Department of the Interior July 1, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a proposed categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The proposed categorical exclusion pertains to adding species to the injurious wildlife list under the Lacey Act. The addition of this categorical exclusion to the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual will improve conservation activities by making the NEPA process for listing injurious species more efficient.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on the August 20, 2012, proposed designation of critical habitat for the jaguar (Panthera onca) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and we announce revisions to our proposed designation of critical habitat for the jaguar. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis and draft environmental assessment of the revised proposed designation of critical habitat for jaguar and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the revised proposed rule, the associated draft economic analysis and draft environmental assessment, 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. In addition, we announce a public informational session and public hearing on the revised proposed designation of critical habitat for the jaguar.

As required under 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) Prineville District Office, Prineville, Oregon, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) in order to analyze the plan-level decision to change the Visual Resource Management (VRM) classification of approximately 45 acres at the top of Glass Buttes from a VRM class 2 to a VRM class 4. The BLM intends to concurrently analyze the implementation-level decision of whether to deny, approve, or approve with stipulations the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) and American Tower Corporation's (AT) requests to construct and maintain communication facilities in an existing communication site plan area atop Glass Buttes in the BLM Prineville District. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation (SLWRI). The purpose of the proposed action is to improve operational flexibility of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta watershed system by modifying the existing Shasta Dam and Reservoir to meet specified objectives. Primary objectives are to increase the survival of anadromous fish populations in the upper Sacramento River and increase water supply and water supply reliability. Secondary planning objectives are to: conserve, restore, and enhance ecosystem resources in the primary study area; reduce flood damage along the Sacramento River; develop additional hydropower generation capabilities; maintain and increase recreation opportunities; and maintain or improve water quality conditions in the Sacramento River downstream from Shasta Dam and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

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. This IC is scheduled to expire on November 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.