[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47900-47901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15684]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_OR_FRN_MO4500170769]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: At the request of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the 
Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 103.92 acres of public 
lands in Douglas County, Oregon, from location and entry under the 
United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral and 
geothermal leasing laws, for a period of 20 years, subject to valid 
existing rights, to protect the unique recreational values as well as 
current and future site improvements at three public recreation sites. 
An additional 21.20 acres of public lands with non-Federal mineral 
interest and 38.50 acres of non-Federal lands, if acquired by the 
United States, would also be subject to the withdrawal. This notice 
segregates these lands for up to 2 years from location or entry under 
the United States mining laws, initiates a 90-day public comment 
period, and announces an opportunity to request a public meeting.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received on 
or before October 23, 2023.

ADDRESSES: All comments and meeting requests should be sent to the BLM 
Oregon/Washington State Director, PO Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208. 
The application and the case file are available for public inspection 
at the Bureau of Land Management, 1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 
97204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Poff, Realty Specialist, BLM 
Oregon/Washington State Office, at 503-808-6001, by email at 
[email protected], or at the address noted above. 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. 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: The BLM filed a petition/application 
requesting the Secretary withdraw the following described public lands 
located in Douglas County, Oregon, from location and entry under the 
United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral and 
geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, to protect 
the unique recreational values as well as current and future site 
improvements at three public recreation sites for a 20-year term:

Iron Mountain Recreation Area

Willamette Meridian, Oregon

T. 31 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 4, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, excepting that portion granted to the 
railroad under the Act of July 25, 1866 (14 Stat. 239).
The area described contains 36.60 acres.

Olalla-Thompson Creek Day Use Area

Willamette Meridian, Oregon

T. 30 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 5, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and N\1/
2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\.
The area described contains 25.00 acres.

Island Creek Recreation Area

Willamette Meridian, Oregon

T. 31 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 1, lot 5, excepting that portion of lot 5 granted to the 
railroad under the Act of July 25, 1866 (14 Stat. 239).
The area described contains 42.32 acres.


[[Page 47901]]


    The following described public lands with non-Federal mineral 
interests, if mineral rights are acquired by United States, will be 
subject to the terms and conditions of this withdrawal as described in 
paragraph 1:

Island Creek Recreation Area

Willamette Meridian, Oregon

T. 30 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 36, those portions of the S\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and 
the S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ lying between the ordinary high-
water mark of the easterly bank of Cow Creek and the southerly 
boundary of the Oregon & California Railroad Grant patent dated May 
6, 1896.
T. 31 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 1, that portion of the NW\1/4\NW\1/4\ lying between the 
ordinary high-water mark of the southwesterly bank of Cow Creek and 
the southerly boundary of the Oregon & California Railroad Grant 
patent dated May 6, 1896.
The areas described aggregate 21.20 acres.

    The following described non-Federal lands, if acquired by the 
United States, will be subject to the terms and conditions of this 
withdrawal as described in paragraph 1:

Island Creek Special Recreation Site

Willamette Meridian, Oregon

T. 30 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 36, S\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/
4\, S\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
excepting those portions of the S\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ and the 
S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ lying between the ordinary high-water 
mark of the easterly bank of Cow Creek and the southerly boundary of 
the Oregon & California Railroad Grant patent dated May 6, 1896.
T. 31 S., R. 7 W.,
    Sec. 1, that portion of lot 5 granted to the railroad under the 
Act of July 25, 1866 (14 Stat. 239), and NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, excepting 
that portion of the NW\1/4\NW\1/4\ lying between the ordinary high-
water mark of the southwesterly bank of Cow Creek and the southerly 
boundary of the Oregon & California Railroad Grant patent dated May 
6, 1896.
The areas described aggregate 38.50 acres.

    The total areas described, including public and non-Federal lands, 
aggregate 163.62 acres. The Secretary approved the BLM's petition/
application. Therefore, the petition/application constitutes a 
withdrawal proposal of the Secretary of the Interior (43 CFR 2310.1-
3(e)).
    The use of a right-of-way, interagency agreement, or cooperative 
agreement would not adequately constrain mineral location and surface 
entry, which could adversely affect ongoing management activities and 
existing and planned capital improvements resulting in land use 
conflicts and irretrievable loss of natural resources. Suitable 
alternative sites are not available because the recreational sites have 
unique values.
    No water is necessary to fulfill the purpose of the proposed 
withdrawal. Records relating to this proposed withdrawal may be 
examined by contacting the BLM at the above address and phone number.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the address indicated above 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 
personally identifying information--may be made publicly available at 
any time. While you may ask the BLM in your comment 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 an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to the State 
Director, BLM Oregon/Washington State Office, at the address in the 
ADDRESSES section, within 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice. If the authorized officer determines that a public meeting will 
be held, a notice of the date, time, and place will be published in the 
Federal Register and local newspapers and posted on the BLM website at 
www.blm.gov at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the meeting.
    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated from location or 
entry under the United States mining laws unless the application is 
denied or cancelled or if the withdrawal is approved prior to that 
date. The temporary uses that may be permitted during this segregation 
period are leases, licenses, permits, rights-of-way, and disposal of 
mineral or vegetative resources other than under the mining laws.
    This withdrawal application will be processed in accordance with 
the regulations set forth at 43 CFR part 2300.

(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1714.)

Barry R. Bushue,
BLM Oregon/Washington State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-15684 Filed 7-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-24-P