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

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.).

Notice is hereby given that the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (the Commission) plans to meet at the National Building Museum, Room 312, 401 F Street, NW., Washington, DC, on Friday, December 4, at 10 a.m.

The National Park Service is proposing to adopt a Director's Order setting forth the policies and procedures under which the NPS will recover expenses for providing utilities to non-NPS entities. These expenses include, but are not limited to, annual operating costs, cyclical repair and rehabilitation costs, and capital investment cost. 16 U.S.C. 1b(4) provides authority for the NPS to furnish ``on a reimbursement of appropriation basis, all types of utility services to concessioners, contractors, permittees, or other users of such services, within the National Park System.'' The Director's Order provides policies and procedures for consistent application of this guidance throughout the National Park Service.

The MMS announces the availability of the proposed NOS for proposed Sale 213 in the CPA. This Notice is published pursuant to 30 CFR 256.29(c) as a matter of information to the public. With regard to oil and gas leasing on the OCS, the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to section 19 of the OCS Lands Act, provides the affected states the opportunity to review the proposed Notice. The proposed Notice sets forth the proposed terms and conditions of the sale, including minimum bids, royalty rates, and rentals.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a new information collection request (ICR) for approval of the paperwork requirements for the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR)-USGS competitive grant program conducted in conjunction with the State Water Resources Research Institutes.

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 and/or marine mammals. Both the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act require that we invite public comment on these permit applications.

In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada Ely District has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed expansion of the existing plans of operation for Barrick Gold U.S. Inc.'s Bald Mountain Mine and Mooney Basin Mine. The two existing mines would be combined into one new expanded operation which would be called the North Operations Area. The Final EIS analyzes the environmental effects of the Proposed Action, two action alternatives, and the No Action Alternative.

This notice announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), proposed Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and associated Implementation Agreement (IA), for public review and comment. Fruit Growers Supply Company has submitted separate applications to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for 50- year incidental take permits under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended.

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will meet on December 1-2, 2009 at the Marriott Metro Center Hotel, 775 12th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005. The meeting will be held in the London Room. The NGAC, which is composed of representatives from governmental, private sector, non-profit, and academic organizations, was established to advise the Chair of the Federal Geographic Data Committee on management of Federal geospatial programs, the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and the implementation of Office

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 874.16 contractor eligibility, and the Abandoned Mine Land Contractor Information Form has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is announcing that the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children will hold its next meeting in Miccosukee, Florida. The purpose of the meeting is to meet the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) on Indian children with disabilities.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet on December 9, 2009, at the BLM Arizona State Office located at One North Central Avenue, Suite 800 in downtown Phoenix, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Morning agenda items include: BLM State Director's update on statewide issues; update on BLM's Four-Tracks to Solar Energy Development in Arizona; update on BLM Scoping Process and Comments on the Development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Proposed Withdrawal of Mining in the Arizona Strip District; RAC questions on BLM District Managers' Reports; and reports by RAC working groups. A public comment period will be provided at 11:30 a.m. on December 9, 2009, for any interested