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

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Santa Clara Valley Water District, in coordination with the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, intend to prepare an EIS/EIR for the San Luis Low Point Improvement Project (Low Point Project). Reclamation is the lead Federal agency and Santa Clara Valley Water District is the lead State agency for preparation of the EIS/EIR. The Low Point Project is designed to address water supply reliability issues in San Luis Reservoir associated with conditions occurring in summer months when water levels are low. During this time, reservoir-wide growth of algae makes the water unsuitable for certain agricultural and municipal and industrial users in the San Felipe Division with existing treatment facilities (also known as the ``low point issue'').

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 Clarks River 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.

Pursuant to Public Law 106-503, the Interim Steering Committee for the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center will hold a meeting to discuss priority wildlife climate change research needs of land management and natural resources agencies. Agenda topics will be provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. Meetings of the Interim Steering Committee for the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center are open to the public.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) for Alabama and Mississippi.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has completed the Windy Gap Firming Project Draft EIS. It is now available for public review and comment. Two public hearings are scheduled during the comment period. The Draft EIS describes and discloses the estimated environmental effects of five alternatives, including a no action alternative and four action alternatives that accomplish the purpose and need for the project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Western Area Power Administration (Western), and the Board of County Commissioners, Grand County, Colorado (Grand County) are cooperating agencies that are providing assistance in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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 Retamco Operating Inc. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW161815 for land in Carbon 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 Retamco Operating Inc. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW161806 for land in Carbon 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 Retamco Operating Inc. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW161801 for land in Carbon 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 Retamco Operating Inc. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW161800 for land in Carbon 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 Sun Cal Energy, Inc. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW159737 for land in Sublette 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.

The following permit was issued.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is submitting the following collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for approval and renewal: Law and Order on Indian Reservations, which concerns marriage and dissolution of a marriage in a Court of Indian Offenses, OMB Control No. 1076-0094.

This rule prescribes final early-season frameworks from which the States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting seasons. Early seasons are those that generally open prior to October 1, and include seasons in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the selection of hunting seasons by the States and Territories to further the annual establishment of the early-season migratory bird hunting regulations.

We are approving, with certain exceptions, a proposed amendment to the Utah regulatory program (the ``Utah program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Utah proposed to revise provisions of the Utah Code Annotated pertaining to small operator assistance and permit applications. Utah intended to revise its program to be consistent with SMCRA and to make editorial changes.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act that meetings of the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission will be held to discuss the development of the Park's general management plan. Dates and Locations: September 18, 2008, at the Strasburg Town Hall Council Chambers, 174 East King St., Strasburg, VA; December 18, 2008, at the Middletown Town Hall Council Chambers, 7875 Church St., Middletown, VA; March 19, 2009, at the Warren County Government Center, 220 N. Commerce Ave., Front Royal, VA; and June 18, 2009, at the Strasburg Town Hall. All meetings will convene at 9 a.m. and are open to the public.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) amends a procedural regulation pertaining to the issuance of patents for public lands leased on or before November 9, 1988, for solid waste disposal or related purposes. The existing regulation requires the express approval of the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) before the lessee may receive a patent to such lands. In 1992, when the regulation was promulgated, most of the BLM's employees with the necessary expertise were centralized in the BLM's headquarters in Washington, DC, and express approval by the Director was deemed necessary. This is no longer the case, since employees with the necessary expertise are now located in State Offices of the BLM. Consistent with Department of the Interior policy to delegate responsibility to the lowest appropriate organizational levels, this rule removes the requirement for express approval by the Director. As this administrative final rule amends an internal agency procedure, it is exempt from the usual requirement for notice and an opportunity for public comment, under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Pursuant to Public Law 96-472, the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold a meeting. The meeting location is the Hilton Palm Springs Resort, 400 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California 92262-6605. The Committee is comprised of members from academia and the Federal Government. The Committee shall advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on proposed earthquake predictions, on the completeness and scientific validity of the available data related to earthquake predictions, and on related matters as assigned by the Director. The Council will receive a briefing on the Colaboratory for Study of Earthquake Predictability (CSEP), a report on a workshop on Episodic Tremor and Slip held last winter, and short reports and updates on several other topics. The Council will also discuss the potential need to provide advisory reports on short notice if natural observations suggest an increased earthquake risk, and the form and content of such reports. Meetings of the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council are open to the public.