Department of the Interior February 21, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Environmental Defense, Inc. (ED) (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The requested permit, which is for a period of 30 years, would authorize the Applicant to issue certificates of inclusion under a Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) to private landowners who would voluntarily agree to carry out habitat improvements for the Texas ocelot subspecies (Leopardus pardalis albescens). We invite the public to review and comment on the permit application and the associated draft SHA.

The purpose of this notice is to solicit public nominations for the position representing the Public Interest (previously listed as Public at Large) on the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The Board provides advice concerning management, protection, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on the public lands administered by the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, and the Department of Agriculture, through the Forest Service.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Prineville District Office, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the John Day Basin, and by this notice is announcing public scoping meetings. The RMP will amend or replace certain decisions within the John Day RMP (1985) and the portions of the Two Rivers RMP (1986) and Baker RMP (1989) that guide the management of public lands located in the Planning Area.

Pursuant to section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ely Field Office, will be directing the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) and conducting public scoping meetings for the proposed Toquop Energy Power Project, which is a coal-fired electric power generating plant and associated ancillary facilities. BLM has received right-of-way applicants for this project from Toquop Energy Inc. The EIS will assess the potential impacts of a right-of-way for a proposed coal-fired facility and a new railroad line to transport coal to the facility. The Toquop Energy Power Project was previously analyzed in a March 2003 EIS as an 1100 MW gas-fired electric generating facility. Use of an alternative fuel such as coal was eliminated from the 2003 EIS and never analyzed due to economics and other factors at the time.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides notice that it will offer two parcels of public lands located in Rio Grande and Conejos Counties, Colorado, for sale at not less than their respective appraised fair market values. The Del Norte Field Manager has determined that because Parcel 1 has no legal access via any public road and is surrounded by private lands, it will be offered for sale only to the current adjoining landowners under modified competitive sale procedures. The La Jara Field Manager has determined that Parcel 2 has legal access via a public road and will be sold individually under competitive sale procedures open to any person or entity qualified to bid. Sales of both parcels will be by sealed bid only.

This notice terminates the existing classification for 80.00 acres of public land that was classified as suitable for disposal through exchange under section 8 of the Taylor Grazing Act (43 U.S.C. 315g) and opens the land to operation of the public land laws and location and entry under the mining laws, subject to the existing laws, rules, and regulations applicable to public lands administered by the BLM. The land has been and will remain open to mineral leasing.

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 Mary's Igloo Native Corporation. The lands are located in T. 2 S., R. 29 W., and T. 5 S., R. 30 W., Kateel River Meridian, Alaska, in the vicinity of Mary's Igloo, Alaska, and containing 7,758.50 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Nome Nugget.

New Way Investments, Inc. has submitted an application for a recordable disclaimer of interest pursuant to section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1745), and the regulations contained in 43 CFR Part 1864. A recordable disclaimer, if issued, will confirm that the United States has no valid interest in the subject lands. This notice is intended to inform the public of the pending application.