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

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Kern County, California, have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a Draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment (PA) for the Alta East Wind Project (AEWP), and by this notice the BLM is announcing the opening of the comment period.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (Tribe), the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), the City of Kenosha, and Kenosha County, as cooperating agencies, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed approval of a 223-acre fee-to-trust transfer and the construction of a casino-hotel complex. This notice also announces the FEIS is now available for public review. Hard copies are available upon request or may be found at the addresses indicted in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Buckeye Wind, LLC (applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), for its Buckeye Wind Power Project (project). If approved, the ITP would be for a 30-year period and would authorize the incidental take of an endangered species, the Indiana bat. The applicant has prepared a habitat conservation plan (HCP) that describes the actions and measures the applicant would implement to avoid, minimize, and mitigate incidental take of the Indiana bat. The ITP application also includes a draft implementing agreement (IA). We also announce the availability of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that has been prepared in response to the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We request public comment on the application and associated documents.

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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on, and plans to request approval to continue, the collection of information pertaining to Federal and Indian oil and gas leasing and drainage protection (except on the Osage Reservation). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0185 to this information collection.

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 July 27, 2012.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public teleconference of the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council (Council).

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the ACWI. This meeting is to discuss broad policy-related topics relating to national water initiatives, and the development and dissemination of water information, through reports from ACWI subgroups. The agenda will include updates from ACWI's various subcommittees; discussion of a new Climate Workgroup that is being formed; a report on the National Monitoring Conference, which was held earlier this year in Portland, Oregon; a demonstration of new features that will be released later in the summer for the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Information System; an update on the National Ground Water Monitoring Network Data Portal; a report on the Hydrologic Frequency Analysis Work Group's progress on revising Bulletin 17B, Guidelines For Determining Flood Flow Frequency; and a demonstration of a new component of the National Environmental Methods Index that provides better access to statistical and assessment methods for water quality. The ACWI was established under the authority of the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-92-01 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the ACWI is to provide a forum for water information users and professionals to advise the Federal Government on activities and plans that may improve the effectiveness of meeting the Nation's water information needs. Member organizations help to foster communications between the Federal and non-Federal sectors on sharing water information. Membership, limited to 35 organizations, represents a wide range of water resources interests and functions. Representation on the ACWI includes all levels of government, academia, private industry, and professional and technical societies. For more information on the ACWI, its membership, subgroups, meetings and activities, please see the Web site at: https://ACWI.gov.

Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the impacts of constructing a boathouse facility and floating docks for non-motorized boats at possible locations along the Virginia shoreline of the Potomac River in the vicinity of Arlington County. This announcement updates the Notice of Intent (NOI) on the same project published in the Federal Register on May 21, 2004.

Pursuant to the terms of the listed concession contract, the National Park Service hereby gives public notice that it intends to extend the concession contract listed below for a period not-to-exceed 14 months from the date of contract expiration.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will file the plat 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.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an Information Collection Request (ICR) for the revision of the currently approved paperwork requirements for the Industrial Minerals Surveys. This collection consists of 40 forms. The revision includes adding USGS Form 9-4144-S; transferring USGS Form 9- 4142-Q from Information Collection 1028-0065; and modifying the following forms: USGS Form 9-4004-A, USGS Form 9-4027-A, and USGS Form 9-4035-S. This notice provides the public and other Federal agencies an opportunity to comment on the nature of this collection which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) and subcommittee for the proposed Monument and Cassia Land Use Plan amendments will meet as indicated below.

This notice sets forth the date of the July 28, 2012, meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Brooks River Visitor Access for Katmai National Park and Preserve. The document evaluates the environmental impacts of four action alternatives that include bridge and boardwalk systems to replace the existing Brooks River floating bridge and sites to relocate the existing Naknek Lake barge landing area at the mouth of the Brooks River. A no-action alternative is also evaluated. If implemented, this EIS would amend the access provisions of the 1996 Brooks River Area Final Development Concept Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. This notice announces the public comment period, the locations of public meetings, and solicits comments on the DEIS.

This notice alerts the public to proposed changes to the fees the National Park Service (NPS) charges for reviewing Historic Preservation Certification Applications. The current fees were set in 1984 and have not been changed since then.

Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Ridgeland Wyoming Inc., for competitive oil and gas lease WYW177129 for land in Converse 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.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet on August 23 at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds in Meeker. This is a location change from what was announced in the March 30, 2012 Federal Register.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Budget, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior (DOI), announces the proposed extension of a public information collection required by the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act (PILT) and seeks public comments on the provisions thereof. After public review, the Office of Budget will submit a renewal request for the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP) for Fort Matanzas National Monument (Monument), Florida. Consistent with NPS laws, regulations, and policies and the purpose of the Monument, the draft EIS/GMP describes the NPS preferred alternativeAlternative Bto guide the management of the Monument over the next 15 to 20 years. The preferred alternative incorporates various management prescriptions to ensure protection, access and enjoyment of the Monument's resources. An up-to-date GMP is needed to address how visitors access and use the Monument and the facilities needed to support those uses, how resources are managed, and how the NPS manages its operations. Recent studies have enhanced the NPS's understanding of resources, resource threats, and visitor use in the Monument.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our Draft Recovery Plan Addendum for the Thick-billed Parrot under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We have developed this draft recovery plan addendum to comply with a December 14, 2010, Stipulated Settlement Agreement between WildEarth Guardians and the Secretary of the Interior. This species is currently found in Mexico and is believed to be extirpated from the United States; however, historically its range also included southern Arizona and possibly southwestern New Mexico. We request review and comment on this addendum from local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the public. We will also accept any new information on the status of the thick-billed parrot throughout its range to assist in finalizing the addendum to the recovery plan.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening of the public comment period on the October 12, 2011, proposed designation of critical habitat for the coqu[iacute] llanero (Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi) (a tree frog) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, our evaluation of the potential economic impacts of the proposed designation, 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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate revised critical habitat for the Pacific Coast distinct population segment (DPS) (Pacific Coast WSP) of the western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus, formerly C. alexandrinus nivosus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 24,527 acres (9,926 hectares) of critical habitat for the Pacific Coast WSP in Washington, Oregon, and California, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. This revised final designation constitutes an increase of approximately 12,377 ac (5,009 ha) from the 2005 designation of critical habitat for the Pacific Coast WSP. A taxonomic name change has occurred and been accepted for the snowy plover. Throughout the remainder of this document, we will use the currently recognized name for the subspecies, Charadrius nivosus nivosus, to which the listed entity (Pacific Coast WSP) belongs for references to the Pacific Coast WSP.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the filing of the land survey plats listed below.