[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58299-58301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22958]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLES960000.L14400000.ET0000.223; MNES-059784]


Notice of Application for Withdrawal and Segregation of Federal 
Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 
(USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw, for a 20-
year term, approximately 225,378 acres of National Forest System lands 
in the Rainy River Watershed on the Superior National Forest in 
northeastern Minnesota, from disposition under the United States 
mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. 
This notice segregates the lands for up to two years from operation of 
the United States mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid 
existing rights; provides an opportunity for the public to submit 
written comments on the withdrawal application; and notifies the public 
that one or more public meetings will be held regarding the 
application.

DATES: Comments regarding this withdrawal application must be received 
by January 19, 2022. A notice for public meeting(s) regarding the 
withdrawal application will be announced separately in the Federal 
Register, in at least one local newspaper, and on agency websites at 
least 30 days before meeting(s) are held during this 90-day comment 
period.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this withdrawal proposal should be sent 
to

[[Page 58300]]

F. David Radford, Deputy State Director of Geospatial Services, BLM 
Eastern States Office, RE: Superior National Forest Withdrawal 
Application, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041; or by 
email to [email protected] (please include Superior National Forest 
Withdrawal Application in the subject line).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: F. David Radford, BLM Eastern States 
Office, telephone: 703-558-7759, email: [email protected] during regular 
business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact 
the above individual. The Service 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.
    A map and other information related to the withdrawal application 
are available at the USFS Superior National Forest, 8901 Grand Avenue 
Place, Duluth, Minnesota 55808.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USFS has filed an application with the 
BLM requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw all federal 
lands and interests in lands (excluding lands with federally owned 
fractional mineral interests) situated within the exterior boundaries 
of the area depicted on the map submitted with the application, 
entitled Appendix B: Superior National Forest, dated September 20, 
2021, from disposition under the United States mineral and geothermal 
leasing laws for a period of 20 years, subject to valid existing 
rights. The above-referenced map is available from BLM or USFS by 
sending a request to the physical address in the ADDRESSES and FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections above, as well as online via 
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/docs/2021-10/AppendixB_WithdrawalMap_20210916.pdf. The purpose of the proposed 
withdrawal is to advance a comprehensive approach to protect and 
preserve the fragile and vital social and natural resources, ecological 
integrity, and wilderness values in the Rainy River Watershed, the 
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and the Boundary Waters 
Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Protection Area (MPA) in northeastern 
Minnesota, which are threatened by potential future sulfide mining. 
Development of sulfide-bearing mineral resources present in the 
withdrawal area could lead to permanently stored waste materials and 
other conditions upstream of the BWCAW and the MPA with the potential 
to generate and release effluent with elevated levels of acidity, 
metals, and other potential contaminants. Failure of required 
mitigation measures, containment facilities, or remediation efforts at 
mine sites and their related facilities could lead to irreversible 
degradation of this key water-based wilderness resource. The purpose of 
the proposed withdrawal is also to prevent the effects of climate 
change on precipitation regimes and protect the health, traditional 
cultural values, and subsistence-based lifestyle of the Tribes, which 
rely on resources in the region such as wild rice that are particularly 
susceptible to adverse impacts associated with mining. The lands will 
remain open to other forms of use and disposition as may be allowed by 
law on National Forest System lands, including the sale of mineral 
materials.
    All the National Forest System lands identified in the townships 
below and any lands acquired by the Federal government within the 
exterior boundaries shown on the above referenced map are included in 
the withdrawal application. This area excludes the BWCAW and the MPA, 
as depicted on the above referenced map.

National Forest System Lands

Superior National Forest

4th Principal Meridian, Minnesota

Tps. 61 and 62 N., Rs. 5 W.
Tps. 60 to 62 N., Rs. 6 W.
Tps. 59 and 61 N., Rs. 7 W.
Tps. 59 to 61 N., Rs. 8 W.,
Tps. 58 to 61 N., Rs. 9 W.
Tps. 57 to 62 N., Rs. 10 W.
Tps. 57 to 63 N., Rs. 11 W.1Tp. 59 N., R. 12 W.
Tps. 61 to 63 N., Rs. 12 W.
Tps. 61 to 63 N., Rs. 13 W.

    The areas described contain approximately 225,378 acres of National 
Forest System lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties.
    Non-Federal lands within the area proposed for withdrawal total 
approximately 223,000 acres in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties. As 
non-Federal lands, these parcels would not be affected by the temporary 
segregation or proposed withdrawal, unless they are subsequently 
acquired by the Federal government.
    Congress designated the BWCAW and established the MPA to protect 
and preserve the ecological richness of the lakes, waterways, and 
forested wilderness along the Canadian border. The protection of the 
Rainy River Watershed would help the preservation of the BWCAW and MPA, 
as well as Canada's Quetico Provincial Park, which are all 
interconnected through the unique hydrology in the region.
    The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative 
agreement would not meet the purpose of this proposed withdrawal 
because such an action would not adequately constrain mineral and 
geothermal leasing to provide adequate protection throughout this 
pristine natural area.
    No alternative sites are feasible as the lands subject to the 
withdrawal application are the lands for which protection is sought 
from the impacts of potential future exploration and development under 
the United States mineral and geothermal leasing laws. No water will be 
needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested withdrawal.
    The USFS will serve as the lead agency for analyzing the impacts of 
the proposed withdrawal under the National Environmental Policy Act. 
The USFS will designate the BLM as a cooperating agency. The BLM will 
independently evaluate and review the draft and final analysis and any 
other documents needed for the Secretary of the Interior to make a 
decision on the proposed withdrawal.
    Records related to the withdrawal application may be examined by 
contacting the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section above.
    For a period until January 19, 2022, all persons who wish to submit 
comments, suggestions, or objections related to the withdrawal 
application may present their views in writing to the BLM Deputy State 
Director of Geospatial Services at the BLM Eastern States Office 
address or the email listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Comments, 
including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review by appointment at the BLM Eastern States 
Office during regular business hours.
    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 to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Notice is hereby given that a public meeting in connection with the 
application for withdrawal will be scheduled within the 90-day comment 
period. The BLM will publish a notice of the time and place in the 
Federal Register, at least one local newspaper, and on agency websites 
at least 30-days before the scheduled date of the

[[Page 58301]]

meeting. During this 90-day comment period, if determined to be needed, 
the BLM will hold additional meetings in other areas of the State.
    For a period until October 23, 2023, subject to valid existing 
rights, the National Forest System lands described in this notice will 
be temporarily segregated from operation of the United States mineral 
and geothermal leasing laws, unless the application is denied or 
canceled, or the withdrawal is approved prior to that date. All other 
activities currently consistent with the Superior National Forest Land 
and Resource Management Plan are not restricted by this segregation, 
including public recreation, mineral materials sales, and other 
activities compatible with preservation of the character of the area, 
subject to USFS discretionary approval.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.

Mitchell Leverette,
BLM Eastern States State Director.
[FR Doc. 2021-22958 Filed 10-20-21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P