Department of the Interior March 19, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on the dates indicated.

This notice advises the public that the Fish and Wildlife Service intends to gather information necessary to prepare comprehensive conservation plans and environmental assessments pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations for Mandalay and Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuges in Terrebonne and Saint Mary Parishes, Louisiana. Mandalay and Bayou Teche Refuges are two of the eight refuges administered by the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The purpose in developing a comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans identify wildlife-dependent opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation. The purpose of this notice is to achieve the following: (1) Advise other agencies and the public of our intentions, and (2) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental documents.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the ROD on the FGMP/EIS for Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, Kentucky. This is being done pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332. On November 29, 2006, the Regional Director, NPS, Southeast Region, approved the ROD for the project. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to implement the FGMP/EIS, described as the Preferred Alternative contained in the FGMP/EIS issued on October 20, 2006. The approved plan will enhance opportunities for visitors to interact with and appreciate all of the national historic site's resources while providing for the preservation or adaptive use of cultural resources when implemented. The approved plan also recommends that the official name of the site be changed to ``Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.''

This notice publishes an approval of the amendment to the Tribal-State Compact for regulation of Class III gaming between the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the State of Oregon.

This notice publishes an approval of the Tribal-State Gaming Compact for regulation of Class III gaming between the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the State of Oregon.

This notice provides a listing of civil penalties paid from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006, for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The goal of the MMS Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Civil Penalties Program is to assure safe and clean operations in the OCS. Through the pursuit, assessment, and collection of civil penalties and referrals for the consideration of criminal penalties, the program is designed to encourage compliance with OCS statutes and regulations. The purpose of publishing the penalties summary is to provide information to the public on violations of special concern in OCS operations and to provide an additional incentive for safe and environmentally sound operations.

This notice lists program or portions of programs that are eligible for inclusion in Fiscal Year 2007 funding agreements with self-governance tribes and lists programmatic targets pursuant to section 405(c)(4) of the Tribal Self-Governance Act.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highway Administration, Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division will serve as joint lead agencies in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Foothills Parkway Section 8B, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Section 8B is located in Sevier and Cocke Counties, Tennessee. This effort will analyze the impacts of alternatives for this section of the Foothills Parkway. The public scoping process for this EIS has been initiated with issuance of this notice. The purpose of the scoping process is to elicit public comment regarding the full spectrum of public issues and concern that should be addressed in the EIS process, including a suitable range of alternatives, the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts, and appropriate mitigation strategies. A suitable range of alternatives will be considered along with the no-action alternative, including, but not limited to construction of a road through this section of the Parkway corridor, construction of a trail instead of a road, and construction of a combination road and trail. A scoping newsletter will be prepared in spring 2007 that will detail the issues identified to date. Copies of the newsletter when available may be obtained from the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site: https://parkplanning.nps.gov.