Department of the Interior July 15, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Catherine M. and Ronald L. Francis (applicants) for a 5-year incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of the Federally endangered Morro shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta walkeriana) incidental to the construction and occupation of a single-family residence on a legal single-family-zoned parcel in the unincorporated community of Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, California. The applicants would implement a conservation program to minimize and mitigate project activities as described in their low-effect habitat conservation plan. We invite comments from the public on the application, which includes the Francis Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Morro Shoulderband Snail (HCP) that has been determined to be eligible for a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA).

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested State and local government officials of the filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Montana State Office, Billings, Montana, on August 15, 2011.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wells Field Office, Elko, Nevada, is proposing to amend the 1985 Wells Resource Management Plan (RMP) for recreation in the Spruce Mountain Area and prepare an associated Environmental Assessment (EA). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues associated with this proposed action.

Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from USA Exploration & Production LLC for competitive oil and gas lease WYW140216 for land in Converse and Campbell Counties, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office, Ridgecrest, California, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980, as amended), related to Power Partners Southwest, LLC's (Applicant or Power Partners) right-of-way (ROW) authorization request for the Tylerhorse Wind Project (Project), a 60-megawatt (MW) wind farm. By this notice the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to identify issues and solicit public comments on the EIS and proposed plan amendment (PA). By this notice the BLM is also segregating, subject to valid existing rights, approximately 1,200 acres of public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law of 1872, as amended, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws or disposal under the mineral material laws, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice for the purpose of processing Power Partner's ROW authorization request.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), and the California Environmental Quality Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office, Ridgecrest, California, together with the County of Kern, California, intend to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/ Environmental Impact Report (EIR), which may include an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan (1980 as amended), related to Alta Windpower Development LLC's (Applicant or AWD) right- of-way (ROW) authorization request for the Alta East Wind Project (Project), a 300-megawatt (MW) wind farm. By this notice BLM and Kern County are announcing the beginning of the scoping process to identify issues and solicit public comments on the EIS/EIR and proposed plan amendment. By this notice the BLM is also segregating, subject to valid existing rights, approximately 2,083 acres of public lands from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law of 1872, as amended, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws or disposal under the mineral material laws, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice for the purpose of processing AWD's ROW authorization request.