[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