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

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is commencing work under the National Environmental Policy Act on an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Northwest Area Water Supply Project (NAWS Project), a Federal reclamation project, located in North Dakota. This NOI is being published to describe the proposed action, the purpose of and need for that proposal, the scope of the EIS, and to solicit public comments during a formal scoping period. Reclamation is initiating a formal scoping period of 60 days following publication of this NOI. Reclamation invites all interested parties to submit written comments or suggestions related to the significant issues, potential impacts and reasonable alternatives to the proposed action during the scoping period. Reclamation will provide a separate project information document that outlines EIS actions, timelines, and public involvement opportunities to all interested parties. The project information document will contain details related to this action that will assist the interested public in providing comments during the scoping period.

The proposal for the collection of information listed below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of the proposed information collection form may be obtained by contacting the Board's Director at the phone number listed below. Comments and suggestions on the requirement should be made directly to the Office of Management and Budget. A copy of the comments and suggestions should also be sent to the Board's Director.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from the general public interested in obtaining free vegetative or mineral material from public lands. BLM uses Form 5510-1, Free Use Application and Permit (Vegetative or Mineral Materials) to collect this information. This information allows BLM to properly manage and accurately track the disposal of these materials.

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 any person, association, corporation, subsidiary, or affiliate interested in leasing or developing Federal coal. The BLM uses the information to determine if the applicant is qualified to hold a Federal coal lease.

Under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Rawlins Field Office, announces its intent to prepare an EIS on the potential impacts of a proposed natural gas development project consisting primarily of conventional natural gas well development with some coalbed natural gas wells. In April 2005, Devon Energy Corporation (Devon), representing itself and other lease holders, submitted to BLM a proposal to drill and develop up to 1,250 wells from an estimated 1,000 well pads and associated facilities. The Devon proposal was named ``Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Project.'' The BLM published its NOI to prepare an EIS for this project in the Federal Register on September 8, 2005. In November 2005, BP America Production Company (BP), representing itself and other lease holders, submitted a proposal to drill and develop up to 7,700 wells and associated facilities within a portion of the Continental Divide/Wamsutter II (CD/W2) Natural Gas Project area adjacent to the Creston/Blue Gap II EIS (CBC2) project area. Upon reviewing BP's proposal the BLM determined that the CD/W2 proposal and the CBC2 proposal were similar actions within the same geographic area, with similar timing. Based on these factors, the BLM has determined that the best way to analyze these actions and identify their cumulative impacts adequately is to treat them in a single impact statement. The combined proposals, henceforth known as the Continental DivideCreston (CDC) Natural Gas Project, will be considered in one EIS.

Agenda items for the meeting of the Royalty Policy Committee (RPC) will include remarks from the Director, MMS, and the Associate Director, Minerals Revenue Management (MRM), as well as updates from the following subcommittees: Coal, Federal Oil and Gas Valuation, Oil and Gas Royalty Reporting, and Indian Oil Valuation. The RPC will also hear an update on the Royalty In Kind program. The RPC membership includes representatives from states, Indian tribes, individual Indian mineral owner organizations, minerals industry associations, the general public, and other Federal departments.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) will hold Public Scoping Meetings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Proposed 5-Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012. Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the MMS will hold Public Scoping Meetings on the Draft EIS for the 2007- 2012 OCS Oil and Gas 5-Year Leasing Program. The MMS stated its intent to prepare an EIS in the August 24, 2005, Federal Register notice and Request for Information (RFI). In the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) and Federal Register notice and RFI on February 9, 2006, the MMS again solicited comments and provided procedures for submitting them, and again stated its intent to hold Public Scoping Meetings. The following Public Scoping Meetings are planned for the DEIS development.

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing this rule to more effectively manage motor vessel use in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. It proposes to revise existing regulations regarding vessel quotas and operating requirements for five types of motor vessels cruise ships, tour vessels, charter vessels, private vessels, and passenger ferrieswithin Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This rule is proposed in conjunction with the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the Record of Decision (ROD) for Vessel Quotas and Operating Requirements in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, completed in October and November 2003, respectively, and implements decisions made in the ROD.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period for the reinstated proposed rule to list the flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) as a threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). On November 17, 2005, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona vacated the January 3, 2003, withdrawal of the proposed rule to list the flat-tailed horned lizard, remanded the matter to us for further consideration in accordance with its August 30, 2005, and November 17, 2005, orders, and ordered us to make a new listing decision by April 30, 2006. Pursuant to the Court's November 17, 2005, order, on remand we ``need only address the matters on which the court's August 30, 2005, Order * * * found the January 3, 2003, Withdrawal unlawful, which may summarily be identified as whether the lizard's lost historical habitat renders the species in danger of extinction in a significant portion of its range.'' To ensure our new final listing decision is based on the best scientific and commercial data currently available, we are reopening the public comment period on the 1993 proposed listing rule to solicit information and comment regarding the flat-tailed horned lizard's lost historical habitat.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the ISAC.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Carson Wandering Skipper for public review and comment.

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

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

The following permit was issued.

This action allocates calendar year 2006 duty exemptions for watch producers located in the Virgin Islands pursuant to Pub. L. 97- 446, as amended by Pub. L. 103-465, Pub. L 106-36 and Pub. L. 108-429 (``the Act'').

We are approving, with certain exceptions, an amendment to the West Virginia regulatory program (the West Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). West Virginia amended the Code of West Virginia (W. Va. Code or WV Code) and the Code of State Regulations (CSR) as authorized by several bills passed during the State's regular 2004-2005 legislative session. The State revised its program to be consistent with certain corresponding Federal requirements, and to include other amendments at its own initiative.

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.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Low Country Gullah Culture Special Resource Study (Study). The Study area stretches along the southeastern United States coast roughly from the Cape Fear River in North Carolina to the St. John's River in Florida and approximately 30 miles inland. The Study describes ways that the NPS can assist in preserving Gullah culture (more commonly known as Geechee in Georgia and Florida) by outlining four management alternatives for consideration by Congress, and a no-action alternative. The alternatives provide a range of actions for the future protection, interpretation, and commemoration of Gullah cultural resources. The Final EIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of those actions. The ROD describes the background of the Study, other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, the environmentally preferable alternative, and public involvement in the decision-making process. The ROD was approved by the Southeast Regional Director on November 4, 2005.