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

This order extends the duration of the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6868 for an additional 20-year period. The extension is necessary to continue protection of the major anadromous fish spawning beds at the Steamboat Creek Tributaries Streamside Zone and Steamboat Creek Roadside and Streamside Zones.

This order extends the duration of the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6875 for an additional 20-year period. The extension is necessary to continue protection of the rare botanical specimens and the unique natural environment located within the Babyfoot and Big Craggies Botanical Areas, which would otherwise expire on August 27, 2011.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plans and environmental assessments (Draft CCPs/EAs) for the Ke[amacr]lia Pond and Kakahai'a National Wildlife Refuges (Refuges), for public review and comment. The Draft CCPs/EAs describe our proposals for managing the Refuges for the next 15 years.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to delist the valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that delisting the valley elderberry longhorn beetle may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a status review of the species to determine if delisting is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the valley elderberry longhorn beetle. Based on this status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted under section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

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.

Under the terms of the existing concession contract, the National Park Service intends to request a continuation of visitor services in Yosemite National Park for a period not to exceed one year from the expiration date of the current contract.

This notice is being published as an initial step for the purpose of involving Federal agencies, states, tribes, local government, offshore wind energy developers, and the public in the Department of the Interior's (DOI) ``Smart from the Start'' wind energy initiative. The purpose of the ``Smart from the Start'' wind energy initiative is to identify areas that may be most suitable for wind energy leasing on the OCS, and to obtain public and expert input that will inform the Department's decisionmaking with regard to issuing leases and approving site assessment activities in these areas, in accordance with the DOI and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). On November 23, 2010, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the ``Smart from the Start'' renewable energy initiative to accelerate the responsible development of renewable energy resources on the Atlantic OCS. The initiative focuses on the identification and refinement of areas on the OCS that are most suitable for renewable energy development (Wind Energy Areas (WEAs)), and utilizes coordinated environmental studies, large-scale planning processes, and expedited review processes within these areas to achieve an efficient and responsible renewable energy leasing process. In consultation with other Federal agencies and the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Forces, BOEMRE has identified an area for consideration for potential future wind energy leasing. This area, offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts, is identified in the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts-Call for Information and Nominations (Call), which is being published concurrently with this notice. The area identified in the Call and this notice is located within the Area of Mutual Interest (AMI), as described by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Governors of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. More information on the task forces and the ``Smart from the Start'' initiative can be found at: https://www.boemre.gov/offshore/ RenewableEnergy/StateActivitiesProjects.htm and https://www.doi.gov/ news/pressreleases/Salazar-Launches-Smart-from-the-Start-Init iative-to- Speed-Offshore-Wind-Energy-Development-off-the-Atlantic-Coast .cfm. BOEMRE intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA), which will consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing commercial wind leases and approving site assessment activities on those leases (within all or some of this Call Area). The EA will not analyze or support development activities. If a successful lessee proposes development activity, the specific proposal will be given full review at that time. BOEMRE is seeking public input regarding the identification of the important environmental and/or socioeconomic issues and alternatives to be considered in the EA.

Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 the NPS announces the availability of a DEIS/GMP for Canaveral National Seashore, Florida. The document provides a framework for management, use, and development options for the Seashore by the NPS for the next 15 to 20 years. It describes four management alternatives for consideration, including a No-Action Alternative that continues current management policies and the NPS's preferred alternative. The document analyzes the environmental impacts of the alternatives.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the South Porcupine Coal Lease-by-Application (LBA) included in the Wright Area Coal Lease Applications Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada State Office, Information Access Center (IAC) will implement new hours of operation, weekdays, excluding Federal holidays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The BLM Nevada State Office will close P.O. Box 12000 in Reno, Nevada. All postal service mail to the BLM Nevada State Office should be addressed to 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89502.

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's (BLM) Utah RAC will meet as indicated below.

We (the U.S. Geological Survey) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection request (ICR) for the USGS Landslide Hazards Program's Landslide Report: Did You See It? As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 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 ICR. 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.

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 (Act) prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

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.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), BOEMRE is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under ``Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems'' (OMB No. 1010-0059).

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Lake Erie watersnake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife due to recovery. This action is based on a review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicate that the subspecies is no longer endangered or threatened with extinction, or likely to become so within the foreseeable future.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan, the applicable Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the project site and the surrounding areas, located in the California Desert District. The Secretary of the Interior approved the ROD on August 9, 2011, which constitutes the final decision of the Department.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Kentucky Regulatory Program (hereinafter, the ``Kentucky program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). On May 10, 2011, Kentucky submitted proposed bonding revisions to the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) as authorized by House Bill 385 (HB 385), which passed during the State's regular 2011 legislative session. HB 385 amends the Kentucky Revised Statutes to require that, as of the effective date of the Act, any determination by the Energy and Environmental Cabinet (EEC) to change a bond requirement or bond amount currently in use will result in a new administrative regulation that includes all bond requirements, including the bond amount; HB 385 also prohibits bond amounts from being instituted as policy. Finally, it requires an administrative regulation that fails to include bond amounts to be declared deficient automatically. This document gives the times and locations that the Kentucky program and this submittal are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service is preparing a Water Resources Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (WRMP/EIS). This plan is intended to guide future management of ground and surface water sources within Mojave National Preserve. The original Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS (published in the Federal Register on May 11, 2011) announced a 60-day public comment period. In recognition of the complexity and scope of the forthcoming EIS, and with deference to interest from the public and interested organizations, the comment period has been extended.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) for public review and comment. In this document, we describe goals and objectives, management direction, and alternatives to manage the Refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP. Also available for review in the document are draft compatibility determinations, a draft wilderness review, and a draft wild and scenic river review prepared in association with the CCP, as well as supporting documents required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

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 (Act) prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under ``Oil and Gas Drilling Operations,'' and related documents. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements and associated forms.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in this ICR titled ``30 CFR Part 1220, OCS Net Profit Share Payment Reporting.'' This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the final comprehensive conservation plan and environmental impact statement (Final CCP/EIS) for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). In this final CCP/EIS, we describe how we propose to manage this Refuge for the next 15 years.