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

On December 10, 2009, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the Department of the Interior (Department) would initiate development of a High-Flow Experimental Protocol (Protocol) for releases from Glen Canyon Dam as part of the ongoing implementation of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (AMP). High-flow experimental releases have been undertaken in the past and will be further analyzed and implemented pursuant to the direction of the Secretary to assess the ability of such releases to protect, mitigate adverse impacts to, and improve the values for which Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area were established. As part of the AMP, the Department's effort to develop the Protocol is a component of its efforts to comply with the requirements and obligations established by the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-575) (GCPA).

The Secretary of the Interior intends to re-establish the National Park System Advisory Board. This action is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of statutory duties imposed upon the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

Under provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 36 CFR Part 51, Subpart C, regarding the Solicitation, Selection and Award Procedures, the National Park Service invites comments on a currently approved collection of information (OMB Control 1024-0125).

The U.S. Geological Survey is requesting renewal of an existing information collection that received emergency clearance on October 22, 2009. We will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and as part of our continued effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. 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.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA), and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that we have revised our stock assessment report (SAR) for each of the two West Indian manatee stocks in the southeastern United States: The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) stock and the Puerto Rico stock of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), including incorporation of public comments. We now make these two final 2009 revised SARs available to the public.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intent to revise the 1997 National Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) regarding the manner in which the BLM meets its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Final Environmental Assessment (CCP/EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex is composed of Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Castle Rock NWR. The CCP, prepared under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the Service will manage the Refuges for the next 15 years.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (Act) prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

We (Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2010. 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.

The Secretary is requesting nominations for five representatives for the Steens Mountain Advisory Council. The Council will advise the Secretary on planning in the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Pursuant to applicable provisions of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), 16 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Salem District Office is proposing to collect day-use fees beginning in the summer of 2010 at the Canyon Creek Recreation Site on the Little North Santiam River, in Marion County, Oregon (Township 9 S, Range 3 E, section 7).

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to 25 CFR 514.1(a)(3), that the National Indian Gaming Commission has adopted final annual fee rates of 0.00% for tier 1 and 0.058% (.00058) for tier 2 for calendar year 2009. These rates shall apply to all assessable gross revenues from each gaming operation under the jurisdiction of the Commission. If a tribe has a certificate of self-regulation under 25 CFR part 518, the final fee rate on class II revenues for calendar year 2009 shall be one-half of the annual fee rate, which is 0.029% (.00029).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for 30 CFR part 773Requirements for permits and permit processing, has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection package was previously approved and assigned control number 1029-0115. This notice describes the nature of the information collection activity and the expected burdens.

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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vale District Office, Vale, Oregon intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed actions pertaining to livestock grazing systems and rangeland developments that will affect 10 livestock grazing permit terms and conditions in the Trout Creek Geographic Management Area (TCGMA) Vale District. Actions may include, for example, installation and/or removal of fences and water developments, changes to duration or season of use of grazing, and other changes to the terms and conditions of affected grazing permits. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process and soliciting input on the identification of issues.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regarding an application from Shell Wind Energy for an incidental take permit for take of threatened wildlife species in accordance with section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The USFWS and the County of Humboldt will be developing a combined EIR and EIS document for the proposed project. Shell Wind Energy is proposing to construct and operate the Bear River Ridge Wind Power Project near Ferndale, in Humboldt County, California. The project would consist of up to 25 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Activities Shell Wind Energy will propose for permit coverage in its habitat conservation plan (Plan) include construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of the Bear River Ridge Wind Power project and associated off-site improvements. The Plan may also cover certain proposed off site mitigation activities. We are furnishing this notice to announce the initiation of a public scoping period, during which we invite other agencies and the public to provide written comments on the range of alternatives and scope of issues to be included in the EIS.

This notice informs the public that the Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs proclaimed approximately 5.0 acres, more or less, to be added to the Reservation of the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico.

This notice advises the public that the Sacramento River Conservation Area Forum (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival Permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a proposed Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement) between the Applicant and the Service for the Federally threatened valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus) and the Federally threatened giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) (collectively referred to as the Covered Species). The Agreement is available for public comment.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined approximately 5 acres of public land in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and found them suitable for classification for lease and/or conveyance under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended. The Property Control Division of the New Mexico General Services Department proposes to construct buildings for the Department of Public Safety, New Mexico State Police District 4 Headquarters.

Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, hereby gives notice that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the environmental assessment, geologic engineering report, and maximum economic recovery of Federal coal to be offered. An application for coal lease was filed by New Elk Coal Company, LLC, requesting the Bureau of Land Management offer for competitive lease 1,279.62 acres of Federal coal in Las Animas County, Colorado.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request renewed authority for the following collection of information: 30 CFR Part 702 regarding the exemption of coal extraction incidental to the extraction of other minerals. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance number 1029- 0089.

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

We, the U.S. 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 Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge (ACE Basin NWR). In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years.