Department of the Interior April 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, in cooperation with the Pueblo of Jemez, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the proposed approval of a 70.277 acre fee-to-trust transfer and casino project to be located within Do[ntilde]a Ana County, New Mexico. Details on the proposed action, location, and areas of environmental concern addressed in the DEIS are provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. This notice also announces a public hearing to receive comments on the DEIS.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening of the public comment period on the December 14, 2010, proposed rule to list the dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties another opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule. We will also hold two public informational sessions and hearings (see DATES and ADDRESSES sections).

Pursuant to Public Law 96-472, the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold a 1-day meeting on April 16, 2011. The meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Memphis Downtown, 300 North Second Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. The Council is comprised of members from academia and the Federal Government. The Council shall advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey on proposed earthquake predictions, on the completeness and scientific validity of the available data related to earthquake predictions, and on related matters as assigned by the Director. Additional information about the Council may be found at: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/aboutus/nepec/. At the meeting, the Council will receive a report from the Independent Expert Panel on New Madrid Seismic Zone Earthquake Hazards, a subcommittee charged with commenting on the level of hazard posed by future large earthquakes in the region and on priorities for future research to better constrain that hazard. The Council may also receive briefings on other topics relating to earthquakes in the Central U.S., on earthquake swarms recently active in Arkansas, on communication of seismic hazard in the Pacific Northwest, on the project intended to deliver an updated Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) in summer 2012, on the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and on other topics. Workshops and meetings of the NEPEC are open to the public. A draft workshop agenda is available on request (contact information below). In order to ensure sufficient seating and hand-outs, it is requested that visitors pre-register by April 13. Members of the public wishing to make a statement to the Council should provide notice of that intention by April 13 so that time may be allotted in the agenda.

This notice sets forth the date of the May 7, 2011, meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Makoil, Inc. and Piney Fork Production Co., for competitive oil and gas leases NVN-78597, NVN-85277, and NVN-85278 on land in Nye County, Nevada. The petition was timely filed and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the leases terminated under the law. No valid leases have been issued affecting the lands.

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 in Phoenix, Arizona, as indicated below.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to prepare a combined Planning Report and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will be a joint lead agency with Reclamation in the preparation of this Programmatic EIS, which will also be used to comply with requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), intend to prepare the monument management plan (MMP) for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Monument) established by Presidential Proclamation 8335. The MMP will satisfy FWS comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) requirements for two units of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) contained therein. When the draft MMP is complete, we will advertise its availability and again seek public comment. We furnish this notice to advise the public and other Federal and local agencies of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider during the planning process. An environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential effects of various management alternatives will also be prepared. The EA will provide resource managers with the information needed to determine if the potential effects may be significant and warrant preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), or if the potential impacts lead to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Peary (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) and the Dolphin and Union population of the barren-ground (R. t. groenlandicus x pearyi) caribou as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific and commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a review of the status of these two subspecies to determine if listing these two subspecies is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we request scientific and commercial data and other information regarding these two subspecies. At the conclusion of this review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

On November 18, 2010, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) issued a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation advising the public that the NIGC was conducting a comprehensive review of all regulations promulgated to implement the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The review identified in the Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Consultation was also prepared in order to submit the NIGC's Semi- Annual Regulatory Review to the Federal Register in April 2011 as set forth in Executive Order 12866 entitled ``Regulatory Planning and Review'' and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq. The NIGC held eight consultations during January and February 2011 and invited written comments to be submitted by February 12, 2011. Comments received and transcripts of the consultations are available on the NIGC Web site. The NIGC reviewed all comments received and created this comprehensive regulatory review agenda schedule based on the input received.

We announce our receipt of applications to conduct certain activities pertaining to enhancement of survival of endangered species. The Endangered Species Act requires that we invite public comment on these permit applications.

On March 25, 2011, the Bureau of Reclamation published a notice in the Federal Register at 76 FR 16818 on the Central Valley Project Improvement Act Standard Criteria for Agricultural and Urban Water Management Plans. In the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, the Web site in which to view copies of the finalized Criteria was incorrect. It should read: https://www.usbr.gov/mp.watershare/news/ 2011_standard_criteria.pdf.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our intent to modify the existing fee collection program at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge by adding entrance fees. The proposed entrance fees are $1.00 a day for one person, $5.00 a day for one vehicle, and $15.00 a year for one person. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), we will identify and post specific visitor fees and begin collecting them. The proposed fees only affect Black Point Wildlife Drive and three improved refuge boat ramps (Bairs Cove, Beacon 42, and Bio Lab). Fees are not required to enter any other portion of the refuge.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), will host a Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting on April 27, 2011. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda will include a presentation and discussion of the Service's Draft Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

This order extends the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6839, which modified Public Land Order No. 2344, as amended, for a 20-year period until April 1, 2031. This extension is necessary to allow the continued protection of the Barrow Base Line Observatory (formerly known as the Barrow Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change Observatory) and the Barrow Magnetic Observatory (formerly known as the Barrow Geomagnetic Observatory). This order also provides the official surveyed land description of the areas withdrawn by Public Land Order No. 6839.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reclassifying the Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) from endangered to threatened under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The endangered designation no longer correctly reflects the current status of this fish due to a substantial improvement in the species' status. This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate a substantial reduction in threats to the species, a significant habitat restoration in most of the species' range, and a stable or increasing trend of darters in all darter stream systems. We also establish a special rule under section 4(d) of the Act. This special rule allows Eglin Air Force Base to continue activities with a reduced regulatory burden and will provide a net benefit to the Okaloosa darter.

Notice is hereby given that certain coal resources in the West Antelope II South Coal Tract described below in Converse County, Wyoming, will be offered for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended.