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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to file the plats of survey of the land described below thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is confirming the interim final rule published and effective on March 3, 2013, addressing the addition of two Indian tribes to the list of tribes with Courts of Indian Offenses (also known as CFR Courts), and deletion of five tribes from those under the jurisdiction of CFR Courts. The March 3, 2013, publication stated that the BIA would review comments on the interim final rule and either confirm the rule or initiate a proposed rulemaking. BIA did not receive any comments, and therefore confirms the rule without change.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for the Reporting System for Public Law 102-477 Demonstration Project authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0135. This information collection expires December 31, 2013.

The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will meet on September 4-5, 2013 at the National Conservation Training Center, 698 Conservation Way, Shepherdstown, WV 25443. The meeting will be held in Room 201 Instructional East. The NGAC, which is composed of representatives from governmental, private sector, non-profit, and academic organizations, was established to advise the Federal Geographic Data Committee on management of Federal geospatial programs, the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, and the implementation of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16. Topics to be addressed at the meeting include:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate critical habitat for Sphaeralcea gierischii (Gierisch mallow) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The effect of this regulation is to designate critical habitat for Gierisch mallow under the Act. This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for this species.

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), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns renewal to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart F, Oil and Gas Well- Workover Operations.

The Field Museum of Natural History has corrected a Notice of Intent to Repatriate published in the Federal Register on August 24, 2007. This notice corrects the NAGPRA category that the Field Museum, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined the cultural items meet. Transfer of control of the cultural items in this correction notice has occurred.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend its regulations pertaining to the administration of Federal coal leases and logical mining units (LMUs). The proposed rule would implement Title IV, Subtitle D of the Energy Policy Act of 2005; clarify that a royalty rate of 12\1/2\ percent will be assessed on all Federal coal except coal that is mined from underground mines; withdraw the Logical Mining Unit Application and Processing Guidelines (LMU Guidelines); promulgate portions of the LMU Guidelines as regulations; establish new processing fees; and make technical and editorial corrections to the regulations.

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget proposes to withdraw on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 2,924.65 acres of public lands and 440 acres of federally reserved mineral interests underlying non-Federal lands in Eddy County, New Mexico, to protect highly significant caves and their associated resources. This notice segregates the public lands and reserved mineral interests for up to 2 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws and gives the public an opportunity to comment on the application and to request a public meeting.

We (National Park Service) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection request (ICR) described below. This collection will consist of a pretest of a survey of the general public concerning the value of natural quiet in national parks. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as a part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other federal agencies to comment on this ICR. A Federal agency 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 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) prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

Notice is hereby given that certain coal resources in the Hay Creek II Coal Tract described below in Campbell County, Wyoming, will be offered for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended.

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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collection of information for General Reclamation Requirements.

Current Federal policy allows non-Federal development of electrical power resource potential on Federal water resource projects. The Bureau of Reclamation, (Reclamation), in coordination with the Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration (Western), will consider proposals for non-Federal development of hydroelectric power on the San Juan-Chama Project at any or all of the conduit locations specified in this Notice. Reclamation is considering such hydroelectric power development under a lease of power privilege. Western would have the first opportunity to purchase and/or market the power that would be generated by such development under a lease of power privilege. No Federal funds will be available for such hydroelectric power development. This Notice presents background information, proposal content guidelines, and information concerning selection of a non-Federal entity to develop hydroelectric power on the San Juan-Chama Project.

BOEM will use Form 0009 to issue a renewable energy right-of- way (ROW) grant on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). BOEM developed a draft of the form included in this Notice, and published it in the Federal Register (77 FR 52353, August 29, 2012) with a 30-day comment period (Draft Form). BOEM has reviewed all the comments received and revised the Draft Form where appropriate. For further information, including the comments received and BOEM's response to those comments, visit BOEM's Web site, at https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy Program/ Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx.

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) Eastern Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to designate critical habitat for Graham's beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) and White River beardtongue (Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are proposing approximately 27,502 hectares (67,959 acres) for designation as critical habitat for Graham's beardtongue in Duchesne and Uintah Counties in Utah and Rio Blanco County in Colorado. We are proposing approximately 6,036 hectares (14,914 acres) for designation as critical habitat for White River beardtongue in Duchesne and Uintah Counties in Utah and Rio Blanco County in Colorado. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it will extend the Act's protections to these species' critical habitats.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the sharpnose shiner (Notropis oxyrhynchus) and smalleye shiner (N. buccula) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1,002 river kilometers (623 river miles) of river segments occupied by the species in Baylor, Crosby, Fisher, Garza, Haskell, Kent, King, Knox, Stonewall, Throckmorton, and Young Counties in the upper Brazos River basin of Texas fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to these species' critical habitat.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is releasing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP), Gateway National Recreation Area (Gateway), New York. The draft describes and analyzes several alternatives to guide the management of the site over the next 20 years. The NPS preferred alternative incorporates various management prescriptions to ensure access to and protection and enjoyment of Gateway's resources.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will prepare a draft environmental impact statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, in conjunction with a proposed rule to revise the existing nonessential experimental population designation of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is soliciting public comments on the draft strategic plan for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). The draft strategic plan, along with instructions for submitting comments, is posted at: www.fgdc.gov/nsdi- plan. Comments should be submitted by August 21, 2013. The FGDC is the interagency committee that promotes the coordinated use, sharing and dissemination of geospatial data in the United States. The FGDC operates under the authority of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-16 and Executive Order 12906. One of the FGDC's responsibilities under Circular A-16 is to ``prepare and maintain a strategic plan for the development and implementation of the NSDI.'' Executive Order 12906 describes the NSDI as ``the technology, policies, standards, and human resources necessary to acquire, process, store, distribute, and improve utilization of geospatial data.'' The draft NSDI strategic plan has been developed with inputs from a variety of sources, including FGDC member agencies, the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, and geospatial partner organizations. The plan describes a broad national vision for the NSDI, and includes goals and objectives for the Federal government's role in continued sustainable development of the NSDI. Following the public comment period, a revised draft of the plan will be prepared for final review and adoption by the FGDC Steering Committee. Following adoption of the strategic plan, the FGDC will develop more detailed project plans for the goals and objectives in the strategic plan.