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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal for the collection of information for the Class III Tribal State Gaming Compact Process. The information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0172, which expires November 30, 2011.

This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter referred to as ``Call'') is the initial step in a multi-sale process covering all lease sales in the Eastern Planning Area (EPA) in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to be included in the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017. Two EPA lease sales are specifically covered by this Call. Simultaneously with this Call, BOEM is preparing a multi-sale EIS covering the same sales in the EPA. Comments received in response to the NOI will assist BOEM in developing the scope of the EIS.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of the Record of Decision for the Abbreviated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Walk National Historic Trail Feasibility Study, prepared by National Trails Intermountain Region, Santa Fe, New Mexico. On August 3, 2011, the Regional Director, Intermountain Region approved the Record of Decision for the project. Four alternatives and their respective environmental consequences were presented in the study. The Record of Decision identifies the preferred alternative as alternative A, no-action. Under the no-action alternative, a national historic trail would not be designated. Interpretation and protection of Long Walk-related events and resources would not be coordinated by a single, overarching federal agency. State, county, and tribal laws for historic preservation would continue to apply; no new federal actions would be taken to protect other significant resources. In the feasibility study, the National Park Service found that the Long Walk routes fully meet the criteria for national historic trails. The overall nature of public comments during the review period supported designation of a national historic trail. The National Park Service decision to support the no action alternative as the selected action is based on the lack of support for designation by the Navajo Nation Tribal Council and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The Record of Decision includes a statement of the decision made, synopses of other alternatives considered, the basis for the decision, a description of the environmentally preferable alternative, and an overview of public involvement in the decision-making process. Impairment and measures to minimize environmental harm are not addressed in the Record of Decision because the study involved no park resources.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on the April 12, 2011, proposed endangered status and designation of critical habitat for the Three Forks springsnail (Pyrgulopsis trivialis) and the San Bernardino springsnail (Pyrgulopsis bernardina) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are proposing to revise the previously proposed critical habitat for the Three Forks springsnail by increasing the size of the Boneyard Bog Springs Unit to 5.3 acres (2.1 hectares), and by adding an additional unit, the Boneyard Creek Springs Unit. In total, we are proposing to designate as critical habitat 17.1 acres (6.9 hectares) for the Three Forks springsnail. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the revised proposed rule, the associated DEA, and the amended required determinations section. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to file the plats of survey of the lands described below thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

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 laws require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

The surface owner, George Sullivan, filed an application on April 5, 2010 for the conveyance of the federally-owned mineral interests of a 10.98 acre tract of land in Kern County, California. Publication of this notice temporarily segregates the mineral interests in the land covered by the application from appropriation under the mining and mineral leasing laws for up to 2 years to determine the suitability of the federally-owned mineral interests for conveyance pursuant to Section 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of October 21, 1976.

The Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River (California) restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council (TMC). The TMC interprets and recommends policy, coordinates and reviews management actions, and provides organizational budget oversight. This notice announces a TAMWG meeting, which is open to the public.

We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2012. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request renewed authority to collect information for our Grants for Program Development and Administration and Enforcement, State and Tribal Reclamation Grants, and associated forms. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance number 1029-0059.

On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, BOEM will open and publicly announce bids received for the blocks offered in WPA Oil and Gas Lease Sale 218, in accordance with provisions of the OCS Lands Act (OSCLA) (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, as amended) and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR Part 556). The Final NOS 218 Package (Package) contains information essential to potential bidders, and bidders are charged with the knowledge of the documents contained in the Package. Sale 218 includes five changes from WPA Sale 210 in August 2009: (1) BOEM revised the initial period of the lease term for blocks in water depths of 400 meters to less than 1,600 meters, (2) the minimum bonus bid has increased for blocks in water depths of 400 meters or deeper, (3) no deepwater royalty suspension provisions will be offered for leases issued from this sale, (4) bids submitted for blocks within the U.S.-Mexico ``Boundary Area'' will be held unopened until on or before 30 days following a Transboundary Agreement is executed or June 14, 2012, as explained below, and (5) the lease form has been revised.

The plats of survey described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the New Mexico State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Santa Fe, New Mexico, thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) is notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR part 1218. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces its intent to prepare a General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) for Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (NHP), New Jersey. In the park's enabling legislation, Congress established the Paterson Great Falls NHP Advisory Commission to advise in the development and implementation of the GMP. The Paterson Great Falls NHP Advisory Commission will be involved early in the planning process and will remain actively involved throughout the development of the plan. Prepared by planners in the NPS Northeast Region, with assistance from advisors and consultants, the GMP/EIS will propose a long-term approach to managing Paterson Great Falls NHP.

The Environmental Defense Fund (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to a section of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The requested permit, which is for a period of 30 years, would authorize incidental take of the endangered Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis) as a result of conservation actions, land management, and other land-use activities. We invite the public to review and comment on the permit application and the associated draft Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement).

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

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 December 12, 2011.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of and requests comments on the Proposed 5-Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (``Proposed Program''). This is part of a multi-step process required by law before the Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-year program. BOEM is publishing a Notice of Availability of the 5-Year Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) concurrently with this notice.

Pursuant to Public Law 96-472, the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold a 1\1/2\-day meeting on November 14 and 15, 2011, on the campus of the University of Washington. 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://www.earthquake.usgs.gov/aboutus/nepec/. At the meeting, the Council will receive briefings on lessons learned from the 2010 Chile and 2011 Japan subduction earthquakes, monitoring and research efforts relating to earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest, research and development relating to earthquake early warning and short-term aftershock forecasting, and recent findings from the study of episodic tremor and slip and from the analysis of various seismic hazards in and around the State of Washington. The Council will also receive brief updates on the project intended to deliver an updated Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF3) in summer 2012, and on other topics. 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 November 8, 2011. Members of the public wishing to make a statement to the Council should provide notice of that intention by November 8 so that time may be allotted in the agenda.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance 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) Rock Springs Field Office, Rock Springs, Wyoming, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Quaking Aspen Wind Energy Project (Quaking Aspen). By this notice, BLM is: (1) Announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify potential issues related to the Quaking Aspen EIS; and (2) Segregating 3,698.35 acres of BLM-administered lands located within the Quaking Aspen right-of-way (ROW) application area from appropriation under the public land laws, including the 1872 Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Mineral Material Acts, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council will meet to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. This meeting is open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a 3-year renewal of OMB control number 1004-0201, which pertains to management of oil shale on public lands.