Department of the Interior April 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 50 of 201
General Regulations for Areas Administered by the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service
The Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, proposes to amend regulations presently codified in 36 CFR part 2 and 50 CFR part 27, which provide guidance and controls for the possession and transportation of firearms in national park areas and national wildlife refuges. The proposed amendments would update the regulations to reflect current state laws authorizing the possession of concealed firearms, while maintaining the existing regulatory provisions that ensure visitor safety and resource protection such as the prohibitions on poaching and limitations on hunting and target practice.
Submission of Paperwork Reduction Act Request to Office of Management and Budget
This notice announces that the Information Collection Request for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Form 4432, Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and the Indian Health Service (IHS), OMB Control Number 1076-0160, has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The BIA is now seeking comments on the subject proposal.
Notice of Nominations Received and Proposed Limited Alternative Energy Leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and Initiation of Coordination and Consultation; Correction
The MMS published a Notice in the Federal Register on Friday, April 18, 2008 (73 FR 21152), announcing proposed areas of the OCS for limited alternative energy leasing and requesting indications of competitive interest in such proposed lease areas. That original Notice also requested public comment on the areas proposed for limited leasing. This correction Notice corrects the table in the original Notice identifying the proposed lease areas for alternative energy resource data collection and technology testing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
Alaska Native Claims Selection
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 Cully Corporation Inc. The lands are in the vicinity of Point Lay, Alaska, and are located in:
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on the following application to renew an existing permit to conduct certain activities involving endangered species.
Information Collection Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; OMB Control Number 1018-0101; Monitoring Recovered Species After Delisting-American Peregrine Falcon
We (Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. The ICR, which is summarized below, describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2008. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.
Salt River Project; Horseshoe-Bartlett Habitat Conservation Plan, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, AZ
The Salt River Project (SRP) has submitted an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) for species currently listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) and species that may become listed in the future (collectively, ``covered species''). The proposed take would occur in Maricopa and Yavapai Counties, Arizona, as a result of impacts on covered species and occupied habitat from modified operation of Horseshoe Dam and Reservoir (Horseshoe) and Bartlett Dam and Reservoir (Bartlett). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has issued a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the impacts of and alternatives for the possible issuance of an ITP. SRP has completed the final Horseshoe-Bartlett Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), along with a proposed Implementing Agreement as part of the application package submitted to the Service (collectively, the ``Application'') as required by the ESA, for consideration of issuance of an ITP. The Application provides measures to minimize and mitigate the effects of the proposed taking of covered species and effects to the habitats upon which they depend. The final EIS includes all comments received on the draft EIS, and responses to those comments. No decision will be made on the proposed action until at least 30 days after publication of this notice of availability of the final EIS in the Federal Register. After the 30-day waiting period, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will complete a Record of Decision (ROD) that states the action that will be implemented and discusses all factors leading to the decision.
Major Portion Prices and Due Date for Additional Royalty Payments on Indian Gas Production in Designated Areas Not Associated With an Index Zone
Final regulations for valuing gas produced from Indian leases, published August 10, 1999, require MMS to determine major portion prices and notify industry by publishing the prices in the Federal Register. The regulations also require MMS to publish a due date for industry to pay additional royalty based on the major portion prices. This notice provides the major portion prices for the 12 months of 2006.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, Comment Request
To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, we are inviting comments on information collection request (ICR) that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This ICR concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO). This ICR is titled ``Accounts Receivable Confirmations.''
Public Land Order No. 7705; Withdrawal of National Forest System Land To Preserve Cave Resources Adjacent to Jewel Cave National Monument; South Dakota; Correction
In Public Land Order No. 7705, 73 FR 21151-21152, published April 18, 2008, as FR Doc. E8-8410, make the following correction: On page 21151, column 1, in T. 4 S., R. 3 E., Sec. 6, lots 3 and 4 should read ``excluding that portion withdrawn by PLO 2965''.
Receipt of Applications for Permit
The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 70 Species in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Islands
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, initiate 5-year status reviews for 70 species in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and the Pacific Islands under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request any new information on these species that may have a bearing on their classification as endangered or threatened. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will determine whether these species are properly classified under the Act.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB a new information collection request (ICR) for approval of the paperwork requirements for the National Land Remote Sensing Education, Outreach and Research Program (NLRSEORP). To submit a proposal for the NLRSEORP three standard OMB forms and project narrative must be completed and submitted via Grants.gov. This notice provides the public an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these forms. The forms are available at https://www07.grants.gov/agencies/approved standardforms.jsp.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on Petitions To List the Mono Basin Area Population of the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as Threatened or Endangered
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on two petitions to list the Mono Basin area population of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State area of California and Nevada as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this population may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review to determine if listing the Mono Basin area population of greater sage- grouse is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding this population of the species. We will initiate a determination on critical habitat for this species if and when we initiate a listing action.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of Status Review for the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as Threatened or Endangered
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the extension of the period for submitting information that is pertinent to our status review of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The extension will provide the public and Federal, State, and local agencies with an additional opportunity to submit information for the status review. Information previously submitted need not be resubmitted; it already has been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the status review.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Western Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus phaios) as Threatened or Endangered
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the western sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus phaios) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the western sage-grouse may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review to determine if listing the species is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding this species. We will initiate a determination on critical habitat for this species if and when we initiate a listing action.
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Council) was established by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-320) (Act) to receive reports and advise federal agencies on implementing the Act. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Reclamation announces that the Council will meet as detailed below.
Notice of Intent To Establish an Indian Oil Valuation Negotiated Rulemaking Committee
The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is announcing its intent to establish an Indian Oil Valuation Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee). The Committee will develop specific recommendations regarding proposed revisions to the existing Indian Oil regulations for oil production from Indian leases, especially the major portion valuation requirement. The Committee will include representatives of parties who would be affected by a final rule. The MMS solicits comments on this initiative and requests interested parties to nominate representatives for membership on the Committee.
Environmental Water Account
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is the National Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are the Federal Cooperating Agencies. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is the California Environmental Quality Act State lead agency, and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is the State Responsible and Trustee Agency. Together, these five agencies have prepared a Final Supplemental EIS/EIR for the Environmental Water Account (EWA). The EWA Program provides for fish protection and recovery in the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) while at the same time improving water supply reliability for Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) water users. The Draft Supplemental EIS/EIR addressed changes to the regulatory and physical environment that have occurred since completion of the Final EIS/EIR in January 2004 (69 FR 3599) and the Records of Decision in March 2004 and September 2004.
Kansas Regulatory Program
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of revisions to a previously proposed amendment to the Kansas regulatory program (Kansas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The revisions concern newly promulgated Kansas Regulations. Kansas submitted these regulations at its own initiative to meet the requirements for its program to operate under Title IV and V of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and to make technical and editorial corrections to its program. This document gives the times and locations where the Kansas program and proposed amendment are available for your inspection and the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the revisions to the amendment.
Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG)
The Adaptive Management Program (AMP) was implemented as a result of the Record of Decision on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement to comply with consultation requirements of the Grand Canyon Protection Act (Pub. L. 102-575) of 1992. The AMP includes a federal advisory committee (AMWG), a technical work group (TWG), a monitoring and research center, and independent review panels. The AMWG makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior concerning Glen Canyon Dam operations and other management actions to protect resources downstream of Glen Canyon Dam consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act. The TWG is a subcommittee of the AMWG and provides technical advice and recommendations to the AMWG. Dates and Addresses: The AMWG will conduct the following meeting: Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008. The meeting will begin at 9:15 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. on the first day and will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m. on the second day. The meeting will be held at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2 Arizona Center, 400 N. 5th Street, 12th Floor, Conference Rooms A&B, in Phoenix, Arizona. Agenda: The purpose of the meeting will be for the AMWG to receive updates and discuss the following items: (1) Preliminary results from the March 2008 high flow experiment, (2) humpback chub comprehensive plan and recovery plan updates, (3) science symposium planning, (4) 2008 fiscal year expenditures, (5) draft 2009 fiscal year budget, (6) AMP strategic plan revision, (7) next steps for AMP experiments, and (8) other subjects of AMP administration. To view a copy of the draft agenda, please visit Reclamation's Web site at: https://www.usbr.gov/uc/ rm/amp/amwg/mtgs/08may22/. Time will be allowed for any individual or organization wishing to make formal oral comments at the meeting. To allow for full consideration of information by the AMWG members, written notice must be provided to Dennis Kubly, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Regional Office, 125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84138; telephone 801-524-3715; facsimile 801-524-3858; e-mail at dkubly@uc.usbr.gov at least five (5) days prior to the call. Any written comments received will be provided to the AMWG members.
National Park System Units in Alaska
The NPS is proposing to implement recent management decisions affecting Denali National Park and Preserve regarding backcountry management, climbing Mount McKinley, and off-road vehicle use for subsistence purposes.
Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1018-0115, Application for Training at the National Conservation Training Center
We (Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2008. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Proposed Information Collection; OMB Control Number 1018-0103, Conservation Order for Control of Mid-Continent Light Geese
We (Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2008. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Public Access, Use, and Recreation Regulations for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are adopting new regulations for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (refuge) to govern existing general public use and recreation. These changes will take effect in spring 2008 and will implement the recently completed comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for the refuge. This regulation codifies many existing refuge regulations currently published in and by brochures, signs, maps, and other forms of public notice.
Assessment Plan for Natural Resources Injured by Releases of Hazardous Substances From Dow Chemical Company's Midland, MI, Plant on the Tittabawassee River
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the release for public review of the April 2008, Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Plan for the Tittabawassee River System Assessment AreaPublic Release Draft (Assessment Plan). The Assessment Plan was developed by the Tittabawassee River Natural Resource Trustee Council in order to assess injuries to natural resources resulting from the releases of hazardous substances at and from Dow Chemical Company's plant on the Tittabawassee River in Midland County, Michigan. The Assessment Plan describes the proposed approach for determining and quantifying natural resource injuries and calculating damages associated with these injuries. We invite all interested parties to submit comments on the Assessment Plan.
Southern Delivery System, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado
Reclamation is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the Southern Delivery System DEIS. The original comment period published in the Federal Register (73 FR 11144) was scheduled to end on April 26, 2008. We are now notifying the public that Reclamation is extending the comment period to June 13, 2008. Reclamation is also announcing a public listening session that will be held in Pueblo, Colorado on May 29, 2008. We are hosting this meeting to provide an additional opportunity for the interested public to provide comments on the DEIS. Reclamation will not be responding to comments or answering questions publically at this meeting. The intent of this meeting is to listen to and record comments made by the public. All comments received on the DEIS will have corresponding responses published in the Final Environmental Impact Statement.
Notice of Availability of Revised NEPA Handbook
This notice announces the availability of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Handbook to support implementation of the procedures the BLM uses to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Virginia Regulatory Program
We are approving an amendment to the Virginia regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The revisions concern Virginia's standards for revegetation success for certain postmining land uses, distribution of topsoil and subsoil materials, and allow approval of natural stream restoration channel design, as developed in consultation with the Army Corps of Engineers. The amendment is intended to render the State's regulations no less effective than the Secretary's regulations in meeting the requirements of the Act.
Receipt of Applications for Permit
The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and marine mammals.
Issuance of Permits
The following permits were issued.
Receipt of Applications for Permit
The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and marine mammals.
Receipt of Applications for Permit
The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and marine mammals.
Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request
This notice announces that the Information Collection Request for the Adult Education Annual Report Form, OMB 1076-0120, requires renewal. The current Adult Education Annual Report Form, with no appreciable changes, will be submitted after the comment period to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 350(c)(2)(A). The Department of the Interior is soliciting public comments on the renewal.
Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge, Volusia and Lake Counties, FL
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe alternatives, including our proposed action to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the Final CCP. Also available for review and comment are draft compatibility determinations.
Coal Lease Exploration License, WY
Pursuant to section 2(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by section 4 of the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, 90 Stat. 1083, 30 U.S.C. 201(b), and to the regulations adopted as 43 CFR 3410, all interested parties are hereby invited to participate with Antelope Coal Co., a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Energy America on a pro rata cost sharing basis in its program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in the following-described land in Converse and Campbell Counties, WY:
Papaha
This notice advises the public that NOAA, FWS, and the State of Hawai`i's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and Office of Hawaiian Affairs have prepared a Draft Monument Management Plan (MMP) and associated environmental assessment (EA) for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Monument) located in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), which includes all federal lands and waters within its boundaries. The State of Hawai`i is a Cooperating Agency on the development of the MMP and EA. The Monument's resources and management activities, ongoing and proposed, are described in the Draft MMP. The MMP is available for public review and comments. Ten public meetings are scheduled to obtain your comments on and answer your questions about the Draft MMP, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for details.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Reviews[FU1]
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), initiate 5- year reviews of three endangered species (least terninterior population, Illinois cave amphipod, and Minnesota dwarf trout lily) and four threatened species (Lake Erie water snake, Lakeside daisy, Leedy's roseroot and northern wild monkshood) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request any new information on these species that may have a bearing on their classification as endangered or threatened. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make a finding on whether these species are properly classified under the Act.
Proposed Information Collection; Hunting and Fishing Application and Report Forms for National Wildlife Refuges
We (Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Notice of Meeting, Front Range Resource Advisory Council (Colorado)
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) Front Range Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.
Temporary Concession Contract for Pinnacles National Monument, CA
Pursuant to 36 CFR 51.24, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service proposes to award a temporary concession contract for the conduct of retail services (``Services'') available to the public visiting Pinnacles National Monument, California for a term not to exceed 16 months. The visitor services include the operation of a small convenience/grocery store. This action is necessary to avoid interruption of visitor services.
Receipt of Application of Endangered Species Recovery Permits
We announce our receipt of an application to conduct certain activities pertaining to enhancement of survival of endangered species.
Endangered Species Recovery Permit Applications
We invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.
Alaska Native Claims Selection
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 NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. for lands located in the vicinity of Ambler, Alaska. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Arctic Sounder.
Public Land Order No. 7706; Modification of Public Land Order Nos. 2131 and 2228 and Secretarial Orders dated July 17, 1947 and August 12, 1948; New Mexico
This order modifies and establishes a 20-year term for two Public Land Orders and two Secretarial Orders, which withdrew public lands and reserved them for use of the Federal Aviation Administration in the maintenance of air navigation facilities. The lands, which aggregate approximately 193 acres, are still needed for the purpose for which they were withdrawn. The lands will remain withdrawn from surface entry and mining but not from mineral and geothermal leasing or mineral material sales.
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
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 COC60856 from Black Resources, Inc., for lands in Montezuma 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.
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, Anson and Richmond Counties, NC
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the Final CCP. The primary purpose of this 8,443-acre refuge is to protect migratory birds. Major habitats include bottomland hardwoods, upland pine forests, mixed pine-hardwoods, croplands, grasslands/old fields, managed wetlands, and open water. The refuge also has 1,306 acres in a conservation easement. Significant issues identified by the public, intergovernmental partners, and the Service include: Need for comprehensive wildlife and habitat management; lack of baseline data; threats to threatened, endangered, and imperiled species; impacts of increasing human population; need for increased partnerships and interagency coordination; spread of exotic species; impacts to water quantity and quality; need for improved environmental education and interpretation; need for a cultural resource management plan; and the need for maintaining quality hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent public use activities.
Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales
Pursuant to the authority vested in the Director of the Minerals Management Service by the joint bidding provisions of 30 CFR 256.41, each entity within one of the following groups shall be restricted from bidding with any entity in any other of the following groups at Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held during the bidding period May 1, 2008 through October 31, 2008. The List of Restricted Joint Bidders published in the Federal Register November 14, 2007, covered the period November 1, 2007 through April 30, 2008.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
