Department of the Interior December 3, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Central Utah Project Completion Act
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations at 40 CFR 1501.7, and authorities under the Endangered Species Act (15 U.S.C. 1536, et seq.), the Department is initiating an environmental impact analysis, with public involvement, for the Hobble Creek Habitat Restoration Project. The plan would relocate a portion of Hobble Creek onto state-owned land, restore more natural stream sinuosity, and improve instream habitat conditions to benefit the June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), an endangered fish. The June sucker exists naturally only in Utah Lake and spawns only in the Provo River, a Utah Lake tributary. Hobble Creek, also a tributary to Utah Lake, is believed to be an historic spawning stream for the June sucker that has been dredged, straightened and otherwise degraded in a manner that renders it no longer suitable for June sucker spawning. Restoration of at least one additional Utah Lake tributary as spawning habitat for the June sucker is a recovery action in the approved Recovery Plan for the species. The Department is acting as Lead Agency for NEPA compliance in its capacity as a participating partner in the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program.
Proposed Finding Against Acknowledgment of the Juanen
Pursuant to 25 CFR 83.10(h), the Department of the Interior (Department) notice is hereby given that the Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs (AS-IA) proposes to determine that the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians (Petitioner 84B, JBB), c/o Joe Ocampo, 1108 East Fourth Street, Santa Ana, California 92701, and c/o Bud Sepulveda, P.O. Box 25628, Santa Ana, California 92799, is not an Indian tribe within the meaning of Federal law. Due to the group's recent internal leadership conflict, this notice is addressed to both individuals who claim to be its leader. The Department has not addressed this dispute in this proposed finding (PF). These individuals hopefully will resolve this conflict by the time of the final determination (FD). This notice is based on a determination that the petitioner does not satisfy all seven of the criteria set forth in Part 83 of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (25 CFR part 83), specifically criteria 83.7(a), 83.7(b), 83.7(c), and 83.7(e), and therefore, does not meet the requirements for a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
Proposed Finding Against Acknowledgment of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen (Petitioner #84A)
Pursuant to 25 CFR 83.10(h), the Department of the Interior (Department) gives notice that the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs (AS-IA) proposes to determine that the Juane[ntilde]o Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation (JBA, Petitioner 84A), c/o Anthony Rivera, Jr., 31411-A La Matanza Street, San Juan Capistrano, California 92675, is not an Indian tribe within the meaning of Federal law. This notice is based on a determination that the petitioner does not satisfy all seven of the criteria set forth in Part 83 of Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (25 CFR part 83), specifically criteria 83.7(a), 83.7(b), 83.7(c), and 83.7(e), and therefore, does not meet the requirements for a government-to-government relationship with the United States.
Privacy Act of 1974 as Amended; Notice of Proposed Addition of a New System of Records
Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 552a), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing public notice of its intent to add a new electronic Bureau-wide system of records, the Wild Horse and Burro Program System (WHBPS). This system supports the management of the Wild Horse and Burro (WHB) program and will contain data covered by the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552A). The WHBPS is a centrally hosted Web-based application that is only accessible by authorized government users through the BLM intranet for the purpose of administering the WHB program. This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records systems maintained by the agency (5 U.S. C. 552a(e)(4)).
North Slope Science Initiative Science Technical Advisory Panel: Notice of Intent To Renew Charter and Call for Nominations
This notice announces the renewal of the North Slope Science Initiative Science Technical Advisory Panel (Science Panel) by the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) and calls for nominations to serve on the Science Technical Advisory Panel in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972, 5 U.S.C. Appendix. A copy of the renewed Science Panel charter will be filed with the appropriate committees of Congress and the Library of Congress in accordance with Section 9(c) of FACA.
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Eagle Butte West Coal Lease-by-Application, Wyoming
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations and policies, the BLM announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Eagle Butte West Coal Lease-by-Application (LBA) located in the Casper Field Office (CFO).
Preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 207 in the Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Planning Area (2008)
The MMS is issuing this notice to advise the public, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., that MMS intends to prepare an EA for proposed OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 207 in the Western GOM Planning Area (Lease Sale 207) scheduled for August 2008. The MMS is issuing this notice to facilitate public involvement. The preparation of this EA is an important step in the decision process for Lease Sale 207. The proposal for Lease Sale 207 was identified by the Call for Information and Nominations published in the Federal Register on April 28, 2006, and was analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007- 2012; Western Planning Area Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218; Central Planning Area Sales 205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222Final Environmental Impact Statement; Volumes I and II (Multisale Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018). This EA for proposed Lease Sale 207 will reexamine the potential environmental effects of the proposed lease sale and its alternatives (excluding the unleased blocks near biologically sensitive topographic features, use of a nomination and tract selection leasing system, and no action) based on any new information regarding potential impacts and issues that were not available at the time the Multisale EIS was prepared.
Environmental Assessment (EA), Liberty Development and Production Plan (DPP) Ultra Extended Reach Drilling From Endicott Satellite Drilling Island (SDI)-MMS 2007-054
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is in receipt of a Development and Production Plan (DPP) from British Petroleum (BP) that proposes an ultra extended reach drilling project in the Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) scheduled for construction in 2009. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), MMS has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) that concludes that with required mitigation no significant adverse effects (40 CFR 1508.27) on the quality of the human environment would occur. Therefore MMS has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.4(e)(2)(i), MMS is making the FONSI available for public review for 30 days before making a final determination whether to prepare an EIS and before taking final action on the proposed Liberty DPP.
Notice of Call for Nominations for the Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG) as Part of the Adaptive Management Program for the Pinedale Anticline Project Area in Southwestern Wyoming
On June 26, 2006, the Secretary of the Interior renewed the Charter for the PAWG. Representatives of the public-at-large, the State of Wyoming, Office of the Governor, and the landowners within or bordering the Pinedale Anticline area are being solicited. Individuals or groups interested in becoming a member of the PAWG should submit the specified information by the date specified in the DATES section of this notice.
Ownership and Control; Permit and Application Information; Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are publishing this final rule to amend certain provisions of our ``ownership and control'' and related rules, as well as our rules pertaining to the transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights. More specifically, we are amending our definitions pertaining to ownership, control, and transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights and our regulatory provisions governing: permit eligibility determinations; improvidently issued permits; ownership or control challenges; post- permit issuance actions and requirements; transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights; application and permit information; and alternative enforcement. Additionally, we are removing our current rules pertaining to improvidently issued State permits. This final rule implements various provisions of, and is authorized by, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act).
National Capital Region; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
The National Park Service (NPS) announces its intention to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to conduct scoping to analyze the impacts associated with a land exchange between Georgetown University (University) and the NPS and the impacts associated with the construction of a proposed boathouse for the University on a site within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal NHP). In 1995 the NPS conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) on a proposed land exchange of the site owned by the University within the boundaries of the C&O Canal NHP). In 1995 the NPS conducted an Environmental Assessment (EA) on a proposed land exchange of the site owned by the University within the boundaries of the C&O Canal NHP and a site located within the non-motorized boathouse zone established by the Georgetown Waterfront Park Plan. This EA resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The three primary land use goals evaluated were: (1) Precluding development of a boathouse on the University's largely undisturbed inholding in the park with existing significant natural and cultural resources; (2) Extinguishing nearly a mile of private access over the Capital Crescent Trail; and (3) Placing the boathouse on property within the boathouse zone in furtherance of the recreational mandate of C&O Canal NHP Act and Georgetown Waterfront Park Plan. In 1997, the NPS signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office that contained a provision that the proposed University Boathouse would not have a footprint greater than 15,000 square feet. Since the University subsequently proposed an 18,600 square foot boathouse, an amendment to the MOA was required. As part of that process, the NPS conducted public meetings in June and July 2004 to determine whether to revise the MOA. As a result of those meetings and additional written comments, the NPS determined that an EA should be undertaken for the construction of the proposed boathouse. NPS released an EA on the proposed boathouse for public comment from April 25 thorough June 15, 2006, and held a public open house on the EA. Approximately 2,500 comments were received. Based on comments received on the 2006 EA, and pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Parts 1500- 1508), NPS has determined a EIS that will evaluate both the proposed land exchange and the construction impacts of the proposed boathouse is the proper NEPA compliance document. For this reason, NPS announces its intent to prepare an EIS to analyze potential environmental impacts from the proposed action, the range of reasonable alternatives, and mitigation options. This EIS will consider alternative actions. Those alternatives may include: (1) Construction of a boathouse with a footprint of 18,682 square feet on the NPS-owned site within the C&O Canal NHP, which is described as Alternative C in the 2006 EA; (2) Construction of a boathouse with a footprint of 15,000 square feet on the NPS-owned site within the C&O Canal NHP; (3) Construction of a University Boathouse east of 34th Street on an NPS-owned site within the Georgetown Waterfront Park; (4) Construction of a University Boathouse upon the site owned by the University; and (5) A No Action alternative, which would not require this land exchange and would involve the continued use of the Thompson's Boat Center to house the University's rowing program. Topics for analysis may include the constructability of the boathouse and/or by-right development on the University-owned site; natural, cultural and intangible resource values of the University- owned site; hydrology within the project area; possible impacts on wildlife; possible wetlands; balancing uses on the Capital Crescent Trail; and the cumulative impacts of the project in combination with the Washington Canoe Club, Potomac Boat Club, Jacks Boats, Dempsey's boathouse site, potential George Washington University boathouse and Thompson's Boat Center. The EIS will be prepared in compliance with NEPA and applicable regulations, including NPS Director's Order 12 and Interior Departmental Manual at 516 DM.
Climate Change Science Program; Meeting
The USGS-CCSP Committee for Synthesis and Assessment Product (SAP) 3.4: Abrupt Climate Change will hold a teleconference on December 21, 2007 from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Agenda: The purpose of the teleconference is to discuss the results of the peer review process for SAP 3.4. The first draft of the SAP was peer reviewed by 24 scientists with expertise tied to the subject matter of the report. Comments from the peer reviewers were collated and distributed to the chapter lead authors of the report. The chapter authors have prepared proposed responses to the peer review comments and distributed them to the full Committee for deliberation at the December 21 teleconference. The teleconference is open to the public. Pre-registration is required to attend. Contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the address below by December 17 to pre-register and to receive a copy of the peer review comments and proposed responses. The teleconference will take place in a conference room at the USGS in Reston, VA (full address below). In order to participate in the teleconference, members of the public will need to attend in person at the USGS in Reston, VA. Prepared statements may be presented orally to the Committee during the teleconference between 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. Public statements will be limited to 3 minutes per person. For scheduling reasons, intent to make a public statement must be established at the time of pre-registration. A written copy of the oral statement must be left with the Committee's DFO as a matter of public record. Additional short public comments/questions during the teleconference will be allowed only if time permits. Special instructions pertaining to security at USGS and directions to the conference room will be provided to those who pre-register. Please check the Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.4 Web page (https://www.usgs.gov/globalchange/sap3.4/default.asp) for any last minute changes to the teleconference date, location or agenda. The teleconference may close early if all business is completed.
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