Department of the Interior January 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

On Friday, January 3, 2014, the Bureau of Land Management published the Notice of Public Meeting: Resource Advisory Councils, NV (79 FR 406). The address listed for this meeting was incorrect. On page 406, in the second column, on lines 40 through 42, the address for the meeting should be corrected to: ``High Desert Inn, 3015 Idaho Street, Elko, NV, 89801.''

The original Notice of Intent to prepare the Trail Management Plan was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2003, with an estimated completion date of 2004 for the joint EIS/EIR. The National Park Service (NPS) and state of California partner agencies conducted public scoping meetings in 2005 and gathered public comments on conceptual trail policies and map alternatives needed to prepare the Draft EIS/EIR. Owing to lack of funding, the NPS and partner agencies were unable to continue preparation of the EIS/EIR after the 2005 public scoping effort. State and federal funding for the EIS/EIR has now been secured, and the agencies are reinitiating joint preparation of the Trail Management Plan (TMP) and combined EIS/EIR. The NPS is the lead agency responsible for preparing the EIS, and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR) is the lead agency responsible for preparing the EIR. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) will be cooperating agencies in the EIS/EIR effort. Following publication of this Notice, CDPR will reissue a Notice of Preparation to initiate the preparation of a joint EIS/EIR pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose a policy to implement a strategic approach to the growth of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System, System). The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, requires that we ``plan and direct the continued growth of the System in a manner that is best designed to accomplish the mission of the System.'' This draft policy instructs the Refuge System to focus its protection measures on priority conservation features in order to ensure that our limited resources are directed to make the greatest contribution to the conservation of species in a strategic, cost-effective, and transparent manner. It ensures the growth of the System reflects our vision towards managing functional landscapes, enhancing our scientific rigor, improving our effectiveness, and involving our partners and the American people. We propose to incorporate this draft policy as Part 602, chapter 5 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.

This notice sets forth the dates of meetings of the Na Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau Advisory Commission occurring in 2014.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer 12 parcels of public land totaling approximately 120 acres in the Las Vegas Valley by competitive sale, at not less than the appraised fair market values (FMV). The sale parcels will be offered for sale pursuant to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA), as amended. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and BLM land sale regulations.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act, as amended (Act).

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has filed the plats of survey of the lands described below in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on the dates indicated.

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) Rio Grande Natural Area Commission will meet as indicated below.

We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2014. 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. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.

The plats of survey described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the New Mexico State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Santa Fe, New Mexico, thirty (30) calendar days from the date of this publication.

In this notice, the Office of Self-Governance (OSG) establishes a March 1, 2014, deadline for Indian tribes/consortia to submit completed applications to begin participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2015 or calendar year 2015.

We (National Park Service, NPS) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2014. 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. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities 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.

The Department of the Interior (Department) gives notice that the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs (AS-IA) proposes to determine that the petitioner known as the Pamunkey Indian Tribe (Petitioner 323), 331 Pocket Road, King William, VA 23086, c/o Mr. Kevin M. Brown, is an Indian tribe within the meaning of Federal law. This notice is based on a proposed finding (PF) that the petitioner satisfies the seven mandatory criteria for acknowledgment set forth in the applicable regulations, and thus, meets the requirements for a government-to-government relationship with the United States.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for lease and conveyance under the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, 61.81 acres of public land in Inyo County, California. The public land contains a solid waste landfill that has been closed to public use. The County of Inyo proposes to use the land to implement a long-term monitoring and closure plan for the landfill.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7133 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 7133 withdrew approximately 496.22 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under the mining laws in order to protect the Brown Mountain, Pal Moore Meadows, Teepee, Cedar Creek, and Flowery Trail Seed Orchards. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 7133 will expire on April 12, 2015, unless it is extended. This notice also gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed application and action and to request a public meeting.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 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 requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

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

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) owns or has an interest in irrigation projects located on or associated with various Indian reservations throughout the United States. We are required to establish irrigation assessment rates to recover the costs to administer, operate, maintain, and rehabilitate these projects. We request your comments on the proposed rate adjustments.

This notice announces a reopening of the public comment period on the 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. If you have previously submitted comments, please do not resubmit them because we have already incorporated them in the public record and will fully consider them in our final decision.

This notice sets forth the date of the next meeting of the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment (EA) for Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex. In this final CCP, we describe how we intend to manage the refuge complex for the next 15 years.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announce the availability of Draft Wilderness Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the NPS Lake Mead National Recreation Area and BLM Southern Nevada District Office. The jointly prepared Draft Wilderness Management Plan addresses management issues, identifies stewardship goals and objectives, proposes decision-making guidelines for administrative actions and visitor use, and provides guidelines for managing the Jimbilnan, Pinto Valley, Black Canyon, Eldorado, Ireteba Peaks, Nellis Wash, Spirit Mountain, and Bridge Canyon wilderness areas. The NPS and the BLM jointly manage three of these wilderness areas, and five of these areas are managed by the NPS. The proposed plan analyzes three alternatives for future management and use of the eight wilderness areas. Alternative A (no action alternative) reflects current wilderness management and serves as a baseline for comparison with the other alternatives. No major change would occur in the management of the wilderness areas. Alternative B (preferred alternative) generally focuses on identifying specific opportunities for access into the areas while still protecting the character of the wilderness areas. Alternative C provides a higher level of access and visitor use management while still protecting the overall character of the wilderness areas.