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

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Denali National Park and Preserve. The document describes and analyzes the environmental impacts of a preferred alternative and one action alternative for expanding visitor facilities and access opportunities in the south Denali region. A no action alternative also is evaluated. This notice announces the 60-day public comment period and solicits comments on the draft plan and EIS.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a Notice of Decision and Availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The refuge is located in the Gulf of Maine watershed, which extends along the entire coast of Maine. The Final EIS presents a thorough analysis of environmental, social, and economic considerations. The CCP and EIS were released to the public for 30 days after the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on July 15, 2005 (70 FR 135). The ROD documents the selection of Alternative B (the Service-preferred alternative) in the Final EIS, which is represented by the Final CCP for the refuge. The ROD was signed by the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, on August 24, 2005.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 5- year review of the red wolf (Canis rufus), Appalachian elktoe (Alasmidonta raveneliana), Cumberland elktoe (Alasmidonta atropurpurea), Cumberland monkeyface (Quadrula intermedia), Cumberlandian combshell (Epioblasma brevidens), green blossom (Epioblasma torulosa gubernaculum), oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis), tubercled blossom (Epioblasma torulosa torulosa), turgid blossom (Epioblasma turgidula), yellow blossom (Epioblasma florentina florentina), painted snake coiled forest snail (Anguispira picta), dwarf-flowered heartleaf (Hexastylis naniflora), Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii), and seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus) under section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The purpose of reviews conducted under this section of the Act is to ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12) is accurate. The 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review.

The Nature Conservancy (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival Permit Associated with proposed restoration activities for the Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as amended (Act). This permit application includes a draft Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) between the Applicant and the Service. The proposed SHA and permit would become effective upon signature of the SHA and issuance of the permit and would remain in effect for 15 years. We are requesting comments on the permit application and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed SHA qualifies as a categorical exclusion (516 DM 6 Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. Further, the Service is specifically soliciting information regarding the adequacy of the SHA as measured against the Service's Safe Harbor Policy and the implementing regulations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease or conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act approximately 82.81 acres of public land in Nye County, Nevada. The Nye County School District proposes to use the land for school site purposes.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received an application from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Applicant) for an enhancement of survival permit (ESP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as amended (Act). The Applicant proposes to implement conservation measures for the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus sistrurus catenatus) by removing the threats to the survival and protecting and managing its habitat within the Rome State Nature Preserve. The Service announces receipt of the ESP application as well as the availability of a proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) intended to facilitate the implementation of conservation measures for the species by the Applicant. Compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed action was addressed in an Environmental Assessment (EA) approved July 26, 2005. A copy of the final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is available at: https://www.fws.gov/midwest/NEPA.

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

Pursuant to Public Act 106-503, the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC) will hold its eleventh meeting. The meeting location is the Courtyard Seattle Downtown /Lake Union, 925 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98109. The Committee is comprised of members from academia, industry, and State government. The Committee shall advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on matters relating to the USGS's participation in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. The Committee will review the overall direction of the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program in the current and next fiscal years with particular focus on the Program's activities in the Pacific Northwest. Meetings of the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee are open to the public.

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 WYW146280 from Gulf Exploration LLC for lands in Converse 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.

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 WYW144552 from Chris S. Glade for lands in Natrona 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.

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), the lessees, Headington Oil, Limited Partnership, Upton Resources U.S.A., Inc., Northern Energy Corporation, and W.H. Champion, timely filed petitions for reinstatement of oil and gas leases NDM 85983, NDM 85987, NDM 85992, NDM 85998, and NDM 92293, Billings County, North Dakota. The lessees paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination, February 1, 2005. No leases were issued that affect these lands. The lessees agree to new lease terms for rentals and royalties of $10 per acre and 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate for each lease. The lessees paid the $500 administration fee for the reinstatement of each lease and $155 cost for publishing this Notice. The lessees met the requirements for reinstatement of the leases per Sec. 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188). We are proposing to reinstate the leases, effective the date of termination, February 1, 2005, subject to: The original terms and conditions of each lease; The increased rental of $10 per acre for each lease; The increased royalty of 16\2/3\ percent or 4 percentages above the existing competitive royalty rate for each lease; and The $155 cost of publishing this Notice.

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 WYW146283 from Gulf Exploration LLC for lands in Converse 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.

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 WYW157569 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing, Inc. for lands in Hot Springs 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.

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 WYW159200 from EOG Resources Inc. for lands in Fremont 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 Service is requesting comments on the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) criteria for awarding conservation grants to States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Territories of Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and American Samoa (all hereafter referred to collectively as States). Comments are requested on a change in the funding cap for States and a revision of the national Review Team Ranking Criteria Guidance.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period for the proposed rule to establish, under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), an experimental population of northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) into their historic habitat in southern New Mexico and Arizona. We are providing this notice to allow all interested parties to comment on the proposed reintroduction and the draft environmental assessment (notice of which published in the Federal Register on February 9, 2005). We are also announcing the availability of a draft monitoring plan for the reintroduction of the northern aplomado falcon for public comment. We will hold two public hearings (see DATES and ADDRESSES sections). Through this notice and the public hearings, we are seeking comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, Tribes, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning the proposed experimental population and draft monitoring plan.

We are announcing receipt of revisions pertaining to a previously proposed amendment to the Colorado abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan (hereinafter, the ``Colorado plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Colorado proposes revisions about: Project selection criteria; selection of project alternatives; requirements for authorization to proceed; evaluation of project benefits; incorporation of the ``Common Rule'' in the procedures for financial management and accounting; interaction with the Colorado State Forest Service; and minor editorial revisions. Colorado intends to revise its plan to meet the requirements of the corresponding Federal regulations, to provide additional safeguards, and to clarify ambiguities.

The following applicants have applied for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.).

The following applicants have applied for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.), as amended (Act). This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting nominations for ten membership positions on the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area Advisory Council. The Council advises the Secretary and the BLM on resource management issues associated with the McInnis Canyons NCA and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, we are inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The new title for this ICR is ``30 CFR Part 216Production Accounting, Subpart AGeneral Provisions, and Subpart BOil and Gas, General; and Part 210Forms and Reports (Forms MMS-4054, Oil and Gas Operations Report, and MMS-4058, Production Allocation Schedule Report).'' The previous title was ``30 CFR Part 216, Production Accounting, Subparts A and B; and Part 210Forms and Reports.''

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Rota bridled white-eye (Zosterops rotensis) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 3,958 acres (ac) (1,602 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation on the island of Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

This notice amends the Notice of Realty Action for Competitive Sale of Public Lands in Clark County, Nevada; Termination of Recreation and Public Purposes Classification and Segregation; Withdrawal of the formerly classified lands by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act printed in the Federal Register: Vol. 70, No. 159 Thursday, August 18, 2005. The number of parcels being offered for sale is corrected to read, 87 parcels. This sale includes parcel N-78217 which was omitted from the original notice. Under the section entitled DATES, the correct acres for the proposed SNPLMA sale in the Las Vegas Valley is 3,197.00 acres. Under the section entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, the following corrections are made: The first sentence after the legal descriptions is corrected to read ``87 parcels''. In the first and second sentences after the legal descriptions, all references to the North Las Vegas ``parcel'' should read ``parcels'', and the second sentence is to also include (N-78217 and N-79580). In the second full paragraph after the legal descriptions, regarding BLM reservation/conveyance of the mineral interests, N-78217 is added to the parcels referenced. Under the section entitled ``Terms and Conditions of Sale'', the following corrections are made: No. 7. should read, ``Unless otherwise stated herein, maps delineating the individual proposed sale parcels and current appraisals for each parcel are available for public review at the BLM LVFO.'' No. 8. (a), should read, ``Parcels N-78217 and N-79580 will be put up for purchase and sale together at the oral auction. A sealed bid for these parcels will not be accepted. If these parcels are not sold at the oral auction, they will not be offered later on an online Internet auction.'' No. 11., the last sentence should read, ``For parcels N-78217 and N-79580, arrangements may be made for Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) of the required, combined 20 percent deposit for both parcels by notifying BLM no later than October 31, 2005 of your intent to use EFT.'' No. 14., second sentence should read, ``For parcels N-78217 and N- 79580 each prospective bidder will be required to present a certified check, postal money order, bank draft, or cashier's check made payable in U.S. dollars to the Bureau of Land Management for an amount of money which shall be no less than 20 percent of the combined federally approved FMV for both designated parcels, in order to be eligible to bid on them.'' Under the section entitled ``Additional Information'', the following corrections are made: Paragraph one, the second sentence should read, ``Unsold parcels, with the exception of parcels N-78217 and N-79580, may be offered for sale in a future online Internet auction.'' Paragraph three should read, ``Parcel N-78217. Potential bidders for parcels N-78217 and N-79580 should be aware of the content of a document entitled, ``A Conservation Agreement for the Management of Special Resources on the Bureau of Land Management Parcels Nominated for Disposal by the City of North Las Vegas'' entered into by BLM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nevada Division of Forestry and the City of North Las Vegas (the ``Conservation Agreement''). Under the Conservation Agreement, BLM retains ownership of approximately 300 acres partially surrounded by parcel N-78217 for protection and preservation of certain special plant and paleontological resources. BLM makes no warranty or representation that this Conservation Agreement is the full extent of federal or state requirements that may impact parcel N-78217.