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

This notice cancels and terminates the segregative effect of a proposed land exchange (U-81066) on 15 acres of public land. The 15 acre parcel of public land, located in Washington County, Utah, has been examined and found suitable for classification for lease/ conveyance (U-81083) to the Washington County School District under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended.

Pursuant to section 2(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 1083, 30 U.S.A. 201(b), and to the regulations adopted at 43 CFR 3410, all interested parties are hereby invited to participate with Powder River Coal Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in the following described lands in Campbell County, WY.

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ely Field Office, will be directing the preparation of an EIS and conducting public scoping meetings for the proposed Clark, Lincoln and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from all owners of unpatented mining claims or mill sites who desire to apply for a mineral patent to their mining claim or mill site. The BLM uses the information to determine the right to a mineral patent and to secure a settlement of all disputes concerning the property in order to issue the patent to the rightful owner.

Final regulations for valuing gas produced from Indian leases, published on August 10, 1999, require MMS to determine major portion values and notify industry by publishing the values in the Federal Register. The regulations also require MMS to publish a due date for industry to pay additional royalty based on the major portion value. This notice provides the major portion values for the 12 months of 2003. The due date to pay is May 31, 2005.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2005 season. This final rule prescribes frameworks, or outer limits, for dates when harvesting of birds may occur, species that can be taken, and methods and means that would be excluded from use. These regulations were developed under a co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. These regulations are intended to provide a framework to enable the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking establishes regulations that start on April 2, 2005, and expire on August 31, 2005, for the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska.

This notice announces a panel discussion regarding Published Natural Gas Index PricingA Panel Discussion on Current Issues. The panel will be held on April 26, 2005, in Houston, Texas. The intent of the panel discussion is to bring together some of the leading experts in gas marketing to provide information that will be helpful in answering the following question: Do the published natural gas price indices in the United States now have sufficient liquidity, transparency, and accuracy to truly represent the value of natural gas commodities in today's marketplace? The MMS neither endorses nor opposes possible future use of published natural gas price indices as a basis for natural gas valuation for Federal royalties. This panel is being held in conjunction with the Seventh Annual Industry Awards Program, which honors exceptional mineral revenue reporting, commendable corporate leadership practices, and excellent safety records. Attendance at the panel discussion is free of charge. The cost of the awards program and luncheon is $50, and we encourage you to register and pay online by credit card for the awards program and luncheon. All attendees should register by Friday, April 15, 2005. Information about the event, registration, hotel reservations, and award selection criteria are available at the following Web site: https://www.mms.gov/awards.

Public land near the community of Baileys Harbor, in Door County, Wisconsin, has been examined by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and found suitable for classification for conveyance to Door County under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926, as amended (R&PP Act). The County proposes to acquire and manage the realty as an historic site.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease WYW153236 for lands in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The BLM Las Cruces Field Office is initiating the preparation of an RMPA which will include an EA for potential rerouting of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in Hidalgo and Grant Counties in southwestern New Mexico. The RMPA will allow for selection of an alternate route for the Trail that will consider reducing mileage of the trail and reducing agency costs and timeframes associated with development of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The public is invited to participate in the scoping process to identify issues and planning criteria to be considered in the development of the RMPA/EA. The BLM will maintain a mailing list of parties and persons interested in being kept informed about the RMPA/EA.

This order withdraws 352.55 acres of public land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for a period of 5 years to protect the Hillside Mine Reclamation Project while the Bureau of Land Management completes land use planning for the area.

The American Indian Probate Reform Act requires us to develop an informational notice about the Act and its provisions. The Act also requires us to publish this notice in the Federal Register. This notice fulfills these requirements.

In response to a request, we are extending the comment period for the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on January 26, 2005, concerning the transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights under the provisions of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement, General Management Plan for Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Texas. On February 8, 2005, the Associate Regional Director, Intermountain Region approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the General Management Plan, described as the Preferred Alternative contained in the Final Environmental Impact Statement issued on January 7, 2005. The following course of action will occur under the preferred alternative. The protection of natural and cultural resources will be emphasized throughout the river corridor, as well as providing opportunities for traditional visitor uses. As mandated by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, a permanent boundary for the wild and scenic river is established for protection and management of the outstandingly remarkable values. The National Park Service will negotiate and implement cooperative agreements with nonfederal landowners that specify the rights and responsibilities of the National Park Service and each landowner. A river use plan and resource management plan will be developed for the entire river. The NPS will cooperate with other U.S agencies and the appropriate agencies in Mexico to maintain or enhance water quality and minimum flows in the river. The preferred alternative also recommends to Congress that the upstream segment of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park be designated as part of the Wild and Scenic River. The selected action and one other alternative were analyzed in the draft and final environmental impact statements. A full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed. The full Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a finding of non- impairment of park resources and values, a listing of measures to minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in the planning process.

This notice sets forth the date of the April 16, 2005, meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter the Service or we) proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2005-06 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2005-06 duck hunting seasons, requests proposals from Indian tribes that wish to establish special migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands, and requests proposals for the 2006 spring/summer migratory bird subsistence season in Alaska. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide hunting opportunities for recreation and sustenance, aid Federal, State, and tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds, and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from those persons who submit Form 2520-1 to apply for a desert-land entry to reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate arid and semiarid public lands in the Western United States. The BLM uses this information to determine if the applicant is eligible to make a desert-land entry under the appropriate land entry laws.

This notice advises the public of a correction to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Fork Rancheria's Proposed Trust Acquisition and Hotel/Casino Project, Madera County, California, published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2004 (69 FR 62721), which described the proposed action. The October notice is corrected to include statements concerning project alternatives, which are provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. This notice also re-opens public scoping to identify potential issues, concerns and alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(I). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is contemplating the granting of an exclusive license in the United States to practice the invention embodied in U.S. Patent No. 6,466,009 B1, entitled, ``Flexible Printed Circuit Magnetic Flux Probe.'' The exclusive license is to be granted to Iris Power Engineering having a place of business in Toronto, Canada. Iris Power Engineering is owned by Koch Industries, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas. The patent rights in this invention have been assigned to the United States of America. The prospective exclusive license will be royalty-bearing and will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. While the primary purpose of this notice is to announce Reclamation's intent to grant an exclusive license to practice the above listed patent, it also serves to publish the availability of this patent for licensing in accordance with law. The prospective license may be granted unless Reclamation receives written evidence and argument which establish that the grant of the license would not be consistent with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge are available for review and comment. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, the plan identifies wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Significant issues addressed in the draft plan include: Threatened and endangered species; waterfowl management; neotropical migratory birds; bottomland hardwood restoration; agriculture; visitor services (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation); funding and staffing; cultural resources; land acquisition; and forest and fragmentation. The Service developed four alternatives for managing the refuge and chose Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative. Alternatives

This notice publishes the Samish Indian Nation's Liquor Control Ordinance. The Ordinance regulates and controls the possession, sale and consumption of liquor within land under the jurisdiction of the Samish Indian Nation. The land to which this Ordinance applies is in trust. This Ordinance will increase the ability of the tribal government to control the tribe'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.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Illinois regulatory program (Illinois program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Illinois proposes to revise its regulations about revegetation success standards, to update statutory citations, to correct regulatory citations, and to clarify language in various provisions. Illinois intends to revise its program to clarify ambiguities and to improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the Illinois program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

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