Department of the Interior March 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) will meet to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). The meeting is open to the public.

This notice announces that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act is soliciting comments on the Financial Assistance and Social Service program application forms in order to renew the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance. This information collection request is cleared under OMB control number 1076-0017 and expires on July 31, 2005.

The MMS prepared an EA for Plains Exploration and Production Company's Platform Hillhouse-to-Shore Submarine Power Cable Repair Project and issued a FONSI pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. We provide this notice pursuant to section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), CEQ NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1502.9[c][1]), and Public Resources Code, sections 21000-21177 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15088.5 of the CEQA Guidelines, the Bureau of Reclamation the lead Federal agency, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a cooperating Federal agency, and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), the lead State agency, have made available for public review and comment a Draft SEIS/REIR for the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project (Restoration Project). The notice of availability of the original joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report) (Draft EIS/ EIR) and notice of public workshop and notice of public hearing was published in the Federal Register on Friday July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42758). Numerous comments addressing a wide range of issues were received on the Draft EIS/EIR, with some warranting circulation of supplemental/revised information to the original joint environmental document. The Draft SEIS/REIR will disclose a new environmental analysis and propose mitigation regarding the increased risk of fish disease infection at private aquaculture facilities through the increase of naturally-spawning Battle Creek salmon and steelhead species under the Restoration Project. In addition, the Draft SEIS/REIR will disclose the potentially significant environmental effects of spreading certain harmful fish diseases from Battle Creek via private trout aquaculture operations that transfer trout from facilities in the Project Area to other State waters. The Draft SEIS/REIR will also disclose information regarding the 8 Dam Removal alternative and its dismissal from further consideration.

The Minerals Management Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of structure-removal activities on the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The activities analyzed in the EA include vessel and equipment mobilization, structure preparation, nonexplosive- and explosive-severance activities, post-severance lifting and salvage, and site-clearance verification. The impact-producing factors of structure removals considered in the EA include seafloor disturbances, air emissions and water discharges, pressure and acoustic energy from explosive detonations, and space-use conflicts with other OCS users.

The Bureau of Reclamation is canceling plans to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) on the AB Lateral Hydropower Project. The hydropower project planned to use existing facilities of the Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project and would have been located in Montrose County, Colorado. The reason for canceling is that the project proponents, including the Uncompahgre Valley Water User's Association, have elected not to pursue approval of the project at this time.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), two meetings of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), Nevada, will be held as indicated below. Topics for discussion at the meetings will include, but are not limited to: Manager's reports of current field office activities; RAC subcommittee reports on guidelines for wild horse management; Carson City Field Office Energy RMP Amendment/DEIS; Churchill County RMP Amendment/EA; Pine Nut Mountain RMP Amendment/DEIS; Granite-Fox Power Plant Project; Coer-Rochester Mine Plan/DEIS; BLM-Nevada Draft OHV Route Inventory & Designation Strategy; Winnemucca RMP/DEIS; Winnemucca Field Office Wildfire Support Group; Sierra Front Recreation Coalition Map; and additional topics the council may raise during the meetings.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (1976) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (1972), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG) will meet in Pinedale, Wyoming, for a business meeting. Group meetings are open to the public.