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

Under the provisions of Public Law 97-451, Philip Rice timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease TXNM 107329 for lands in Wise County, Texas, and it was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from December 1, 2004, the date of termination.

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.C. 201(b), and to the regulations adopted as 43 CFR 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to participate with Ark Land 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 Muddy Canyon Area in the following-described lands of Sanpete and Sevier Counties, Utah:

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.

Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Subpart 8364, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intentions to temporarily close certain BLM-administered public lands to all types of motor vehicle use during the period of time the Buffalo Field Office develops, completes, and approves a management plan for recently acquired lands. These lands are hereafter referred to as ``Welch Management Area.'' This temporary closure is needed to protect public lands and resources from the effects of unauthorized use and motorized vehicle use of existing roads and two-track trails that were present when the land was transferred to the United States Government.

This notice advises the public that the fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region, intends to gather information necessary to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations. 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, plans identify wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following: 1. Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and 2. Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental document.

In accordance with the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act (Steens Act) of 2000, Public Law 106-399, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and the Steens Mountain Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

The following applicants have applied for scientific research permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to add six refuges to the list of areas open for hunting and/or sport fishing programs and increase the activities available at seven other refuges. We also propose to implement pertinent refuge-specific regulations for those activities and amend certain regulations on other refuges that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing for the 2005-2006 season.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is giving public notice that we will be requesting extension of four currently approved information collections. The collections are: 1076-0096, Education Contracts under JOM Act Applications and Regulatory Requirements, 25 CFR 273.50; 1076-0114, Application for admission to Haskell Indian Nations University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute; 1076-0122, Data Elements for Student Enrollment in Bureau-Funded Schools; and 1076-0134, Student Transportation Form, subpart G, 25 CFR part 39. These collections help support the educational efforts for Native American students from elementary through post-secondary levels. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for 30 CFR 872, Abandoned mine reclamation funds has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and reauthorization. The information collection package was previously approved and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0054. This notice describes the nature of the information collection activity and the expected burden and cost.

On August 17, 2005, the MMS will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in Western GOM Oil and Gas Lease Sale 196, pursuant to the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, as amended), and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR part 256). The Final Notice of Sale 196 Package (FNOS 196 Package) contains information essential to bidders, and bidders are charged with the knowledge of the documents contained in the Package.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 5- year review of black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on black-footed ferret and pallid sturgeon that has become available since their original listings as endangered species. Based on the results of this 5-year review, we will make the requisite findings under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the ESA.

The State of Alaska has filed an application for a recordable disclaimer of interest from the United States in certain lands underlying the Chilkoot River and Chilkoot Lake.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Teller Native Corporation. The lands are located in U.S. Survey No. 8892, T. 4 S., R 36 W., T. 5 S. R. 37 W., and T. 5 S., R. 40 W., Kateel River Meridian, in the vicinity of Teller, Alaska, and contain 6,596.51 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Nome Nugget.

Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permit application includes a proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (Agreement) between the CDOW and the Service. The Agreement, the permit application, and the Environmental Assessment are available for public comment. The purpose of the Agreement is for the CDOW and the Service to implement conservation measures for the Gunnison sage-grouse in 15 counties in southwestern Colorado. The effort is in support of the CDOW's ongoing efforts to enhance the abundance and distribution of the Gunnison sage-grouse throughout its historic range in Colorado. The conservation measures would be implemented by the CDOW and by participating landowners. The selected conservation measures would primarily come from the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Rangewide Conservation Plan, which was completed in April 2005 by numerous cooperating agencies and nongovernmental organizations. Consistent with the Service's Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances Final Policy (64 FR 32726, June 17,1999), the Agreement is intended to facilitate the conservation of Gunnison sage-grouse by giving the State of Colorado and cooperating private landowners incentives to implement conservation measures. Participating Landowners would receive regulatory certainty concerning land use restrictions that might otherwise apply should the Gunnison sage-grouse become listed under the ESA. Participating Landowners with eligible property in southwestern Colorado could sign up under the Agreement and the associated permit through a Certificate of Inclusion. The proposed term of the Agreement and the permit is 20 years. The Service has prepared an Environmental Assessment for approval of the Agreement and issuance of the permit. The environmental assessment considers the biological, environmental, and socioeconomic effects of the proposed Agreement and permit. The assessment also evaluates two alternatives to the Agreement and permit, and their potential impacts on the environment. We request comments from the public on the permit application, Agreement, and Environmental Assessment. All comments we receive, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 5- year review of the endangered Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus), Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus), northeaster bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus), and the threatened Chittenango ovate amber snail (Novisuccinea chittenangoensis), and Virginia round-leaf birch (Betula uber) under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species is accurate. A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information on the Virginia northern flying squirrel, Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel, and northeastern bulrush that has become available since their original listings as endangered species in 1985 (50 FR 26999-27002), 1967 (32 FR 4001), and 1991 (56 FR 21091-21096), respectively. In addition, we are requesting submission of any such information on the Chittenango ovate amber snail that has become available since its listing as a threatened species in 1978 (43 FR 28932-28935), and on the Virginia round-leaf birch, which was originally listed as endangered in 1978 (43 FR 17910-17916) and reclassified as threatened in 1994 (59 FR 59173-59177). Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make the requisite findings under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the ESA.

This rule designates areas where personal watercraft (PWC) may be used in Fire Island National Seashore, New York. This rule implements the provisions of the National Park Service (NPS) general regulations authorizing parks to allow the use of PWC by promulgating a special regulation. The NPS Management Policies 2001 require individual parks to determine whether PWC use is appropriate for a specific park area based on an evaluation of that area's enabling legislation, resources and values, other visitor uses, and overall management objectives.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day administrative finding on a petition to list the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find the petition presents substantial information indicating that listing the American eel may be warranted. We are initiating a status review to determine if listing the species is warranted. To ensure that the review is comprehensive, we are soliciting information and data regarding this species.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment: Certification Summary Form and Reporting Summary Form for Acreage Limitation, 43 CFR part 426 and 43 CFR part 428, OMB Control Number: 1006-0006. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the North Dakota regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``North Dakota program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). North Dakota proposes revisions to rules which reduce notice requirements associated with bond release applications. North Dakota intends to revise its program to improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the North Dakota 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 following permits were issued.

This notice announces a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force Research Committee. This meeting is open to the pubic. The meeting topics are identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.