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

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present- day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects may contact the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward.

The Sheboygan County Historical Museum 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 Sheboygan County Historical Museum. Disposition of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

The University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO, has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the University of Denver Department of Anthropology and Museum of Anthropology. Repatriation of the human remains to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward.

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) Eastern Washington Resource Advisory Council (EWRAC) will meet as indicated below.

The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and repatriation to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Salt Lake City, UT, has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribe, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and a present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains may contact the Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region. Repatriation of the human remains to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward.

The Benton County Historical Society and Museum (BCHS), in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that the cultural items meet the definition of sacred objects and repatriation to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the Benton County Historical Society and Museum.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the regulations at 50 CFR part 17, which implement the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), to create a special rule under authority of section 4(d) of the ESA that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). The Secretary has the discretion to prohibit by regulation with respect to the polar bear any act prohibited by section 9(a)(1) of the ESA.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The Secretary of the Interior, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the ISAC.

This notice announces the revision to the boundary of Valley Forge National Historical Park, pursuant to the authority specified below, to include adjacent and contiguous parcels of land in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, totaling 0.73 of an acre. These parcels are depicted on Legislative Boundary Map Number 464/108056, entitled ``Valley Forge National Historical Park Proposed Boundary Expansion, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,'' dated June 27, 2011. This map is on file and available for inspection at the following locations: National Park Service, Land Resources, Northeast Region, 200 Chestnut Street, Room 324, Philadelphia, PA 19106, and National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the enXco Desert Harvest Solar Farm Project and draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft EIS and Draft CDCA Plan Amendment.

This notice announces a schedule of upcoming meetings for the Wekiva River System Advisory Management Committee.

The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is responsible for implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, including the issuance of appropriate regulations implementing and interpreting its provisions. Minor inaccuracies or inconsistencies in the regulations have been identified by or brought to the attention of the Department. These proposed amendments revise the rules implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act for purposes of factual accuracy and consistency.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) will be adding three tribal consultation sessions to the previously scheduled sessions. The additional sessions will focus on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to improve American Indian and Alaska Native education. The MOU is authorized by the President's Executive Order on Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities (Executive Order 135092) and section 9204 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Following consultation with the General Services Administration, notice is hereby given that the Secretary of the Interior is renewing the Royalty Policy Committee. The Royalty Policy Committee provides advice to the Secretary of the Interior on the management of Federal and Indian mineral leases and revenues under the laws governing the Department of the Interior. The Committee will also review and comment on revenue management and other mineral and energy-related policies, and provide a forum to convey views representative of mineral lessees, operators, revenue payors, revenue recipients, governmental agencies, and public interest groups. The Royalty Policy Committee reports to the Secretary of the Interior through the Director of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter the Service or we) proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2012-13 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2012-13 duck hunting seasons, requests proposals from Indian tribes that wish to establish special migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands, and requests proposals for the 2014 spring and summer migratory bird subsistence season in Alaska. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status for the Three Forks springsnail (Pyrgulopsis trivialis) and threatened status for the San Bernardino springsnail (Pyrgulopsis bernardina); and designate critical habitat for both species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 17.2 acres (6.9 hectares) are designated as critical habitat for Three Forks springsnail in Apache County, Arizona, and approximately 2.0 acres (0.8 hectares) for San Bernardino springsnail in Cochise County, Arizona. This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for these species.

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.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 50 miles west of Ely near Newark Valley.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following application to conduct certain activities with endangered species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act also requires that we invite public comment before issuing this permit.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

Notice is hereby given that certain coal resources in the South Porcupine Coal Tract described below in Campbell County, Wyoming, will be reoffered for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended.

We propose to revise the regulations for permits for nonpurposeful take of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) where the take is associated with, but not the purpose of, an activity. We propose to extend the maximum term for programmatic permits to 30 years. The permits must incorporate conditions specifying additional measures that may be necessary to ensure the preservation of eagles, should monitoring data indicate the need for the measures. This change will facilitate the responsible development of renewable energy and other projects designed to operate for many decades, while continuing to protect eagles consistent with statutory mandates. For a permit valid for 5 years or more, we propose to charge an application processing fee sufficient to offset the estimated costs associated with working with the applicants to develop site plans and conservation measures, and prepare applications, and for us to review applications. For any project that is deemed likely to take eagles, we also propose to collect an additional administration fee when we grant a permit. The proposed change does not affect the tenure of any other migratory bird or eagle permit type.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior (DOI) announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comments on the provisions thereof.