Department of the Interior January 7, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces three public meetings of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission. Notice of these meetings is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.2).

Pursuant to the Decision adopted by the 27th Session of the World Heritage Committee (Document: WHC-03/27.COM/7A.12) accepted by the United States Government, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the publication for comment of a Draft Site Progress Report to the World Heritage Committee for Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a competitive coal lease application from Black Butte Coal Company (BBCC) for a maintenance tract adjacent to its existing Black Butte Mine in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. A maintenance tract is a parcel of land containing coal reserves nominated for leasing that may be used to extend an existing mine. This tract, assigned case number WYW160394, is called the Pit 14 Tract and was applied for as a lease by application (LBA) under the provisions of 43 Code of Federal Regulations 3425. Consistent with regulations pertaining to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BLM must prepare an environmental document prior to allowing the coal lease to be sold. Under the provisions of Section 102(2)(c) of NEPA, the BLM announces its intentions to prepare an EIS and to solicit public comments regarding issues and resource information. Consistent with regulations found at 43 CFR 3425, this NOI also serves to notify the public that a coal lease is under consideration.

This order extends Public Land Order No. 6597 for an additional 20-year period. This extension is necessary to continue the protection of the White Mountain Petroglyphs Site in Sweetwater County.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) advises the public that we intend to gather information necessary to prepare a NEPA document and determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) that is being prepared by the Rio Grande Water Conservation District (District) on behalf of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties (five counties). The proposed HCP is being prepared in support of an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The District intends to apply for an ITP, through development and implementation of the San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), as required by the ESA. The HCP will provide measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the proposed actions, which might result in take of federally listed species. We provide this notice to: (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, affected tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare a NEPA document; (2) Announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and (3) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to be considered in the scoping process.

This notice publishes the Forest County Potawatomi Community Liquor Control Ordinance. The Ordinance regulates and controls the possession, sale and consumption of liquor within the Forest County Potawatomi Community. The land is located on trust land and this Ordinance allows for the possession and sale of alcoholic beverages within the Forest County Potawatomi Community and will increase the ability of the tribal government to control the Community's liquor distribution and possession, and at the same time will provide an important source of revenue for the continued operation and strengthening of the tribal government and the delivery of tribal services.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals.