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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of two John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) draft revised maps for public review and comment. The first map, dated January 10, 2012, is for two CBRS units located in Lee County, Florida. The second map, dated September 30, 2009, is for four CBRS units located in Newport County, Rhode Island.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to revise the designated critical habitat for the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Consistent with the best scientific data available, the standards of the Act, our regulations, and agency practice, we have initially identified, for public comment, approximately 13,962,449 acres (ac) (5,649,660 hectares (ha)) in 11 units and 63 subunits in California, Oregon, and Washington that meet the definition of critical habitat. In addition, however, the Act provides the Secretary with the discretion to exclude certain areas from the final designation after taking into consideration economic impacts, impacts on national security, and any other relevant impacts of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. We have identified and are considering a number of specific alternatives in this proposed rulemaking based on potential exclusions from the final rule. First, of the total area identified, we propose to exclude from the final designation approximately 2,631,736 ac (1,065,026 ha) of National Park lands, Federal Wilderness Areas, and other Congressionally reserved natural areas, as well as 164,776 ac (66,682 ha) of State Park lands. Second, we propose to exclude from a final designation approximately 936,816 ac (379,116 ha) of State and private lands that have a Habitat Conservation Plan, Safe Harbor Agreement, conservation easement, or similar conservation protection. And third, we are considering exclusion of an additional 838,344 ac (339,266 ha) of other non-Federal lands from the final designation. These specific alternatives will be considered on an individual basis or in any combination thereof. In addition, the final designation may not be limited to these alternatives, but may also consider other exclusions as a result of continuing analysis of relevant considerations (both scientific and economic, as required by the Act) and the public comment process. In particular, we solicit comments from the public on the physical and biological features currently identified in this proposal as being essential for the conservation of the species, whether all of the areas identified meet the definition of critical habitat, whether other areas would meet that definition, whether to make the specific exclusions we have proposed, and whether there are other areas that are appropriate for exclusion.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year reviews for 46 species in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request any new information on these species that may have a bearing on their classification as endangered or threatened. Based on the results of our 5-year reviews we will determine whether these species are properly classified under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recognize the recent change to the taxonomy of the currently endangered plant taxon, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, in which the subspecies was split into two distinct full species, Monardella viminea (willowy monardella) and Monardella stoneana (Jennifer's monardella). Because the original subspecies, Monardella linoides ssp. viminea, was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we reviewed and updated the threats analysis that we completed for the taxon in 1998, when it was listed as a subspecies. We also reviewed the status of the new species, Monardella stoneana. We retain the listing status of Monardella viminea as endangered, and we remove protections afforded by the Act from those individuals now recognized as the separate species, Monardella stoneana, because the new species does not meet the definition of endangered or threatened under the Act. We also revise designated critical habitat for Monardella viminea. In total, approximately 122 acres (50 hectares) in San Diego County, California, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. We are not designating critical habitat for Monardella stoneana because this species does not warrant listing under the Act.

The Department of the Interior is requesting comments on its draft policy on consultation with Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporations.

This is a First Notice for the public to comment on the next potential U.S. nominations from the U.S. World Heritage Tentative List to the UNESCO World Heritage List, and on possible additions to the Tentative List. This notice complies with Sec. 73.7(c) of the World Heritage Program regulations (36 CFR part 73). The U.S. World Heritage Tentative List (formerly referred to as the Indicative Inventory) appears at the end of this notice. The current Tentative List was transmitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre on January 24, 2008 and includes properties that appear to qualify for World Heritage status and which may be considered for nomination by the United States to the World Heritage List. Any property nominated to the World Heritage List must have been on the Tentative List for at least a year prior to its nomination, according to the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Committee. On Thursday, July 14, 2011, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it had requested the preparation of draft World Heritage nominations for two properties or groups of properties on the Tentative List: The Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings and Poverty Point State Historic Site and National Monument. These draft nominations are currently in preparation. The United States Department of the Interior is now considering whether to initiate the preparation of draft nominations for any of the remaining properties on the Tentative List to the World Heritage List. The Department will consider both public comments received during this comment period and the advice of the Federal Interagency Panel for World Heritage (the Panel) in making a final decision on any future nominations. The United States is currently prohibited by law from providing any funding to UNESCO, including UNESCO and World Heritage member dues. The Panel will consider possible implications of this status in making its recommendation on future nominations. Comments may also be made on suggestions for additions to the Tentative List, although the Department is not required to make additions to the List. All previous suggestions made during the public comment period held from December 14, 2010-January 14, 2011, as well as those made since that time, are still on file for consideration and should not be resubmitted at this time.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for disposal utilizing direct sale procedures, one parcel of public land totaling 5 acres, in Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada. This parcel is being proposed for non-competitive (direct) sale to Esmeralda County under the provisions of Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and BLM sales and mineral conveyance regulations for the appraised fair market value of $15,500.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we will submit to OMB an extension of a currently approved information collection (IC) for the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) under Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This notice provides the public and other Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this information collection (IC). The existing IC is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2012. To submit a proposal to the NGGDPP, a project narrative must be completed and submitted via www.Grants.gov. Furthermore, a final technical report for all projects is required at the end of the project period. Narrative and report guidance is available through https:// datapreservation.usgs.gov/and at www.Grants.gov.

We (National Park Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. 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 IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2012. 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 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is segregating public lands located in the State of Arizona 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. This segregation is being made in connection with the BLM's processing of a right-of-way (ROW) application for Quartzsite Solar Energy, LLC's Quartzsite Solar Energy Project (Proposed Project). This segregation covers approximately 2,013.76 acres of BLM-administered public lands located within the Proposed Project's ROW application area.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces a meeting of the Denali National Park and Preserve Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss mitigation of impacts from aircraft overflights at Denali National Park and Preserve. The Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council is authorized to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Public Availability of Comments: These meetings are open to the public and will have time allocated for public testimony. The public is welcome to present written or oral comments to the Aircraft Overflights Advisory Council. Each meeting will be recorded and meeting minutes will be available upon request from the park superintendent for public inspection approximately six weeks after each meeting. Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying informationmay be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to designate the Hope Camp Trail as a bicycle route within Saguaro National Park (Park). The National Park Service general regulation at 36 CFR 4.30(b) requires promulgation of a special regulation to designate bicycle routes outside of developed areas and special use zones.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs intends to file a draft environmental impact statement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Spokane Tribe of Indians West Plains casino and mixed use project, City of Airway Heights, Spokane County, Washington. The draft statement is now available for public review and BIA will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the mixed use project.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Acquisition and Property Management announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comments on the provisions thereof.

This final rule extends the compliance date for the final rule that revised the list of nonrural areas identified by the Federal Subsistence Board (Board). On May 7, 2007, the Board published a final rule changing the rural determination for several communities or areas in Alaska. These communities had five years following the date of publication to come into compliance. In 2009 the Secretary of the Interior initiated a review of the Federal Subsistence Program. An ensuing directive was for the Federal Subsistence Board to review its processes for determining the rural and nonrural status of communities. As a result, the Board has initiated a review of the rural determination process and the rural determination findings. The Board finds that it is in the public's interest to extend the compliance date of the 2007 final rule until the review is complete or in 5 years, whichever comes first.