Department of the Interior February 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On September 21, 2012, the National Indian Gaming Commission (``NIGC'') published a final rule amending its technical standards for Class II gaming systems and equipment, and the rule became effective on October 22, 2012. This document proposes an amendment to the regulatory text of the final rule to harmonize the charitable gaming exemptions in the Technical Standards and the Class II Minimum Internal Control Standards of NIGC regulations.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), amends it regulations 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), while also including appropriate prohibitions from section 9(a)(1) of the ESA.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving an amendment to the Texas regulatory program (Texas program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposed revisions to its regulations regarding: definitions; responsibilities; identification of interests and compliance information (surface and underground mining); identification of interests; mining in previously mined areas; review of permit applications; criteria for permit approval or denial; commission review of outstanding permits; challenge of ownership or control and applicant/violator system procedures; revegetation standards of success (surface and underground mining); responsibility: general; alternative enforcement; cessation orders; conditions of permit environment; application approval and notice; permit revisions; permit renewals: completed application; transfer, assignment or sale of permit rights: obtaining approval; and requirements for new permits for persons succeeding to rights granted under a permit. Texas intends to revise its program to be no less effective than corresponding Federal regulations, to clarify ambiguities, and to improve operational efficiency.

The Rochester Museum & Science Center, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items listed meet the definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony 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 Rochester Museum & Science Center.

Binghamton University, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that a cultural item meets the definition of sacred object 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 item may contact Binghamton University.

The Grand Rapids Public Museum 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 a present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects may contact the Grand Rapids Public Museum. Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward.

The University of Washington, Department of Anthropology, has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribe. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains and associated funerary objects may contact the Burke Museum acting on behalf of the University of Washington, Department of Anthropology. Disposition of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional requestors come forward.

We are reopening the public comment period on the proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (the ``Pennsylvania program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act) published on February 7, 2011. In response to a required program amendment codified in the Federal regulations, Pennsylvania submitted information that it believes demonstrates that sufficient funds exist to guarantee coverage of the full cost of land reclamation at all sites originally permitted and bonded under its now- defunct alternative bonding system. Pennsylvania requested that the program amendment be removed based on the information provided. The comment period is being reopened to incorporate subsequent information that we received from Pennsylvania regarding one permit involving land reclamation obligations. This document gives the times and locations that the Pennsylvania program and this submittal are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, make available the final environmental impact statement (EIS) and record of decision analyzing the impacts of the issuance of an incidental take permit for implementation of the final Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Our decision is to issue a 15-year incidental take permit to the EARIP for implementation of the preferred alternative (described below), which authorizes incidental take of animal species and impacts to plant species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The EARIP has agreed to implement avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures to offset impacts to these species, as described in their HCP.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) will meet to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). This meeting is open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act that the 26th meeting of the Concessions Management Advisory Board (the Board) will be held as indicated below.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision to Chugach Alaska Corporation. The decision will approve conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq). The lands are located south of Tatitlek, Alaska, and contain 65.05 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times for four consecutive weeks in the Anchorage Daily News.

We are issuing a final decision on an amendment to the Wyoming regulatory program (the ``Wyoming program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). Our decision approves in part and disapproves in part the amendment. Wyoming proposes revisions and additions to rules concerning noncoal mine waste, valid existing rights, and individual civil penalties. Wyoming revised its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and SMCRA, clarify ambiguities, and improve operational efficiency.

This notice publishes the Approval of the Class III Tribal- State Gaming Compact between the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation and the State of Montana.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested State and local government officials of the filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada.

We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

In accordance with the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ukiah Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing final supplementary rules. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) identified and thoroughly analyzed the effects of land use limitations and restrictions, and specified that supplementary rules would be required for resource protection and visitor safety. Upon publication, these final supplementary rules will supersede the interim final supplementary rules that apply to public lands within the Ukiah Field Office's jurisdiction. The BLM has determined that these final supplementary rules are necessary to enhance visitor safety, protect natural resources, improve recreation opportunities, and protect public health. These rules do not impose or implement any land use limitations and restrictions other than those included within the Ukiah RMP.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae (Coachella Valley milk-vetch) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In total, approximately 9,603 acres (3,886 hectares) in the Coachella Valley area of Riverside County, California, fall within the boundaries of this critical habitat designation.

We are approving an amendment to the Utah regulatory program (the ``Utah program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). Utah proposed revisions to and additions of rules pertaining to Valid Existing Rights (VER). Utah revised its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of meetings of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). Comprised of 31 nonfederal invasive species experts and stakeholders from across the nation, the purpose of the Advisory Committee is to provide advice to the National Invasive Species Council, as authorized by Executive Order 13112, on a broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of invasive species and providing for their control and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce. The duty of the Council is to provide national leadership regarding invasive species issues. Purpose of Meeting: The meeting will be held on March 7-8, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia, and will focus on the changing approaches to invasive species. The purpose of the meeting is to convene the full ISAC and consider strategies and methodologies for implementing performance elements outlined in the 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan. The meeting agenda is now available on the NISC Web site, www.invasivespecies .gov. Supplemental materials will be uploaded to the site on or before Friday, February 22, 2013. The full committee meeting on Thursday, February 7, 2013 and Friday, February 8, 2013 is open to the public. An orientation session will be held on Wednesday, February 06, 2013 for the 14 new ISAC members appointed by Secretary Ken Salazar on January 22, 2013. Note: There will be no committee business conducted during the orientation session, which is closed to the public.

This notice announces the annual meeting of the Boston Harbor Islands Advisory Council. The agenda includes a presentation by Sally Snowman, 70th keeper of Boston Light, the election of officers, and a park update. Date/Time: March 6, 2013, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern). Location: WilmerHale, 60 State Street, 26th floor, Boston, MA 02109.

On Thursday, January 3, 2013, there was published in the Federal Register, Volume 78, Number 318, on pages 318 through 319 a notice entitled ``Eastern States: Filing of Plats of Survey''. In said notice were plats of survey representing the dependent resurvey of a portion of the Qualla Indian Boundary, lands held in trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Swain County, in the State of North Carolina. This was accepted December 19, 2012. The official filing of the plat is hereby stayed, pending consideration of all protests.

BOEM has prepared a ROD for oil and gas CPA Lease Sale 227 scheduled for March 20, 2013. CPA Lease Sale 227 is the first CPA lease sale in the 2012-2017 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's CPA off the States of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. In making its decision, BOEM considered alternatives to the proposed action and the potential impacts as presented in the Multisale FEIS and all comments received throughout the NEPA process. The Multisale FEIS evaluated the environmental and socioeconomic impacts for CPA Lease Sale 227.

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 (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 these permits.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are inviting comments on a collection of information requests that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. OMB formerly approved this information collection request (ICR) under OMB Control Number 1010-0120. On March 6, 2011, OMB approved a new series number for ONRR and renumbered our ICRs. This ICR pertains to royalty and production reporting on solid minerals and geothermal leases on Federal and Indian lands. This ICR covers the paperwork requirements in the regulations under title 30, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 1202, 1206, 1210, 1212, 1217, and 1218. The title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Parts 1202, 1206, 1210, 1212, 1217, and 1218, Solid Minerals and Geothermal Resources.'' There are three forms associated with this information collection.