Resource Management Planning

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 78 (Friday, April 22, 2016)

Federal Register Volume 81, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2016)

Proposed Rules

Pages 23666-23667

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2016-09439

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Part 1600

LLWO210000.16X.L16100000.PN0000

RIN 1004-AE39

Resource Management Planning

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 25, 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to amend existing regulations that establish the procedures used to prepare, revise, or amend land use plans pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). The proposed rule would enable the BLM to more readily address landscape-scale resource issues, such as wildfire, habitat connectivity, or the demand for renewable and non-renewable energy sources and to respond more effectively to environmental and social changes. The proposed rule would further emphasize the role of science in the planning process and the importance of evaluating the resource, environmental, ecological, social, and economic conditions at the onset of planning. The proposed rule would affirm the important role of other Federal agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, and the public during the planning process, and would enhance opportunities for public involvement and transparency during the preparation of resource management plans. Finally, the proposed rule would make revisions to clarify existing text and use plain language to improve the readability of the planning regulations. This notice extends the public comment period for 30 days beyond the initial comment-period deadline.

DATES: Send your comments on this proposed rule to the BLM on or before May 25, 2016. The BLM need not consider, or include in the administrative record for the final rule, comments that the BLM receives after the close of the comment period or comments delivered to an address other than those listed below (see ADDRESSES).

ADDRESSES: Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 2134 LM, 1849 C St. NW., Washington, DC 20240, Attention: 1004-AE39. Personal or messenger delivery: Bureau of Land Management, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134 LM, Attention: Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20003. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions at this Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leah Baker, Division Chief, Decision Support, Planning and NEPA, at 202-912-7282, for information relating to the BLM's national planning program or the substance of this proposed rule. For information on procedural matters or the rulemaking process, you may contact Charles Yudson at 202-912-7437. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individuals during normal business hours. FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

Page 23667

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comment Procedures

If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of several methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Please make your comments as specific as possible by confining them to issues directly related to the content of the proposed rule, and explain the basis for your comments. The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are:

  1. Those supported by quantitative information or studies; and

  2. Those that include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations.

The BLM is not obligated to consider or include in the Administrative Record for the rule comments received after the close of the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).

Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the address listed under ADDRESSES during regular hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--

may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Background

The proposed rule was published on February 25, 2016 (81 FR 9674), with a 60-day comment period closing on April 25, 2016. Since publication, the BLM has received requests to extend the comment period on the proposed rule. After considering these requests, the BLM determined that it is appropriate to grant the requests to extend the comment period, and the BLM is hereby extending the comment period on the rule for 30 days. The closing date of the extended comment period is May 25, 2016.

Janice M. Schneider,

Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.

FR Doc. 2016-09439 Filed 4-21-16; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 4310-84-P

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