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

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4332) and Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1506.6), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) will prepare an ORV Management Plan/DEIS. The ORV Management Plan/DEIS will be used to guide the management and control of ORVs at the Seashore for approximately the next 15 to 20 years. It will also form the basis for a special regulation that will regulate ORV use at the Seashore. The ORV Management Plan/DEIS will assess potential environmental impacts associated with a range of reasonable alternatives for managing ORV impacts on park resources such as threatened and endangered species, soils, wetlands, wildlife, and cultural resources. Socioeconomic impacts and effects on visitor experience and public safety will also be analyzed. In addition, the plan will focus on issues that have a direct bearing on ORV management, including management of threatened and endangered species and species of special concern, as well as predator management.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell a 10-acre parcel of public land in the southwest portion of the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada to Clark County for affordable housing purposes. BLM proposes that the parcel be sold by direct sale to Clark County at less than the appraised fair market value (FMV), pursuant to Section 7(b) of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (Pub. L. 105-263, SNPLMA) and the Nevada Guidance on Policy and Procedures for Affordable Housing Disposals (Nevada Guidance) approved on August 8, 2006. BLM proposes to sell the parcel in accordance with the applicable provisions in Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. (FLPMA), and the BLM land sale and mineral conveyance regulations at 43 CFR Section 2710 and Section 2720, respectively.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Maysdorf Coal Lease-by-Application (LBA).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS, Service, or we), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), hereby remove the Idaho springsnail (Pyrgulopsis(=Fontelicella) idahoensis) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List). This determination is based on a thorough review of all available data, which indicate that the Idaho springsnail is not a discrete taxonomic entity and does not meet the definition of a species under the Act. It is now considered to be part of a more widely distributed taxon, the Jackson Lake springsnail. Because the Idaho springsnail is not recognized as a species, as defined by the Act, we have determined that it is not a listable entity and are removing it from the List.

The MMS announces the availability of the Proposed Notice of Sale for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea. This Notice is published pursuant to 30 CFR 256.29(c) as a matter of information to the public. With regard to oil and gas leasing on the OCS, the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to section 19 of the OCS Lands Act, provides the affected States the opportunity to review the Proposed Notice. The Proposed Notice sets forth the proposed terms and conditions of the sale, including minimum bids, royalty rates, and rentals.

In accordance with the provisions of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001 (Pub. L. 107-107, 115 Stat. 1012, 1380- 1387) hereinafter referred to as the ``Refuge Act,'' the Secretary of Energy has transferred primary administrative jurisdiction over approximately 3,953.03 acres of real property at the former Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS), Jefferson and Boulder Counties, Colorado, to the Secretary of the Interior. Pursuant to section 3177(d) of the ``Refuge Act,'' the Secretary of the Interior hereby provides notice of the establishment of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The ``Refuge Act'' provides that following environmental remediation of RFETS, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, and other applicable provisions of law, the Secretary of Energy shall transfer administrative jurisdiction over real property comprising the Refuge to the Secretary of the Interior for establishment of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Environmental remediation of the Rocky Flats National Priorities List Site has been completed, except for on-going operations and maintenance, pursuant to a Record of Decision signed by the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Colorado in 2006. On May 25, 2007, the Regional Administrator of the EPA published notice in the Federal Register announcing deletion of the Peripheral Operable Unit and Operable Unit 3. On June 11, 2007, the Administrator of the EPA, acting through the Regional Administrator, Region 8, EPA, certified to the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of the Interior that all response actions for the deleted areas have been completed, except for the operation and maintenance associated with response acting and that all response actions are operating properly and successfully. Pursuant to the ``Refuge Act,'' administrative jurisdictions over portions of the deleted Peripheral Operable Unit, totaling approximately 3,953.03 acres were transferred from the Department of Energy to the Department of the Interior, through a Letter of Transfer dated July 12, 2007. This notice of establishment of the Refuge is required within 30 days of that transfer by section 3177(d) of the ``Refuge Act.''

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the final recovery plan for the endangered vermilion darter (Etheostoma chermocki). The vermilion darter is a medium-sized darter found only in the Turkey Creek drainage, Jefferson County, Alabama. The recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met to delist the vermilion darter under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., as amended (Act).

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Doyon, Limited. The lands are in the vicinity of Stevens Village, Alaska, and are located in:

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

The Secretary of the Interior is giving notice of the establishment of the Big Cypress National Preserve Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Committee to offer recommendations, alternatives and possible solutions to management of off-road vehicles at Big Cypress National Preserve.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that Alere Property Group (Applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. We are considering issuing a 5-year permit to the Applicant that would authorize take of the federally endangered Delhi Sands flower-loving fly (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis; ``DSF''). The proposed permit would authorize the take of individual DSF. The permit is needed by the Applicant because take of DSF could occur during the proposed construction of a commercial development and habitat restoration and management on an 18.42-acre site in the City of Rialto, San Bernardino County, California. The permit application includes the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) and associated Implementing Agreement that describe the proposed action and the measures that the Applicant will undertake to mitigate take of the DSF.

Under the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites public comments on an extension of a currently approved information collection (OMB 1024-0037).

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ellis Island Development Concept Plan, Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, New York and New Jersey. On May 14, 2007, the Director, Northeast Region approved the Record of Decision for this undertaking. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the selected Alternative (i.e., the preferred alternative in the FEIS issued on April 6, 2007). The National Park Service will work with its nonprofit partner for the project, Save Ellis Island, Inc to develop the Ellis Island Institute as the primary adaptive reuse of the Island's remaining abandoned buildings. The Institute will provide cultural, interpretive, and educational programs and activities related to the park's historic themes. An associated small conference facility and overnight accommodations will be developed, financed and managed by a professional hospitality business partner working with the nonprofit partner. The facility would host meetings, retreats, and workshops that would primarily focus upon issues such as immigration, world migration, public health, culture and ethnic diversity. In accordance with the National Park Service's Partnership Construction Process, additional market analysis and feasibility studies will be completed to test and confirm the economic and programmatic viability of the project. The primary purpose of this undertaking, having evaluated the full range of foreseeable environmental consequences of three (3) alternative management strategies presented in the FEIS, is to rehabilitate and adaptively reuse 30 deteriorating buildings on Ellis Island, and provide limited vehicular service and emergency access, while preserving cultural resource values and enhancing visitor appreciation of the immigration function and history pertaining to Ellis Island. The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a listing of measures to minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making process.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Devils River minnow (Dionda diaboli) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 73.5 stream kilometers (km) (45.7 stream miles (mi)) are within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located along streams in Val Verde and Kinney Counties, Texas.

The following permits were issued.

The following applicants have applied for scientific research permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

We invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

This notice announces a meeting of the Sporting Conservation Council (Council). We plan to review wildlife conservation endeavors that benefit recreational hunting and wildlife resources and that encourage partnerships among the public, the sporting conservation community, wildlife conservation groups, and State and Federal governments. This meeting is open to the public, and will include a session for the public to comment.

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 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW157243 for land in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

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 from Rocky Mountain Land & Leasing LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW157979 for land in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.