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

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP) for the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS, Massachusetts. In cooperation with the Town of Brookline, MA, attention will be given to resources outside the boundaries that affect the integrity of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS. The plan will identify management alternatives for the site. Major issues include the need to provide fundamental management guidance and to enable the park to strategically plan its long term resource management, visitor use, and partnership goals and objectives. This would be the first GMP for the John F. Kennedy NHS since its establishment in 1969. GMP issues include: (1) Creating strategies for resolving critical facility and visitor experience issues related to the small size of the site; (2) addressing the needs and expectations of a rapidly changing demographic audience; (3) developing a comprehensive resource management strategy for the site; (4) addressing alternative outreach and partnership program options, including interpreting the historic neighborhood where the Kennedy home is located; (5) improving the park's relationships with other presidential sites and other John F. Kennedy sites. The Draft EIS/General Management Plan is expected to be available for public review in early 2010. After public and interagency review of the draft document, comments will be considered and a final GMP/EIS will be prepared that contains a preferred alternative for management of the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS (the GMP), followed by a Record of Decision.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), and Final Land Protection Plan (LPP) for the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex. In this final EIS/CCP/LPP, we describe how we will manage this Refuge Complex for the next 15 years and expand the refuge boundaries for each of the four refuges within the Refuge Complex.

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 Chuloonawick Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Chuloonawick, Alaska, and are located in:

Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with Federal Regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), announces the availability of NEPA-related Site-Specific Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI), prepared by MMS for the following oil and gas activities proposed on the Gulf of Mexico OCS.

Pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as amended, and to Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, Subpart 3410, members of the public are hereby invited to participate with Peabody Coal Company, in a program for the exploration of unleased coal deposits owned by the United States of America containing approximately 3,980.0 acres in Morgan & Routt County, Colorado.

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 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. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) that analyzes additional oil and gas development in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is extending the call for nominations for six membership positions on the PAWG. The original notice calling for nominations was published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2008 [73 FR 29532]. The original deadline for the call for nominations was June 20, 2008, 30 days from the publication of the original notice. The purpose of the Working Group and Task Groups will be to advise the BLM, Pinedale Field Office Manager, regarding recommendations on matters pertinent to the BLM's responsibilities related to the Pinedale Anticline Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Archie Carr 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.

This order modifies an Executive Order and a Secretarial Order insofar as they affect 20 acres of public lands withdrawn by Power Site Reserve No. 141. This action also notifies the public of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission determination that opens 10 acres within a Power Project overlapping the Power Site Reserve. The combined actions will open the lands to a land exchange subject to Section 24 of the Federal Power Act.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection requests for 30 CFR 872, Abandoned mine reclamation funds; and 30 CFR part 955 and the Form OSM- 74, Certification of Blasters in Federal program States and on Indian lands have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and reauthorization. The information collection packages were previously approved and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0054 for 30 CFR 872, and 1029-0083 for 30 CFR 955 and the OSM-74 form. This notice describes the nature of the information collection activities and the expected burdens and costs.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Utah regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``Utah program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). Utah proposes additions and revisions to its rules regarding Division of Oil Gas and Mining (``DOGM'' or ``Division'') requests for additional information required to complete the review of a coal mining permit application, change, or renewal; the casing and sealing of underground openings; the definition of ``intermittent stream'' and related performance standards. Utah intends to revise its program to clarify Division responsibilities and improve operational efficiency.

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 Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Subcommittee will meet as indicated below.

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 December 31, 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.

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 December 31, 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.

This order extends the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 3708, as modified by Public Land Order No. 6709, and partially revoked by Public Land Order No. 7682, for an additional 20-year period. The extension is necessary to continue protection of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Gilmore Satellite Tracking Station, also known as the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station, located near Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend its regulations in 43 CFR part 3500 for leasing of solid minerals other than coal and oil shale to distinguish fringe acreage lease requirements from lease modification requirements, and to describe acceptable justifications for a lease modification. The proposed rule would also identify changes in the associated procedural requirements and update the filing fees. The proposed changes are based on statutory authorities, which authorize the BLM to issue regulations for leasing of minerals and to charge for administrative processing costs, and on policy guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) requiring the BLM to charge these fees.

This document contains a correction to a final rule that was published May 20, 2008 (73 FR 29354). The regulation relates to gaming on trust lands acquired after October 17, 1988.

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

In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the BLM in Oregon is beginning preparation of a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the use of 18 nationally approved herbicides to control noxious weeds; to treat invasive plants and other weeds in administrative sites, recreation sites, and rights-of-way; to treat forest pests and diseases; and to meet non-commodity landscape health objectives across nine BLM Districts in Oregon. This EIS will tier to, and adopt procedures from, the programmatic Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM Lands in 17 Western States EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) completed by the BLM in 2007 for the same 18 herbicides. The EIS will not amend existing District Resource Management Plans (RMPs).

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 Black Hills Exploration and Production, Inc. for Competitive oil and gas lease WYW173501 for land in Weston 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 Public Law 97-451, Western States International, Inc timely filed a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease CACA 45619 for lands in Kern County, California, and it was accompanied by all required rentals and royalties accruing from March 1, 2008, the date of termination.

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Public Laws 92-463 and 94-579, that the California Desert District Advisory Council to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, will meet in formal session on Friday, July 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday, July 26 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Riverside Marriot, 3400 Market St., Riverside, CA 92501. Agenda topics for the two sessions will include updates by Council members and reports from the BLM District Manager and five field office managers. Additional agenda topics are being developed. Once finalized, the meeting agenda will be published in a news release prior to the meeting and posted on the BLM California state Web site at https:// www.blm.gov/ca/news/rac.html.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are proposing regulation changes to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (Fund) and the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program. This proposed rule revises our regulations to be consistent with the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109-432, signed into law on December 20, 2006, which included the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act Amendments of 2006 (the 2006 amendments). The proposed rule reflects the extension of our statutory authority to collect reclamation fees for an additional fourteen years and to reduce the fee rates. This proposal also updates the regulations in light of the statutory amendments that change the activities State and Tribal reclamation programs may perform under the AML program, funding for reclamation grants to States and Indian tribes, and transfers to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Combined Benefit Fund (CBF), the UMWA 1992 Benefit Plan, and the UMWA Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan (1993 Benefit Plan). Finally, our proposed rule extends incentives reauthorized by the 2006 amendments pertaining to the remining of certain lands and water adversely affected by past mining.