Department of the Interior February 14, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The ``Criteria for Developing Refuge Water Management Plans'' (Refuge Criteria), as applied in the following areas, are now available for public comment. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. The Refuge Criteria provides a common methodology, or standard, for efficient use of water by Federal Wildlife Refuges, State Wildlife Management Areas and Resource Conservation Districts that receive water under provisions of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA). They document the process and format by which Refuge Water Management Plans (Plans) should be prepared and submitted to Reclamation as part of the Refuge/District Water Supply Contracts and Memorandum of Agreements. The Refuge Criteria refers to Refuges, Wildlife Areas and Resource Conservation Districts as Refuges. Those Refuges that entered into water supply contracts with Reclamation, as a result of the CVPIA and subsequent Department of the Interior administrative review processes, are required to prepare Plans using the Refuge Criteria.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the initiation of a 5-year review of 58 species under section 4(c)(2)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The purpose of a 5-year review is to ensure that the classification of a species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate and based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the original listing of each of these 58 species. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make the requisite findings under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. We also indicate in this notice the 5-year reviews we completed for species in California and Nevada in FY 2006.

The purpose of the Call/NOI is to gather information on oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development that might result from an OCS oil and gas lease sale tentatively scheduled in early 2008. As mandated in the recently enacted Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-432, December 20, 2006), MMS shall offer a portion of the ``181 Area,'' located in the Eastern Planning Area, more than 125 miles from Florida for oil and gas leasing. The NOI seeks input for scoping a SEIS.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arcata Field Office will establish temporary restrictions pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations, 43 CFR 8341.2 and 8364.1, to implement interim management guidelines for certain BLM-administered public lands hereafter referred to as ``Lost Coast Headlands,'' located in Township 2 North, Range 3 West, portions of Sections 13 and 24, Humboldt County, California. Lost Coast Headlands consists of approximately 400 acres and is located along the coastal bluffs approximately 6 miles southwest of Ferndale, CA. These restrictions are needed on a temporary basis until a Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment, which will be initiated in 2007, is completed for the area. The area is now open to dispersed recreation with an emphasis on accommodating pedestrian and equestrian access to the coastline. The temporary restrictions are as follows: The area will be open to day use, from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; overnight camping, campfires, firearms use, and archery use will not be allowed; and motorized vehicle use off maintained roads and parking areas will not be allowed. Employees, agents, and permitees of the BLM may be exempt from these restrictions for administrative and emergency purposes only. Penalties include a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, and violators may be subject to the enhanced penalties under 18 U.S.C. 3571 and 18 U.S.C. 3581. These restrictions are necessary to (1) Protect aquatic and terrestrial species from the effects of unregulated impacts, (2) ensure public safety, (3) reduce the potential for wildfires in this wildland urban interface, and (4) minimize inadvertent trespass onto adjoining private property. They will remain in effect until the RMP Amendment, with full public participation, is completed.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with Hannahville Tribe of Potawatomi Indians (Tribe) as a cooperating agency, intends to gather information necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed hotel and casino project to be located on 9.8 acres of a 24.8 acre parcel owned by the Tribe in Romulus, Michigan. The purpose of the proposed action is to help address the socioeconomic needs of the Tribe. This notice also announces a public scoping meeting to identify public and agency concerns and alternatives to be considered in the EIS. The Tribes' application seeks to have a portion of the off-reservation parcel taken into trust pursuant to Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act and implementing regulations in 25 CFR part 151, and requests a Secretarial determination pursuant to Section 20(b)(1)(A) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that a proposed gaming establishment on the parcel would be in the best interest of the Tribe and its members, and not detrimental to the surrounding community. We are aware that some members of the public have expressed concerns about off-reservation gaming. In this case, the parcel is located over 450 miles from the Tribe's reservation. We are soliciting and will consider accommodating the views of elected officials (State, county, city, etc.) and community members in the local areas as part of our decision- making process. We also plan a more detailed consideration of the broad implications associated with new gaming operations within established communities where gaming is not currently conducted.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 51.23, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service proposes to extend the following expiring concession contracts for a period of up to 1 year, or until such time as a new contract is executed, whichever occurs sooner.

Pursuant to the terms of existing concession contracts, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to request a continuation of visitor services for a period not-to-exceed 1 year from the date of contract expiration.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 51.23, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service proposes to extend the following expiring concession contracts for a period of up to 1 year, or until such time as a new contract is executed, whichever occurs sooner.

Pursuant to the terms of existing concession contracts, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to request a continuation of visitor services for a period not to exceed 1 year from the date of contract expiration.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 51.23, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service proposes to extend the following expiring concession contracts for a period of up to 1 year, or until such time as a new contract is executed, whichever occurs sooner.

Pursuant to the terms of existing concession contracts, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to request a continuation of visitor services for a period not-to-exceed 1 year from the date of contract expiration.

Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites public comments on an extension of a currently approved collection of information (OMB 1024-0029).