From: Subject: FR Doc E7-13993 Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:30:44 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-13993.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-13993 
[Federal Register: July 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 138)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 39638-39640]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jy07-64]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-039-1610-DO-059E]

=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare Resource Management Plans and=20
Associated Environmental Impact Statements for the North Dakota and=20
South Dakota Field Offices, North Dakota and South Dakota

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) North Dakota Field Office=20
(NDFO) and South Dakota Field Office (SDFO) intend to prepare Resource=20
Management Plans with associated Environmental Impact Statements (RMP/
EIS) for the NDFO and SDFO planning areas. These RMPs will replace the=20
current North Dakota and South Dakota RMPs.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Formal scoping=20
will end 60 days after publication of this notice; however,=20
collaboration with the public will continue throughout the process.=20
Comments on issues and planning criteria can be submitted in writing to=20
the address listed below. All public meetings will be announced through=20
the local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site: (http:=
//frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&=
log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.mt.blm.gov/ndfo/rmp and http:=
//frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&=
log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.mt.blm.gov/sdfo/rmp ) at least=20

15 days prior to the event. The minutes and list of attendees for each=20
meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days to any=20
participant who wishes to clarify the views they expressed.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent or faxed to: John Hartley,=20
BLM RMP Project Manager, BLM North Dakota Field Office, 99 23rd Avenue=20
West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601; Fax--(701) 227-7701; or BLM South=20
Dakota Field Office, 310 Roundup Street, Belle Fourche, SD 57717; Fax--
(605) 892-7015. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at=20
either the NDFO or SDFO. Respondents' comments, including their names=20
and street addresses, will be available for public review at the NDFO=20
and SDFO during regular business hours from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,=20
Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of=20
the RMP/EIS. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail=20
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you=20
should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal=20
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time.=20
While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal=20
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we=20
will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations and=20
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as=20
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be=20
available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20
your name added to our mailing list, contact John Hartley, North Dakota=20
Field Office, at (701) 227-7700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM's North Dakota (ND) RMP/EIS=20
incorporates a planning area administered by the NDFO located in=20
Dickinson, ND. The land area to be covered under the ND RMP/EIS is=20
approximately 58,500 surface acres of public lands and approximately=20
4.1 million subsurface acres of federal minerals in North Dakota. The=20
bulk of this mineral acreage is federal coal reserve only. Additional=20
acres are federal oil and gas reserves only; and the remaining acres=20
are made up of all minerals, coal and oil and gas only, and other=20
combinations. The focus of the NDFO has been mineral management on=20
split estate lands (fee surface/federal minerals).
    The BLM's South Dakota (SD) RMP/EIS incorporates a planning area=20
administered by the SDFO located in Belle Fourche, SD. The land area to=20
be covered under the SD RMP/EIS is approximately 278,000 subsurface=20
acres of BLM-administered public land located in the western part of=20
the state in Brule, Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Harding,=20
Jackson, Lawrence, Lyman, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, and Stanley=20
Counties. There are also approximately 1.6 million subsurface acres of=20
federal minerals in South Dakota.
    The RMP/EIS revisions to be prepared for the public lands=20
administered by the NDFO and SDFO will identify goals, objectives,=20
standards, and guidelines for management of a variety of resources and=20
values. The scope of the RMP/EISs will be comprehensive. The plans will=20
specify actions, constraints, and general management practices=20
necessary to achieve desired conditions. The plans will also identify=20
any areas requiring special management such as Areas of Critical=20
Environmental Concern. Certain existing standards and guidelines and=20
other BLM plans/plan amendments will be incorporated into the RMP/EISs.

[[Page 39639]]

    The plans will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the=20
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and=20
Management Act (FLPMA), the National Energy Policy Act of 2005, and all=20
other related acts, laws, and regulations associated with land=20
management planning and BLM management policies. The BLM will work=20
collaboratively with the public, local and State governments, and=20
Tribal governments to identify the management decisions that are best=20
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The public=20
scoping process will identify planning issues and develop planning=20
criteria, including evaluation of the existing RMPs in the context of=20
the needs and interests of the public.
    The BLM's decision to begin a new planning effort for the public=20
lands in the NDFO and SDFO is based on public and agency need for=20
revised management guidance to address changing issues. Each RMP/EIS=20
will describe and analyze a range of alternatives, including the No=20
Action alternative (continued management) and a number of action=20
alternatives that will describe options for addressing the major=20
issues. Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified=20
by BLM personnel, other agencies, and individuals and user groups. The=20
major issues that will be addressed in the development of both RMPs/
EISs include the following:
    1. Energy development--the significant amount of oil and gas and=20
coal leasing, exploration, and development throughout North Dakota and=20
increasing oil and gas leasing interest in South Dakota;
    2. Wildland-Urban Interface--increase in recreational demand for=20
BLM public lands and increasing development adjoining BLM public lands;
    3. Management of vegetation;
    4. Management of wildlife;
    5. Conservation and recovery of special status species;
    6. Travel management and access to public lands;
    7. Availability and management of public lands for commercial uses;=20
and
    8. Land tenure adjustments.
    After gathering public comments on what issues the plans should=20
address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of three=20
categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plans;
    2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;=20
or
    3. Issues that are beyond the scope of the plans.
    Rationale will be provided for each issue placed in categories two=20
or three. In addition to determining these major issues, the BLM will=20
address a number of management questions and concerns in the plans. The=20
public is encouraged to help identify these questions and concerns=20
during the scoping phase.
    The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to consider the=20
variety of resource issues and concerns identified. Disciplines=20
involved in the planning process will include specialists with=20
expertise in minerals and geology, forestry, range, fire and fuels,=20
outdoor recreation, archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and fisheries,=20
lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology, environmental justice,=20
and economics.
    The following planning criteria have been proposed to guide=20
development of the plans, avoid unnecessary data collection and=20
analyses, and to ensure the plan is tailored to the issues. Other=20
criteria may be identified during the public scoping process. After=20
gathering comments on planning criteria, the BLM will finalize the=20
criteria and provide feedback to the public on the criteria to be used=20
throughout the planning process.
     The RMPs/EISs will recognize valid existing rights.
     Planning decisions will only apply to surface lands and=20
subsurface lands managed by the BLM.
     The ND RMP/EIS will incorporate by reference the EIS Coal=20
Lease ND RMP/Amendment (October 1990); Big Horn Sheep ND RMP=20
Environmental Assessment (EA)/Amendment (July 1991); Standards for=20
Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for=20
Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota (August 1997); Off-Highway=20
Vehicle EIS and Plan Amendment for Montana and the Dakotas (June 2003);=20
and the Fire/Fuels Management Plan EA/Plan Amendment for Montana and=20
the Dakotas (September 2003).
     The SD RMP/EIS will incorporate by reference the Oil and=20
Gas RMP/EIS Amendment Miles City District Final EIS (February 1994);=20
Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing=20
Management for Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota (August 1997);=20
Off-Highway Vehicle EIS and Plan Amendment for Montana and the Dakotas=20
(June 2003); and the Fire/Fuels Management Plan EA/Plan Amendment for=20
Montana and the Dakotas (September 2003).
     Decisions in the plans will strive to be compatible with=20
the existing plans and policies of affected local, state, and federal=20
agencies as long as the decisions are consistent with the purposes,=20
policies, and programs of federal law, and with regulations applicable=20
to public lands.
     The RMPs/EISs will recognize states' responsibilities and=20
authorities to manage wildlife. The BLM will consult with the ND Game=20
and Fish Department and the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks, as=20
necessary.
     The BLM and cooperating agencies/governments will jointly=20
develop alternatives for resolution of resource management issues.
     The State Historic Preservation Offices will be consulted=20
and involved throughout the RMP/EIS process.
     Each RMP/EIS will emphasize the protection and enhancement=20
of the planning areas' biodiversity while, at the same time, provide=20
the public with opportunities for compatible activities on public=20
lands.
     Lands acquired by the BLM will be managed in the manner=20
the RMPs/EISs prescribe for adjacent public land, subject to any=20
constraints associated with the acquisition.
     The RMPs/EISs will provide management direction for lands=20
returned to BLM management through revocation of withdrawals. The plans=20
will also address lands acquired through other means.
     Lands already identified for disposal will be reviewed to=20
ensure disposal is in the best interest of the public.
     The National Sage Grouse Strategy requires that impacts to=20
sagebrush habitat and sagebrush-dependent wildlife species (including=20
sage grouse) be analyzed and considered in these RMPs/EISs due to the=20
presence of sage grouse/sagebrush habitats in the planning area.
     Forest management strategies will be consistent with the=20
Healthy Forests Restoration Act and the Tribal Forest Protection Act,=20
where appropriate.
     Fire management strategies will be consistent with the:=20
2001 Federal Wildland Fire Policy, National Fire Plan; Fire/Fuels=20
Management Plan for Montana and Dakotas; Prescribed Fire Planning and=20
Implementation Procedures Reference Guide, and other relevant policies.
     Geographic Information System (GIS) and metadata=20
information will meet Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)=20
standards, as required by E.O. 12906 of April 11, 1994.
     All proposed management actions will be based upon best=20
available scientific information, research and technology, as well as=20
existing inventory and monitoring information.
     The RMPs/EISs will include adaptive management criteria=20
and protocol to deal with future issues.

[[Page 39640]]

     The RMPs/EISs will incorporate Best Management Practices=20
for surface disturbing activities associated with BLM-authorized=20
activities on federal oil and gas leases.

Gene R. Terland,
State Director, Montana State Office.
[FR Doc. E7-13993 Filed 7-18-07; 8:45 am]