Department of the Interior January 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or We), are reviewing available biological and economic information on constrictor snakes in the Python, Boa and Eunectes genera for possible addition to the list of injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. The importation and introduction of constrictor snakes into the natural ecosystems of the United States may pose a threat to the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry; to the health and welfare of human beings; and to the welfare and survival of wildlife and wildlife resources in the United States. An injurious wildlife listing would prohibit the importation into, or transportation between, States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States by any means, without a permit. Permits may be issued for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes. This document seeks comments from the public to aid in determining if a proposed rule is warranted.

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

Pursuant to Public Law 106-503, the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC) will hold its 17th meeting. The meeting location is the U.S. Geological Survey, John Wesley Powell National Center, Room 1B215, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192. The Committee is comprised of members from academia, industry, and State government. The Committee shall advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on matters relating to the USGS's participation in the National Earthquake hazards Reduction Program. The Committee will receive updates and provide guidance on Earthquake Hazards Program activities and the status of teams supported by the Program. Meetings of the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee are open to the public.

This notice announces the revision to the boundary of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, pursuant to the Act specified below, to include a 6.67-acre parcel of adjacent land identified as Tract 921 located in Smithfield Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, and depicted on a map prepared by the National Park Service entitled ``Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Proposed Boundary,'' dated November 7, 2007, and numbered 620/80,055. The United States will acquire Tract 921 in exchange for 1.22 acres of Federal land also located within Monroe County.

This notice terminates in part the existing classification for 102.91 acres of public land that was classified as suitable for lease and conveyance under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.). The termination will allow the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to offer a 6.5-acre parcel for sale under Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1701 and 1713), as amended. Termination of the classification in part is consistent with BLM policies and the BLM Colorado Northeast Resource Management Plan, dated September 16, 1986, and has been reviewed with local officials.

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.

One parcel of public land (N-76426) located in Beatty, Nevada, and totaling 0.46 acres, has been examined and found suitable for disposal utilizing direct sale procedures. The authority for the sale is under Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1713 and 1719.

To protect fragile, wintering mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and elk herds, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is closing to motorized use this winter, certain public lands in the Gunnison Basin. This action is in coordination with the Colorado Division of Wildlife's emergency winter feeding program for big game herds in the Gunnison Basin. The BLM and CDOW have cooperatively identified winter feeding areas and procedures, as well as area closures in conjunction with the feeding program. Extreme snow depths, combined with extreme cold temperatures, have prompted the closure and emergency feeding decisions.

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

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (Applicant), has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit (TE-174351-0) pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act), as amended. The requested permit, which is for a period of 5 years, would authorize incidental take of the Page springsnail, Pyrgulopsis morrisoni, in the event it is listed, as a result of conservation actions, on-going fish hatchery operations, and the issuance of certificates of inclusion to other landowners. We invite public comment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted the proposed collection of information listed below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). On September 18, 2007, the BLM published a notice in the Federal Register (72 FR 53261) requesting comments on the collection. The comment period closed on November 19, 2007. The BLM received no comments. You may obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and related explanatory material by contacting the BLM Information Collection Clearance Officer at the telephone number listed below.

Pursuant to the terms of existing concession contracts, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to request a continuation of visitor services for a period not-to-exceed 1 year from the date of contract expiration.

Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (the Commission) will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, at 1:30 p.m., at the National Building Museum, Room 312, 401 F Street, NW., Washington, DC. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss currently authorized and proposed memorials in the District of Columbia and its environs. In addition to discussing general matters and conducting routine business, the Commission will review the status of legislative proposals introduced in the 110th Congress to establish memorials in the District of Columbia and its environs, as follows:

Notice is given that a meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission (the Commission) will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Eastern). The Commission will meet jointly with the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force. The joint meeting will be held at the Somerset County Courthouse, Courtroom 1; 2nd floor, 111 East Union Street, Somerset, Pennsylvania, 15501. The agenda of the meeting will include review and approval of Commission minutes from October 7, 2007; reports from the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force and National Park Service; old business; and new business. The meeting will be open to the public. Comments from the public will be taken at the end of the meeting. Any person may file with a Commission a written statement concerning the matters to be discussed. Persons who wish to file a written statement or testify at the meeting, or who want further information concerning the meeting may contact Superintendent Joanne Hanley at 814.443.4557. Address all statements to: Flight 93 Advisory Commission, 109 West Main Street, Somerset, PA 15501.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have revised the 2005 special rule for the central Idaho and Yellowstone area nonessential experimental population (NEP) of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the northern Rocky Mountains. Specifically, we have modified the definition of ``unacceptable impact'' to wild ungulate populations so that States and Tribes with Service-approved post-delisting wolf management plans (hereafter, referred to as wolf management plans) can better address the impacts of a recovered wolf population on ungulate herds and populations while wolves remain listed. We made other minor revisions to clarify the requirements and processes for submission of proposals to control wolves for unacceptable ungulate impacts. We also modified the 2005 special rule to allow persons in States or on Tribal lands with wolf management plans to take wolves that are in the act of attacking their stock animals or dogs. All other provisions of the special rule remain unchanged. As under the existing terms of the 2005 special rule, these modifications do not apply to States or Tribes without wolf management plans or to wolves outside the Yellowstone or central Idaho NEP areas.

Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500-1508), the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed General Management Plan (GMP) for San Juan Island National Historical Park located in San Juan County, Washington. This DEIS describes and analyzes three GMP alternatives that respond to both NPS planning requirements and to the public's concerns and issues, identified during the scoping and early public involvement process. Each alternative presents management strategies for resource protection and preservation, education and interpretation, visitor use and facilities, land protection and boundaries, and long-term operations and management of the park. The potential environmental consequences of all the alternatives, and mitigation strategies, are identified and analyzed in the DEIS. In addition to a baseline ``no-action'' alternative, an ``environmentally preferred'' alternative is identified. Background: A Notice of Intent formally initiating the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis effort necessary for updating the general management plan was published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2003. The National Park Service (NPS) organized an interdisciplinary planning team consisting of staff at San Juan Island National Historical Park and the NPS Pacific West Regional Office in Seattle, Washington to identify preliminary issues to be addressed in updating the GMP. The last GMP was prepared in 1979. The official public scoping process began in March 2003 when the NPS produced and distributed an initial newsletter announcing the start of the planning process and soliciting feedback on issues to be addressed in the plan. The newsletter was mailed to the park's 216 person mailing list, and also posted on the park's website. In addition, 4,000 copies of the newsletter were inserted into The Journal of the San Juan Islands newspaper, which reaches approximately 3,000 island residents and approximately 1,000 residents off-island. An additional 2,500 copies were distributed to area libraries, civic buildings, business, churches, museums, universities, communities, dignitaries and elected officials. Three public workshops were held in April 2003, with two in Friday Harbor, Washington, and one in Seattle, Washington. Presentations about the mission of the NPS and purpose and significance of San Juan Island national Historical Park were followed by small group work sessions that allowed people to present and discuss issues, experiences, and ideas for the park. Approximately thirty-nine people attended the San Juan Island workshops, and an additional four participated in the Seattle workshop. Eighteen written responses were also collected during the scoping period. A second newsletter was produced in November 2003 summarizing the comments received, written and oral, during the scoping period. The comments covered a broad range of issues, concerns, personal experiences, and recommendations for the park. When compiled, over 224 different comments or ideas were represented. The comments can be broadly organized in the following topics: Resource preservation and management; visitor experience and services; park facilities, operations, management and maintenance, and park administration and planning. Though many new actions and ideas were suggested by the public during this comment period, no new issues were identified. Proposed Plan and Alternatives: Alternative A constitutes the ``baseline'' No Action Alternative and assumes a continuation of existing management and trends at San Juan Island National Historical Park. The primary emphasis would continue to be placed on protection and preservation of cultural resources. Since 1966, the park has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. Management of cultural landscapes around the immediate encampment areas at American Camp and English Camp would continue to emphasize cultural landscape management while respecting the natural environment and natural processes. No new construction would be authorized. Alternative B would increase visitor opportunities and outreach at both English Camp and American Camp, as well as in the town of Friday Harbor, through additional visitor facilities, recreational opportunities, programs, and services. Natural and cultural resources interpretation would be enhanced through more extensive facilities and programs. Off-island interpretation would be enhanced through partnerships. The park would propose boundary adjustments at both camps to include important natural and cultural resources related to the purpose of the park. At English Camp, the road system would be reconfigured as a one-way loop road by connecting a road segment approximately one-fifth mile long from the entrance road to the administrative road. The road would follow the existing historic road alignment where possible. The Crook house would be rehabilitated as a visitor contact facility on the ground floor and for administrative use on the second floor. At American Camp, the 1979 double-wide trailer that serves as the temporary visitor center at American Camp would be removed, the site restored to natural conditions, and a new enlarged visitor center would be constructed north of the redoubt. The new visitor center would include space for a collections study room for natural and cultural resource items, including a portion of the military-era collections. The existing road to the redoubt off Pickett's Lane would be removed and converted to a trail. The cultural landscapes would be enhanced to aid visitor understanding and interpretation through a variety of techniques. The prairie would be restored to native plant species. Alternative C is the NPS Preferred Alternative and would broaden the scope of resource management and interpretation programs to emphasize the connections and interrelationships between the park's natural and cultural resources. New facilities, trails and programs would provide opportunities for visitors to understand the importance of the park's natural resources in defining the cultural landscapes and influencing the settlement and historic events of San Juan Island. At English Camp, the Crook house would be retained, stabilized, and used as an exterior exhibit while the hospital would be rehabilitated and opened to the public for interpretation. The 1979 double-wide trailer that serves as the temporary visitor center at American Camp would be removed and replaced with a permanent, enlarged visitor center at the existing site, allowing for improved exhibits and staff space. A collections study room for natural and cultural resource items, including a portion of the military-era collections would be relocated to the park. Additional buildings would be open to the public for interpretation as well as research and academic study. As in Alternative B, the existing road to the redoubt would be removed and converted to a trail and the prairie would be restored to native plant species. Historic buildings from the encampment period still existing on the island would be repatriated back to their original locations within the camps. Off- island interpretation would be enhanced through partnerships. The park would propose boundary adjustments at both camps to include important natural and cultural resources related to the purpose of the park. As documented in the DEIS, Alternative C is deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative. Public Review and Comment: The DEIS/GMP is now available for public review. All written comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register of the EPA's notice of filing of the EIS; as soon as this date is confirmed, it will be announced on the project website and via local and regional media. During the review period, several options are available for providing written comments: (1) Online via an electronic comment form provided on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/sajh; (2) A postage-paid comment response form is included in the Draft General Management Plan Alternatives Newsletter; additional pages may be attached to this form as necessary; (3) Written letters can also be directly mailed to: Superintendent, San Juan Island National Historical Park, 650 Mullis Street, Suite 100, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250. In addition, comments may be made in person at one of the upcoming public workshops that the NPS will conduct in mid-February 2008. Confirmed details on dates, locations and times for these workshops will be announced in local newspapers, in the Draft General Management Plan Alternatives Newsletter, online at the above Web site, or may be obtained via telephone at (360) 378-2240. A limited number of printed copies of the Draft EIS/GMP can be obtained at the address noted above. In addition, the document is available for review at the public library in Friday Harbor, Washington. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying informationmay be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Decision: Following the opportunity to review the DEIS/GMP, all comments received will be carefully considered in preparing the final document. This document is anticipated to be completed during the fall of 2008 and its availability will be similarly announced in the Federal Register and via local and regional press media. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible for the final decision is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region; subsequently the official responsible for implementation would be the Superintendent, San Juan Island National Historical Park.

Notice is hereby given that Michael Etnier, Ph.D., Box 353100, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98227, has applied in due form for a permit to import, export, and possess marine mammal specimens for the purposes of scientific research.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge in Benton County, Arkansas, is available for review and comment. This document was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Draft CCP/EA describes the Service's proposal for management of the refuge for 15 years.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a Proposed Land Exchange in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, is available for public comment. We prepared this DEIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and its implementing regulations. The Service is furnishing this notice to advise the public and other agencies of the availability of the DEIS and to solicit comments. We have amended our original schedule to provide 60 days for public comment, rather than the minimum 45 days required by regulation. This extension provides the latest date we can accept public comment and still meet our obligation to complete the EIS within the fiscal year. We believe that 60 days is adequate to meet the needs for public review. Public hearings will be held in February and March in the cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks, and the communities of Arctic Village, Beaver, Birch Creek, Central, Chalkyitsik, Circle, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, and Venetie. In conjunction with the public hearings, we will hold subsistence hearings under Section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) in the affected communities. The schedule for the hearings will be highly dependent on local weather conditions and other community activities and commitments. Dates, times, and locations will be announced locally at least two weeks prior to each hearing.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell 40 acres of public lands near Wamsutter, Wyoming, Sweetwater County, to the Town of Wamsutter for current and future affordable housing purposes. These lands consist of one parcel totaling 40.00 acres more or less, which has been identified for disposal in the Great Divide Resource Management Plan, dated November 9, 1990. The sale will be conducted using modified competitive bidding procedures in accordance with and under the applicable provisions of sections 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1713), its implementing regulations, and in accordance with 43 CFR 2711.3-2, BLM land sale regulations at 43 CFR Part 2710 and the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act of 2000, Public Law 106-248, July 25, 2000.

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 COC65790 from IPR Lay Creek, LLC 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 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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Siskiyou Mountains salamander (Plethodon stormi) and Scott Bar salamander (Plethodon asupak) as threatened or endangered, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the Siskiyou Mountains salamander and Scott Bar salamander is not warranted. We ask the public to continue to submit to us any new information concerning the status of, and threats to, these species. This information will help us to monitor and encourage the ongoing management of these species.