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

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

We (U.S. Geological Survey) 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 ICR is scheduled to expire on July 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. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Charlotte County (applicant) requests an ITP pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant anticipates taking about 0.46 acre of foraging and sheltering habitat occupied by the threatened Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub-jay) incidental to lot preparation for the construction of a library and supporting infrastructure in Charlotte County, Florida (Project). The applicant's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of the Project to the scrub-jay.

The following permits were issued.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes a rule on the use of Reclamation land, facilities, and waterbodies. The proposed rule addresses among other topics the cost recovery of fees for authorized uses involving the possession or occupancy of any portion of, and the extraction or disturbance of any natural resource from Reclamation land, facilities, and waterbodies; how to apply for a use authorization including what application forms to use; and what uses are prohibited and associated consequences. When finalized, the proposed rule will supersede the current rule which was originally published in 1983 and partially revised in April 2006.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to file the plat of survey of the lands described below thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

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 Jacobs Ranch Coal Company 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 lands in Campbell County, WY:

Certain lands located in northwestern Nevada partly within the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area will be temporarily closed or restricted and certain activities will be temporarily prohibited in and around the Burning Man event site administered by the Bureau of Land Management Winnemucca Field Office. These closures are authorized under the provisions of 43 CFR 8364.1. The specified closures, restrictions and prohibitions are made in the interest of public safety at and around the public lands location of an event known as the Burning Man Festival. This event is authorized on public lands under Special Recreation Permit NV- 025-06-01 and is expected to attract approximately 50,000 participants.

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

On Wednesday, August 20, 2008, the MMS will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in WPA Oil and Gas Lease Sale 207, pursuant to the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, as amended) and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR Part 256). The Final Notice of Sale 207 Package (FNOS 207 Package) contains information essential to bidders, and bidders are charged with the knowledge of the documents contained in the Package.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), are amending certain provisions related to international trade in sturgeon caviar in the regulations that implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We are reducing the quantity of caviar that may be imported or exported under the CITES personal effects exemption and amending the requirements for import of caviar from shared stocks subject to quotas. These changes are not controversial and will bring U.S. regulations in line with revisions adopted by consensus at the most recent meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (June 2007). The revised regulations will help us more effectively promote species conservation, help us continue to fulfill our responsibilities under the Treaty, and help those affected by CITES to understand how to conduct lawful international trade in sturgeon caviar.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to remove Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii (Peirson's milk-vetch) from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Plants under the Endangered Species Act. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial information available, we find that the petitioned action is not warranted. We ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, the species. This information will help us monitor and encourage the conservation of this species.

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 Swan Lake Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Sheldon Point, Alaska, and are located in:

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to address and eliminate the use of Colorado River water from the mainstream in the lower Colorado River basin (Lower Basin) without an entitlement. For the last eight years, the upper and lower Colorado River basins have experienced the worst drought conditions in approximately one hundred years of recorded history. This drought is the first sustained drought to be experienced on the Colorado River when all major storage facilities are in place and when Arizona, California, and Nevada (Lower Division States) are fully utilizing their basic Colorado River water apportionment of 7.5 million acre-feet per year. Reclamation believes that development of such a rule will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the lower Colorado River and in doing so will protect the water rights of lower Colorado River water entitlement holders. The rule establishes procedures that Reclamation will follow in making determinations of unlawful use of lower Colorado River water. The rule includes notice and appeal procedures for those persons or entities whose use of lower Colorado River water is identified as unlawful. Reclamation is seeking comments on the proposed rule including comments that identify any specific economic impacts to members of the public and to small businesses located within the boundary of the river aquifer. The comments should include any identified or potential economic impacts and the estimated costs of the impacts.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is issuing public notice of its intent to add a new Privacy Act system of records to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records systems maintained by the agency (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)). The new Privacy Act system of records is entitled Interior, BIA-29: ``Fee to Trust Tracking System'' (FTTS).

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is issuing public notice, pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), of its intent to amend its existing Privacy Act system of records notice entitled Interior, BIA-22, ``Indian Student Records,'' published at 55 FR 34085 (August 21, 1990).

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is issuing public notice of its intent to add a new Privacy Act system of records to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records systems maintained by the agency (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)). The new Privacy Act system of records is entitled Interior, BIA-34: ``National Irrigation Information Management System (NIIMS).''

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs is issuing public notice of its intent to add a new Privacy Act system of records to its inventory of records systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a). This action is necessary to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act to publish in the Federal Register notice of the existence and character of records systems maintained by the agency (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4)). This new Privacy Act system of records is entitled Interior, BIA31: ``Information Management System'' (IMS).

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 for the general management plan for Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah. The Regional Director, Intermountain Region, will approve the environmental impact statement. Golden Spike National Historic Site is in Box Elder County, Utah. The national historic site was authorized by Congress on July 30, 1965. Congress charged the Secretary with acquisition of lands `` * * * for the purpose of establishing a national historic site commemorating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States * * *'' The enabling legislation also states that ``the National Park Service * * * shall administer, protect, and develop such historic site, subject to the provisions of the Act entitled `An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes' '' approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 525), as amended and supplemented, and the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the preservation of historic American sites buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes,'' approved August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), as amended. The general management plan will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained in the national historic site over the next approximately 20 years. The clarification of what must be achieved according to law and policy will be based on review of the park's purpose, significance, special mandates, and the body of law and policies directing the park management. Management decisions to be made where law, policy, or regulations do not provide clear guidance or limits will be based on the purposes of the park; the range of public expectations and concerns; resource analysis; an evaluation of the natural, cultural, and social impacts of alternative courses of action; and consideration of long-term economic costs. Based on determinations of desired conditions, the general management plan will outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, land acquisition, and development that would be appropriate in the park in the future. Alternatives will be developed through this planning process and will include, at a minimum, no-action and the preferred alternative. Major issues may include, but are not limited to, the need to identify desired conditions and future management strategies for cultural and natural resources, the need to address visitor use and experience issues, and site operations concerns.