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

This notice informs the public of the Secretary's approval of the Tribal-State Compact between the State of Oklahoma and Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (NFWR). This notice advises the public that the Service intends to gather information necessary for preparing the CCP and EIS pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with Service policy to achieve the following: (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this refuge; and, (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental document. The Service will involve the public through open houses, informational and technical meetings, and written comments. Special mailings, newspaper articles, and announcements will provide information about opportunities for public involvement in the planning process.

Notice is hereby given that the boundary of Sequoia National Park is modified to include approximately 11.83 acres of real property adjacent to the park. This adjustment is accomplished to include private property that the owner wishes to sell to the United States for the use of Sequoia National Park and which the National Park Service has concluded would be a valuable addition to the park. The real property added to the park is depicted as Tract 05-110 on Drawing No. 102/80,034, Sheet 6 of 8, Segment Map 05, dated January 3, 2005. This map is on file and available for inspection at the following locations: National Park Service, Land Resources Program Center, Pacific West Region, 1111 Jackson St., Suite 700, Oakland, CA 94607, and National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

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) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR Part 210Forms and Reports, regarding Form MMS-2014, Report of Sales and Royalty Remittance. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the implementing regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing this NOA regarding the availability of the Eagle Butte West LBA DEIS and notice of a public hearing requesting comments on the DEIS, MER, and FMV pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3425.4. The DEIS analyzes the potential impacts for coal LBA WYW155132, referred to as the Eagle Butte West tract, in the decertified Powder River Federal Coal Production Region, Wyoming.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for seven members of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Advisory Committee (GSENM-MAC). The GSENM-MAC provides advice and recommendations to GSENM on science issues and the achievement of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan objectives. GSENM will receive public nominations for 30 days from the date this notice is posted.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to seek renewed authority to collect information for 30 CFR part 740 which relates to surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands. This collection request has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

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 a new approval of the paperwork requirements that address the narrative portion only of MMS's Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) which is a grant program. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave responsibility to MMS for CIAP by amending Section 31 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1356a; Appendix A). This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

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 Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy), intend to prepare a joint EIS/EIS/EIR. The EIS/EIS/EIR would evaluate a joint Reclamation and TRPA restoration project along the reach of the Upper Truckee River that extends from U.S. Highway 50 north to Lake Tahoe and its adjacent wetland. The purpose of the proposed action is to restore natural geomorphic processes and ecological functions in this lowest reach of the Upper Truckee River and the surrounding marsh to improve ecological values of the study area and help reduce the river's discharge of nutrients and sediment that diminish Lake Tahoe's clarity. The Upper Truckee River and Marsh Restoration Project is identified in TRPA's Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) as a project that is necessary to restore and maintain environmental thresholds for the Lake Tahoe Basin. EIP projects are designed to achieve and maintain environmental thresholds that protect Tahoe's unique and valued resources. 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.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council) will meet November 8-9, 2006.

A 16.06 acre parcel of public land located near Dyer, Esmeralda County, Nevada, has been examined and found suitable for sale utilizing direct sale procedures. The authority for the sale is found under sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) [Pub. L. 94-579].

We invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

Laura and Tariq Hussain (Applicants) request an incidental take permit (ITP) for a duration of one year, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Applicants anticipate removal of about 0.97 acre of Florida scrub- jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub-jay) foraging, sheltering, and possibly nesting habitat, incidental to lot preparation for the construction of four single-family homes and supporting infrastructure in Brevard County, Florida (Project). The Applicants' Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of the Project to the scrub- jay. These measures are outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

This notice advises the public that Duane and Darlene Schwisow (Applicants) have applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (ITP), pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The requested 25- year permit would authorize the incidental take of the threatened northern Idaho ground squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus) (``squirrels''), on 13.9 square meters (150 square feet) of suitable but unoccupied habitat associated with the development of a residence in Adams County, Idaho. We are requesting comments on the permit application and on whether the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) qualifies as a ``low effect'' HCP, eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. We explain the basis for this possible determination in a draft Environmental Action Statement (EAS), which is also available for public review.

Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced Public Hearings to solicit comments on the Draft EIS for the Proposed 2007-2012 OCS Oil and Gas 5-Year Leasing Program in the Federal Register notice on September 26, 2006. The notice did not include specific information on place and time for the Public Hearing in Norfolk, Virginia. That specific information is now attached below. Statements, both oral and written, will be received at the hearing. Persons wishing to speak may be put on the speakers' list by the MMS contact listed below in advance of the public hearing or may sign up at the hearing. Time limits may be set on oral testimony to allow time for all speakers to participate.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has officially filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Idaho State Office, Boise, Idaho, effective 9 a.m., on the dates specified.

This notice announces the proposed sale of 24 parcels of public land, totaling 2905.42 acres, located in Harney County, Oregon at not less than appraised market value. These parcels are proposed to be sold through competitive and modified competitive procedures.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3507) and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Recordkeeping requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites public comment on a revision of a currently approved collection of information (OMB 1024-0026).

The purpose of the proposed Federal action addressed in this DEIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2006-060) is to offer for lease areas in the Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that might contain economically recoverable oil and gas resources. This lease sale would provide qualified bidders the opportunity to bid on certain blocks in the Chukchi Sea OCS to gain conditional rights to explore, develop, and produce oil and natural gas. This DEIS is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to enable the Minerals Management Service (MMS) to make informed decisions on the configuration of the lease sale and the applicable mitigation measures. In the DEIS, the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of the sale, including estimated exploration and development and production activities related to the sale, on the physical, biological, and human environments in the Chukchi Sea area are analyzed. The DEIS also provides NEPA evaluation for exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea, including seismic survey geophysical permitting (30 CFR 251), ancillary activities (30 CFR 250.207), and exploration plans (30 CFR 250.214). In addition, the DEIS will provide NEPA documentation for the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) possible issuance of Incidental Harassment Authorizations to the seismic-survey industry to take marine mammals by harassment, incidental to conducting prelease and ancillary on-lease oil and gas seismic surveys in the Chukchi Sea. To address its NEPA responsibilities, the NMFS agreed to become a cooperating agency (as that term is defined in 40 CFR 1501.6) and proposes to adopt the DEIS as authorized by 40 CFR 1506.3 as its own NEPA statement.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northeast California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

Pursuant to Public Law 96-472, the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold a meeting on October 16 and 17, 2006. The meeting location is University of California, Engineering Building Unit, Room 205-206, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, California 92521. The Council is comprised of members from academia and the Federal government. The Council shall advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on proposed earthquake predictions, on the completeness and scientific validity of the available data related to earthquake predictions, and on related matters as assigned by the Director. At this meeting, the Council will discuss recent findings of the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities; will hear presentations on statistical tests being applied to prediction algorithms under the Regional Earthquake Likelihood Models project and on the organizational structure of the Center for Study of Earthquake Predictability; and will edit a draft document that provides guidelines to researchers on posing earthquake predictions in a rigorous and testable manner. Meetings of the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council are open to the public. A portion of the meeting will be closed to the public pursuant to subsections (c)(2), and (6) of subsection 552b of Title 5, U.S. Code. Those planning to attend the meeting may contact Dr. Michael Blanpied, the Executive Secretary for the NEPEC [U.S. Geological Survey, MS 905, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, Virginia 20192, e-mail mblanpied@usgs.gov], in order to receive copies of the agenda and other materials in advance. It is the policy of the NEPEC to accept written public comments of any length and to accommodate brief oral comments whenever possible. Interested parties should contact Dr. Blanpied at least 5 days prior to the meeting. Individuals requiring special accommodations to access the meeting should also contact Dr. Blanpied so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

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

The following permits were issued.