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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate revised critical habitat for the wintering population of the piping plover (Charadrius melodus) in 18 specific units in Texas under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 139,029 acres (56,263 hectares) fall within the boundaries of the revised critical habitat designation. The revised critical habitat is located in Cameron, Willacy, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Aransas, Calhoun, Matagorda, and Brazoria Counties, Texas. Other previously designated critical habitat for the wintering piping plover in Texas or elsewhere in the United States remains unaffected.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collections of information under 30 CFR Part 740, Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations on Federal Lands. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0027.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will host a Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting via webcast and teleconference, on June 12, 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 third draft Recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface estate of certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Kwethluk, Incorporated. The lands are in the vicinity of Kwethluk, Alaska, and are located in:

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 Sitnasuak Native Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Nome, Alaska, and are located in: Kateel River Meridian, Alaska

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and to 40 CFR 1501.4(e), the National Park Service (NPS) has prepared, and hereby announces the availability of a Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Wireless Telecommunication Plan and Environmental Assessment, Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC. The plan will provide all administered units of Rock Creek Park with a consistent framework for protecting park resources during the consideration of ``right-of-way permit'' applications and other inquiries submitted to the park for the construction, operation, and maintenance of wireless telecommunication facilities (WTF).

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 Act requires that we invite public comment on these permit applications.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the Oregon chub (Oregonichthys crameri) from endangered to threatened. This proposal is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific data, which indicate that the species' status has improved such that it is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. We seek information, data, and comments from the public regarding the Oregon chub and this proposal.

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 (DEIS) for the Mona to Oquirrh Transmission Corridor Project and Draft Pony Express Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and by this Notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

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 February 20, 2009.

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). The TMC interprets and recommends policy, coordinates and reviews management actions, and provides organizational budget oversight. This notice announces a TAMWG meeting, which is open to the public.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), as the National Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, and the Sonoma County Water Agency, acting as administrator for the North Bay Water Reuse Authority (NBWRA) and the California Environmental Quality Act State lead agency, have made available for public review and comment the North Bay Water Recycling Program Draft EIS/EIR. The purpose of the project is to create a regional wastewater reuse project to provide recycled water for agricultural, urban, and environmental uses as an alternative to discharging treated wastewater to San Pablo Bay. In this way, water demand issues and wastewater discharge issues of the region

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that our final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for 12 National Wildlife Refuges (Refuges) in the State of North Dakota is available. This final CCP describes how we intend to manage these particular Refuges in the State for the next 15 years.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species or marine mammals. Both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act require that we invite public comment on these permit applications.

We recently approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (the Pennsylvania program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The changes related to blasting for the development of shafts for underground mines and other changes to the blasting regulations in the Pennsylvania program. After our approval of the amendment, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) requested a clarification of our findings in support of that approval. Therefore, OSM is publishing a clarification of our previous findings.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our proposal to designate critical habitat for the southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This action will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to submit written comments on our December 16, 2008, proposed rule to designate approximately 15,225 square kilometers (km\2\) (5,879 square miles (mi\2\)) as critical habitat.

Current Federal policy encourages non-Federal development of electrical power resource potential on Federal water resource projects. The Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) will consider proposals for non-Federal development of hydroelectric power at Carter Lake Dam Outlet of the C- BTP, Colorado. Reclamation is considering such hydroelectric power development under a lease of power privilege. No Federal funds will be available for such hydroelectric power development. The Western Area Power Administration (Western) would have the first opportunity to purchase and/or market the power that would be generated by such development under a lease of power privilege. The C-BTP is a Reclamation project. This Notice presents background information, proposal content guidelines, information concerning selection of one or more non-Federal entities to develop hydroelectric power at Carter Lake Dam Outlet, and power purchasing and/or marketing considerations. Interested entities are invited to submit a proposal on this project.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the American pika (Ochotona princeps) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing of the American pika may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the species, and we will issue a 12-month finding to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial data regarding this species. We will make a determination on critical habitat for this species if, and when, we initiate a listing action.