Department of the Interior January 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

BOEM has prepared a Final Supplemental EIS for CPA Consolidated Lease Sale 216/222, an oil and gas lease sale that is tentatively scheduled for June 2012, which will be the final lease sale in the 2007-2012 5-Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The proposed sale is in the GOM's CPA off the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This Final Supplemental EIS updates, for CPA Lease Sale 216/ 222, environmental and socioeconomic analyses that were originally conducted in an EIS that was completed in April 2007 and entitled, Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007-2012; Western Planning Area (WPA) Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218; Central Planning Area (CPA) Sales 205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222, Final EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007- 018) (Multisale EIS). This Final Supplemental EIS also updates, for CPA Lease Sale 216/222, environmental and socioeconomic analyses originally conducted in an EIS that was completed in September 2008 and entitled: GOM OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009-2012; CPA Sales 208, 213, 216, and 222; WPA Sales 210, 215, and 218; Final Supplemental EIS (OCS EIS/ EA MMS 2008-041) (2009-2012 Supplemental EIS).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and a finding of no significant impact for the environmental assessment for Columbia National Wildlife Refuge (NWR/refuge). In this final CCP, we describe how we will manage this refuge for the next 15 years. Implementation of the CCP is subject to the availability of funding and any additional compliance requirements.

The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert District is soliciting nominations from the public for six members of its California Desert District Advisory Council (Council) to serve 3- year terms. Council members provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the management of public lands in southern California.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM-Eastern States office in Springfield, Virginia, 30 calendar days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for the requirements for coal exploration has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

This order withdraws approximately 1,006,545 acres of public and National Forest System lands from location and entry under the Mining Law of 1872, 30 U.S.C. 22-54, subject to valid existing rights, for a period of 20 years in order to protect the Grand Canyon Watershed from adverse effects of locatable mineral exploration and development.

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.

Nominations are being solicited for one position representing transportation/rights-of-way or energy and mineral development interests on the Pinedale Anticline Working Group (PAWG).

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Advisory Committee on the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail will hold a meeting via conference call. Designated through an amendment to the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241), the trail consists of ``a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and in the District of Columbia,'' tracing the 1607-1609 voyages of Captain John Smith to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. This meeting is available to the public through a toll-free call-in number. Preregistration is required to receive call-in information. Any individual who wishes to participate in the call or provide public comment should register prior to February 1, 2012 via email at Christine_Lucero@nps.gov or telephone: (757) 258-8914. For those wishing to make comments, please provide a written summary of your comments prior to the meeting. The Designated Federal Official for the Advisory Council is John Maounis, Superintendent, Captain John Smith National Historic Trail, telephone: (410) 260-2471.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collection of information for OSM's call for nominations for its Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Awards and Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards.

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has completed an inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and any present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Disposition of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has completed an inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and any present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Disposition of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and any present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Disposition of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and any present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. Disposition of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

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.

This notice sets the date of January 23, 2012, meeting of the Kalaupapa Federal Advisory Commission.

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 February 10, 2012.

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), Las Cruces District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service) will conduct an open meeting on February 1, 2012, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2012-13 migratory bird hunting regulations.

The National Park Service invites public comments on a proposed alternative formula for the value of leasehold surrender interest to be included in its proposed ten-year concession contract for Shenandoah National Park. The contract will cover operation of the lodging, food and beverage, retail sales, gasoline, and horseback riding operations at the Park.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the White-tailed Deer Management Plan (Plan), Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC The Plan will support long-term protection, preservation, and restoration of native vegetation and other natural and cultural resources in Rock Creek Park.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge (the refuge, NWR) in Plymouth, Massachusetts. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this refuge.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Proposed Shiloh IV Wind Plant Project in response to an application from enXco (applicant) for a 36-year incidental take permit for one species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of one federally listed animal, the Central California Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger salamander. The applicant would implement a conservation program to minimize and mitigate the project activities, as described in the applicant's habitat conservation plan (plan). We request data, comments, new information or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party on the applicant's permit application, plan, and the associated EA.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, as amended (MBTA), from the Pacific Islands Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Department of Commerce, for a permit for the incidental take of migratory birds in the operation of the Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery that targets swordfish (Xiphias gladius). If issued, the permit would be the first of its kind under our Special Purpose permitting regulations. We invite public comment on the draft environmental assessment (DEA), which evaluates alternatives associated with this permit application.