Department of the Interior October 11, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, we, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), as lead agency, are advising the public that we intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposed application from NiSource Inc. (Applicant) for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) issued under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The ITP would potentially include multiple federally listed species across 17 States and cover NiSource operations, maintenance, construction, and emergency response activities associated with the company's interstate natural gas transmission and storage business. We provide this notice to (1) describe the proposed action and possible alternatives; (2) advise other Federal and State agencies, potentially affected tribal interests, and the public of our intent to prepare an EIS; (3) announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and (4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be included in the EIS.

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 250, subpart P, Sulphur Operations. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.