Notice2022-15388
Notice of Intent To Amend Colorado Resource Management Plans Regarding Big Game Conservation and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement
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Published
July 19, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
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 State Director intends to prepare a statewide Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the public scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues and is providing the planning criteria for public review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43050-43053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15388]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOSO93300.L16100000.LXLUBGWC0000.DO0000.22X]
Notice of Intent To Amend Colorado Resource Management Plans
Regarding Big Game Conservation and Prepare an Associated Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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 State Director intends to prepare a statewide Resource
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment with an associated Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the
public scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues
and is providing the planning criteria for public review.
[[Page 43051]]
DATES: The BLM requests the public submit comments concerning the scope
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information and studies by September 2, 2022. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider issues raised by commenters in the Draft RMP/
EIS, please ensure your comments are received prior to the close of the
45-day scoping period. 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: <a href="https://go.usa.gov/xzXxY">https://go.usa.gov/xzXxY</a>.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to this RMP amendment for
big game conservation by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://go.usa.gov/xzXxY">https://go.usa.gov/xzXxY</a>
<bullet> Mail: BLM Colorado State Office, Attn: Big Game Corridor
Amendment/EIS, 2850 Youngfield St., Lakewood, CO 80215
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at <a href="https://go.usa.gov/xzXxY">https://go.usa.gov/xzXxY</a> and at the planning initiative electronically via the
ePlanning website and at all BLM District Offices and Field Offices
throughout Colorado and the Colorado State Office at the address above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Bittner, Deputy State Director--
Resources, telephone 303-239-3768; at the mailing address above; or
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8faf4f5e7fbf7e7dbd7cacad1dcd7cacbe7c8d4d9d6d6d1d6dff8dad4d596dfd7ce"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="07454b4a58444858646875756e6368757458776b6669696e696047656b6a29606871">[email protected]</span></a>. Contact Mr. Bittner to have
your name added to the 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. 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 State Director intends to prepare an RMP amendment with an
associated EIS for big game habitat conservation, announces the
beginning of the scoping process, and seeks public input on relevant
issues and planning criteria. The RMP amendment is being considered to
evaluate oil and gas program and other management decisions across
existing BLM Colorado RMPs to promote conservation of big game
corridors and other important big game habitat on BLM-administered land
and minerals in Colorado.
This RMP Amendment may amend existing BLM RMPs in Colorado, except
the following three plans may not be amended because minerals are
withdrawn: Browns Canyon National Monument, Dominguez-Escalante
National Conservation Area, and McInnis Canyons National Conservation
Area. The planning area includes all 64 counties in Colorado and
encompasses approximately 8.3 million acres of BLM-managed surface land
and approximately 27 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 all BLM public lands and
approximately 4.6 million acres of split-estate private, local
government, and state lands. It does not include National Forest System
land and other Federal land where BLM does not make planning decisions
about oil and gas management or other uses. The BLM typically adopts
the requirements determined by those Federal surface-managing agencies
when leasing the associated mineral estate; while such lands are within
the planning area, they are outside the decision area for this RMP
Amendment process. In Colorado, the BLM currently manages 4,712 Federal
oil and gas leases totaling 3.7 million acres.
The scope of this land use planning process does not include
addressing the evaluation or designation of areas of critical
environmental concern (ACECs) and the BLM is not considering ACEC
nominations as part of this process.
Purpose and Need
The BLM is initiating this land use planning process under the
authority of Section 202 of FLPMA, in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and
their implementing regulations, for the preliminary purpose of
evaluating alternative management approaches for the BLM planning
decisions to maintain, conserve, and protect big game corridors and
other important big game habitat areas on BLM-managed public lands and
minerals in Colorado. This action is needed to ensure that the BLM
considers current big game population and habitat data, including maps
of high priority habitat, and to evaluate management consistency with
plans or policies and programs of other Federal agencies, State and
local governments, and Tribes, to the extent consistent with Federal
laws, regulations, policies and programs applicable to public lands.
The BLM also has a need for the development of this RMP amendment to
comply with terms of the settlement agreement for State of Colorado v.
Bureau of Land Management, 1:21-cv-00129 (D. Colo.).
The BLM may refine the preliminary purpose and need for the action
based on comments or data received during the scoping period and
further review of its own resource information.
Preliminary Alternatives
BLM Colorado contains millions of acres of important big game
habitat. Among other threats, high density surface disturbing
activities associated with oil and gas development can interfere with
movement across the landscape. The BLM will propose and analyze, with
the best available scientific methods and information, alternatives for
planning-scale oil and gas management prescriptions for the
conservation of important big game habitat. The BLM has found that
existing BLM land use plans in Colorado may be inconsistent with other
plans for management of big game corridors and important habitat.
Recognizing the State's responsibility to conserve and manage big game
species for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of the people of Colorado,
BLM will consider at least one alternative that would adopt State
agency recommendations to avoid and minimize impacts from oil and gas
leasing and development to big game high priority habitat.
The BLM will consider whether to incorporate new or changed oil and
gas management decisions in existing land use plans, such as limits on
high-density development, including facility and route density
limitations, and other lease stipulations that would incorporate
conservation measures for important big game habitat areas in Colorado.
These may include moderate constraints, such as timing limitations and
controlled surface use restrictions, and major constraints such as no
surface occupancy restrictions. The BLM also may consider closure of
areas to future oil and gas leasing as part of the plan amendment. The
BLM will consider new decisions pertinent to all BLM surface land and
subsurface mineral estate, subject to valid existing rights. Planning
decisions under the action alternatives could affect future oil and gas
leasing; development of existing leases would be required to conform to
the objectives of new planning decisions to the extent consistent with
the applicable lease terms.
The BLM will consider new resource management planning decisions
related to important habitat areas for the following big game species
consistent with Secretarial Order 3362, specifically
[[Page 43052]]
for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. Important habitat areas for these
species may include migration corridors, severe winter range, winter
concentration areas, concentration areas, and production areas, along
with other habitat components necessary to support herd viability. The
BLM does not anticipate considering new planning decisions for bighorn
sheep habitat, which primarily occurs at higher elevations with low oil
and gas potential.
The public is invited to comment on information for the preliminary
alternatives, including information about the relationships among oil
and gas management, big game habitat management, and other public land
resources and uses. This information will inform the range of BLM's
alternatives in the EIS. The BLM seeks information related to all high-
density activities and public land uses that may cause disturbance to
important big game habitat and will consider that information as
appropriate in determining if additional land use planning decisions
are appropriate to incorporate into the scope of the alternatives for
this planning effort.
Planning Criteria
The planning criteria guide the planning effort and support effects
analysis by helping the agency refine the planning 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):
<bullet> The RMP Amendment and associated environmental analysis
will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and other Federal
laws, Executive Orders, regulations, and management policies of the
BLM;
<bullet> All existing land use plan decisions that are not affected
by the amendment will remain in effect after issuance of the Record of
Decision;
<bullet> The RMP Amendment may be limited to land use planning
decisions specific to oil and gas management as they relate to the
conservation of big game species including mule deer, elk, and
pronghorn, and their important habitats. Important habitats may include
migration corridors, severe winter range, winter concentration areas,
concentration areas, and production areas;
<bullet> The BLM will consider the adequacy of big-game
conservation measures in existing land use plans;
<bullet> The analysis in the EIS for the RMP Amendment will
consider the effects of the alternatives together with the effects of
past and reasonably foreseeable disturbance to big-game habitat;
<bullet> The BLM will strive for consistency with plans or policies
and programs of other Federal agencies, State and Local governments,
and Tribes, to the extent those plans, policies, and programs are
consistent with the Federal laws, regulations, policies, and programs
applicable to public lands;
<bullet> The BLM will endeavor to use current scientific
information (including inventory and monitoring data) and technologies
to determine appropriate management strategies to protect and conserve
important habitat;
<bullet> Lands within the decision area for the RMP Amendment will
be BLM-managed public lands and split-estate lands with Federal
minerals; and
<bullet> The RMP Amendment will not diminish valid existing rights.
Summary of Expected Impacts
BLM personnel have identified the following potential effects to be
examined during the planning process: effects of potential oil and gas
leasing and development and related infrastructure on big game species
and habitat; and effects of alternative oil and gas restrictions on
biological, physical, and heritage resources, resource uses, and social
and economic conditions. Affected resources may include big game and
other wildlife, air quality, climate, oil and gas, and lands with
special designations. The BLM is accepting public input on these issues
during the scoping period, consistent with 43 CFR 1610.4-1. The EIS
will describe the environment of the planning area that could be
affected by the alternatives under consideration and will evaluate
reasonably foreseeable impacts from potential oil and gas leasing and
future development, and potential restrictions on leasing and
development activities in important big game habitat.
The public is invited to comment on information and analyses
relevant to the proposed action, including information about the
relationships among oil and gas management, big game habitat
management, and other public land resources and uses. This information
will inform the scope of BLM's impact analysis in the EIS. The BLM
seeks information related to all high-density activities and public
land uses that may cause disturbance to important big game 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 two
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 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
spring of 2023 and the Proposed RMP Amendment/Final EIS is anticipated
to be available for public protest of the Proposed RMP Amendment in
early 2024 with an Approved RMP Amendment and Record of Decision in
summer of 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
four public scoping meetings, which may be conducted through online
platforms to explain project details and obtain feedback.
Representatives from BLM 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 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.
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
[[Page 43053]]
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 this
planning effort.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision to be made will be the State Director's
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 that incorporates
the expertise of specialists in relevant resource fields such as
wildlife biology, fluid minerals, geographic information systems, and
land use planning to consider the resource issues and concerns
identified during development of the RMP Amendment.
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 over time, and compensation; it 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 planning effort to help support compliance with
applicable procedural requirements of the Endangered Species Act (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 associated with 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,
Acting BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-15388 Filed 7-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
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