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

In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a Special Resource Study (SRS) of landscape features and sites that contribute to the understanding of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in the United States. This study was mandated by Public Law 109-338, the ``John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act of 2006.'' The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor encompasses 24 communities located along the Blackstone River and its tributaries spanning from Worcester, MA to Providence, RI. Within the boundaries of the heritage corridor lie approximately 400,000 acres of land and over 500,000 people. The waters of the Blackstone River powered the Slater Mill, a National Historic Landmark, in Pawtucket, RI, America's first successful textile mill. This creative spark contributed to the nation's historic evolution as a global industrial and technological power. The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor was established by Public Law 99-647 in November 1986 for the purpose of preserving and interpreting for educational and inspirational benefit of present and future generations the unique and significant contributions to our national heritage of certain historic and cultural lands, waterways and structures within the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The heritage corridor was to provide a management framework to assist the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and their units of local government in the development and implementation of integrated cultural, historical and land resource management programs in order to retain, enhance and interpret the significant values of the lands, waters and structures of the corridor. The purpose of this Special Resource Study/EIS is to provide Congress with information about the national significance, suitability, and feasibility of sites and landscape features within the corridor that are associated with American industrial history for possible inclusion in the National Park System. The study will develop alternative options for management and interpretation of the sites and landscape features under consideration. The draft report of the study, with the draft EIS, is expected to be completed and available for public review by late 2009.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has replaced the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) as lead agency in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed casino and hotel project to be located near Friant, in Fresno County, California. The BIA, with the Big Sandy Rancheria Band of Western Mono Indians (Tribe) as a cooperating agency, intends to gather information necessary for preparing the EIS. The NIGC initiated the public scoping process, including a public scoping meeting on September 15, 2005, to determine the issues, concerns and alternatives to be included in the EIS. The BIA is hereby continuing that process, but as project plans have not changed since the September 15, 2005, meeting, will not be holding additional public scoping meetings.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that land located in Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico is suitable for classification for lease and/or conveyance to New Mexico State University (NMSU) under authority of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act (R&PP), as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq. ). NMSU proposes to use the land as a new satellite campus for the Do[ntilde]a Ana Community College.

The MMS has prepared a SEIS on oil and gas lease sales tentatively scheduled in 2009-2012 in the CPA and WPA offshore the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. As mandated in the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA) (Pub. L. 109- 432, December 20, 2006), MMS shall offer, as soon as practicable, approximately 5.8 million acres located in the southeastern part of the CPA (``181 South Area''). The CPA Sale 208 (March 2009) will be the first sale to include the ``181 South Area.'' The SEIS analyzed newly available information for the potential environmental effects of oil and natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and production in the ``181 South Area.''

We are approving an amendment to the Wyoming abandoned mine land reclamation (AMLR) plan (hereinafter referred to as the ``Wyoming plan'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Wyoming intended to revise its plan by submitting a revision to W.S. 35-11-1210 to correct an inadvertent error in the statute that was enacted during the 2007 Legislative Session. Specifically, the amendment clarifies that W.S. Sec. 35-11-1210 only applies to SMCRA section 411(h)(1) funds.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend its regulations to remove the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) as one of the authorities of our Recreation regulations, in accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (REA). The rule will also amend and reorder the prohibitions to separate those that apply specifically to campgrounds and picnic areas from those with more general applications. The reordering is necessary to broaden the scope to include all areas where standard amenity, expanded amenity, and special recreation permit fees are charged under REA. The proposed rule would remove an unnecessary provision that has been interpreted to require the BLM to publish supplementary rules concerning failure to pay fees established by the recreation regulations, thus relieving the BLM from publishing such separate specific supplementary rules for each area. Finally, it will make technical changes to maintain consistency with other BLM regulations.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received from CT 620 Partnership (Applicant) a request to amend an existing Incidental Take Permit (Permit), TE036095, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If we grant it, the amendment would update the methodology we used to calculate the mitigation fee for this permit to the methodology we presently use to calculate new fees for permits of this type. This amendment would not alter the level of authorized take.

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.

This notice lists programs or portions of programs that are eligible for inclusion in Fiscal Year 2009 funding agreements with self-governance tribes and lists programmatic targets according to section 405(c)(4) of the Tribal Self-Governance Act.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada's three Resource Advisory Council will hold a joint meeting.

In accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (FLREA) (Pub. L. 108-447), the Recreation Subcommittee of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Nevada Resource Advisory Committees will hold a meeting to discuss fee proposals to increase fees at campgrounds managed by the Forest Service in the Ely area, increase fees at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and to initiate a meeting room reservation fee at the California National Historic Trail Interpretive Center managed by the BLM Nevada Elko District Office.

This notice sets forth the date of the November 1, 2008 meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.