Department of the Interior – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on two petitions to add species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we plan to initiate status reviews of the Temblor legless lizard (Anniella alexanderae) and Santa Ana speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides constructive notice that the decision approving lands for conveyance to Doyon, Limited, published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2009, will be modified to add one trail easement and to modify another trail easement to be reserved to the United States pursuant to Sec. 17(b) of ANCSA.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing a new information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are removing Lepanthes eltoroensis (no common name), an orchid species from Puerto Rico, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants, due to recovery. This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act will no longer apply to this species.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is processing an application for the conveyance of federally owned mineral interests in a 3,548.41-acre parcel of land located in Tooele County, Utah, to the surface owner, US Magnesium LLC.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) are proposing to renew an information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability for public review and comment of the draft recovery plan for the Platanthera integrilabia (white fringeless orchid), a plant listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We request review and comment on the draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine that the beardless chinchweed (Pectis imberbis) is an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, and designate critical habitat. In total, approximately 10,604 acres (4,291 hectares) in Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Acquisition and Property Management are proposing to renew an information collection.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before May 29, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing a new information collection.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issues this request for interest (RFI) to assess interest in, and to invite public comment on, possible commercial wind energy leasing on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. BOEM will consider information received in response to this RFI to determine whether to schedule a competitive lease sale or to issue a noncompetitive lease for any portion of the area described in this RFI (RFI Area). Even if you are not interested in identifying specific acreage for leasing consideration, BOEM is interested in understanding potential opportunities for all types of renewable energy development throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Those interested in leasing within the RFI Area for a commercial wind energy project should provide detailed and specific information described in the section of this RFI entitled ``Required Indication of Interest Information.'' Those interested in providing public comments and information regarding site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the RFI Area should provide information requested in the section of this RFI entitled ``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.'' As a result of this RFI, BOEM may or may not issue a lease for a commercial wind energy project within the RFI Area; a lease is the first step in BOEM's process to review and approve a commercial wind energy project. See the section of this RFI entitled ``BOEM's Planning and Leasing Process.''

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility Project (Project), and by this notice is announcing the opening of a 45-day public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Texas hornshell (Popenaias popeii), a freshwater mussel, under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, the proposed critical habitat designation includes approximately 463.6 river miles (745.9 kilometers) in Eddy County, New Mexico, and in Culberson, Brewster, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, and Webb Counties, Texas. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species' critical habitat. The effect of this regulation is to designate critical habitat for the Texas hornshell under the Act. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat. We also are notifying the public that we have scheduled an informational meeting followed by a public hearing on the proposed rule.

This final rule adjusts the level of civil monetary penalties contained in the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) regulations governing onshore oil and gas operations and coal trespass as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and consistent with applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. The oil and gas operations penalty adjustments made by this final rule constitute the 2021 annual inflation adjustments, accounting for 1 year of inflation spanning the period from October 2019 through October 2020. The coal trespass inflation adjustments in this rule include the initial ``catch-up'' adjustment for 2016, and the annual adjustments for years 2017 to 2021.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is publishing this notice to announce that a Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will take place.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information collection.

The McClure Archives and University Museum, University of Central Missouri, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meet the definition of an object of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the McClure Archives and University Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The University of California, Berkeley, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and objects of cultural patrimony, respectively. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the University of California, Berkeley. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area (Metroparks Toledo) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to Metroparks Toledo. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is issuing a public notice of its intent to rescind one Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) Privacy Act system of records notice, INTERIOR/WBR-45, Equipment, Supply, and Service Contracts. This system was superseded by two Department-wide system of records notices; however, it was never formally rescinded. This rescindment will eliminate an unnecessary duplicate notice and promote the overall streamlining and management of DOI Privacy Act systems of records.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office (NMSO), Santa Fe, New Mexico (NM), intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the environmental impacts associated with SunZia's application seeking to amend its right-of-way grant for the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project. Proposed amendments to SunZia's right-of-way grant may require plan amendments to the Socorro Field Office Resource Management Plan, the Las Cruces District Mimbres Resource Management Plan, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, and the Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, which the agencies will analyze in the EIS. BLM NMSO is the lead agency for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (FS), National Park Service (NPS), and other agencies serving as cooperating agencies. This Notice initiates the scoping process and opens a 30-day public comment period to solicit public comments and identify issues.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list Tiehm's buckwheat (Eriogonum tiehmii) as an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Service has determined, after a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, that the petitioned action to list Tiehm's buckwheat, a plant species native to Nevada in the United States, is warranted. The Service, therefore, will promptly publish a proposed rule to list Tiehm's buckwheat under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from California Ridge Wind Energy, LLC (applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), for its California Ridge Wind Farm (project). If approved, the ITP would authorize the incidental take of four bat species. The applicant has prepared a habitat conservation plan, which is also available for review. We also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment, which has been prepared in response to the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We request public comment on the application and associated documents.