Notice2022-21413
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
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Published
October 3, 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, 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 190 (Monday, October 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 190 (Monday, October 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59818-59820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21413]
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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.
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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, 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:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021239/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021239/510</a>.
<bullet> 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
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021239/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021239/510</a> 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:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov">https://eplanning.blm.gov</a> (search for DOI-BLM-MT-
2022-0086-RMP-EIS).
<bullet> 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
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov">https://eplanning.blm.gov</a> (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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f3b2d2623233c0f2d232261282039"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2551474c494956654749480b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#751c1b141b061019351719185b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f66616e617c6a634f6d636221686079">[email protected]</span></a>. 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
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