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

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) policies, the BLM announces the availability of the Records of Decision (RODs) for the Approved Resource Management Plans of the Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Coos Bay, and Medford Districts, and the Klamath Falls Resource Area of the Lakeview District in western Oregon. The Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, signed the RODs on December 30, 2008, which constitutes the final decision of the Secretary of the Interior. The Approved Resource Management Plans (RMPs) are effective immediately.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is amending its regulations in 43 CFR part 3500 for leasing of solid minerals other than coal and oil shale to distinguish fringe acreage lease requirements from lease modification requirements, and to describe acceptable justifications for a lease modification. The final rule also identifies changes in the associated procedural requirements and updates the filing fees. The final changes are based on statutory authorities, which authorize the BLM to issue regulations for leasing of minerals and to charge for administrative processing costs, and on policy guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) requiring the BLM to charge these fees.

This notice announces the termination of the process to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Special Resource Study for the Delaware Coastal Area. The study area includes the coastal regions of the state of Delaware. A Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2007. Subsequent scoping did not reveal the potential for significant adverse impacts or controversy; therefore, it was determined that an EA would suffice to address National Environmental Policy Act requirements for this study. The Delaware National Coastal Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment was made available for public review starting 12/1/2008, and the comment period ended 12/31/2008. Based on the results of public comments, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was prepared for review and approval by the NPS Northeast Regional Director. The study report can be viewed at the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/.

The Minerals Management Service hereby gives notice that it is extending the public comment period for the Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 220 Call for Information and Interest/Nominations (Call) and Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which was published in the Federal Register on November 13, 2008, (Volume 73, No. 220) for an additional 15 days. Please see the above notice for more detailed information. Due to the holidays, the MMS will extend the comment period from December 29, 2008, to January 13, 2009.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on 270 species from a petition to list 475 species in the southwestern United States as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that for these 270 species the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing these species may be warranted. Therefore, for these 270 species, we will not initiate a further status review in response to this petition. We ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of these 270 species or threats to them or their habitat at any time. This information will help us monitor and encourage the conservation of these species. An additional 5 species of the 475 included in the petition do not fall within the scope of the petition or are not a listable entity and, therefore, were not considered in this finding (see Petition).

The Secretary of the Interior is extending the deadline from December 8, 2008, to January 23, 2009, for tribes to nominate individuals for membership on the No Child Left Behind Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. This committee will work with the Department of the Interior to develop recommendations for proposed regulations regarding the BIE-funded school facilities as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

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) Mojave- Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold three meetings in Nevada in fiscal year 2009. All meetings are open to the public.

This notice advises the public that NOAA, FWS, the State of Hawai`i's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and the Office of Hawai`ian Affairs have completed a Monument Management Plan (MMP) for the Papahaanaumokuaakea Marine National Monument (Monument) located in the Northwestern Hawai`ian Islands (NWHI). The Monument's resources, and current and future management activities, are described in the MMP and associated environmental assessment (EA). The NOAA and FWS developed separate findings of no significant impact (FONSIs) to address each agency's MMP/EA findings. Both FONSIs are available with the MMP/EA.

Recreation and Public Purposes application for classification and sale of 400 acres of public land in Bannock County, Idaho. Bannock County proposes to purchase the public land to use for landfill purposes.

This order withdraws 65 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for a period of 20 years on behalf of the Forest Service to protect the expansion to the Water Canyon Recreation Area. The land has been and will remain open to such forms of disposition as may by law be made of National Forest System land and to mineral leasing.

This order partially revokes the withdrawals created by two Executive Orders insofar as they affect approximately 700 acres of public lands reserved for lighthouse purposes. This order also transfers administrative jurisdiction of the lands to the National Park Service to be managed as part of the Channel Islands National Park. The United States Coast Guard has determined the reservations are no longer needed.

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 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for rights-of-way applications for the Ely Energy Center (EEC), a coal- fired electricity generating power plant and associated facilities north of Ely, Nevada, in White Pine County.