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

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) Las Cruces District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico, intends to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a possible amendment to the 1993 Mimbres Resource Management Plan (RMP), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues and planning criteria.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office (Field Office), Farmington, New Mexico, intends to amend the 2003 Farmington Resource Management Plan (RMP) and prepare an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to address the Visual Resource Management (VRM) in the planning area. By this Notice, the Field Office is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a Draft Programmatic Agreement (PA), which is included as an Appendix to the EIS, for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's (SNWA) Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project (SNWA Project), and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

Regulations for geothermal, solid minerals, and Indian oil and gas leases authorize the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) to assess payors for failure to submit payments of the same amount as the royalty or bill document, or to provide adequate information. The amount assessed for each mismatched or inadequately identified payment will be $214.00, effective on the date stated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to recognize the recent change to the taxonomy of the currently endangered plant taxon, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, in which the subspecies was split into two distinct full species, Monardella viminea (willowy monardella) and Monardella stoneana (Jennifer's monardella). Because the original subspecies, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we are reviewing and updating the threats analysis that we completed for the taxon in 1998, when it was listed as a subspecies, to determine if any of that analysis has changed based on this revised taxonomy. We are also reviewing the status of the new species, Monardella stoneana. We propose that Monardella viminea's current listing status should be retained as endangered, and we propose to delist the portion of the old listed taxon that has been split off into the new species, Monardella stoneana, because it does not meet the definition of endangered or threatened under the Act. We also propose to designate critical habitat for Monardella viminea (willowy monardella). Approximately 348 acres (141 hectares) are proposed for designation as critical habitat for M. viminea, in San Diego County, California. We are not proposing to designate critical habitat for Monardella stoneana at this time because we do not believe this species warrants listing under the Act. However, should we determine, after review of the best available scientific information and public comment, that Monardella stoneana does warrant listing, we will propose critical habitat for Monardella stoneana, should it be determined to be prudent, in a separate proposed rule.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on revision of the collection of information for the Indian Child Welfare Assistance Annual Report, 25 CFR Part 23. The revision affects the form that tribal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) coordinators provide to BIA on a quarterly basis. The information collection is currently authorized by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1076-0131, which expires August 31, 2011.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), of nine species. We conduct these reviews to ensure that our classification of each species on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants as threatened or endangered is accurate. A 5-year review assesses the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting any information that has become available since our original listing of each of these species. Based on review results, we will determine whether we should change the listing status of any of these species.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), a water management agency within the Department of the Interior (Interior), announces the availability of a Request for Interest (RFI). Reclamation is seeking interest from any entity or entities interested in developing a renewable energy project(s) in a lease arrangement on existing Reclamation lands in the vicinity of the San Luis Project near Los Banos, California.

In accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on applications for permits to conduct enhancement of survival activities with endangered species.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management proposes to withdraw approximately 22,562 acres of public lands from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the public land laws, including the United States mining laws, and the operation of the mineral leasing laws, and approximately 1,782 acres of Federal mineral estate from location and entry under the United States mining laws, including the operation of the mineral leasing laws, for a period of 20 years, on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to protect and preserve geothermal, solar, and wind energy study areas for future renewable energy development. This notice temporarily segregates the public lands and subsurface mineral estates for up to 2 years while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. The lands will remain open to the geothermal leasing laws and the Materials Act of 1947.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have member terms expiring this year. The RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their geographic areas.

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 its regulations and requesting public comment on the process for conducting the regulatory review. On April 4, 2011, after holding eight consultation meetings and reviewing all comments, NIGC published a Notice of Regulatory Review Schedule setting out detailed consultation schedules and review processes. NIGC divided the regulations to be reviewed into five groups, and each group will be reviewed in three phases, the Drafting Phase, the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking phase, and the Notice of Final Rule Phase. The purpose of this document is to add regulatory groups to five scheduled tribal consultations.

In compliance 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) Eugene District Office, Eugene, Oregon, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The West Eugene Wetlands Planning Area comprises approximately 1,340 acres of acquired lands that do not have an existing RMP.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is announcing that it will conduct five consultation meetings with Indian tribes to obtain oral and written comments concerning a draft report to provide Congress and the Secretary of the Interior comprehensive information about the conditions and funding needs for facilities at Bureau-funded schools, as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for details.

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization of the Department of the Interior is hosting a Vendor Outreach Workshop for small businesses in the Texas Intermountain region of the United States that are interested in doing business with the Department. This outreach workshop will review market contracting opportunities for the attendees. Business owners will be able to share their individual perspectives with Contracting Officers, Program Managers and Small Business Specialists from the Department.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate critical habitat for the Pecos assiminea (Assiminea pecos), Roswell springsnail (Pyrgulopsis roswellensis), Koster's springsnail (Juturnia kosteri), and Noel's amphipod (Gammarus desperatus), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In total, we are designating as critical habitat approximately 521.3 acres (211.0 hectares) for the four species of aquatic invertebrates. The critical habitat is located in Chaves County, New Mexico, and Pecos and Reeves Counties, Texas.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold two public meetings in connection with a proposed withdrawal published April 21, 2011, in the Federal Register [77 FR 22414]. The first meeting will be held Wednesday, July 6, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the BLM Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130. A second meeting will be held Thursday, July 7, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Ambassador Hotel Victorville, 15494 Palmdale Road, Victorville, California 92392. The public will have an opportunity to provide oral and written comments at these meetings.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announces the availability of a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) which analyzes the environmental impacts associated with incidental take permits requested under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for take of Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates). For record of decision (ROD) availability, see DATES.

The Department of the Interior's draft WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow) Strategic Implementation Plan (draft Strategic Implementation Plan) identifies activities that will be undertaken to secure and stretch water supplies for use by existing and future generations. Within the draft Strategic Implementation Plan each bureau and office within the Department of the Interior shall identify, coordinate, and integrate its water conservation and sustainable water strategies; identify its information needs; utilize best available science to understand the impacts of climate change on water supplies; and provide Federal leadership and assistance in working toward the goal of sustainable water supplies.

In accordance with the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ukiah Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Ukiah Field Office, is issuing interim final supplementary rules and requesting comments. These interim final supplementary rules will apply to public lands within the Ukiah Field Office's jurisdiction. The BLM has determined that these interim final supplementary rules are necessary to enhance visitor safety, protect natural resources, improve recreation opportunities, and protect public health. These rules only implement land use limitations and restrictions that were analyzed in the Ukiah RMP.