Department of the Interior March 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes regulations that would authorize the nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walrus during year-round oil and gas industry (Industry) exploration, development, and production operations in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska. Industry operations for the covered period are similar to, and include all activities covered by the previous 16-month Beaufort Sea incidental take regulations that were effective from November 28, 2003, through March 28, 2005 (68 FR 66744; November 28, 2003). We are proposing that this rule be effective for 5 years from date of issuance. We propose a finding that the total expected takings of polar bear and Pacific walrus during oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities will have a negligible impact on these species and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of these species for subsistence use by Alaska Natives. We base this finding on the results of 12 years of data on the encounters and interactions between polar bears, Pacific walrus, and Industry; recent studies of potential effects of Industry on these species; and oil spill risk assessments using oil spill trajectory models, polar bear density models, potential and documented Industry impacts on these species, and models to determine the likelihood of impacts to polar bears should an accidental oil release occur. We are seeking public comments on this proposed rule.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) Science Technical Group (STG) will meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer for sale Federally owned parcels of land in Elko and Eureka Counties, Nevada, aggregating approximately 4061.68 acres, more or less. These parcels range in size from 40 acres to 663.34 acres. The sale will be conducted in Elko, Nevada, on July 12, 2006, in accordance with competitive bidding procedures.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act that a meeting of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House will be held at the White House at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2006.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge are available for distribution. The plan was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and describes how these refuges will be managed for the next 15 years.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City Field Office, announces the temporary closure of selected public lands under its administration in Lyon, Storey, Churchill, Carson, Douglas, Mineral, Washoe, and Nye Counties. By agreement with the Ely and Battle Mountain Field Offices the Tonopah Field Station and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, those lands affected by the Vegas to Reno OHV Race in Lincoln, Nye and Esmeralda Counties are included in this closure. This action is taken to provide for public and participant safety and to protect adjacent natural and cultural resources during the conduct of permitted special recreation events.

This notice is to inform the public that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to temporarily close an un-maintained, dirt- surfaced vehicle route in the Sonoran Desert National Monument to all travel by motor vehicles. The vehicle route affected by this temporary closure traverses public lands in T. 4 S., R. 2 W., sections 26, 27, and 35, and T. 5 S., R. 2 W., sections 2, 11, and 12 (Gila and Salt River Meridian) and is approximately 4.4 miles in length. The following persons, operating within the scope of their official duties, are exempt from the provisions of this closure: Employees of the BLM, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and local and Federal law enforcement and fire protection personnel. Access by additional parties may be allowed, but must be approved in advance in writing by the Sonoran Desert National Monument Manager. Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this closure may be subject to penalties outlined in 43 CFR 8360.0-7.

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 King Island Native Corporation. The lands are located in Tps. 6, 7, 8, and 10 S., R. 37 W., Tps. 6, 7, 8, and 9 S., R. 38 W., Tps. 6, 8 and 10 S., R. 39 W., Kateel River Meridian, in the vicinity of King Island, Alaska, and contains 32,324.88 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Nome Nugget.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability of the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project (Reintroduction Project) 5-Year Review under the authority of section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The 5- Year Review was conducted by the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Adaptive Management Oversight Committee (AMOC). The 5-Year Review and public comment will inform our decision to continue, continue with modification, or terminate the Reintroduction Project. This 5-Year Review should not be confused with status reviews (also called 5-year reviews) conducted under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. This 5-year program evaluation of the Reintroduction Project is conducted pursuant to a 1998 section 10(j) final rule.

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 part 3410, all interested qualified parties, as provided in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to participate with PacifiCorp on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America immediately west of the Deer Creek Mine state lease (ML-48258) in the Mill Fork West Area, in the following-described lands of Emery County, Utah:

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) management policies, the BLM announces approval of the West Mojave (WEMO) Plan and Record of Decision (ROD). The approved WEMO Plan/ROD amends the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan by providing management direction for approximately 3.3 million acres of public lands administered by the BLM's California Desert District, located in Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino Counties in southern California. Approval of the WEMO Plan/ROD terminates all interim measures identified in the Consent Decree in Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. BLM (C-00-0927 WHA (JCS)) with regard to the West Mojave Planning area.

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

Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App), this notice announces a meeting of the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG). The TAMWG affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council. Primary objectives of the meeting will include: 2006 flow schedule; Trinity River Restoration Program science framework; Trinity River Restoration Program strategic plan; Federal tribal trust responsibilities; Exceedence criteria for water-year-type forecasting; Trinity River fishing regulations; request for special appropriation to complete floodplain preparations; reports from work groups; Executive director's report; education outreach; travel expense reimbursement; and Election of TAMWG officers. Completion of the agenda is dependent on the amount of time each item takes. The meeting could end early if the agenda has been completed. The meeting is open to the public.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) for review and approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under ``30 CFR 256, Subparts J and K, and 30 CFR 250, Subpart J,'' and related documents. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

This notice sets forth the date of the April 29, 2006 meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that 2,808.67 acres of isolated public lands in Grand County, Utah, are suitable for lease pursuant to section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (90 Stat. 2762; 43 U.S.C. 1732) using noncompetitive (direct) lease procedures.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Draft Conservation Agreement for the Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) for public review and comment.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended) and the implementing regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service has prepared, and the Regional Director, Pacific West Region has approved, the Record of Decision for the Fire Management Plan for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The formal no-action period was officially initiated December 23, 2005, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of the filing of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Decision: As soon as practicable the park will begin to implement as its updated Fire Management Plan the ``Mechanical Fuel Reduction/ Ecological Prescribed Fire/Strategic Fuels Treatment'' alternative (also described and analyzed as the Preferred Alternative (2)) contained in the Draft and Final EIS. The selected plan provides the maximum potential environmental benefits and minimizes adverse effects of fire management activities. Alternative 2 is the most flexible alternative, utilizing all available fire management strategies deemed to be appropriate for the mediterranean type conditions found in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. As documented in the EIS, this plan was also deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative. This course of action and three alternatives were identified and analyzed in the Final EIS, and previously in the Draft EIS (the latter was distributed in June 2004). The full spectrum of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures identified, for each alternative. Beginning with early scoping, through the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, numerous public meetings were conducted (in Thousand Oaks, Malibu, Los Angeles, Agoura Hills, Calabasas) and newsletter updates were regularly provided. Approximately 25 written comments responding to the Draft EIS were received and duly considered. Key consultations which aided in preparing the Draft and Final EIS involved (but were not limited to) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Historic Preservation Office, native American Tribes, air quality management districts, adjoining land managing agencies, and U.S. Geological Survey. Local communities, county and city officials, and interested organizations were contacted extensively during initial scoping and throughout the fire planning process. Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of Decision may obtain a complete copy by contacting the Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and 401 West Hillcrest Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-4223 or via telephone request at (805) 370-2300.