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

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 the renewal of a current collection with a revision for Office of Management and Budget control number 1024-0252.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our February 4, 2010, proposed rule to reestablish the Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) in southwestern Arizona. We proposed to reestablish the Sonoran pronghorn under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to classify that reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP). The proposed rule provided a plan for establishing the NEP and provided for allowable legal incidental taking of Sonoran pronghorn within the defined NEP area. A draft environmental assessment (EA) on this proposed action was also made available for comment. This action will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to submit comments on the proposed rule to reestablish Sonoran pronghorn into southwest Arizona and its accompanying draft EA. Information previously submitted need not be resubmitted as it has already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule.

The MMS is proposing to promulgate regulations establishing

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Tennessee 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Felsenthal and Overflow National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) for public review and comment. Felsenthal, Overflow, and Pond Creek NWRs are managed as a Complex. A separate CCP was prepared for Pond Creek NWR. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage these refuges for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the final post-delisting monitoring plan (PDM Plan) for the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires that we implement a system, in cooperation with the States, to monitor effectively for at least 5 years the status of all species that have been recovered and no longer need ESA protection. In 2007, we removed the bald eagle in the contiguous 48 States from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plants (delisted) due to recovery. Over a 20-year period, we will monitor the status of the bald eagle, at 5-year intervals.

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 (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activities. The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are making limited technical amendments to their joint regulations governing contracts and annual funding agreements under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to update the appeals procedures.

Comal County, Texas (Applicant), has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (TE- 223267-0) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The requested permit, which would be in effect for a period of 30 years, if granted, would authorize incidental take of the following federally listed species: Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) and black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla). The proposed take would occur in Comal County, Texas, as a result of activities including, but not limited to: Public or private construction and development, utility installation and maintenance, and public infrastructure projects. Comal County has completed a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP) as part of the application package. We have issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS) that evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, possible issuance of an incidental take permit (ITP).

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will meet on June 22-23, 2010 at the National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. The meeting will be held in Room 201 Instructional East.

Notice is hereby given, in accordance with Public Laws 92-463 and 94-579, that the California Desert District Advisory Council to the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, will participate in a field tour of BLM-administered public lands on Friday, June 18, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will meet in formal session on Saturday, June 19, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Heritage Inn and Suites, 1050 N. Norma St., Ridgecrest, California.

NMFS and USFWS hereby extend the comment period on the proposed listing of nine distinct population segments of loggerhead sea turtles as endangered or threatened, which was published on March 16, 2010, until September 13, 2010. In addition, NMFS and USFWS will hold a public hearing in Berlin, MD, on June 16, 2010 to answer questions and receive public comments.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a 12-month finding on a petition to remove Cirsium vinaceum (Sacramento Mountains thistle) from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Plants under the Endangered Species Act. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial information available, we find that delisting C. vinaceum is not warranted. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, the species or its habitats at any time. This information will help us monitor and encourage the conservation of this species.

For gas produced from Indian tribal leases on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation (Reservation) in Utah, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is terminating the exclusion from valuation under the regulations at 30 CFR 206.172, based on a request by the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation.

The following applicants have applied for scientific research permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Act requires that we invite public comment on these permit applications.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibit activities with listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activities. Both laws require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Kemmerer Field Office planning area located in Lincoln, Sweetwater, and Uinta counties, Wyoming. The Wyoming State Director signed the ROD on May 24, 2010, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 27, 2003, to create regulations governing migratory bird rehabilitation in the United States. Before creation of those regulations, rehabilitators were required to obtain a special purpose permit to engage in rehabilitation activities. The language in the final paragraph of the 2003 regulations dealt with the transition of special purpose permit holders to operation under the new rehabilitation permit regulations. This paragraph is no longer relevant, so we remove it from the regulation.

Per 30 U.S.C. 188(d), Kykuit Resources, LLC timely filed a petition for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas lease MTM 98343, Fergus County, Montana. The lessee paid the required rental accruing from the date of termination.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision approving the conveyance of the surface estate for certain lands to Danzhit Hanlaii Corporation, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to Doyon, Limited when the surface estate is conveyed to Danzhit Hanlaii Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Circle, Alaska, and are located in:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and draft environmental assessment (EA) for Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for a 30-day public review and comment period. In this draft CCP/EA, we describe three alternatives, including our Service-preferred Alternative C, for managing this refuge for the next 15 years. Also available for public review and comment is the draft wilderness review, which is included as Appendix C in the draft CCP/EA.

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 1004-0019 under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The respondents are individuals, households, farms and businesses interested in cooperating with the BLM in constructing or maintaining range improvement projects to aid in handling and caring for domestic livestock authorized by BLM to graze on public lands.