Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices 3181 and in site-specific analyses. To address mitigation. After reviewing the of changes to the management or public comments raised during the comments that the BLM received about modification to the boundaries of 129 supplemental EIS process, the BLM compensatory mitigation, the BLM Areas of Critical Environmental Concern convened a team of biologists and land determined that its environmental (ACECs). By this notice, the BLM is use planners to evaluate scientific analysis supporting the 2019 land use announcing the availability of the Draft literature provided to the agency. The plan amendments was sound. The LUPA/EIS. In order to comply with BLM found that the most up-to-date public has now had substantial Federal regulations, the BLM is also Greater Sage-Grouse science and other opportunities to consider and comment announcing a comment period on information has incrementally on the BLM’s approach to compensatory proposed changes to the ACECs within increased, and built upon, the mitigation at the land use planning the planning area. knowledgebase of Greater Sage-Grouse level, including the approach taken in DATES: To ensure that comments will be management evaluated by the BLM most the 2019 land use plan amendments. considered, the BLM must receive recently in its 2019 land use plan Based on the final supplemental EIS, written comments on the Draft LUPA/ amendments, but does not change the the BLM has determined that its decade- EIS within 90 days following the date scope or direction of the BLM’s long planning and NEPA processes have the Environmental Protection Agency management; however, new science sufficiently addressed Greater Sage- publishes its notice of the Draft LUPA/ does suggest adaptations to management Grouse habitat conservation and no new EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM may be warranted at site-specific scales. land use planning process to consider will announce future meetings and any (3) Cumulative Effects Analysis: The additional alternatives or new other public participation activities at BLM considered cumulative impacts on information is warranted. This least 15 days in advance through public a rangewide basis, organizing that determination is not a new planning notices, news releases, and/or mailings. analysis at the geographic scale of each decision. Instead, it is a determination ADDRESSES: The Desert Plan Western Association of Fish and not to amend the applicable land use Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Amendment Draft LUPA/EIS are plans. Thus, it is not subject to appeal available on the BLM ePlanning project management zone, in order to consider or protest. The BLM’s decision remains impacts at biologically meaningful website at https://go.usa.gov/x7hdj. as identified in the 2019 Approved Click the ‘‘Documents’’ link on the left scales. In the 2019 planning process, the Resource Management Plan Amendment BLM incorporated by reference side of the screen to find the electronic for Greater Sage-Grouse conservation in version of these materials. Hard copies cumulative effects analysis conducted Idaho. in the 2015 planning process and other of the Desert Plan Amendment Draft environmental impact statements. Since (Authority: 40 CFR 1505.2; 40 CFR 1506.6; LUPA and Draft EIS are also available References to the CEQ regulations are to the the nature and context of the cumulative for public inspection at the following regulations in effect prior to September 14, BLM locations: effects scenario has not appreciably 2020. The revised CEQ regulations effective changed since 2015, and the 2015 September 14, 2020, are not cited because California State Office, 2800 Cottage analysis covered the entire range of the this supplemental EIS process began prior to Way, Suite W–1623, Sacramento, CA Greater Sage-Grouse, the BLM’s that date.) 95825; California Desert District Office, 22835 consideration of cumulative effects in John F. Ruhs, the 2015 planning process adequately Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno BLM Idaho State Director. addresses most, if not all, of the Valley, CA 92553; planning decisions made through the [FR Doc. 2021–00662 Filed 1–13–21; 8:45 am] Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow 2019 planning process. BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P Road, Barstow, CA 92311; While the 2019 planning process El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th largely incorporated by reference the Street, El Centro, CA 92243; analysis from the 2015 planning DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Needles Field Office, 1303 S. Highway 95, Needles, CA 92363; process, and updated it where needed to Bureau of Land Management account for current conditions, the 2020 Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. supplemental EIS process elaborated on [(LLCA930000.L13400000.DS0000.21X) Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA this information in greater detail and MO#450014117] 93555; updated the analysis to ensure that the Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Notice of Availability of the Draft BLM appropriately evaluated Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308; and Desert Plan Amendment and Draft cumulative effects at biologically Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Environmental Impact Statement, meaningful scales. Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514. (4) BLM’s Approach to Compensatory California You may submit written comments Mitigation: In the 2019 planning AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, related to the Desert Plan Amendment process, the BLM requested public Interior. by either of the following methods: • Website: https://go.usa.gov/x7hdj. comments on a number of issues, ACTION: Notice of availability. including the BLM’s approach to • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, compensatory mitigation. As part of the SUMMARY: In accordance with the California State Office, Attn: Desert Plan 2015 Approved Resource Management National Environmental Policy Act of Amendment, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite Plan Amendments, the BLM selected a 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land W–1623, Sacramento, CA 95825. net conservation gain standard in its Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: approach to compensatory mitigation, Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Jeremiah Karuzas, Renewable Energy which the 2019 land use plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement Program Manager, telephone: 916–978– amendments modified to align with the (EIS), for an amendment to the 4644, email: [email protected]; address BLM’s 2018 policy on compensatory California Desert Conservation Area Bureau of Land Management, 2800 mitigation. Through the 2020 (CDCA) Plan and the Bakersfield and Cottage Way, W–1623, Sacramento, CA supplemental EIS process, the BLM Bishop Resource Management Plans 95825. Persons who use a requested further comments about the (RMPs). The Desert Plan Amendment telecommunications device for the deaf BLM’s approach to compensatory Draft LUPA/EIS includes consideration (TDD) may call the Federal Relay VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:43 Jan 13, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14JAN1.SGM 14JAN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 3182 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 9 / Thursday, January 14, 2021 / Notices Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to recreational and off-highway vehicle the areas identified as CDNCL by contact Mr. Karuzas during normal access, mining access, and grazing; and approximately 2.2 million acres; and business hours. The FRS is available 24 • The impact that land-use result in an additional 450,000 acres of hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a designations, land-disturbance limits General Public Lands (GPL). Alternative message or question. You will receive a (‘‘disturbance caps’’), and visual- 1 would also modify or eliminate 68 reply during normal business hours. management classifications contained in Conservation Management Actions the plans may have on the deployment (CMAs), which would also change the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In of future communications manner in which disturbance caps are September 2016, the BLM issued a infrastructure. implemented, including elimination of Record of Decision (ROD) for the Desert The BLM used public scoping disturbance caps in CDNCL, as well as Renewable Energy Conservation Plan comments to help identify planning allowing renewable energy development (DRECP) LUPA, which amended the issues to formulate alternatives and in Special Recreation Management CDCA Plan, the Bishop RMP, and the frame the scope of analysis in the Draft Areas (SRMA). Bakersfield RMP in the Mojave and LUPA/EIS. Issues considered in the Alternative 2 would reduce the Colorado/Sonoran Desert regions of Draft LUPA/EIS are management actions number of ACECs to 100, and reduce the southern California. The 2016 ROD was associated with conservation areas, acreage of the ACECs by approximately intended to address the streamlining of biological resources (including special 1.5 million acres; reduce the areas renewable energy development, status species), cultural resources, identified as CDNCL by approximately conservation of desert resources, and to renewable energy, minerals, livestock 2.1 million acres; and result in an support multiple use and recreation on grazing, visual resources, air resources, additional approximate 274,000 acres of the nearly 11 million acres of BLM- water resources, and recreation. The General Public Lands (GPL). Alternative managed public land in the planning LUPA also considers decisions 2 would also modify or eliminate the area. In response to challenges that regarding ACECs, California Desert same 68 CMAs, which would also arose with