[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28974-28975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10298]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[19XL.LLIDB03000.LF3100000.DF0000.LFHFFR650000.241A.4500136018]
Notice of Availability for the Tri-State Fuel Breaks Project
Record of Decision, Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Idaho BLM portion
of the Tri-state Fuel Breaks Project Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
ADDRESSES: Interested persons may review the ROD and accompanying
background documents on the project website: https://go.usa.gov/xPruu.
Copies of the ROD are available upon request from the BLM Boise
District Office, 3948 S Development Ave., Boise, Idaho.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lance Okeson, Project Lead, 208-384-
3300; 3948 South Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705;
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours.
FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message
or a question with the above individual. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Tri-state Fuel Breaks Project envisions
a strategic fuel break network along established roads over a 3.6
million-acre project area spanning southeastern Oregon and southwestern
Idaho crossing district and state boundaries and connecting to an
existing network of fuel breaks in the BLM's Winnemucca and Elko
Districts in Nevada. Strategically placed fuel breaks in the Tri-state
area will improve firefighter safety and expand opportunities to catch
rapidly moving fires, potentially reducing fire size. Fuel breaks will
provide greater protection of human life
[[Page 28975]]
and property, sagebrush communities, and habitat restoration
investments. Reducing fire size will help limit the expansion of
invasive plants such as cheatgrass and medusahead.
This ROD approves implementation of the preferred alternative
(Alternative 5 of the FEIS) in Idaho. The BLM Boise District will
create and maintain a fuel break network of 20,629 acres along 435
miles of roads through mechanical, chemical, and/or biological (i.e.,
targeted grazing) treatments. BLM Oregon will issue a decision for
their portion of the project at a future date.
The BLM published the Draft EIS on October 11, 2019, initiating a
45-day public comment period. During the comment period, the BLM
received 40 letters and emails from the public and held three public
meetings. The BLM took into account all comments in the preparation of
the Final EIS released on April 3, 2020.
The BLM published the NOA for the Final EIS on April 3, 2020,
initiating a 30-day availability period. On May 7, 2020, Department of
the Interior Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals
Management Casey Hammond signed a Record of Decision selecting the
preferred alternative (Alternative 5) for implementation in the Idaho
portion of the project area using a phased approach to prioritize well-
maintained and strategically connected routes. That approval
constitutes the final decision of the Department and, in accordance
with the regulations at 43 CFR 4.410, is not subject to appeal under
Departmental regulations found in 43 CFR part 4. Any challenge to this
decision must be brought in the Federal District Court and is subject
to 42 U.S.C. 4370m-6.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
Casey Hammond,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Exercising the authority of the
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2020-10298 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
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