[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62553-62554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24752]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWY925000.L13400000.PQ0000 20X]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plan Amendments 
for 9 BLM-Wyoming Resource Management Plans and an Associated 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze 
potential Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendments for BLM Wyoming's 
Cody, Worland, Buffalo, Casper, Lander, Pinedale, Kemmerer, Rawlins and 
Rock Springs field offices. The proposed amendments would designate 
pipeline corridors as part of the Wyoming Pipeline Corridor Initiative 
(WPCI) proposed by the State of Wyoming. By this notice, the BLM is 
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues.

DATES: Comments on the RMP amendments and associated EIS may be 
submitted in writing until December 16, 2019. The date(s) and 
location(s) of any

[[Page 62554]]

scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local media, newspapers and the BLM website at https://go.usa.gov/xpCMr. To ensure the BLM can adequately consider and incorporate all 
comments, please submit written comments prior to the close of the 30-
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 on issues and planning criteria 
related to the EIS during public scoping meetings or on the WPCI 
ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xpCMr.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined in person at 
the BLM Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 
82009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Schultz, Project Manager, 
telephone: 307-775-6084; address: 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, 
Wyoming; email: [email protected]. Contact Ms. Schultz to be added to 
the WPCI mailing list. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-
8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The 
FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or 
question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The State of Wyoming is proposing a pipeline 
corridor network for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) 
and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to be designated on BLM-managed lands 
in Wyoming through the land use planning process. The State of Wyoming 
proposes that 2,000 miles and 25 segments of pipeline corridors be 
designated on BLM-managed lands and in those lands' associated RMPs. 
The proposed WPCI corridors are divided into segments based on proposed 
width and the regions they will service.
    The BLM plans to analyze the State's proposal by preparing an EIS. 
Based on the findings of the EIS process, the BLM may amend the nine 
RMPs containing lands proposed for pipeline corridors to designate 
those corridors. If the BLM were to receive a right-of-way application 
for CCUS and EOR pipelines or related facilities in the future, 
project-specific NEPA would be completed separately at that time. The 
purpose of this public scoping process is to determine relevant issues 
that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including 
alternatives, and guide the planning process. BLM and State of Wyoming 
personnel have identified preliminary issues to address within the 
planning area, including Greater Sage-Grouse; big game habitat 
(including migration corridors); potential conflicts with coal mining 
and other resource uses; air quality; transportation; vegetation and 
reclamation success; anticipated oil and gas development in the 
planning area; and opportunities to apply best management practices and 
design features.
    The BLM also seeks input on planning criteria, which include 
compliance with laws and regulations and integration into affected 
plans. The BLM has identified the following preliminary planning 
criteria:
     The planning and environmental review processes will 
comply with FLPMA, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and 
all other applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
     Valid existing rights will continue to be recognized.
     The BLM will continue to manage other resources in the 
planning areas under pre-existing terms, conditions, and decisions in 
the applicable RMPs.
     The BLM will coordinate with Federal, State, and local 
agencies and tribal governments in the development of the EIS.
     Any amendments to BLM RMPs will be consistent with the 
existing plans and policies of state and local governments, to the 
extent practicable.
    Please follow the procedures identified above to submit comments on 
issues and planning criteria. 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. The BLM will evaluate 
identified issues to be addressed in the plan, and will place them into 
one of three categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; 
or
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS as 
to why an issue was placed in category 2 or 3. The public is also 
encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that 
should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with 
interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best 
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information 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 use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan 
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines 
will be involved in the planning process: Rangeland management, 
minerals and geology, forestry, outdoor recreation, archaeology, 
paleontology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, 
soils, sociology, and economics.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Duane Spencer,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-24752 Filed 11-14-19; 8:45 am]
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