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

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Tribe) as Cooperating Agencies, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed KRoad Moapa Solar Generation Facility on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark County, Nevada. This notice also announces the DEIS is now available for public review and that public meetings will be held to solicit comments on the draft document.

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 Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey; Alaska.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we (the National Park Service) are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) for a proposed new collection. This notice provides the public and other Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as a part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other federal agencies to comment on this ICR. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 days from the date of this publication.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Business Center, Department of the Interior announces that it has submitted a request for proposed extension of an information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and requests public comments on this submission. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

The plats of survey of the described lands were officially filed in the Arizona State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix, Arizona, on dates indicated.

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) Dominguez- Escalante Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below.

The National Park Service announces the availability of the draft environmental impact statement for the Susquehanna to Roseland 500-kilovolt transmission line, which will affect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River.

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).