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

In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the NIGC, in cooperation with the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria (the ``Graton Rancheria''), has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a proposed casino and hotel project/action to be located in Sonoma County, California. The purpose of the proposed project/action is to help address the socio-economic needs of the Graton Rancheria. The FEIS includes an analysis of potential environmental impacts on those resources as a result of implementing each of the alternatives. A Response to Comments document is included within the FEIS which provides agency responses to substantive environmental comments raised during the DEIS comment period. The alternatives considered in detail within the FEIS are: (A) A casino/ hotel project on the ``Wilfred Site'' (the proposed project/action), (B, C) a casino/hotel project on the ``Stony Point Site,'' (D) a reduced intensity casino/hotel project on the ``Stony Point'' site, (E) an alternate use project on the ``Stony Point'' site, (F) a casino/ hotel project on the ``Lakeville Site,'' (G) a no proposed project/ action alternative, and (H) a reduced intensity casino/hotel on the ``Wilfred Site.'' This notice advises the public that the NIGC has filed the FEIS with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In accordance with Section 176 of the Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. 7506, and the EPA general conformity regulations 40 CFR part 93, subpart B, a Final Conformity Determination (FCD) has been prepared for the proposed project. The FCD is contained within Appendix W of the FEIS.

On January 15, 2009, the BLM published in the Federal Register a notice entitled ``Potential for Oil Shale Development; Call for NominationsOil Shale Research, Development, and Demonstration (R, D, and D) Program'' (see 74 FR 2611). The new Administration intends to review and reconsider certain aspects of the current solicitation, including lease acreage and the rules that would govern conversion of an R, D, and D lease to a commercial lease, particularly those related to royalty rates. To ensure a fair return to the public for potential commercial development of these Federal resources, the Administration has determined that further information is needed. Accordingly, the BLM is seeking public comment on the terms and conditions of any future oil shale R, D, and D leases that it may issue. The BLM therefore withdraws the January 15, 2009, solicitation of the nomination of parcels to be leased for R, D, and D of oil shale recovery technologies in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

The following applicants have applied for scientific research permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

The plats of survey of the following described lands were officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington State Office, Portland, Oregon, on August 19, 2008.

This notice announces a second call for nominations to serve on the North Slope Science Initiative, Science Technical Advisory Panel in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972, 5 U.S.C. Appendix. Nominees who answered the first call for nominations published in Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 230, Nov. 28, 2008; do not need to reapply under this Notice.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a 3-year extension of OMB Control Number 1004-0162 under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The respondents are required to provide certain information in order to conduct oil and gas geophysical exploration operations on lands managed by BLM or by the U.S. Forest Service.

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) Boise and Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Councils will hold a meeting as indicated below.

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended) and the regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Part 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service has prepared and approved a Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the updated General Management Plan (GMP), San Juan Island National Historical Park. The current GMP was completed in 1979; many conditions on San Juan Island and within the park have changed, particularly in the last 15-20 years. The requisite no-action ``wait period'' was initiated October 31, 2008, with the Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of the filing of the Final EIS. Decision: As soon as practical San Juan Island National Historical Park will begin to implement park operations, resource management, interpretive programs, and land acquisitions (willing seller) presented and analyzed as the Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS (and which includes no substantive changes from the course of action as presented in the Draft EIS). The full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures are included in the approved plan; this course of action was deemed to be the ``environmentally preferred'' alternative. The Final EIS identified and analyzed two additional alternatives, and corresponding mitigation strategies, which were responsive to concerns and issues the public voiced during the extensive scoping process and Draft EIS review, and to NPS conservation planning requirements. Alternative C is the selected plan. Identified as the agency- preferred alternative in the EIS, this updated GMP broadens the scope of resource management and interpretation programs to emphasize the connections and interrelationships between the park's cultural and natural resources. Historic buildings and structures will continue to be preserved, with some additional buildings open to the public for interpretation. New facilities, trails and programs will provide opportunities for visitors to understand how the park's natural surroundings influenced the settlement and historic events on San Juan Island and help define the cultural landscapes preserved within the park. The new plan also proposes boundary adjustments at both English Camp and American Camp, which includes acquisition of land from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and one private parcel under a willing-seller condition only. Copies: Interested parties desiring to review the Record of Decision may obtain a copy by contacting the Superintendent, San Juan Island National Historical Park, Box 429, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 or via telephone request at (360) 378-2240.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate revised critical habitat for the contiguous United States distinct population segment of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) (lynx) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 39,000 square miles (mi2) (101,010 square kilometers (km2)) fall within the boundaries of the revised critical habitat designation, in five units in the States of Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington.

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 Askinuk Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Scammon Bay, Alaska, Alaska, and are located in:

The following permits were denied.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB a new information collection (IC) described below for review and approval. As a part of our continuing effort to reduce paper work and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection.

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 Doyon, Limited. The lands are in the vicinity of Galena, Alaska, and are located in:

This notice sets forth the dates of April 23, 2009 and September 10, 2009 of the Gettysburg National Military Park Advisory Commission.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will host an optional Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting via Webcast and teleconference, on March 13, 2009. This meeting is open to the public but will be limited to 75 public participants. The meeting agenda will include a briefing by the Synthesis Subcommittee to the full Committee on the latest draft Recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior.

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) Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (NWRAC), Southwest Resource Advisory Council (SWRAC), and Front Range Resource Advisory Council (FRRAC) will meet as indicated below.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as the National Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, and the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD), as the California Environmental Quality Act State lead agency, have made available for public review and comment the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project Draft EIS/ EIR. The Draft EIS/EIR describes and presents the environmental effects of the No-Action Alternative and four action alternatives. Five public hearings will be held to receive comments from individuals and organizations on the Draft EIS/EIR.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) offering two right-of-way grants to San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) for the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project and an associated Amendment to the Eastern San Diego County Resource Management Plan (RMP). The project is located in Imperial and San Diego Counties. The California State Director, BLM, signed the ROD on January 20, 2009.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is initiating 5- year reviews of Auerodendron pauciflorum (no common name), Daphnopsis hellerana (no common name), Gesneria pauciflora (no common name), Ilex sintenisi (no common name), Leptocereus grantianus (no common name), Schoepfia arenaria (no common name), palo de jazmin (Styrax portoricensis), palo colorado (Ternstroemia luquillensis), Ternstroemia subsessilis (no common name), and St. Thomas prickly ash (Zanthoxylum thomasianum) under section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The purpose of reviews conducted under this section of the Act is to ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (50 CFR 17.11 and 17.12) is accurate. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review.

Pursuant to authorities in the Federal Advisory Committees Act (Pub. L. 92-463) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Pub. L. 94-579), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking nominations to fill a vacant seat on the Northeast California Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The person selected to fill the vacancy will complete an unexpired term that ends in September 2010. The appointee will be eligible to compete for the full three-year term when the current term expires.

At the NHOTIC Advisory Board meeting, we will welcome new members, elect new officers, review the mission and vision statements, review the strategic plan, and review the charter and consider other matters that may reasonably come before the Advisory Board.

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) Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River (California) restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council (TMC). This notice corrects the dates for our recently announced TAMWG meeting, which is open to the public.

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 ICR is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2009. 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.