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

This notice advises the public that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to 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) between the Applicant and the Service for the federally- threatened bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis), the federally-endangered Metcalf Canyon jewelflower (Streptanthus albidus albidus), and the federally-threatened Santa Clara Valley dudleya (Dudleya setchellii). The Agreement is available for public comment.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (together the Services) intend to gather information necessary for the preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS will consider applications from the Fruit Growers Supply Company (FGS) for Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) for take of endangered and threatened species in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). FGS's applications will include a multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), as required under the ESA. The HCP will address forest management and timber operations on FGS lands in Siskiyou County, California. The proposed 50 year HCP will encompass approximately 154,000 acres of lands owned by FGS on and after the granting date of the ITPs. The HCP will outline conservation programs for various aquatic species under the jurisdiction of NMFS and terrestrial species under the jurisdiction of FWS. For purposes of the issuance of the ITPs, NMFS and FWS are co- lead agencies under National Environmental Policy Act. We provide this notice to describe the proposed action and possible alternatives; advise other Federal and State agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an EIS; announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and possible alternatives to be included in the EIS.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice of the decision approving lands for conveyance to Bay View Incorporated, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 28). The notice contained an error in the land description. The correct description is as follows:

The OCS Policy Committee will meet at the Washington Dulles Crowne Plaza Hotel in Herndon, Virginia.

This action reopens the period for submitting comments on the proposed rule published on October 3, 2007. That proposed rule requested comments on the revisions to Outer Continental Shelf pipeline and pipeline rights-of-way regulations. The comment period has been reopened to March 17, 2008. The MMS will hold a public meeting to discuss the proposed rule in the Gulf of Mexico Regional Office on February 22, 2008.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Public Law 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, 5 U.S.C. App 1, Section 10), notice is hereby given that the Concessions Management Advisory Board (the Board) will hold its 18th meeting March 12-13, 2008, at Embassy Suites Hotel, Washington, DC. The meeting will convene Wednesday, March 12 at 10 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m. The meeting will reconvene Thursday, March 13 at 9 a.m. and will conclude before 4 p.m.

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) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting as indicated below.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces a public meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council).

Pursuant to Public Law 106-148, the NCGMP Advisory Committee will meet in Room BA102A of the John Wesley Powell Building of the U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia. The Advisory Committee, composed of scientists from Federal Agencies, State Agencies, academic institutions, and private companies, will advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey on planning and implementation of the geologic mapping program. Topics to be reviewed and discussed by the Advisory Committee include the: Progress of the NCGMP towards fulfilling the purposes of the National Geological Mapping act of 1992 Field oriented geoscience experience for college and university students. Paucity of Black, Hispanic, and Native American college and university students with geoscience majors.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list Phyllostegia hispida (no common name), a plant species from the island of Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species. We have determined that critical habitat for Phyllostegia hispida is prudent but not determinable at this time.

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 Contex Energy Company for competitive oil and gas lease WYW164747 for land in Washakie 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 Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. and Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP for competitive oil and gas lease WYW148913 for land in Converse 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.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (Tribes), the Oregon Department of Transportation, the City of Cascade Locks, the Port of Cascade Locks, Hood River County and the Federal Highway Administration as cooperating agencies, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a proposed 25-acre trust acquisition and resort and casino project to be located within the City of Cascade Locks, Hood River County, Oregon, and that the DEIS is now available for public review. Public review of the DEIS is part of an administrative process designed to evaluate tribal applications that seek to have the United States to take land into Federal trust pursuant to 25 CFR part 151. Reviewers are advised that we will consider public comments carefully prior to deciding whether to approve or disapprove this application. This notice also extends the normal 45-day public comment period to 90 days in order to accommodate heightened public interest in this proposed action, and it announces five public hearings to receive comments on the DEIS.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations and policies, the BLM announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Sierra (California) Resource Management Plan (RMP) for public lands administered by the Folsom Field Office. The California State Director has signed the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the RMP effective immediately.

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) Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will hold a public tour as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating final revised critical habitat for Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii (Peirson's milk-vetch) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 12,105 acres (ac) (4,899 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the revised critical habitat designation for A. m. var. peirsonii. The revised critical habitat is located in Imperial County, California. We are excluding Unit 2 from this revised designation based on the disproportionate economic and social impacts associated with the designation of this unit relative to the other units designated as critical habitat. This final revised designation constitutes a reduction of 9,758 ac (3,949 ha) from our 21,863 ac (8,848 ha) previous final designation of critical habitat for A. m. var. peirsonii published in 2004.

On Wednesday, March 19, 2008, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in GOM Eastern Planning Area (EPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 224, pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, as amended), the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR Part 256), and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act . The Final Notice of Sale 224 Package (FNOS 224 Package) contains information essential to bidders, and bidders are charged with the knowledge of the documents contained in the Package.