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

The best available scientific and commercial data indicate that the Concho water snake (Nerodia paucimaculata) has recovered. Therefore, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) propose to remove (delist) the Concho water snake (Nerodia paucimaculata) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, and accordingly, also remove its federally designated critical habitat. This determination is based on a thorough review of all available information, which indicates that the threats to this species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of threatened or endangered under the Act. The Concho water snake is a reptile endemic to central Texas. It was listed as threatened on September 3, 1986, due to threats of habitat modification and destruction (51 FR 31412). Through implementation of recovery efforts, the Service has determined that this species has been recovered and no longer meets the definition of threatened or endangered.

DOE and BLM (the Agencies) are extending the comment period for public scoping for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement to Evaluate Solar Energy Development and have added three meetings to the previously announced public scoping meeting schedule.

NOAA and the USFWS are proposing regulations to establish a ship reporting system for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. This action would implement measures adopted by the International Maritime Organization requiring notification by ships passing through the Monument without interruption. A draft environmental assessment has been prepared for this proposed action pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. A copy of the draft environmental assessment is available for public review at https:// hawaiireef.noaa.gov/ and comment concurrently with this proposed rule.

This notice is published in accordance with Section 9(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-463). Following consultation with the General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior has renewed the Pinedale Anticline Working Group and Task Groups (PAWG). The purpose of the Working Group and Task Groups will be to advise the Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office Manager, regarding recommendations on matters pertinent to the Bureau of Land Management's responsibilities related to the Pinedale Anticline Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision.

This notice sets forth the date of the August 2, 2008 meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.

The Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE or applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for a 5-year incidental take permit for two species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of one listed animals and one listed plant. The applicant would implement a conservation program to minimize and mitigate the project activities, as described in the SCOE Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan (plan). We request comments on the applicant's application and plan, and the preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as a ``low-effect'' habitat conservation plan, eligible for a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). We discuss our basis for this determination in our Environmental Action Statement (EAS), which is also available for public review.

Pursuant to the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease NVN-74775 for lands in Eureka County, Nevada, was timely filed and was accompanied by all the required rentals accruing from August 1, 2006, the date of termination. No valid lease has been issued affecting the lands. The lessee, Newmont Mining Corporation has agreed to new lease terms for rentals and royalties at rates of $10 per acre or fraction thereof and 16\2/3\ percent, respectively. Newmont Mining Corporation has paid the required $500 administrative fee and has reimbursed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the cost of this Federal Register notice. Newmont Mining Corporation has met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease as set out in Sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and the BLM is proposing to reinstate the lease effective August 1, 2006, subject to the original terms and conditions of the lease and the increased rental and royalty rates cited above.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR part 243. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. We changed the title of this ICR to clarify the regulatory language we are covering under 30 CFR part 243. The previous title of this ICR was ``30 CFR 243Suspensions Pending Appeal and BondingMinerals Revenue Management (Forms MMS-4435, Administrative Appeal Bond; MMS-4436, Letter of Credit; and MMS-4437, Assignment of Certificate of Deposit).'' The new title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Part 243Suspensions Pending Appeal and BondingMinerals Revenue Management.''

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 250, Subpart M, Unitization. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

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 St. George Tanaq Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Unalaska Island, Alaska, and are located in:

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision adjusting the entitlement granted to the Native village of Chickaloon by Section 12(a) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Chickaloon Moose Creek Native Association, Inc. The adjustment is made pursuant to Sec. 12(a)(3) of the Act of January 2, 1976, and Section 4(a) of the Act of October 4, 1976. The adjusted entitlement is as follows:

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.