National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council, 23942-23943 [06-3870]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 25, 2006 / Notices
Dated: April 20, 2006.
Jayson P. Ahern,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field
Operations.
[FR Doc. E6–6188 Filed 4–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Recovery Plan for Two Plants
From Rota (Nesogenes rotensis and
Osmoxylon mariannense)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability
for review and comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, announce the
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan
for Two Plants from Rota (Nesogenes
rotensis and Osmoxylon mariannense)
(no common names) for public review
and comment.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery
plan must be received on or before June
26, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery
plan are available by request from the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific
Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300
Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3–122, Box
50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850
(telephone: 808–792–9400). An
electronic copy of the draft recovery
plan is also available at: https://
endangered.fws.gov/recovery/
index.html#plans.
SUMMARY:
The
Field Supervisor, at the above Pacific
Islands Fish and Wildlife Office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Background
Restoring endangered or threatened
animals and plants to the point where
they are again secure, self-sustaining
members of their ecosystems is a
primary goal of our endangered species
program. The Endangered Species Act
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) requires
the development of recovery plans for
listed species unless such a plan would
not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Recovery plans help
guide the recovery effort by describing
actions considered necessary for the
conservation of the species, establishing
criteria for downlisting or delisting
listed species, and estimating time and
cost for implementing the measures
needed for recovery.
Section 4(f) of the ESA requires that
public notice, and an opportunity for
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public review and comment, be
provided during recovery plan
development. We will consider all
information presented during the public
comment period prior to approval of
each new or revised recovery plan.
Substantive comments on the recovery
needs of the species or other aspects of
recovery plan development may result
in changes to the recovery plan.
Substantive comments regarding
recovery plan implementation may not
necessarily result in changes to the
recovery plan, but will be forwarded to
appropriate Federal or other entities so
that they can take these comments into
account during the course of
implementing recovery actions.
Individual responses to comments will
not be provided.
Nesogenes rotensis and Osmoxylon
mariannense are found only on the
island of Rota in the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Both species were federally listed as
endangered in 2004 (69 FR 18499), and
O. mariannense is also protected by the
government of the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).
Currently, there are 2 known
populations of N. rotensis consisting of
15 to 20 plants each. There are 10
known individuals of O. mariannense
scattered through the Sabana (the
cloudswept plateau that dominates the
western half of Rota), including 2
individuals outplanted from past
controlled propagation efforts.
Nesogenes rotensis is found on
exposed, raised limestone flats in nonforested strand habitat. Osmoxylon
mariannense is found in limestone
forests on the Sabana, a raised plateau
unique in the Mariana archipelago, that
are often shrouded in clouds and mist.
Human activities are believed to be
the primary factors leading to the small
population sizes and limited
distribution of Nesogenes rotensis and
Osmoxylon mariannense, and include:
agriculture, ranching, non-native plant
and animal introductions, resort and
beach park development in the coastal
habitat of N. rotensis, and road
construction and maintenance in the
Sabana habitat of O. mariannense. In
the last decade, several major typhoons
have made landfall on Rota, severely
impacting individuals of both species.
Another factor that may affect the
recovery of these two species is their
vulnerability to extinction from reduced
reproductive vigor due to their small
population sizes.
The objective of this recovery plan is
to restore and maintain multiple
naturally reproducing populations of
Nesogenes rotensis and Osmoxylon
mariannense on the island of Rota. The
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draft recovery plan for these two plants
focuses on the following actions: (1)
Coordinating and monitoring recovery
efforts; (2) addressing factors affecting
viability of the wild populations; (3)
monitoring N. rotensis and O.
mariannense populations, establishing
new populations, and augmenting
existing populations; and (4) providing
educational informational opportunities
to build public support for conservation.
Public Comments Solicited
We solicit written comments on the
draft recovery plan described. All
comments received by the date specified
above will be considered in the
finalization of this plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16
U.S.C. 1533 (f).
Dated: February 17, 2006.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E6–6143 Filed 4–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Geological Survey
National Earthquake Prediction
Evaluation Council
U.S. Geological Survey,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Public Law 96–
472, the National Earthquake Prediction
Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold a
meeting. The meeting location is the
U.S. Geological Survey, Building 3,
Conference Room C, 345 Middlefield
Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025. The
Committee is comprised of members
from academia and the Federal
government. The Committee shall
advise the Director of the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) on proposed
earthquake predictions, on the
completeness and scientific validity of
the available data related to earthquake
predictions, and on related matters as
assigned by the Director.
The Committee, which was recently
reconstituted following a period of
dormancy, will review past findings
rendered by the NEPEC and by the
California Earthquake Prediction
Evaluation Council. They will also
discuss recent trends in earthquake
research that bear on the predictability
of earthquake occurrence.
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 25, 2006 / Notices
Meetings of the National Earthquake
Prediction Evaluation Council are open
to the public.
DATES: May 4, 2006, commencing at 1
p.m. and adjourning at 4 p.m. on May
5, 2006.
Contact: Dr. Michael Blanpied, U.S.
Geological Survey, MS 905, 12201
Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia
20192, (703) 648–6696,
mblanpied@usgs.gov.
Dated: April 17, 2006.
Peter T. Lyttle,
Acting Associate Director for Geology.
[FR Doc. 06–3870 Filed 4–24–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311–AM–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT–920–1320–EL, UTU–81893]
Notice of Availability of the
Environmental Assessments,
Determination of NEPA Adequacy, and
Public Hearing for Coal Lease
Application UTU–81893, Utah
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the
Kenilworth Tract Coal Lease By
Application UTU–81893 and Federal
Coal Notice of Public Hearing, and
Request for Environmental Assessment,
Determination of NEPA Adequacy,
Maximum Economic Recovery and Fair
Market Value Comments.
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AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 Code of
Federal Regulation (CFR) 3425.4, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Utah State Office, held a public meeting
on March 30, 2006 on the
environmental assessment and
Documentation of NEPA Adequacy
(DNA), the proposed sale and requests
public comment on the fair market
value of the certain coal resources it
proposes to offer for competitive lease
sale. The EA/DNA analyzes and
discloses direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental impacts of
issuing a Federal coal lease
competitively for 1,760.00 acres in
Carbon County, Utah. The purpose of
the public hearing was to solicit
comments from the public on (1) the
proposal to issue a Federal coal lease;
(2) the proposed competitive lease sale;
(3) the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the
Federal coal; and (4) Maximum
Economic Recovery (MER) of the
Federal coal included in the tract.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
October 24, 2004 Andelex Resources,
Inc. applied for a Federal coal lease. The
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Federal tract was assigned case number
UTU–81893. The lands included in the
delineated Federal coal lease tract
(‘‘Kenilworth’’) are located
approximately eight miles northeast of
Helper, Utah on private lands with
federally administered minerals and are
described as follows:
T. 12 S., R. 10 E., SLM, Carbon County,
Utah
sec. 26, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4;
sec. 27, S1⁄2;
sec. 34, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4,
S1⁄2.
sec. 35, NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, S1⁄2;
Containing approximately 1,760.00
acres in Carbon County, Utah.
The Kenilworth coal tract has one or
more minable coal beds. The minable
portions of the Castlegate A coal bed in
this area are around six to twelve feet
in thickness. The Castlegate A bed
contains more than 16.3 million tons of
recoverable high-volatile A bituminous
coal. The Kenilworth coal bed may be
recoverable but further analysis will be
required though. The coal quality in the
Castlegate A coal bed on an ‘‘as received
basis’’ is as follows: 13,060 Btu/lb., 2.92
percent moisture, 7.61 percent ash,
41.82 percent volatile matter, 47.83
percent fixed carbon and 0.41 percent
sulfur.
BLM requests public comment on the
fair market value and environmental
effects of this tract. The BLM signed a
Decision Notice/ Finding of No
Significant Impact dated February 10,
2006 that discusses the environmental
effects of mining this tract. The Notice
of Decision was posted in the Price
Field Office and the Utah State Office
on February 10, 2006. Comments should
address, but not necessarily be limited
to the following information.
1. The quality of the coal resource;
2. The mining methods or methods
which would achieve maximum
economic recovery of the coal,
including specifications of seams to be
mined and the most desirable timing
and rate of production;
3. Whether this tract is likely to be
mined as part of an existing mine and
therefore should be evaluated on a
realistic incremental basis, in relation to
the existing mine to which it has the
greatest value;
4. Whether the tract should be
evaluated as part of a potential larger
mining unit and revaluated as a portion
of a new potential mine (i.e., a tract
which does not in itself form a logical
mining unit);
5. Restrictions to mining that may
affect coal recovery;
6. The price that the mined coal
would bring when sold;
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23943
7. Costs, including mining and
reclamation, of producing the coal and
the time of production;
8. The percentage rate at which
anticipated income streams should be
discounted, either with inflation or in
the absence of inflation, in which case
the anticipated rate of inflation should
be given;
9. Depreciation, depletion,
amortization and other tax accounting
factors;
10. The value of any surface estate
where held privately;
11. Documented information on the
terms and conditions of recent and
similar coal land transactions in the
lease sale area;
12. Any comparable sales data of
similar coal lands; and coal quantities
and the FMV of the coal developed by
BLM may or may not change as a result
of comments received from the public
and changes in the market conditions
between now and when final economic
evaluations are completed.
DATES: The public hearing was held at
7 p.m. on Thursday March 30, 2006 in
the Price Field Office, 125 South 600
West, Price, Utah 84501 where copies of
the EA/DNA are available for inspection
or copies provided upon request. If the
public wishes to have an additional
meeting on the subject, please submit a
request in writing to the Utah State
Director, Bureau of Land Management,
Utah State Office, Division of Lands and
Minerals, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake
City, Utah 84145.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Steve Rigby, Mining Engineer at the
Price Field Office address above or by
telephone at 435–636–3604. Written
comments on the Fair Market Value and
Maximum Economic Recovery should
be addressed to James F. Kohler, and
must be received by June 1, 2006 ,
Bureau of Land Management, Utah State
Office, Division of Lands and Minerals,
P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah
84145. As provided in 43 CFR 3422.1(a),
proprietary data marked as confidential
may be submitted to the Bureau of Land
Management in response to this
solicitation of public comments. Data so
marked shall be treated in accordance
with the laws and regulations governing
confidentiality of such information. A
copy of the comments submitted by the
public on FMV and MER, except those
portions identified as proprietary by the
author and meeting exemptions stated
in the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA), will be available for public
inspection at the BLM, Utah State Office
during the regular business hours (7:45
a.m.–4:30 p.m.) Monday through Friday.
If you wish to withhold your name or
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23942-23943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3870]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. Geological Survey
National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Public Law 96-472, the National Earthquake
Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold a meeting. The meeting
location is the U.S. Geological Survey, Building 3, Conference Room C,
345 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025. The Committee is comprised
of members from academia and the Federal government. The Committee
shall advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on
proposed earthquake predictions, on the completeness and scientific
validity of the available data related to earthquake predictions, and
on related matters as assigned by the Director.
The Committee, which was recently reconstituted following a period
of dormancy, will review past findings rendered by the NEPEC and by the
California Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council. They will also
discuss recent trends in earthquake research that bear on the
predictability of earthquake occurrence.
[[Page 23943]]
Meetings of the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council
are open to the public.
DATES: May 4, 2006, commencing at 1 p.m. and adjourning at 4 p.m. on
May 5, 2006.
Contact: Dr. Michael Blanpied, U.S. Geological Survey, MS 905,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, (703) 648-6696,
mblanpied@usgs.gov.
Dated: April 17, 2006.
Peter T. Lyttle,
Acting Associate Director for Geology.
[FR Doc. 06-3870 Filed 4-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-AM-M
