Department of the Interior September 17, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment (RMPA/EA) for the Buffalo Field Office (BFO) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. The RMPA/EA will amend the 1985 Buffalo Resource Management Plan. The BLM also announces the availability of information regarding a proposed Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) considered in the Draft RMPA/EA.

This order extends the duration of two withdrawals created by Public Land Order Nos. 6801 and 6812 for an additional 20-year period. The extensions are necessary to continue to protect valuable facilities and improvements associated with the Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory and Base Camp site.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability of a draft revised recovery plan for the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens). This species is federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Service solicits review and comment from the public on this draft revised plan.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is advising the public of the availability of the final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) associated with an application received from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) for an incidental take permit (permit) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). We also announce the availability of the OPRD Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) as required by section 10(a)(2)(B) of the ESA. OPRD submitted the HCP, as well as a proposed Implementing Agreement (IA), as part of its incidental take permit application. If issued, the permit would authorize incidental take of the federally listed as threatened western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) caused by the OPRD and private landowners that engage in activities related to public use and recreation, beach management, and resource management activities along Oregon's coastal shores. The OPRD is requesting a 25-year permit term. We request comments from the public on the permit application, the HCP, the IA, and the FEIS, all of which are available for review. The Service is furnishing this notice to allow other agencies and the public an opportunity to review and comment on these documents. All comments received will become part of the public record and will be available for review pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA. For locations to review the documents, please see the Availability of Documents section below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reviewing a petition to list, under the Lacey Act, all live amphibians or their eggs in trade as injurious unless certified as free of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus). The importation and introduction of live amphibians infected with chytrid fungus into the natural ecosystems of the United States may pose a threat to interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States. An injurious wildlife listing would prohibit the importation of live amphibians or their eggs infected with chytrid fungus into, or transportation between, States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States by any means, without a permit. We may issue permits for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes. This document seeks information from the public to aid in determining if a proposed rule is warranted.