[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64529-64530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22575]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCO910000-20X-L13100000.PP0000]


Notice of Administrative Boundary Change for Bureau of Land 
Management Districts in Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of district boundary changes.

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SUMMARY: The administrative boundaries of the Northwest Colorado 
District Office, Rocky Mountain District, and Southwest Colorado 
District are being changed, and the Upper Colorado River District is 
being created.

DATES: The boundary change takes effect on October 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Copping, Rocky Mountain 
District Associate District Manager, telephone: 719-269-8724, email: 
[email protected] or Jayson Barangan, BLM Colorado Acting Communications 
Director, telephone: 303-239-3681, email: [email protected]. Persons who 
use a use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Ms. Copping 
during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, to leave a message or questions. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The administrative boundary change will 
realign the Gunnison Field Office under the Southwest District; move 
the Grand Junction Field Office from the Southwest District to the 
newly created Upper Colorado River District; and move the Colorado 
River Valley Field Office from the Northwest District to the Upper 
Colorado River District. Field Office and Fire Unit boundaries will 
remain the same. This change in administrative boundaries will align 
district boundaries with BLM Colorado's fire units. All land managed by 
the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado fall within the Department of 
the Interior's Upper Colorado Basin--Region 7. This realignment of 
administrative boundaries does not conflict with the Department's 
reorganization into 12 unified Interior regions and is fully consistent 
with the goals of the Department's efforts for efficient government and 
enhanced coordination.
    In 2016, BLM Colorado redrew its district boundaries, establishing 
the Rocky Mountain District, Northwest Colorado, and Southwest Colorado 
Districts. The established boundaries from this effort resulted in 
districts not aligning with the fire units. After implementation, the 
State Director made a commitment to evaluate the realignment and 
determine if adjustments would be necessary. To honor the commitment, 
BLM Colorado sought input in Fall 2019 from its employees, local 
communities and local government officials, and Tribes, as well as 
Colorado's congressional delegation on how the 2016 alignment is 
working. As a result of the evaluation, BLM Colorado is establishing a 
fourth district--the Upper Colorado River District--and realigning 
existing districts to match the existing four fire units and better 
complement the missions of the field offices throughout the state.
    The primary purpose of the administrative boundary change is to 
align BLM Colorado fire units with district boundaries and simplify 
reporting and oversight structures to enhance wildfire response and 
wildland firefighter safety. Secondly, aligning district boundaries 
with more practical geographic features and geopolitical areas will 
enhance service to the public, as well as coordination with local, 
county and state agencies and elected officials.
    Authority: BLM Manual 1203 Delegation of Authority Sec. 1202 and 
Sec. 1201 relates to functions of BLM. The delegation manual shows the 
various delegations of functions to BLM officials, et al., which 
includes ``Approve changes in District and Field Office boundaries.'' 
(See the table of delegations in the manual, specifically subject code 
1202.) This authority is retained by the Director, with concurrence by 
the ``Office of the Assistant Secretary'' (see footnote 3 in

[[Page 64530]]

the 1203 Manual). BLM Manual 1201 Organization Management describes 
organizational policies and standards. Procedures and requirements for 
organizational change have been followed as described in BLM Manual 
1202 Organization Control.

Jamie E. Connell,
Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-22575 Filed 10-9-20; 8:45 am]
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