[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 190 (Monday, October 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59818-59820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21413]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWY920000 L1320000 PP0000 223]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Resource Management Plans for the 
Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming, and Miles City Field Office, Montana, 
and Prepare Associated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming and 
Montana/Dakotas State Directors each intend to prepare Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) amendments with associated Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for the Supplemental EIS and 
Potential RMP for the Buffalo Approved RMP and the Supplemental EIS and 
Potential RMP Amendment for the Miles City Approved RMP and by this 
notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping periods to solicit 
public comments and identify issues, and are providing the planning 
criteria for public review.

DATES: The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope 
of these analyses, potential alternatives, and identification of 
relevant information and studies by November 2, 2022. To afford the BLM 
the opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the Draft 
RMP amendments/Supplemental EISs, please ensure your comments are 
received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days 
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The Buffalo Field 
Office will host a public meeting at the Campbell County Public 
Library, 2101 S 4J Road, Gillette, WY, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on October 
17, 2022. The Miles City Field Office will host a public meeting at the 
Miles City Field Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, Montana, from 
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the Buffalo Field Office RMP amendment/Supplemental EIS by 
any of the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021239/510.
     Mail: Buffalo RMP Amendment/Supplemental EIS, Attn: Thomas 
Bills, Project Manager, BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, 
Buffalo, WY 82834.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021239/510 and at the 
Buffalo Field Office.
    You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria related to 
the Miles City Field Office RMP Amendment/Supplemental EIS by any of 
the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov (search for DOI-BLM-MT-
2022-0086-RMP-EIS).
     Mail: Miles City RMP Amendment/Supplemental EIS, Attn: 
Irma Nansel, Project Manager, BLM Miles City Field Office, 111 
Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov (search for DOI-BLM-MT-2022-0086-RMP-EIS) and 
at the Miles City Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Buffalo Field Office RMP 
amendment/Supplemental EIS contact is Thomas Bills, Project Manager, 
telephone 307-684-1131; address BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort 
Street Buffalo, WY 82834; email [email protected]. Contact Mr. Bills to 
have your name added to the Buffalo RMP amendment/Supplemental EIS 
mailing list.
    The Miles City Field Office RMP amendment/Supplemental EIS contact 
is Irma Nansel, Project Manager, telephone (406) 233-3653; address BLM 
Miles City Field Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT, 59301; 
email [email protected]. Contact Ms. Nansel to have your name added to 
the Miles City

[[Page 59819]]

RMP amendment/Supplemental EIS mailing list.
    Individuals 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 for contacting 
Mr. Bills or Ms. Nansel. 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 
Wyoming and Montana/Dakotas State Directors intend to each prepare an 
RMP amendment with associated Supplemental EIS for the Buffalo and 
Miles City Field Offices, respectively, announces the beginning of the 
scoping processes, and seeks public input on issues and planning 
criteria. These RMP amendments are in response to a United States 
District Court of Montana order (Western Organization of Resource 
Councils, et al. v. BLM; 4:20-cv-00076-GF-BMM 8/3/2022) that, related 
to this effort, ordered BLM to complete new coal screening and remedial 
NEPA analysis to address the following: (1) considering no leasing and 
limited coal leasing alternatives, and (2) disclosing the public health 
impacts, both climate and non-climate, of burning fossil fuels (coal, 
oil, and gas) from the planning areas.
    The Buffalo RMP amendment planning area is located in Campbell, 
Johnson, and Sheridan Counties, Wyoming, and encompasses approximately 
780,000 surface acres of public land and 4.8 million acres of Federal 
mineral estate.
    The Miles City RMP amendment planning area is located in Carter, 
Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Powder River, 
Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Treasure, Wibaux and 
portions of Big Horn and Valley Counties, Montana, and encompasses 
approximately 2.7 million surface acres and 11.7 million acres of 
Federal mineral estate.
    The scope of this land use planning process does not include 
addressing the evaluation or designation of areas of critical 
environmental concern (ACEC) and the BLM is not considering ACEC 
nominations as part of this process.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of these RMP Amendments/Supplemental EISs is to provide 
additional analysis for land use planning that address the following:
    (1) Complete new coal screening and analysis that considers a no 
leasing and limited coal leasing alternatives; and
    (2) Disclose the public health impacts, both climate and non-
climate, of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) from the planning 
areas.

Preliminary Alternatives

    Each of the RMP amendments/Supplemental EISs will include at least 
three alternatives varying the amount of BLM-administered Federal coal 
authorized to be available for leasing. The preliminary alternatives 
are: (1) the BLM-administered Federal coal within the Coal Development 
Potential Areas established in the 2019 RMP amendments/Supplemental 
EISs would be available for further consideration of leasing (No 
Action); (2) the Coal Development Potential Areas would be unavailable 
for leasing (no leasing alternative); and (3) a reduced level of coal 
leasing within the Coal Development Potential Areas. The BLM welcomes 
comments on all preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for 
additional alternatives for either RMP amendment/Supplemental EIS.

Planning Criteria

    The planning criteria guide the planning effort and lay the 
groundwork for effects analysis by identifying the preliminary issues 
and their analytical frameworks. Preliminary issues for the planning 
areas have been identified by BLM personnel and from early engagement 
conducted for these planning efforts with Federal, State, and local 
agencies; Tribes; and other stakeholders.
    The BLM has identified the court ordered preliminary issues and 
analytical frameworks for these planning efforts' analyses. The BLM has 
identified the available coal resource data as part of these framework. 
The BLM requests that industry; State, Tribal, and local governments; 
and the public interested in coal management in the planning areas 
provide the BLM relevant coal resource data that can help inform these 
projects. Specifically, the BLM requests information on the development 
potential (e.g., location, quality, and quantity) of the BLM-
administered coal mineral estate, and on surface resource values 
related to multiple use conflicts and the suitability of the planning 
area for coal development. We will use this information to complete the 
RMP Amendments/Supplemental EISs consistent with 43 CFR 3420.1-4, and 
to formulate alternatives that identify areas acceptable for further 
leasing consideration. We are requesting these data to ensure that 
these planning efforts have sufficient information and data to consider 
a reasonable range of resource uses, management options, and 
alternatives for managing BLM-administered Federal coal mineral estate. 
Proprietary data marked as confidential may be submitted in response to 
this call for coal and other resource information. Please submit all 
proprietary information to the appropriate Field Manager at their 
address listed earlier. The BLM will treat submissions marked as 
``Confidential'' in accordance with the laws and regulations governing 
the confidentiality of such information.
    The planning criteria are available for public review and comment 
at the ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES) for each RMP Amendment/
Supplemental EIS.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    In each RMP Amendment/Supplemental EIS, the BLM will disclose the 
impacts of no-coal leasing and limited-coal leasing alternatives and 
will also disclose the public health impacts, both climate and non-
climate, of burning fossil fuels from the Field Office planning area, 
including both greenhouse and non-greenhouse gas emissions.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with the NEPA and land use planning processes, 
including 90-day comment periods on the Draft RMP Amendments/
Supplemental EISs and concurrent 30-day public protest periods and 60-
day Governor's consistency reviews on the Proposed RMP Amendments/
Supplemental EISs. The Draft RMP Amendments/Supplemental EISs are 
anticipated to be available for public review Winter 2022-2023 and the 
Proposed RMP Amendments/Final EISs are anticipated to be available for 
public protest of the Proposed RMP Amendment Summer 2023 with Approved 
RMP Amendments and Record of Decisions in Fall 2023.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping periods and public 
reviews of the planning criteria, which guide the development and 
analysis of the Draft RMP Amendments/Supplemental EISs.
    The BLM will be holding scoping meetings (see DATES and ADDRESSES 
sections earlier). The date(s) and location(s) of any additional 
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through 
local media,

[[Page 59820]]

newspapers, the ePlanning project pages, and BLM social media.

Cooperating Agencies

    Potential Cooperating Agencies identified by the BLM for the 
Buffalo Field Office RMP Amendment/Supplemental EIS include: the 
Wyoming Office of the Governor; Wyoming Department of Environmental 
Quality; Wyoming Department of Game and Fish; Campbell County, Wyoming; 
Johnson County, Wyoming; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
Region 8; U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Surface 
Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE); and the U.S. DOI Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS).
    Potential Cooperating Agencies identified by the BLM for the Miles 
City Field Office RMP Amendment/Supplemental EIS include: the Montana 
Office of the Governor; Montana Department of Environmental Quality; 
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Montana Fish, 
Wildlife and Parks; Big Horn County, Montana; Rosebud County, Montana; 
EPA Region 8; OSMRE; and USFWS.

Responsible Officials

    The Wyoming State Director is the deciding official for the Buffalo 
planning effort, and the Montana/Dakotas State Director is the deciding 
official for the Miles City planning effort.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The nature of the decisions to be made will be the State Directors' 
selection of land use planning decisions pursuant to these RMP 
amendments 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 
amendments in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following 
disciplines will be involved in these planning efforts: air resources, 
planning, rangeland management, minerals and geology, outdoor 
recreation, archaeology, wildlife and fisheries, lands and realty, 
hydrology, soils, sociology, and economics.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed plan 
amendments and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance 
with 40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not 
already included in the proposed plan amendments or alternatives. 
Mitigation may include avoidance, minimization, rectification, 
reduction or elimination 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 these planning efforts to help support compliance with 
applicable procedural requirements under the Endangered Species Act (16 
U.S.C. 1536) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public 
involvement requirements of Section 106. The information about historic 
and cultural resources and threatened and endangered species within the 
areas potentially affected by the proposed plan amendments will assist 
the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will coordinate and consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a 
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 
13175, BLM MS 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, 
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to 
cultural resources, will be given due consideration. The BLM intends to 
hold a series of government-to-government consultation meetings, and 
will send invites to potentially affected Tribal Nations prior to the 
meetings. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for government-
to-government consultation during the NEPA processes. Federal, State, 
and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and other 
stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
Buffalo and Miles City RMP amendments that the BLM is evaluating, are 
invited to participate in the scoping processes and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate in the development of 
the environmental analyses 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 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2)

Andrew Archuleta,
Wyoming State Director.
Theresa M. Hanley,
Montana/Dakotas Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-21413 Filed 9-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P