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

Under the Endangered Species Act (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and availability of a revised habitat conservation plan (revised HCP) and accompanying documents for wind energy development by San Francisco Wind Farm LLC (formerly WindMar R.E.) (Permittee). The revised HCP analyzes take of Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne lemur) incidental to the previously authorized wind energy development activities in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, so that this listed species might be added to those already covered by the existing incidental take permit (ITP). We invite public comments on these documents.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, USFWS), have received an application from Enbridge Pipelines (Lakehead) L.L.C. (applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). If approved, the ITP would authorize incidental take of the federally endangered Hine's Emerald Dragonfly (hereafter ``HED''). The applicant has prepared a low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP) to cover activities associated with pipeline maintenance work in Garfield Township, Mackinac County, Michigan. We invite comments from the public on the application, which includes the low-effect HCP, which has been determined to be eligible for a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA).

In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which requires 60 days for public comment on proposed information collection projects, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) are publishing for comment, a summary of a proposed information collection, titled ``Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Contracts, 25 CFR part 900,'' to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. The information is collected to process contracts, grants or cooperative agreements (contracts) for award by BIA and IHS, as authorized by the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), as amended (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.). This previously approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1076-0136) expires May 31, 2013.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for Navajo Partitioned Lands Grazing Permits authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0162. This information collection expires May 31, 2013.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Lower Sonoran Field Office (LSFO), proposes a noncompetitive direct sale of one land parcel totaling approximately 160 acres in Pinal County, Arizona. The public land would be sold to the Ak-Chin Indian Community (Community) at not less than the appraised fair market value (FMV). The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Sections 203 and 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA) and sales and mineral conveyance regulations.

We (the U.S. Geological Survey) 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 (PRA) 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. This collection is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2013.

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.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is extending the public scoping period to prepare an EIS for the Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan on the Navajo Indian Reservation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior is hosting a Vendor Outreach Workshop for small businesses in the Southeast region of the United States that are interested in doing business with the Department. This outreach workshop will review market contracting opportunities for the attendees. Business owners will be able to share their individual perspectives with Contracting Officers, Program Managers and Small Business Specialists from the Department.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to 25 CFR 514.2, that the National Indian Gaming Commission has adopted its 2013 preliminary annual fee rates of 0.00% for tier 1 and 0.074% (.00074) for tier 2. These rates shall apply to all assessable gross revenues from each gaming operation under the jurisdiction of the Commission. If a tribe has a certificate of self-regulation under 25 CFR part 518, the 2013 preliminary fee rate on Class II revenues shall be one-half of the annual fee rate, which is 0.037% (.00037).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Volusia County CouncilEngineering (applicant), for a 2-year incidental take permit (ITP; TE98767A-0) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request public comment on the permit application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as low-effect under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for review.

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 1010-0136. Subsequently, on March 6, 2012, OMB approved a new series number for ONRR and renumbered our ICRs. This ICR covers the paperwork requirements in the regulations under title 30, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), parts 1202, 1204, and 1206 (previously 30 CFR parts 202, 204, and 206). Also, this ICR pertains to (1) Federal oil and gas valuation regulations, which include transportation and processing regulatory allowance limits; and (2) accounting and auditing relief for marginal properties. This ICR includes Form MMS-4393, Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance Limitation. Effective January 1, 2014, ONRR will discontinue the information collection requirements of the Stripper Oil royalty rate reductions in this ICR. The revised title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Parts 1202, 1204, and 1206, Federal Oil and Gas Valuation.''

We (National Park Service, NPS) 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. This IC is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2013. 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.

We, the National Park Service, are amending the regulations on demonstrations and special events for the National Capital Region. This rule revises the definition of ``demonstration,'' lifts the prior regulatory ban on soliciting money or funds but requires a permit for the in-person solicitation of money or funds on Federal park land, and revises an introductory sentence prohibiting demonstrations or special events in designated memorial areas. This rule also changes the name of the permit office to the Division of Permits Management.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from John Kelley and Denise McDonough for a 10- year incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of the federally endangered Morro shoulderband snail that is likely to occur incidental to the construction, maintenance, and occupation of a single-family residence on an existing legal single-family-zoned parcel in the unincorporated community of Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, California. The applicants would implement a conservation program to minimize and mitigate project activities that are likely to result in take of the Morro shoulderband snail as described in their plan. We invite comments from the public on the application package that includes the Kelley-McDonough Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Morro Shoulderband Snail. This proposed action has been determined to be eligible for a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA).

This notice announces a schedule of upcoming meetings for the Gettysburg National Military Park Advisory Commission.

The meeting of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) scheduled for Thursday, March 7, 2013 and Friday, March 8, 2013; is cancelled. The ISAC new member orientation scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, 2013 is also cancelled. Notice of this meeting was published in the February 11, 2013 issue of the Federal Register (78 FR 9724). A correction to meeting dates was published on February 20, 2013 (78 FR 11899). Both events are cancelled due to budget sequestration, and will not be rescheduled.

In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2, and with the concurrence of the General Services Administration, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture are renewing the Wildland Fire Executive Council (WFEC). The purpose of the WFEC is to provide advice on the coordinated national level wildland fire policy leadership, direction, and program oversight in support to the Wildland Fire Leadership Council.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the July 10, 2012, revised proposal to designate critical habitat for the Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus) (shrew) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We announce a revision of the unit map labels. We provide maps with correct labels for all proposed units herein. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the revised critical habitat proposal, and of an amended required determinations section of the revised proposal. We are reopening the comment period for an additional 60 days to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the revised proposed rule, the associated DEA, and the amended required determinations section. Furthermore, we announce a public hearing for the purpose of taking oral or written comments on those documents. 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), are issuing this final rule to comply with a court order that has the effect of reinstating the removal of the Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended. Pursuant to the District of Columbia District Court of Appeals order dated August 17, 2012, and mandate dated November 13, 2012, this rule again removes the Virginia northern flying squirrel from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

The Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources intend to prepare an environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the implementation of actions I.6.1 and I.7 identified in the National Marine Fisheries Service's 2009 Biological Opinion and Conference Opinion on the Long-term Operation of the Central Valley Project and State Water Project Reasonable and Prudent Alternative. These actions consist of salmonid habitat restoration efforts within the lower Sacramento River basin and fish passage through the Yolo Bypass. We are seeking suggestions and information on the alternatives and topics to be addressed and any other important issues related to the proposed action.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have waived the 30-day public notice period and have issued an endangered species permit to address emergency veterinary care for an injured green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the U.S. Virgin Islands.