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

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 Prospecting for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer Continental Shelf, and, in particular, that we are revising form BOEM-0134 to clarify requirements for environmental compliance.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the thermophilic ostracod (Potamocypris hunteri) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition does not present substantial information indicating that listing the thermophilic ostracod may be warranted. Therefore, we are not initiating a status review in response to this petition. We ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of, or threats to, the thermophilic ostracod or its habitat at any time.

Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Redwine Resources, Inc. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW151749 for land in Carbon County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2-3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC68134 from Western Operation Company, for lands in Morgan County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.

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.

The National Park Service hereby gives public notice that it has extended the following expiring concession contracts for a period of up to 1 year, or until a new contract is executed, whichever occurs sooner.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, 5 U.S.C. App 1, Section 10) of a meeting of the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission.

Pursuant to the terms of existing concession contracts, the National Park Service hereby gives notice that it has continued visitor services for a period not-to-exceed 1 year from the date of contract expiration with respect to the listed contracts.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality and the Department of the Interior regulations implementing NEPA; and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona State Office has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Restoration Design Energy Project (RDEP) to evaluate proposed amendments to several Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to identify lands across Arizona that may be suitable for developing renewable solar and wind energy, and to establish a baseline set of environmental protection measures for such projects. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of a 90- day public review and comment period on the Draft EIS.

The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior concerning Glen Canyon Dam operations and other management actions to protect resources downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act. The AMWG meets two to three times a year.

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to seek an extension of the information collection for the Lower Colorado River Well Inventory (1006-0014). The current OMB approval expires on May 31, 2012.

This order withdraws 15 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for a period of 20 years to protect the unique recreational and historical interpretive integrity of the Red Cloud Campground within the Cibola National Forest, and to protect a capital investment in the recreation area of approximately $750,000 in Federal funds.

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.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Graves, Marshall, and McCracken Counties, Kentucky, for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is the lead agency for the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a wilderness management plan for eight wilderness areas in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, three of which are partially located on adjacent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. The BLM will serve as a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS. The wilderness management plan (plan) will establish management goals for these wilderness areas, develop long term direction for monitoring and preserving wilderness character (i.e., natural, untrammeled, undeveloped, and outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation) in the wilderness areas, while also providing for the use and enjoyment of the areas by current and future generations. Additionally, this plan will provide for accountability, interagency consistency, and continuity in the stewardship of these NPS and BLM wilderness areas.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving three amendments to the Texas regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas at its own initiative submitted three separate amendments to its program: SATS Nos. TX-061-FOR, TX-062-FOR, and TX- 063-FOR. Texas proposed revisions in TX-061-FOR by adding language that no longer requires an operation with only reclamation activities ongoing to renew their mining permit, to clarify the requirement to maintain public liability insurance for sites where the permit is not renewed because the only activities ongoing are reclamation, and to clarify midterm review times for sites where the permit is not renewed because the only ongoing activities are reclamation. Texas proposed revisions in TX-062-FOR by adding a new definition for ``Previously mined land,'' adding new language on the effects of previous mining violations from operations on previously mined lands in relation to permit application denials, and adding new language explaining performance standards for revegetation liability timeframes for coal mining and reclamation operations. Texas proposed revisions in TX-063-FOR by adding a new definition for ``Director;'' deleting old language, and adding new language clarifying the review periods for new permits, renewals, and significant revisions. Texas revised its program to improve operational efficiency.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status for the rayed bean (Villosa fabalis) and snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra) mussels throughout their ranges, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is segregating public lands located in Imperial County, California, from appropriation under the public land laws including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for a period of 2 years for the purpose of processing a wind energy right-of-way (ROW) application for the Ocotillo Express Wind Project. The public land contained in this segregation totals approximately 12,436 acres.

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 requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

This notice provides the semiannual agenda of rules scheduled for review or development between fall 2011 and spring 2012. The Regulatory Flexibility Act and Executive Order 12866 require publication of the agenda.

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) Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed land exchange between the BLM and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Tribe) in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument (Monument). This notice announces the beginning of the BLM scoping process, invites public participation, and describes how the time and place of public scoping meetings will be announced.

The plats of survey and supplemental plats of lands described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management California State Office, Sacramento, California, thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (NWR; Refuge) in Sequoyah, Muskogee, and Haskell Counties, Oklahoma. An environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluating effects of various CCP alternatives will also be prepared. We provide this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process. We are also requesting public comments. This notice also advises the public that we have reconsidered a 1998 notice, in which we announced our intention to develop a CCP and environmental assessment for the Refuge. Comments already received in response to the previous notice will be considered during preparation of the subject CCP/EIS. You do not need to resend those comments.

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.