Notice2024-30357
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Tri-State Fuel Breaks Project
Primary source
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Published
December 20, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Tri-state Fuel Breaks Project located in southeastern Oregon. The ROD constitutes the decision of the BLM.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 245 (Friday, December 20, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104202-104203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30357]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[PO4820000251]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Tri-
State Fuel Breaks Project
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) for the Tri-state Fuel Breaks Project located in
southeastern Oregon. The ROD constitutes the decision of the BLM.
DATES: The ROD was signed on December 13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The ROD is available online at <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2034234/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2034234/510</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larisa Bogardus, Public Affairs
Specialist, telephone (541) 523-1407; address 100 Oregon Street Vale,
OR 97918; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82eee0ede5e3f0e6f7f1c2e0eeeface5edf4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3559575a525447514046755759581b525a43">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 has determined that the analysis
contained within the FEIS is adequate to reach an informed decision
regarding implementation of the Project in Oregon. The BLM selects
Alternative 5, with minor route segments selected from other
alternatives as described in the FEIS, for construction and maintenance
of approximately 26,585 acres of fuel breaks, along approximately 552
miles of roads and within approximately 332 miles of the roadbed
through mechanical, chemical, and/or biological (i.e., targeted
grazing) treatments on BLM-administered lands in Oregon. Alternative 5
was developed in response to public comments. Individually,
Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 each primarily benefit a single resource.
Alternative 5 blends elements of Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 to provide a
strategic benefit to firefighters while minimizing disturbance to
natural and cultural resources. A phased implementation of actions will
occur to provide opportunity to review treatment
[[Page 104203]]
effectiveness and adapt subsequent implementation actions and will also
provide an opportunity for additional coordination with Oregon
Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) prior to fuel break construction
along less-traveled roads. During the first phase, the BLM will focus
on well-traveled routes in order to further enhance the knowledge base
on successful treatment timing and techniques, ecological impacts of
treatments, and adaptive management responses. Treatments and methods
in Oregon will be the same as those identified and analyzed in the
FEIS. Up to four new mineral material sites will be developed as the
first phase of fuel break development is nearing completion.
All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from
the Project that were analyzed in the FEIS have been adopted in this
decision and are included as appendices. Design features provide
implementation timing restrictions and other protections to minimize
impacts to wildlife. These features include buffers for sensitive plant
occurrences from non-native seeded species, mechanical treatment
avoidance buffers to protect riparian resources, and treatment buffers
no more than 200 feet from either side of centerline along roads to
conform to the 2024 Southeastern Oregon Resource Management Plan
Amendment, which established 250-foot setbacks for Wilderness Study
Areas.
The Project includes a robust monitoring and adaptive management
plan to manage invasive annual species and noxious weeds within fuel
breaks, collect ecological trend data to provide information on the
ecological effects of vegetative treatments, and outline appropriate
management responses. The Project also includes management direction
and required design features from the 2015 Oregon Greater Sage-grouse
Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment, as described in Appendix 3
to the ROD. A programmatic agreement (Appendix 4 to the ROD) describes
how BLM will meet its responsibilities under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act and avoid or minimize adverse
impacts to cultural resources during Project implementation and
maintenance.
There have been no changes made to the selected alternative between
the publication of the FEIS and the ROD.
The Department of the Interior has approved the BLM's decision.
Approval of the Record of Decision therefore constitutes the final
decision of the Department of the Interior and is not subject to appeal
under Departmental regulations at 43 CFR part 4.
Barry R. Bushue,
BLM Oregon/Washington State Director.
[FR Doc. 2024-30357 Filed 12-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-24-P
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