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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the ashy storm-petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa) 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 ashy storm-petrel may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the species to determine if listing the species is warranted. To ensure that the review is comprehensive, we are soliciting information and data regarding this species. We will make a determination on critical habitat for this species, which was also requested in the petition, if, and when, we initiate a listing action.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 51.23, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service proposes to extend the following expiring concession contract for a period of up to 1 year, or until such time as a new contract is executed, whichever occurs sooner.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), announce that the Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Draft CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the southern unit of the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge is available for public comment. The Draft CCP/EA was prepared pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act) as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It describes two alternatives for managing the southern unit of the Innoko Refuge for the next 15 years, including continuing current management. We will use special mailings to inform the public of opportunities to provide input on the CCP/EA and will hold public meetings in communities near the Refuge (Grayling, Anvik, Shageluk, Holly Cross, Kaltag, McGrath, and Takotna).

The Department of the Interior's Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs (AS-IA) is forming a Tribal Energy Policy Advisory Committee (Committee) of tribal officials and Federal representatives to provide advice on implementing regulations promulgated under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act of 2005 (Act) and other Indian energy resource development matters. The AS-IA is requesting nominations to the Committee for tribal representatives of federally recognized Indian tribes from all of the Bureau of Indian Affairs regions except Alaska (the Act does not include Alaska).

This notice announces a public meeting of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2).

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 proposed new collection of information (OMB 1024-XXXX).

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and the National Park and Recreation Act of 1978, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Service (NPS) policies, the BLM and NPS announce the availability of the two Records of Decision (RODs) for the Approved Resource Management Plan/General Management Plan for the jointly- managed Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (Parashant), located in Mohave County, Arizona. Separate RODs for the BLM and NPS decisions in the Approved Resource Management Plan/General Management Plan have been signed by the BLM Arizona State Director, and by the NPS Pacific West Regional Director, respectively, for each agency's decisions contained in the Approved Resource Management Plan/General Management Plan. The BLM also announces the availability of the ROD/Approved Resource Management Plan for the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument (Vermilion) and the ROD/Approved Resource Management Plan for the Arizona Strip Field Office (ASFO), located in Mohave and Coconino Counties, Arizona. Both of these areas are managed solely by the BLM.

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's (BLM) Utah Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, modified, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice on March 4, 2008. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), announce that the Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Draft Plan) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge is available for public comment. The Draft Plan/EIS was prepared pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act) as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It describes five alternatives for managing the Kenai Refuge for the next 15 years, including continuing current management. We will use special mailings to inform the public of opportunities to provide input on the Draft Plan/EIS and will hold public meetings in Anchorage and various communities on the Kenai Peninsula to obtain public comments.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on the following application to amend an existing permit to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

The Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs made a final agency determination to acquire approximately 254 acres of land into trust for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria of California on April 18, 2008. This notice is published in the exercise of authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs by 209 Departmental Manual 8.1.

The applicants (Ms. Shirley Baird, Mr. Edward Boykin, Mr. Richard Dorsey, Mr. Richard Eastman, Mr. Terry Elkins, Mr. Medford Foster, Mr. Ted Giles, Mr. John Griffin, Harrison Building, Mr. Kenneth Howald, Mr. Gary Hudson, Mr. Jerry Hutcherson, Mr. Dean Jones, Mr. Bobby Junkins, K-Developers LLC, Mr. James Keeling, Mr. James Klimback, Mr. Marshall Newport, Ms. Mary Powers, Mr. Bradley Redwine, Mr. Edwin Spence, Mr. Jackie Stokley, Mr. Olin Tumlin, and Mr. James Walker) have applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for incidental take permits (ITP) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S. C. 1531 et seq.) (Act), as amended for the take of Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) (ABM). The proposed take would be incidental to the otherwise lawful activity of constructing 37 single-family and 5 duplex residences on the Fort Morgan Peninsula in Baldwin County, Alabama. The applicants have prepared Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) in accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Act, specifying, among other things, the impacts that are likely to result from the taking and the measures each applicant would undertake to minimize and mitigate such impacts. A detailed description of the proposed minimization and mitigation measures is provided in the applicants' HCPs and in our Environmental Assessment (EA). The proposed action would involve approval of the HCPs if the statutory issuance criteria are satisfied. The EA considers the environmental impacts of the proposed projects on the environment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease and subsequent conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, approximately 8.75 acres of public land in Clark County, Nevada. The St. Matthews Baptist Church proposes to use 5 acres of the land for a church, parking area, adult day care, athletic field, children's play area, landscaping, and related facilities. The Solid Rock Christian Church proposes to use 3.75 acres of the land for a house of worship, community learning/not-for-profit day care center, parking, and related facilities. The proposals by these two churches are distinguished as two distinct actions in this notice.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Lake Sammamish kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka) as a threatened or endangered species 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 Lake Sammamish kokanee may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the species, and we will issue a 12-month finding on our determination as to whether the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting information and data regarding this species. We will make a determination on critical habitat for this species if, and when, we initiate a listing action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Louisiana black bear under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Concurrently, we withdraw our December 2, 1993, proposal for Louisiana black bear critical habitat (58 FR 63560). In total, approximately 1,330,000 acres (538,894 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of this proposed critical habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in Avoyelles, East Carroll, Catahoula, Concordia, Franklin, Iberia, Iberville, Madison, Pointe Coupee, Richland, St. Martin, St. Mary, Tensas, West Carroll, and West Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose changes in the regulations governing the Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration, and Hunter Education and Safety financial assistance programs. We propose to (a) address changes in law, and regulation; (b) clarify rules on license certification to address a greater number of licensing choices that States have offered hunters and anglers; (c) delete provisions on audits and records that are addressed in other regulations broadly applicable to financial assistance programs managed by the Department of the Interior; and (d) reword the regulations to make them easier to understand. The proposed changes would improve the regulations by making them more current and clear.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), MMS is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, ``Pollution Prevention and Control.''

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will effect temporary closure of certain public lands in Lyon, Storey, Churchill, Carson, Douglas, Mineral, Washoe, and Nye counties at various dates and locations to provide for public and participant safety and to protect adjacent natural and cultural resources during the conduct of permitted special recreation events.

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) management policies, the BLM announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Special Status Species Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) for portions of the Carlsbad and Roswell Field Offices. The New Mexico State Director will sign the ROD, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.