Department of the Interior March 27, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Environmental Documents Prepared for Proposed Oil, Gas, and Mineral Operations by the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region
Document Number: 2012-7364
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), in accordance with Federal Regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), announces the availability of NEPA-related Site- Specific Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI), prepared by BOEM for the following oil-, gas-, and mineral-related activities proposed on the Gulf of Mexico.
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Cook Inlet Planning Area, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 for OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2012-2017
Document Number: 2012-7337
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
The Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Proposed Program) identifies Sale 244 as a potential special interest sale for the Cook Inlet Planning Area in Alaska. While industry interest in the Federal OCS offshore area has been limited in the past decade, recently there has been renewed interest in exploring for and developing additional hydrocarbon resources in the south-central region of the state, as evidenced by acreage leased in state sales and announced discoveries of natural gas on state-managed lands, both offshore and onshore. This RFI seeks to determine the level of industry interest in a possible Sale 244 in 2013 in the Cook Inlet Planning Area, whether focused on a few blocks or prospects, or on a larger portion of the program area. BOEM is also seeking comments from tribal, local, and state governments, Federal agencies, and the general public to evaluate whether the agency should proceed with further evaluations pursuant to the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and all other applicable laws and regulations. BOEM will consider the level of industry interest and other issues and concerns reflected in comments in its determination on how to proceed. BOEM will then decide on whether to proceed with further evaluation of this special interest sale. This RFI does not indicate a decision to include Sale 244 in the Proposed Final OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Final Program) or to lease in the Cook Inlet Planning Area.
Montana Regulatory Program
Document Number: 2012-7325
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
We are announcing receipt of Montana's response to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's (OSM) November 22, 2011, letter pertaining to a previously proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``Montana program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana proposes changes to the Montana Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act (MSUMRA) that pertain to coal prospecting. Montana intends to revise its program to comply with changes made in the 2011 Montana Legislature as a result of the passage of Senate Bill 286. This document gives the times and locations that the Montana program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.
National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
Document Number: 2012-7262
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Government-to-Government Telephonic Consultation Meetings
Document Number: 2012-7261
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service announces two telephonic government- to-government consultation meetings with Indian tribes that will be held to obtain initial input on issues related to programs of the National Register of Historic Places/National Historic Landmarks Program. The meetings will also provide an opportunity for input into the development of a consultation planning process for future consultation. The meetings are intended for every Indian tribe that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a), and are in accordance with Executive Order 13175Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (Nov. 6, 2000), the President's Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies on the implementation of Executive Order 13175 (Nov. 5, 2009), and the Secretary of the Interior's Order No. 3317Department of the Interior Policy on Consultation With Indian Tribes (Dec. 1, 2011).
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for the Alabama Pearlshell, Round Ebonyshell, Southern Sandshell, Southern Kidneyshell, and Choctaw Bean, and Threatened Status for the Tapered Pigtoe, Narrow Pigtoe, and Fuzzy Pigtoe; With Critical Habitat
Document Number: 2012-7200
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening of the public comment period on the October 4, 2011, rule proposing endangered status for the Alabama pearlshell (Margaritifera marrianae), round ebonyshell (Fusconaia rotulata), southern sandshell (Hamiota australis), southern kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus jonesi), and Choctaw bean (Villosa choctawensis), and threatened status for the tapered pigtoe (Fusconaia burkei), narrow pigtoe (Fusconaia escambia), and fuzzy pigtoe (Pleurobema strodeanum), and designation of their critical habitat, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for these eight species 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 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.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Ipomopsis polyantha
Document Number: 2012-7087
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-03-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on the July 27, 2011, proposed designation of critical habitat for Ipomopsis polyantha (Pagosa skyrocket), Penstemon debilis (Parachute beardtongue), and Phacelia submutica (DeBeque phacelia) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis, a draft environmental assessment, and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We also propose to revise critical habitat unit boundaries for Ipomopsis polyantha units 2 and 4, and for Phacelia submutica units 6, 7, and 9. Finally, we announce some potential additional areas being considered for exclusion from critical habitat for Penstemon debilis unit 3. We are reopening the comment period for the proposal to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule, the associated draft economic analysis (DEA), and draft environmental assessment (Draft EA), and the amended required determinations section. If you submitted comments previously, you do not need to resubmit them because we have already incorporated them into the public record and will fully consider them in preparation of the final rule.
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