[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 236 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 70857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27036]



[[Page 70857]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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


Notice of Public Meetings for Withdrawal Application of Federal 
Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Forest 
Service (USFS) will hold joint public meetings to provide opportunities 
for public comment on the USFS application to withdraw 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 mineral and geothermal leasing laws for 20 
years, subject to valid existing rights. In addition, the public 
meetings will provide the public with an initial opportunity to 
participate in the environmental assessment being performed in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: Public meetings will be held virtually on the following dates 
and times via Zoom:

 Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Central 
Standard Time
 Saturday, January 15, 2022, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Central 
Standard Time
 Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Central Standard 
Time

    The BLM is accepting written comments regarding the withdrawal 
application and the scope of the environmental assessment until January 
19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 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).
    The withdrawal application materials and public meeting information 
are available online at https://go.usa.gov/xeWCn. The Zoom link to 
register for the meetings will be available on this website not later 
than two weeks before the first meeting.

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 (800) 877-8339 to 
contact Mr. Radford. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 21, 2021, the BLM published a 
notice in the Federal Register announcing the receipt of a withdrawal 
application filed by the USFS (86 FR 58299). A 90-day public comment 
period on the proposal was initiated upon publication, which will close 
on January 19, 2022. The withdrawal application requests that the 
Secretary of the Interior 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, titled 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 USFS will serve as the lead agency for preparing the 
environmental assessment to evaluate the impacts of the proposed 
withdrawal. Comments submitted during the 90-day public comment period 
will be used to inform the scope and contents of the NEPA analysis of 
the proposed withdrawal. Public comments previously submitted for the 
Superior National Forest: Minnesota Application for Withdrawal, which 
was canceled on September 6, 2018, will be considered during this 
analysis. The USFS will designate the BLM as a cooperating agency for 
the NEPA analysis (40 CFR 1508.1(e)). The BLM will independently 
evaluate and review the analysis and any other documents needed for the 
Secretary of the Interior to make a decision on the proposed 
withdrawal.
    Comments, including the names and street addresses of respondents, 
will be available for public review by appointment at the location 
listed previously in the ADDRESSES section 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.

(Authority: 40 CFR 2310.3-1)

Leah Baker,
Acting BLM Eastern States State Director.
[FR Doc. 2021-27036 Filed 12-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P