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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North Central Valley Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The WMAs are part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) application and habitat conservation plan (HCP). Lake County Public Works (applicant) requests a 5-year ITP under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant anticipates taking approximately 0.10 acres (ac) of sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi)occupied habitat incidental to realignment of Hancock road and construction of three storm water retention ponds in Lake County, Florida (project). The applicant's HCP describes the mitigation and minimization measures the applicant

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has determined that certain public lands in Custer County, Idaho are suitable for classification for conveyance to the Custer County Commission, under authority of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, June 14, 1926, (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.) as amended.

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 1004-0025 under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This control number covers paperwork requirements in 43 CFR part 3860, which pertain to mineral patent applications, and in 43 CFR part 3870, which pertain to adverse claims, protests, and conflicts.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a proposed HCP, an accompanying ITP application, and an EA related to a proposed development that would take the Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys) on Perdido Key in Walton County, Florida. The HCP analyzes the take of the federally endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse incidental to construction and occupation of a 13-unit condominium (Project). Will and Sikes, Inc. (Applicant) requests an ITP under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The Applicant's HCP describes the mitigation and minimization

Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites public comments on a proposed continuation of a collection of information (OMB 1024-0258).

We are seeking comments to assist us in developing proposed a proposed rule to revise regulations governing nonfederal oil and gas development within the boundaries of units of the National Park System. The regulations have been in effect for over thirty years and have not been substantively updated during that period. The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public input on how to bring exempted operations under the scope of the regulations, and on how to improve resource protection aspects of the regulations while accounting for advances in oil and gas technology and industry practices.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Final White-tailed Deer Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Final plan/EIS) for Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania. The Regional Director, Northeast Region, has approved the Record of Decision for the Final plan/EIS, selecting Alternative D, Combined Lethal and Nonlethal Actions, which was described as the NPS preferred alternative in the Final plan/EIS, released to the public for the required 30-day no-action period beginning August 28, 2009 and ending September 28, 2009. The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the environmentally preferred alternative, a finding on impairment of park resources and values, a description of consistency with Section 101(b) of the National Environmental Policy Act, a listing of measures to minimize environmental harm, and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making process. As soon as practicable, the National Park Service will begin to implement the selected alternative.

Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) has reestablished the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Council for the state of Arizona.

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 254, Oil-Spill Response Requirements for Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

The Bureau of Reclamation, as the National Environmental Policy Act Federal lead agency, has prepared the Delta-Mendota Canal/ California Aqueduct Intertie (Intertie) Final EIS. The Intertie is a proposed action in the August 2000 CALFED Bay-Delta Program Programmatic Record of Decision. The Intertie Final EIS evaluates constructing and operating a pipeline connecting the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) and the California Aqueduct. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to improve the DMC conveyance conditions that restrict the Central Valley Project's (CVP) Jones Pumping Plant to less than its authorized pumping capacity of 4,600 cubic feet per second.

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Director of the Minerals Management Service by the joint bidding provisions of 30 CFR 256.41, each entity within one of the following groups shall be restricted from bidding with any entity in any other of the following groups at Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held during the bidding period November 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010. The List of Restricted Joint Bidders published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2009, covered the period May 1, 2009 through October 31, 2009.

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 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service has prepared and approved a Record of Decision (and Wetlands Statement of Findings) for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for Transportation Infrastructure and Management Plan for Marin Headlands and Fort Baker areas of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The requisite no-action ``wait period'' was initiated March 20, 2009, with the Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register notification of the filing of the Final EIS.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Benefits-Sharing Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) covering all units of the National Park System. The NPS requested and considered comments from sources including the public and other agencies in completing the FEIS. Three alternatives were evaluated in the FEIS, each of which would clarify the rights and responsibilities of researchers and National Park Service (NPS) management in connection with the use of valuable discoveries, inventions, and other developments that result from research involving specimens lawfully collected from units of the National Park System. The No Action Alternative allows scientists to conduct research that may lead to commercial products but without any obligation to share the benefits with NPS. Another alternative prohibits scientific research in national parks that is in any way associated with the development of commercial products. A third alternative, the Environmentally Preferred Alternative, requires researchers who study material obtained under a Scientific Research and Collecting Permit to enter into benefits-sharing agreements with the NPS before using their research results for any commercial purpose. This Environmentally Preferred Alternative has three potential variations regarding the disclosure of royalty rate or related information: Always disclose, never disclose, or comply with confidentiality laws regarding disclosure. The Preferred Alternative implements the benefits-sharing agreement requirement, while complying with confidentiality laws regarding disclosure of royalty rate or related information.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs- South Coast Field Office, together with the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Staff Assessment (SA), which may also include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980, as amended), and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, Palm Springs, California, together with the California Energy Commission (CEC), intend to prepare two Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)/Staff Assessments (SAs), which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980, as amended) and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a document in the Federal Register of April 28, 2009, notifying the public regarding meeting dates and locations for the BLM Colorado Northwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The meeting on December 3, 2009 has been cancelled.

This rule governs winter visitation and certain recreational use in Yellowstone National Park for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. This final rule is issued to implement the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 2008 Winter Use Plans Environmental Assessment (2008 EA) approved October 15, 2009, and will provide visitors a range of winter recreation opportunities that are appropriate to the national park setting and do not unacceptably impact or impair park resources or values. The rule requires that most recreational snowmobiles operating in the park meet certain NPS air and sound emissions requirements, requires that snowmobilers and snowcoach riders in Yellowstone be accompanied by a commercial guide, and sets daily entry limits on the numbers of snowmobiles and snowcoaches that may enter the park. Traveling off designated oversnow routes will remain prohibited.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment for Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) proposes migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2010 season. These regulations will enable the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska and prescribe regional information on when and where the harvesting of birds may occur. These regulations were developed under a co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking proposes region- specific regulations that go into effect on April 2, 2010, and expire on August 31, 2010.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kingman Field Office, Kingman, Arizona, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Mohave County Wind Farm Project and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the surface estate in certain lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Chalkyitsik Native Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Chalkyitsik, Alaska, and are located in: Lot 2, U.S. Survey No. 4133, Alaska.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), the National Park Service (NPS) is announcing its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a comprehensive management plan (CMP) for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (Trail) in the states of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. The EIS will be approved by the Regional Director, Midwest Region.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our July 8, 2009, proposal to list two species of Hawaiian damselflies, the flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly (Megalagrion nesiotes) and the Pacific Hawaiian damselfly (M. pacificum), as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).