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

The Minerals Management Service has prepared an environmental assessment and a Finding of No New Significant Impact for the proposed Alaska Region Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Beaufort Sea Planning Area Lease Sale 202. In this EA, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2006-001, MMS reexamined the potential environmental effects of the proposed action and its alternatives based on any new information regarding potential impacts and issues that were not available at the time the Alaska Region OCS Beaufort Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sales 186, 195, and 202, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Volumes I through IV (multiple- sale EIS) was completed in February 2003.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), in cooperation with the Spokane Tribe of Indians (Tribe), intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for the Spokane Indian Reservation, Washington, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and that the DEIS is now available for public review. The purpose of the proposed action is to update the Tribe's existing IRMP, in order to provide for the development of long-term resource management policies that will ensure direction and stability for sustained growth of reservation economics, compatible with traditional values and needs for a quality human environment. This notice also announces a public hearing to receive public comments on the DEIS.

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

Under the provisions of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BLM announces its intentions to prepare an EIS and to solicit public comments regarding issues and resource information for the proposed Hiawatha Regional Energy Project, a natural gas development project consisting of conventional natural gas well development in established, producing fields.

Notice is hereby given that certain lands located in northwestern Nevada partly within the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area will be temporarily closed or restricted and certain activities will be temporarily prohibited in and around the Burning Man event site administered by the BLM Winnemucca Field Office in Pershing County, Nevada. The specified closures, restrictions and prohibitions are made in the interest of public safety at and around the public lands location of an event known as the Burning Man Festival. This event is authorized on public lands under a special recreation permit and is expected to attract approximately 37,000 participants this year. In summary, these lands will be closed or restricted with regard to the following: August 11, 2006 through September 18, 2006 inclusive: Discharge of firearms, possession of weapons, waste water disposal, camping, and circumstances and procedures for eviction of persons from public lands. August 25, 2006 through September 4, 2006 inclusive: Aircraft landing, possession of fireworks, possession of alcohol by minors, vehicle use, and all public uses.

The Bureau of Land Management published in the Federal Register of August 18, 2006, (71 FR 47826) a notice inviting all interested parties to participate with Jacobs Ranch Coal Company on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America. Inadvertently, the following lands included in the exploration license application were omitted from the notice.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management announces the availability of the ROD for the Cassia Resource Management Plan Amendment/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cotterel Wind Power Project, located in south central Idaho. The decision contained in the ROD is two-fold. It approves both the amendment to the Cassia Resource Management Plan and the issuance of a right-of-way grant pursuant to Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Compact and Chapter 5 of the TRPA Code of Ordinances, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the TRPA, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) intend to prepare a joint EIS/EIS/EIR. The EIS/EIS/EIR would evaluate a restoration project along the reach of the Upper Truckee River that extends from its entry point at the southern boundary of Washoe Meadows State Park (SP) to that point just west of U.S. Highway 50 (U.S. 50) where the river exits Lake Valley State Recreation Area (SRA). Two public scoping meetings will be held to solicit comments from interested parties to assist in determining the scope of the environmental analysis, including the alternatives to be addressed, and to identify the significant environmental issues related to the proposed action.

This notice advises the public that the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Group (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement) between the Applicant and the Service for the threatened California red-legged frog (CRLF) (Rana aurora draytonii). The Agreement and permit application are available for public comment.

This notice advises the public that Congress has enacted the ``James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2005'' (Act). The Act authorizes an expansion of the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge's (Refuge) approved boundary by approximately 750 acres, resulting in a revised Refuge boundary encompassing approximately 1,100 acres. This notice is being furnished consistent with section 4(c)(2) of the Act.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6630 for an additional 20-year period. PLO No. 6630 withdrew 49.26 acres of public lands comprised of 61 islands and one waterfront lot in St. Louis County, Minnesota from surface entry and transferred jurisdiction from the BLM to the National Park Service to be administered as part of the National Park System. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Cottonwood Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for St. Catherine Creek 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 the refuge will be managed over the next 15 years.

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.