Department of the Interior January 26, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the ACWI. This meeting is to discuss broad policy-related topics relating to national water initiatives, and the development and dissemination of water information, through reports from ACWI subgroups. The agenda will include status of a proposal from the ACWI Subcommittee on Ground Water; discussion of a new Extreme Storms subgroup proposed within the Subcommittee on Hydrology; status of the National Monitoring Network for U.S. Coastal Waters and their Tributaries; request for ACWI approval of an update to the Water Quality Data Elements User Guide that would include physical habitat elements; discussion of ACWI participation in the National Environmental Status and Trends indicators project; and updates on recent activities of the Methods and Data Comparability Board. The ACWI was established under the authority of the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M92-01 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the ACWI is to provide a forum for water information users and professionals to advise the Federal Government on activities and plans that may improve the effectiveness of meeting the Nation's water information needs. Member organizations help to foster communications between the Federal and non-Federal sectors on sharing water information. Membership, limited to 35 organizations, represents a wide range of water resources interests and functions. Representation on the ACWI includes all levels of government, academia, private industry, and professional and technical societies. For more information on the ACWI, its membership, subgroups, meetings and activities, please see the Web site at: https://ACWI.gov.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northeast California Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the receipt of an application for an enhancement of survival permit (Permit) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Permit application includes a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) for the threatened northern Idaho ground squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus brunneus) between Hixon Properties Incorporated (applicant) and the Service. The term of the proposed SHA is 10 years, and the requested term of the permit is 15 years. The Service has made a preliminary determination that the proposed SHA and Permit application are eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The basis for this preliminary determination is contained in an Environmental Action Statement. The Service is accepting comments on the Permit application, the proposed SHA, and the Environmental Action Statement.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

The National Indian Gaming Commission (``NIGC'') announces the extension of the comment period on the proposed rule concerning various amendments to the National Indian Gaming Commission regulations. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on December 22, 2008 (73 FR 78242). The NIGC is extending the comment period to March 9, 2009.