[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40262-40266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14361]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOSO00000.L11700000.DF0000.LXSGCO000000.223]


Notice of Intent to Amend Multiple Resource Management Plans 
Regarding Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) Conservation and 
Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement, Colorado and Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 40263]]

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Colorado and Utah State Directors intend to prepare a Gunnison Sage-
Grouse Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment with an associated 
environmental impact statement (EIS), and by this notice are announcing 
the beginning of the public scoping period to solicit public comments 
and identify issues, providing the planning criteria for public review, 
and issuing a call for nominations for areas of critical environmental 
concern (ACECs). This notice terminates the previous Gunnison Sage-
Grouse Rangewide Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS (DOI-BLM-CO-0000-
2014-0001-RMP-EIS) initiative that began in July 2014.

DATES: The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope 
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant 
information, studies, and ACEC nominations by August 22, 2022. To 
afford the BLM the opportunity to consider issues and ACEC nominations 
raised by commenters in preparing the draft RMP amendment/EIS, please 
ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the 45-day 
scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is 
later. The date(s) and location(s) of any public meetings associated 
with this land use planning initiative will be announced at least 15 
days in advance through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM 
website at the web address located in ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments issues and planning criteria related 
to these Gunnison sage-grouse RMP amendments and nominations of new 
ACECs by the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2019031/510.
     Mail: Gunnison Sage-Grouse RMP Amendment/EIS, BLM Grand 
Junction Field Office, 2815 H Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81506.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2019031/510 and at the 
following Field Office and District Office locations:

 Rocky Mountain District Office; 3028 E Main St.; Canon City, 
CO 81212
    [cir] San Luis Valley Field Office, 1313 E Highway 160; Monte 
Vista, CO 81144

 Southwest District Office; 2465 S Townsend Ave.; Montrose, CO 
81401
    [cir] Gunnison Field Office; 210 W Spencer Ave.; Gunnison, CO 81230
    [cir] Tres Rios Field Office; 29211 Highway 184; Dolores, CO 81323
    [cir] Uncompahgre Field Office; 2465 S Townsend Ave.; Montrose, CO 
81401

 Upper Colorado River District Office; 2815 H Road, Grand 
Junction, CO 81506
    [cir] Grand Junction Field Office; 2815 H Road; Grand Junction, CO 
81506

 Canyon Country District Office; 82 East Dogwood; Moab, UT 
84532
    [cir] Moab Field Office; 82 East Dogwood; Moab, UT 84532
    [cir] Monticello Field Office; 365 North Main, Monticello, UT 84535

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Waldner, Sage-Grouse Coordinator, 
BLM Colorado; telephone: 970-244-3045; or email: 
[email protected]; address: BLM Grand Junction Field Office, 
2815 H Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81506. Contact Ms. Waldner via email to 
have your name added to our mailing list. Persons in the United States 
who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability 
may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications 
relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the 
relay services offered within their country to make international calls 
to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Colorado and Utah State Directors intend to prepare an RMP amendment 
with an associated EIS for the management of Gunnison sage-grouse and 
its habitat, announce the beginning of the scoping process, seek public 
input on issues and planning criteria, and invite the public to 
nominate ACECs. The BLM is considering amending the following RMPs to 
incorporate management actions with the potential to affect Gunnison 
sage-grouse populations or occupied and unoccupied habitat: Canyons of 
the Ancients National Monument RMP (2010), Dominguez-Escalante National 
Conservation Area RMP (2017), Grand Junction Field Office RMP (2015), 
Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area RMP (2004), Gunnison Resource 
Area RMP (1993), McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area RMP (2004), 
San Luis Resource Area RMP (1991), Tres Rios Field Office RMP (2015), 
Uncompahgre Field Office RMP (2020), Moab Field Office RMP (2008), and 
Monticello Field Office RMP (2008).
    The planning area is located in the following nineteen Colorado 
counties: Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Dolores, 
Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, 
Montrose, Ouray, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel, and in 
the following two Utah counties: Grand and San Juan. The planning area 
encompasses approximately 7.6 million acres of BLM-managed surface land 
and approximately 17.1 million acres of Federal mineral estate. This 
acreage includes Federal minerals on Federal lands and ``split-estate'' 
Federal minerals located under surface lands with non-Federal 
ownership. The decision area includes approximately 1.5 million acres 
of split-estate Federal minerals (e.g., privately owned surface and 
State lands). It does not include National Forest System land and other 
Federal land where the BLM does not make planning decisions. The BLM 
typically adopts the leasing requirements determined by other Federal 
surface-managing agencies when leasing the mineral estate (while within 
the planning area, those lands are outside the decision area).
    In addition, this notice terminates the previous Gunnison Sage-
Grouse Rangewide Draft RMP Amendment and Draft EIS (DOI-BLM-CO-0000-
2014-0001-RMP-EIS) initiative that began in July 2014 and resulted in 
the release of a draft RMP amendment/draft EIS in August 2016. That 
planning effort was paused following notification in April 2018 that 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) intended to formulate a 
recovery plan for the species. No final EIS or Record of Decision will 
be issued for BLM-CO-0000-2014-0001-RMP-EIS. The USFWS released the 
Final Recovery Plan for Gunnison Sage-Grouse in October 2020.

Purpose and Need

    The preliminary purpose for the BLM action is to promote the 
recovery of the threatened Gunnison sage-grouse and maintain and 
enhance the occupied and unoccupied habitat upon which the species 
depends; ensure that management actions on BLM lands and sub-surface 
mineral estate support conservation goals for Gunnison sage-grouse and 
do not result in the adverse modification of occupied or unoccupied 
habitat for the species; and develop BLM management practices 
considering current science and data, relevant Federal, State, and 
local decisions supporting recovery, the Department of the Interior 
Climate Action Plan (2021), the USFWS Final Recovery Plan for Gunnison 
Sage-Grouse (2020), and the USFWS Recovery Implementation

[[Page 40264]]

Strategy for Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) (2020).
    The BLM's primary need is to address the rangewide downward 
population trend of the Gunnison sage-grouse and issues related to land 
management that may affect habitat; fulfill the Endangered Species Act 
(ESA) Section 7(a)(1) requirement that the BLM use its authority to 
further the purposes of the ESA by implementing management actions that 
conserve federally listed species and the ecosystems upon which they 
depend; and respond to changed ecological and climate conditions 
affecting BLM-managed lands (including drought, invasive plants, 
habitat loss and fragmentation, impaired riparian areas, and more 
frequent wildland fires).

Preliminary Alternatives

    The BLM manages approximately 42 percent of the Gunnison sage-
grouse occupied habitat across the entire range. The BLM manages 
approximately 50 percent of the occupied habitat within Gunnison Basin, 
Colorado, which is the largest population of Gunnison sage-grouse, 
containing approximately 85 percent of the species' adult individuals 
(November 21, 2014; 79 FR 69191). The USFWS identified threats to 
Gunnison sage-grouse in the Final Recovery Plan for Gunnison Sage-
Grouse (2020), the Recovery Implementation Strategy for Gunnison Sage-
Grouse (2020), and the Species Status Assessment Report for the 
Gunnison Sage-Grouse (2019). Some of the threats affecting the survival 
of Gunnison sage-grouse include habitat fragmentation and development, 
severe drought and climate change, invasive plants, juniper 
encroachment, improper grazing practices, predation, and recreation. 
The BLM will propose and analyze, with the best available scientific 
methods and information, alternatives for the recovery of Gunnison 
sage-grouse populations and conservation of sagebrush habitat. The BLM 
has found that existing BLM land use plans in Colorado and Utah may not 
fully take into account new data and science related to the management 
of Gunnison sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat.
    The BLM will consider continuation of current management (No Action 
Alternative) under the existing BLM RMPs, as amended. To address the 
threat of fragmentation and development to Gunnison sage-grouse 
habitat, the BLM will consider limits on density and disturbance from 
development, including facility and route density limitations. The BLM 
will additionally consider whether to incorporate new or changed oil 
and gas leasing and management decisions that would incorporate 
conservation measures for important sagebrush habitat areas for 
Gunnison sage-grouse. The BLM may consider closure of areas to future 
oil and gas leasing in addition to stipulations such as timing 
limitations, controlled surface use restrictions, and no surface 
occupancy restrictions. The BLM will also consider changes that 
minimize or compensate for impacts from resource uses, such as 
recreation and grazing, and address habitat resiliency during periods 
of drought. The BLM will also consider designation of ACECs. The BLM 
welcomes comments on the preliminary alternatives as well as 
suggestions for additional alternatives.

Planning Criteria

    The planning criteria guide the planning effort and lay the 
groundwork for the effects analysis by identifying the preliminary 
issues and their analytical frameworks. The BLM has identified the 
following preliminary planning criteria to guide development of the RMP 
amendment and is accepting public input during the scoping period 
consistent with 43 CFR 1610.4-2(c):
     The planning effort will be limited to land use planning 
decisions specific to conservation of the Gunnison sage-grouse and its 
habitat; existing land use plan decisions not affected by the 
amendments will remain in effect;
     The RMP amendment and associated EIS process will comply 
with FLPMA, NEPA, and other Federal statutes, regulations, executive 
orders, and management policies;
     The BLM will recognize valid existing rights;
     The BLM will adhere to adaptive management principles;
     The BLM will give priority to designating and protecting 
ACECs;
     The BLM will consider land use allocations and/or 
prescriptive standards to conserve Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, as 
well as objectives and management actions to restore, enhance, and 
improve Gunnison sage-grouse habitat;
     The BLM will consider a range of reasonable alternatives, 
including appropriate management prescriptions that focus on the 
relative values of resources while contributing to the conservation of 
the Gunnison sage-grouse and its habitat;
     The BLM will consider the socioeconomic impacts of 
alternatives; socioeconomic analyses will use an accepted input/output 
quantitative model such as the Impact Analysis for Planning or the 
Regional Input-Output Modeling System;
     The BLM will use current scientific information, research, 
technologies, inventory, monitoring, and coordination results, and 
approved BLM spatial data supported by current metadata to ascertain 
the extent and quality of Gunnison sage-grouse habitat and determine 
appropriate management strategies to enhance or restore habitat; data 
will be consistent with principles of the Information Quality Act of 
2000;
     The BLM will ensure that activities on BLM-administered 
lands within Gunnison sage-grouse habitat do not negatively impact land 
health standards; standards and guidelines for livestock grazing and 
other applicable programs affecting BLM lands will be included in all 
alternatives;
     The BLM will coordinate and communicate with State, local, 
and Tribal governments to ensure that management direction and 
decisions are consistent with applicable State, local, and Tribal plans 
and policies to the extent consistent with the laws and policies 
governing the public lands; seek to resolve inconsistencies among 
plans; and provide ample opportunities for State, local, and Tribal 
governments to comment on the development of alternatives and the draft 
RMP amendment;
     The BLM will confer with the USFWS as the primary 
management agency for ESA-listed species and will consider conservation 
measures outlined in the Final Recovery Plan for Gunnison sage-grouse 
(2020) and the Recovery Implementation Strategy for Gunnison sage-
grouse (Centrocercus minimus) (2020);
     The BLM recognizes the important role of State wildlife 
agencies and will confer and coordinate with these agencies as 
appropriate;
     The BLM will consider habitat requirements and best 
management practices outlined by the interagency Rangewide Steering 
Committee in the Gunnison Sage-grouse Rangewide Conservation Plan 
(2005) and other applicable resources;
     The BLM will evaluate any special management attention 
needed for the recognized relevant and important values of those areas 
nominated for ACEC designation and any new nominations, in accordance 
with BLM Manual 1613; and
     The BLM will consider the draft analysis and direction in 
the BLM Gunnison Sage-Grouse Rangewide Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS 
(2016).

Summary of Expected Impacts

    The RMP amendment and draft EIS will evaluate existing RMPs within 
the planning area and address management

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actions including, but not limited to, mineral leasing and development, 
recreation, livestock grazing management, realty actions, fire 
management, vegetation and habitat objectives, and restoration actions. 
The BLM will then consider, with the best available science, reasonable 
alternative approaches to its management strategies. Expected changes 
to RMP management decisions could include seasonal timing limitations, 
avoidance and mitigation measures, development restrictions within 
habitat areas, design features, controlled use or surface disturbance 
restrictions, seasonal closures of high-use areas, and grazing 
management guidelines.
    The public is invited to comment on data relevant to the proposed 
action and relationship between land use management and Gunnison sage-
grouse conservation, and the effects of the management actions under 
consideration on other public land resources and uses. This information 
will inform the scope of the impact analysis in the draft EIS. The BLM 
seeks information related to activities and public land uses that may 
cause disturbance to important Gunnison sage-grouse habitat and will 
consider that information as appropriate in describing the existing 
environment and reasonably foreseeable trends, or in the effects 
analysis.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    This amendment process is expected to be completed within 2 years. 
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation 
consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes, including a 
90-day comment period on the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Draft RMP Amendment/
EIS and a concurrent 30-day public protest period and a 60-day 
Governor's consistency review on the proposed RMP amendment. The draft 
RMP amendment/EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in 
the summer of 2023 and the proposed RMP amendment/final EIS is 
anticipated to be available for public protest in early 2024 with a 
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Approved RMP Amendment and Record of Decision in 
May 2024.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period and public 
review of the planning criteria, which guide the development of the 
draft RMP amendment/EIS and its analysis.
    The BLM anticipates holding a minimum of two and up to four public 
scoping meetings, which may be conducted through online platforms, to 
explain project details and obtain feedback. BLM representatives will 
be available to answer questions. The specific date(s) of these scoping 
meetings, along with information about how to participate, will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, 
and the BLM's project website (see ADDRESSES). All comments must be 
received by the date shown in the DATES section. It is important that 
reviewers provide timely comments in a manner that makes them useful to 
the agency's preparation of the draft RMP amendment/EIS. Therefore, 
comments should be provided prior to the close of the scoping period 
and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. 
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and 
addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record for 
this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted 
and considered.

ACECs

    The following ACEC is currently designated in the planning area and 
within the scope of the draft RMP amendment/EIS: Gunnison Sage-Grouse 
ACEC/Important Bird Area (IBA) covering 22,200 acres of public surface. 
Gunnison sage-grouse and its habitat is emphasized for protection as an 
important and relevant value in the designated ACEC within the Gunnison 
Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA). The BLM will re-evaluate this 
designated ACEC/IBA for consideration in the draft RMP amendment/EIS.
    The BLM will also evaluate these previously nominated ACECs for 
consideration in the draft RMP amendment/EIS:
     Dry Creek Basin (approximately 34,785 acres) and 
Northdale/Northdale Expansion (5,239 acres originally nominated; 6,936 
additional acres nominated) areas deferred in the Tres Rios Field 
Office ACEC RMP Amendment (2020) pending issuance of the Gunnison Sage-
Grouse RMP Amendment;
     All Gunnison Sage-Grouse Occupied and Unoccupied Habitat 
(approximately 623,000 acres) previously described as Alternative B in 
the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Rangewide Draft RMP Amendment/Draft EIS (2016) 
(DOI-BLM-CO-0000-2014-0001-RMP-EIS).
    This notice invites the public to nominate additional areas for 
ACEC consideration. To assist the BLM in evaluating nominations for 
consideration in the draft RMP amendment/EIS, please provide supporting 
descriptive materials, maps, and evidence of the relevance and 
importance of resources or hazards by the close of the public comment 
period in order to facilitate timely evaluation. The BLM has identified 
the anticipated issues related to the consideration of ACECs in the 
planning criteria.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The BLM is the lead agency for the NEPA analysis associated with 
this planning effort. The BLM has invited other Federal agencies, State 
and local government agencies, and Tribes to be cooperating agencies. 
Other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action are invited to participate in the scoping process and, 
if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in 
the development of the EIS as a cooperating agency.

Responsible Official

    The BLM Colorado State Director is the deciding official for the 
potential RMP amendments in the planning area in Colorado. The Utah 
State Director is the deciding official for the potential RMP 
amendments in the planning area in Utah.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The nature of the decision to be made will be the State Directors' 
selection of land use planning decisions for managing BLM-administered 
lands under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield in a 
manner that best addresses the purpose and need.

Interdisciplinary Team

    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 this planning effort to consider the resource 
issues and concerns identified during development of the RMP amendment/
EIS: wildlife biology, fluid minerals, geographic information systems, 
and land use planning.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed plan 
amendment and all reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 40 
CFR 1502.14(f), include appropriate mitigation measures not already 
included in the proposed plan amendment or alternatives. Mitigation may 
include avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction or 
elimination

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over time, and compensation, and may be considered at multiple scales, 
including the landscape scale.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA and land use planning 
processes for this effort to help support compliance with applicable 
procedural requirements of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1536) and Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as 
implemented in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including the public involvement 
requirements of Section 106. The information about historic and 
cultural resources and threatened and endangered species within the 
area potentially affected by the proposed plan amendment will assist 
the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual 
Section 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, 
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to 
cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, 
and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and other 
stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed plan 
amendment that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the 
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the 
BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as 
a cooperating agency.
    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.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9 and 43 CFR 1610.2)

Stephanie Connolly,
BLM Colorado Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-14361 Filed 7-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P