Department of the Interior January 17, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This order revokes two Executive Orders insofar as they affect approximately 1,725.81 acres of National Forest System lands withdrawn for lighthouse purposes within Alaska. The lands are no longer needed for the purpose for which they were withdrawn.

Notice is given that the Amendment to the Tribal-State gaming compact between the State of California and the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation is considered approved and is in effect.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, has filed an application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw 387.50 acres of National Forest System land from mining for protection and conservation of the Arizona Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. arizonicus) located in the Tonto National Forest, Arizona. This notice segregates the land for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws. The land will remain open to all other uses which may by law be authorized on National Forest System lands.

Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations subpart 8364, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may issue an order to close the use of BLM administered lands to the public to protect those lands and resources. The Pinedale Resource Management Plan (RMP) Record of Decision (ROD), December 12, 1988, states that big game winter ranges, and elk feedgrounds may be closed to minimize stress to wintering animals. The Pinedale Anticline Project (PAPA) ROD (2000) identifies areas that may be subject to seasonal closures as conditions warrant. After consulting with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the BLM Pinedale Field Manager has implemented a seasonal closure on certain BLM-administered lands and travel ways including existing roads and two-track trails, to all types of motorized vehicle travel (e.g., snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, any vehicle including trucks, sport utility vehicles and cars, motorcycles etc.). Winter ranges, as identified in the Pinedale RMP, and as described below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, will be closed to all unauthorized motorized travel from November 15 through April 30 each winter. Use of winter range areas by non-motorized means is still allowed. Feedground areas will be closed November 15 through April 30 each winter, to all motorized vehicles and human presence. The Mesa winter range will remain open to motorized travel on existing roads from November 15 through January 14 each winter, but roads will be closed to unauthorized motorized travel January 15 through April 30 each winter. After April 30 each year, motorized vehicle use will be limited to existing roads and two-track trails. The winter range seasonal closures affect public lands located within the Deer Hills, Oil Field, Mesa, Bench Corral, and Miller Mountain winter ranges. Elk feedground closures affect public lands around the Franz, Finnegan, Scab Creek, Fall Creek, and North Piney feedgrounds. This action is necessary for the protection of crucial winter range habitat for elk, moose, antelope, and mule deer. Except for travel on highways or county roads, motorized vehicle travel within these areas will be allowed only by written authorization from the Pinedale Field Manager. Personnel of the BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS & Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and law enforcement personnel are exempt from this closure when performing official duties. Operators of existing oil and gas facilities may perform routine maintenance, or operation and drilling as approved by the BLM, and livestock operators may perform permitted activities.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC) meeting schedule for the following areas: Aniakchak National Monument, Lake Clark National Park and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The purpose of each meeting is to develop and continue work on subsistence hunting program recommendations and other related subsistence management issues. Each meeting is open to the public and will have time allocated for public testimony. The public is welcomed to present written or oral comments to the SRC. The NPS SRC program is authorized under title VIII, section 808, of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Public Law 96-487, to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Draft meeting minutes will be available upon request from each Superintendent for public inspection approximately six weeks after each meeting.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) propose to amend our regulations to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct). The EPAct requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to develop regulations establishing environmental performance and reclamation standards for abandoned coal refuse remining operations. These standards must distinguish between refuse removal operations and on-site refuse reprocessing operations and must be premised on the distinct differences between removal operations, on- site reprocessing operations, and other types of surface coal mining operations. The Secretary may devise different performance standards than any of those set forth in sections 515 and 516 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), and separate permit systems if the Secretary determines, on a standard-by-standard basis, that a different standard may facilitate refuse removal and on-site refuse reprocessing operations in a manner that would provide the same level of environmental protection as under sections 515 and 516. We are proposing changes to our rules that respond to the EPAct's requirements.

The Bureau of Land Management is soliciting nominations from the public to fill a vacated position on the Central California Resources Advisory Council and serve the remainder of a three-year term that expires in September, 2007. Council members provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the management of public lands in Central California.