (800) 877-8339 to contact Sky Murphy during normal
business hours. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to
leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM's decision makes approximately
680,000 acres of Federal mineral estate available for leasing with
controlled surface use stipulations and another roughly 42,000 acres
available for leasing with no surface occupancy requirements. An
additional 67,500 acres of Federal mineral estate are closed to leasing
and development in designated wilderness areas, wilderness study areas,
and national monuments. The BLM plan also supports recovery of
threatened and endangered plants and animals in the Ciervo Panoche
Natural Area by protecting core populations from surface disturbance.
This decision does not authorize any actual drilling for exploration or
development of oil and gas resources. The BLM predicts a range from
zero to 37 new oil and gas wells could be developed on Federal mineral
estate during the next 20 years as a result of this plan amendment. Any
future proposals for leasing or development would go through additional
environmental reviews based on site-specific project information and
other requirements for consultation, coordination and public
involvement. The ROD also authorizes issuance of implementation-level
decisions for 14 previously litigated oil and gas leases.
The Notice of Availability for the proposed RMP amendment and Final
EIS was published on May 10, 2019, initiating a 30-day public protest
period (84 FR 20657). The Final EIS analyzed the environmental impacts
of six alternative amendments to the RMP including the No Action
Alternative. The BLM received 436 protests, 24 of which were from
parties with standing. Of the 24 protests with standing, seven were
denied as the issues are already addressed in the document and 17 were
dismissed as they did not raise protestable issues. The remaining 412
protests were dismissed due to lack of standing.
[[Page 53471]]
In accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e), the BLM
submitted the proposed RMP amendment and Final EIS for a 60-day
Governor's Consistency Review on May 10, 2019. On July 9, 2019, the
Governor of California submitted a letter to the BLM California Acting
State Director asserting inconsistencies between the proposed RMP
amendment and State land use plans, programs, and policies related to
the impacts of climate change. The BLM Acting California State Director
issued a response to the Governor that addressed the recommendation of
the Governor on August 1, 2019. Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.3-2(e), the BLM
provided a 30-day period for the Governor to appeal this response to
the BLM Director. That appeal period closed on August 30, 2019, and no
appeal was received. Therefore, this decision approves Alternative F,
the BLM's preferred alternative in the Final EIS, with no
modifications.
Administrative remedies are available to those who are a party to
the case and are adversely affected by the leasing decisions included
in this ROD. An administrative appeal may be made to the Office of
Hearings and Appeals, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of
Interior, Board of Land Appeals (Board) in strict compliance with the
regulations in 43 CFR part 4. Notices of appeal must be filed with the
BLM officer who made the decision within 30 days after publication of
this decision. If a notice of appeal does not include a statement of
reasons, such statement must be filed with the BLM California State
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W1623, Sacramento, CA 95825 and the Board
within 30 days after the notice of appeal is filed. The notice of
appeal and any statement of reasons, written arguments, or briefs must
also be served upon the Regional Solicitor: U.S. Department of the
Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Pacific Southwest Region, 2800
Cottage Way, Room E-1712, Sacramento, CA 95825-1890.
Before including your phone number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your appeal, you should be aware
that your entire appeal--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your appeal 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)
Danielle Chi,
Deputy State Director, Fire and Resources.
[FR Doc. 2019-21654 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P