Department of the Interior December 4, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing this interim final rule to amend the BLM's regulations for Mining Claims under the General Mining Laws. The rule responds to a Federal district court decision that required the BLM to evaluate whether the regulations comply with Congress's policy goal for the United States to receive fair market value for the use of the public lands and their resources. The interim final rule makes it clear that, other than processing fees, location fees, and maintenance fees provided for in 43 CFR parts 3800 and 3830, the BLM does not require any other fees for surface use of the public lands for mining purposes.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for 12 species of Hawaiian picture-wing flies (Drosophila aglaia, D. differens, D. hemipeza, D. heteroneura, D. montgomeryi, D. mulli, D. musaphilia, D. neoclavisetae, D. obatai, D. ochrobasis, D. substenoptera, and D. tarphytrichia) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 8,788 acres (ac) (3,556 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the final critical habitat designation. The critical habitat is located in four counties (City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai) in Hawaii.