Department of the Interior January 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed designation of critical habitat for two plants, Limnanthes floccosa ssp. grandiflora (large- flowered woolly meadowfoam) and Lomatium cookii (Cook's lomatium, also known as Cook's desert parsley), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed designation of critical habitat for L.f. ssp. grandiflora and Lomatium cookii, the associated DEA, and the amended required determinations section. If you submitted comments previously, you do not need to resubmit them because we have already incorporated previously submitted comments into the public record and will fully consider them in preparation of the final rule. We also announce a public hearing; the public is invited to review and comment on any of the above actions associated with the proposed critical habitat designation at the public hearing or in writing.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), provide clarification of our request for information related to our September 9, 2009, 90-day finding on a petition to list the eastern population of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and initiation of status review. This notice is intended to clarify that all interested parties may continue to submit information and materials on the status of the gopher tortoise throughout its range during the period of the status review. Information previously submitted need not be resubmitted as it has already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the 12-month finding.

Farmland Reserve, Inc. filed an application for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest pursuant to Section 315 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1745), and the regulations in 43 CFR subpart 1864. A Recordable Disclaimer of Interest, if issued, will confirm the United States has no valid interest in the subject land. This notice is intended to inform the public of the pending application.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Lincoln County Land Act Groundwater Development and Utility Right-of-Way (ROW) Project (the project). The BLM Ely District Manager signed the ROD on January 8, 2010, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the decision effective immediately.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs published a document in the Federal Register of November 12, 2009, concerning the notice of tribal consultation meetings. The document included the date of January 14, 2010 for the meeting scheduled at the Pala Casino Resort and Spa in Pala, California. This notice changes the date to February 2, 2010, and the location to the Pala Administration Building in Pala, California.

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) announces the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Memorial), Missouri. On November 23, the NPS Midwest Region regional director approved the ROD for the final GMP/EIS. As soon as practicable, the NPS will begin to implement the preferred alternative.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(c), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the National Mall Plan, within the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, DC. The National Mall Plan is a long-range management plan that focuses on the use and preservation of the National Mall. The study area is approximately 650 acres in size and contains some of the earliest designated public land in our nation, dating from 1790. The study area contains a significant concentration of our Nation's memorials, cultural resources, and museums and includes the great public open spaces of the Nation's Capital.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is proposing a rate adjustment (proposed rate) for Project Use Power for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program (P-SMBP), Eastern and Western Divisions. The proposed rate for Project Use Power is to recover all annual operating, maintenance, and replacement expenses. The analysis of the proposed Project Use Power Rate is included in a booklet available upon request. The proposed rate for Project Use Power will become effective February 19, 2010.

The MMS is incorporating by reference the Eleventh Edition of the American Petroleum Institute's Specification for Subsurface Safety Valve Equipment (API Spec 14A) into its regulations. The MMS is incorporating the Eleventh Edition of API Spec 14A because it updated the design validation and functional testing requirements, incorporated new design changes, and corrected ambiguous areas open to misinterpretation. These changes will ensure that lessees and operators use the best available and safest technologies while operating in the Outer Continental Shelf. The rule will also require that lessees and operators provide supporting design verification information for subsurface safety valves intended for use in high pressure high temperature environments.

The Assistant Secretary of the InteriorLand and Minerals Management proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6797 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 6797 withdrew 9,609.74 acres of public mineral estate from location or entry under the United States mining laws (30 U.S.C. Ch.2), to protect the Whiskey Mountain Bighorn Sheep Winter Range in Fremont County. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/ EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 8, 2008, to revise our regulations governing falconry in the United States. With this action, we make several changes to those regulations to correct inconsistencies and oversights and make the regulations clearer.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend approval for the paperwork requirements in 43 CFR parts 3400 through 3500, which cover leasing or developing Federal coal. The BLM uses the information to determine if the applicant is qualified to hold a Federal coal lease. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) previously approved this information collection activity under the control number 1004-0073.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened status for the Galapagos petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia) previously referred to as (Pterodroma phaeopygia phaeopygia); and the Heinroth's shearwater (Puffinus heinrothi) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for these two foreign seabird species.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southern Nevada District intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) revision with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Las Vegas RMP and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process and soliciting input on the identification of issues and the proposed planning criteria. The RMP revision will replace the existing Las Vegas RMP.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposing to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6782 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 6782 withdrew 2,387.22 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under United States mining laws in order to protect the unique cave resources in the area surrounding Jewel Cave National Monument. PLO No. 6782 will expire on May 17, 2010, unless extended. This notice also gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed action and to request a public meeting.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw 15 acres of National Forest System land from mining to protect the Red Cloud Campground on the Cibola National Forest. This notice segregates the land for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws. The land will remain open to all other uses which may, by law, be authorized on these National Forest System lands.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(2), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from El Paso E&P Company LP for competitive oil and gas lease WYW160181 for land in Fremont County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

An application has been filed with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by Northern States Power Company (NSP), d/b/a/Xcel Energy, for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest from the United States for an easement in Brookings County, South Dakota. This notice is intended to inform the public of the pending application.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wenatchee Field Office and the U.S. Army Yakima Training Center (YTC) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Vantage to Pomona Heights 230 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project. By this notice, the BLM and YTC are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

An application was filed on May 6, 2009, for the conveyance of the federally-owned mineral interests in the 10-acre tract of land described in this notice. Publication of this notice temporarily segregates the mineral interests in the land covered by the application from appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws while the application is being processed.