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

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) Idaho Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

This notice provides the semiannual agenda of rules scheduled for review or development between fall 2009 and spring 2010. The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866 require publication of the agenda.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service) will conduct an open meeting on February 3, 2010, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2010-11 migratory bird hunting regulations.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), and by this notice, announces the opening of the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list Sprague's pipit (Anthus spragueii) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the Sprague's pipit may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the species to determine if listing the species is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding this species. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition,

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 12-month finding on a petition to list the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the black- tailed prairie dog as either threatened or endangered is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to continue to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, the black-tailed prairie dog or its habitat at any time. This information will help us to monitor and conserve the species.

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) Carrizo Plain National Monument Advisory Council (MAC) will meet as indicated below.

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 National Interest Lands Conservation Act will be issued to Afognak Joint Venture. The lands are located on Afognak Island, Alaska, and are located in:

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving the conveyance of surface and subsurface estates for certain lands pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Doyon, Limited for 5.39 acres located southeasterly of the Native village of Nenana, Alaska. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Anchorage Daily News.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has completed the Final EIS for the Equus Beds Aquifer Storage Recharge and Recovery Project. The City of Wichita, Kansas designed the water project to restore and conserve the Equus Beds aquifer while developing water supplies for its future needs. Federal funding assistance for this project has been authorized by the U.S. Congress under the Wichita Project Equus Beds Division Authorization Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-299). The Federal action under NEPA involves Reclamation, acting through the Secretary of the Interior, reimbursing the City of Wichita for construction costs

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.