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

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.

We, the United States, as a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), will attend the sixteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16) in Bangkok, Thailand, during March 3-14, 2013. This notice announces the availability of tentative U.S. negotiating positions on amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals), draft resolutions and decisions, and agenda items submitted by other countries and the CITES Secretariat for consideration at CoP16.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cottonwood Cove and Katherine Landing Development Concept Plans, Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Draft EIS identifies and analyzes three alternatives, as follows. Alternative 1 Continue Current Management Trends (no action alternative) reflects current management direction and serves as a baseline for comparison with the other alternatives. Existing facilities would be retained with minimal changes. Alternative 2 Implement Previous Planning Proposals would implement previous planning proposals that separate day use and marina facilities, maintain the type of overnight facilities, and provide flood mitigation. Alternative 3 Enhance Visitor Experience and Park Operations (agency-preferred alternative) would enhance day-use opportunities, upgrade and expand the type of overnight facilities, and provide flood mitigation. The Draft EIS also evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives, including potential impacts to native plant communities and soils, wildlife, threatened, endangered, and special status species; floodplains; archeological resources; historic structures; cultural landscape; ethnographic resources; visitor use, experience, and safety; park operations; and socioeconomic environment.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of the Act of September 28, 1976, 16 U.S.C. 1902, and in accordance with the provisions of 36 C.F.R. 9.17, notice is hereby given that Thomas and Kathryn Lamal have filed a proposed plan of operations to conduct a mining operation on lands embracing the Shamrock (AA026813) and Tony M (AA026810) unpatented placer claims within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Public Availability: This plan of operations is available for inspection during normal business hours at the following locations:

In accordance with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., 2, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, Wildland Fire Executive Council (WFEC) will meet as indicated below.

This notice announces the availability of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) first Rapid Ecoregional Assessment (REA) covering land in four western states. The Colorado Plateau REA includes parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. It has an area of 32,387 square miles and includes all or portions of 16 BLM field offices.

We are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Wyoming regulatory program (hereinafter, the ``Wyoming program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). Wyoming proposes both revisions of and additions to its coal rules and regulations concerning ownership and control, adds a provision concerning variable topsoil depths during reclamation, and addresses four deficiencies that were identified by OSM during the review of a previous program amendment (WY-038-FOR; Docket ID No. OSM- 2009-0012). Wyoming intends to revise its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and SMCRA, clarify ambiguities, and improve operational efficiency. This document gives the times and locations that the Wyoming 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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Northeastern States Field Office, proposes to offer for sale a 0.82-acre parcel of public land in Marquette County, Michigan. The sale will be subject to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and BLM land sale regulations. The BLM proposes to conduct the sale using sealed bid modified competitive procedures pursuant to BLM regulations.

The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review and comment the draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS/EIS) for the Upper Truckee River Restoration and Marsh Restoration Project (Project). The California Tahoe Conservancy and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the other lead agencies for the Project, made the EIR/EIS/EIS available to the public on February 8, 2013.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD)/Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Ironwood Forest National Monument (IFNM), located in portions of Pima and Pinal counties, northwest of Tucson, Arizona. The IFNM was established by Presidential Proclamation on June 9, 2000, for the protection of the significant cultural, biological, geological, and natural resources. These resources were identified as Monument objects in the Proclamation. The Arizona State Director signed the ROD on February 19, 2013, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for Reclamation on Private Land, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0057. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

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.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is inviting comments on an information collection request (ICR) that we have sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The Information Collection, which is summarized below, describes the nature and the estimated burden of the collection. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 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 ICR. This collection is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2013.

In accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190) Olympic National Park is initiating the conservation planning and environmental impact analysis process required to inform consideration of alternative strategies for the future management of the Olympic Wilderness. In November 1988, Congress designated about 95% (876,669 acres) of park lands as the Olympic Wilderness. Through this planning process a Wilderness Stewardship Plan (WSP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be developed to provide guidance and direction to meet the requirements of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and 2006 NPS Management Policies, as well as to implement actions identified in the park's 2008 General Management Plan (GMP). This process will include identifying and analyzing a range of alternatives for achieving wilderness stewardship objectives and conducting wilderness eligibility studies for areas identified in the GMP Record of Decision (2008). The WSP will identify standards, conditions, and thresholds to preserve wilderness character, protect cultural and natural resources, and adhere to legally mandated management and preservation requirements.

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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the intent to officially file the survey plats listed below and afford a proper period of time to protest this action prior to the plat filing. During this time, the plats will be available for review in the BLM Colorado State Office.

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

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP)/final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Lander, Wyoming, Field Office and by this notice is announcing its availability.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2013 season. These regulations enable the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska and prescribe regional information on when and where the harvesting of birds may occur. These regulations were developed under a co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking establishes region-specific regulations that go into effect on April 2, 2013, and expire on August 31, 2013.

This order extends the withdrawal created by Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6965 for an additional 20-year period. This extension is necessary to allow the continued protection of the U.S. Forest Service research natural area within the Tongass National Forest, which would otherwise expire on April 14, 2013. The land has been and will remain open to mineral leasing.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for our Permanent Regulatory Program RequirementsStandards for Certification of Blasters, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0080. This information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden.

The Department of the Interior published a document in the Federal Register of February 11, 2013, concerning a notice of public meetings of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee. The document contained incorrect dates. This document corrects those errors.

This notice announces a schedule of upcoming meetings for the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (NHP) Federal Advisory Commission.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Kentucky regulatory program (``the Kentucky program'') for surface coal mining and reclamation operations under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Kentucky has revised its bonding regulations to satisfy, in part, the concerns included in a letter from OSM dated May 1, 2012, regarding bonding inadequacies. On May 4, 2012, Kentucky adopted the revisions as emergency regulations to avoid possible loss of its authority to enforce the part of the Kentucky program that pertains to establishment of reclamation bond amounts. Also on May 4, 2012, identical proposed revisions started the normal review process in Kentucky for changes to administrative regulations. On September 28, 2012, the Department for Natural Resources (DNR), which is a part of Kentucky's Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC), submitted to OSM the administrative bonding regulations as proposed amendments to its approved permanent regulatory program.