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

Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) subparts 1500- 1508, and 43 CFR subpart 2800 (Right-of-Way), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Salt Lake Field Office (SLFO) and Fillmore Field Office (FFO) will be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to amend the Pony Express Resource Management Plan to consider a right-of-way application for the Mona to Oquirrh Double-Circuit 500/345 Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line, located on public lands in Juab, Tooele, Utah and Salt Lake Counties, Utah. This notice initiates the public scoping period and announces public scoping meetings.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is submitting the information collection, titled the BIE Higher Education Grant Program Annual Report Form, OMB Control Number 1076-0106, and the BIE Higher Education Grant Application Form, OMB Control Number 1076-0101 for approval. The Higher Education Annual Grant Report Form and the Higher Education Grant Application need to be renewed.

This proposed rule specifies procedures for the disposition of culturally unidentifiable human remains in the possession or control of museums or Federal agencies, thus implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (Act). Publication of this document is intended to solicit comments from Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, and members of the public before its publication as a final rule.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease and subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, approximately 28.75 acres of public land in Clark County, Nevada. The City of Las Vegas (City) proposes to use the land as a public park.

Under the Class II provisions of Title IV, Public Law 97-451, and 43 CFR 3108.2-3, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of Competitive oil and gas lease OKNM 113435 from the lessee, Greenwood Energy, Inc., for lands in Woods County, Oklahoma. The petition was filed on time and it was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is publishing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2008 season. This proposed rule establishes regulations that prescribe dates when harvesting of birds may occur, species that can be taken, and methods and means excluded from use. These regulations were developed under a Co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. These regulations enable the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking proposes region-specific regulations that go into effect on April 2, 2008, and expire on August 31, 2008.

The following permits were issued.

The following permits were issued.

We propose to establish policy that refuge managers will follow concerning mosquito and mosquito-borne disease management on units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act), provides the Refuge System mission. That mission is to ``administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.'' In addition, each refuge ``shall be managed to fulfill the mission of the System, as well as the specific purposes for which that refuge was established.'' We cannot fulfill this mission unless we provide consistent direction to refuge managers and manage the Refuge System as a national system. Therefore, we are developing policies to provide refuge managers clear direction and procedures for making determinations regarding wildlife conservation and public uses of the Refuge System and individual refuges. This draft policy describes the process we will follow to determine if and how to manage mosquito populations on lands administered within the Refuge System. We propose to incorporate this policy as part 601, chapter 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. This draft policy states that ``we will allow populations of native mosquito species to function unimpeded unless they cause a human and/or wildlife health threat.'' While we recognize mosquitoes are a natural component of most wetland ecosystems, we also recognize they may represent a threat to human and/or wildlife health. We may allow management of mosquito populations on Refuge System lands when those populations pose a threat to the health and safety of the public or a wildlife population. This draft policy outlines the procedures refuge managers will follow in planning and implementing mosquito and mosquito-borne disease management within the Refuge System.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project, Yakima, Washington, established by the Secretary of the Interior, will hold a public meeting. The purpose of the Conservation Advisory Group is to provide technical advice and counsel to the Secretary of the Interior and Washington State on the structure, implementation, and oversight of the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Recovery Plan for Silene spaldingii (Spalding's Catchfly). Silene spaldingii is a plant native to portions of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. We listed this species as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in 2001.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC67185 from Klabzuba Oil and Gas, Inc. for lands in Moffat County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces an extension of the comment period on the Northeast National Petroleum ReserveAlaska Draft Supplemental Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (IAP/EIS). The original notice issued August 24, 2007, provided for a comment period to end on October 23, 2007. The BLM is extending the comment period to November 6, 2007.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby gives notice that the Kanab Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) is available for a 90-day public review and comment period. This notice also meets requirements in 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b) concerning designation of proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ACECs) and specification of resource use limitations for each proposed ACEC.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 83 Stat. 852,853, codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. section 4332(2)(c), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Cape Cod National Seashore Hunting Program, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. On September 18, 2007, the Regional Director, Northeast Region approved the Record of Decision for the project. As soon as practicable, and as described in the Record of Decision, the National Park Service will begin to implement the Preferred Alternative contained in the FEIS issued on August 10, 2007. The following course of action will occur under the preferred alternative. Cape Cod National Seashore will increase hunting opportunities for native upland game bird species; apply adaptive management to phase out the pheasant stocking and hunting program; simplify and clearly delineate hunting areas and increase the ``no- hunting'' safety buffers along bike paths; expand hunting-related outreach to hunting and non-hunting users; and undertake cooperative monitoring and management of game species. This course of action and two alternatives were analyzed in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements. The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed. The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, a finding on impairment of park resources and values, and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making process.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Nerklikmute Native Corporation, for lands in the vicinity of the Native village of Andreafski, Alaska, and are located in: Seward Meridian, Alaska

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we are submitting to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 253, Oil Spill Financial Responsibility for Offshore Facilities, and related documents. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing a 30-day extension of the comment period on a proposed rule published in the August 24, 2007, Federal Register and the accompanying draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). This notice also provides notice of the dates and locations for the public hearings that we will hold on the proposed rule and DEIS. The proposed rule concerns buffer zones, stream diversions, siltation structures, impoundments, and the creation and disposal of excess spoil and coal mine waste.

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.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise currently designated critical habitat for the Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 384,410 acres (ac) (155,564 hectares (ha)) of land in Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties, California, fall within the boundaries of the proposed revised critical habitat designation. Of the area proposed as revised critical habitat, approximately 4,512 ac (1,826 ha) of land are Tribal; 93,720 ac (37,927 ha) are Federal; 249,840 ac (101,107 ha) are State; 35,824 ac (14,497 ha) are private; and 514 ac (208 ha) are local. We are proposing to exclude from the final designation, under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, approximately 4,512 ac (1,826 ha) of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal land. We are also evaluating and considering the possible exclusion of approximately 19,211 ac (7,774 ha) of private land covered under the draft Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Further, we are acknowledging a taxonomic change to the species and are proposing a taxonomic revision of the listed entity from distinct population segment (DPS) of species Ovis canadensis, to DPS of subspecies Ovis canadensis nelsoni.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an Enhancement of Survival Permit (ESP) application and Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA). Daytona Beach Community College (Applicant) requests an ESP permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement) for the threatened Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub-jay) for a period of 20 years. We (the Service) announce the opening of a 30-day comment period and request comments from the public on the Applicant's enhancement of survival permit application and the accompanying proposed Agreement. All comments we receive, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public. For further information and instructions on reviewing and commenting on this application, see the ADDRESSES section, below.

Notice is hereby given that certain roads and areas are temporarily closed to all motor vehicle operation. The closed area is within the Iron Mask Acquisition and includes all preexisting, undeveloped roads situated in the County of Broadwater, State of Montana, described as follows:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the reopening of the public comment period and the scheduling of one public hearing on the proposed critical habitat designation for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) and proposed taxonomic revision under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This action will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to submit written comments on the proposed designation and taxonomic revision. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in any final decision.