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

The Oakland Museum of California, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the definition of a sacred object and an object of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the Oakland Museum of California. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Museum of Northern Arizona, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the Museum of Northern Arizona. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the Indian tribes stated in this notice may proceed.

The Ball State University Department of Anthropology has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Ball State University Department of Anthropology. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Federally recognized Indian tribes, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and a present-day Federally recognized Indian tribe. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Federally recognized Indian tribe not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to TVA. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Federally recognized Indian tribe stated in this notice may proceed.

We are issuing a final decision on an amendment to the Wyoming regulatory program (the ``Wyoming program'') under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (``SMCRA'' or ``the Act''). Our decision approves in part and disapproves in part the amendment. Wyoming proposes revisions to rules concerning valid existing rights and individual civil penalties. Wyoming revised its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and SMCRA, clarify ambiguities, and improve operational efficiency.

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 Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) program authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0177. This information collection expires July 31, 2014.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. The ANS Task Force's purpose is to develop and implement a program for U.S. waters to prevent introduction and dispersal of aquatic invasive species (AIS); to monitor, control, and study such species; and to disseminate related information.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Alexander Archipelago wolf (Canis lupus ligoni) as a threatened or endangered species and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the Alexander Archipelago wolf may be warranted. Therefore, with publication of this notice, we are notifying the public that when resources become available, we will be conducting a review of the status of the species to determine if listing the Alexander Archipelago wolf is warranted. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding wolves of Southeast Alaska and adjacent coastal British Columbia. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

The BLM's email account that was set up to receive scoping comments on the Gold Rock Mine Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) during the initial scoping period (September 5, 2013, through October 7, 2013) was deleted during the recent Federal Government shutdown. Therefore, this second notice for the Gold Rock Mine Project EIS is being issued to extend the scoping period, invite members of the public to submit comments, and request that anyone who submitted comments by email during the initial 30-day scoping period resubmit their comments. In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing a 30-day extension of the public input period to solicit public comments and identify issues. The proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 50 miles west of Ely, in the Upper Railroad Valley.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision to Koniag, Inc. The decision will approve conveyance of the surface and subsurface estates in certain lands pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.). The lands are located east of Ugashik, Alaska, and aggregate 238.04 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in the Anchorage Daily News.

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

The Department of the Interior, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education (ED), will conduct a series of consultation sessions with Indian tribes to review and provide feedback on the draft actionable recommendations prepared by the American Indian Education Study Group.

The National Marine Fisheries Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Fish and Wildlife Service are extending the comment period on the Draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (BDCP, or the Plan) and Draft BDCP Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS). In response to public requests, the comment period is being extended for an additional 60 days.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 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 a revision to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart A, General.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue the collection of information from participants in the oil and gas leasing program within the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0196 to this collection.

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) Nevada Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold two field meetings in Nevada in fiscal year 2014 and one meeting in fiscal year 2015. All meetings are open to the public.

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 Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Funding Solicitation and Reporting authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0178. This information collection expires July 31, 2014.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16), notice is hereby given of the change in time and location for the April 10, 2014, meeting of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park Advisory Commission.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating 5-year status reviews of 33 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We conduct these reviews to ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of information that has become available since the last review of each of these species.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Las Cruces District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16, and Part 65 of title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations that the National Park System Advisory Board will meet May 21-22, 2014, in Mesa Verde, Colorado. The agenda will include the review of proposed actions regarding the National Historic Landmarks (NHL) Program. Interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments and recommendations that will be presented to the Board. Interested parties also may attend the board meeting and upon request may address the Board concerning an area's national significance.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 days from the date of this publication.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Commonwealth Edison, for an incidental take permit (ITPs) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). If approved, the permit would authorize incidental take of the federally endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly, Illinois threatened black-billed cuckoo, and Illinois endangered Blanding's turtle and spotted turtle. The applicant has prepared a low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP) to cover activities associated with electrical utility right-of-way maintenance in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties, Illinois. We invite public comments on the application and draft HCP.

The purpose of this public notice is to: (1) Describe the proposal submitted to BOEM by the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University (NNMREC-OSU) to acquire an OCS lease for MHK research activities; (2) solicit submissions of indications of interest in obtaining a renewable energy lease for MHK research or commercial activities on the OCS offshore Oregon in the area described in this notice; and (3) solicit public input regarding the area described in this notice, the potential environmental consequences of MHK energy development in the area, and multiple uses of the area. On June 17, 2013, BOEM received an unsolicited request from NNMREC- OSU for an MHK OCS research lease offshore Oregon. The objective of NNMREC-OSU is to obtain a lease under 30 CFR 585.238 for renewable energy research activities, including MHK device installation and operational testing and the installation of monitoring equipment. The purpose of NNMREC-OSU's proposed project, the ``Pacific Marine Energy CenterSouth Energy Test Site,'' is to design, develop and demonstrate a grid-connected MHK research facility on the OCS approximately five nautical miles (nmi) southwest of Newport, Oregon. The project would consist of four test sites (or berths), with each test berth capable of testing single or multiple MHK devices and equipped with its own subsea cable to transmit energy, as well as performance and environmental data, from the test berth to an onshore control center. Each of the test berth electrical cables would connect at a single submerged point, with a single transmission export cable capable of transmitting up to 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the mainland. The export cable would cross the OCS and state submerged lands. Additional information on NNMREC-OSU's unsolicited lease request can be viewed at: www.boem.gov/Oregon. This RFCI is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act, as amended by section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)), and the implementing regulations at 30 CFR 585.238. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act requires that OCS renewable energy leases, easements and rights-of-way be issued ``on a competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after public notice of a proposed lease, easement, or right-of-way that there is no competitive interest.'' 30 CFR 585.238(c) states that BOEM may issue research leases if ``no competitive interest exists''. This RFCI provides such public notice for the proposed lease area requested by NNMREC-OSU and invites the submission of indications of interest. BOEM is soliciting submissions of interest for MHK energy development only with this notice. BOEM will consider the responses to this public notice to determine whether competitive interest exists for the area requested by NNMREC-OSU, as required by 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3). Parties wishing to obtain a lease for MHK development for the area described herein under ``Description of the Proposed Lease Area'' should submit detailed and specific information as described in the section entitled, ``Required Indication of Interest Information.'' BOEM has jurisdiction to issue leases on the OCS for MHK projects under subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 13376(p)), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has jurisdiction to issue licenses under Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 792-823A (2006) for the construction and operation of hydrokinetic projects on the OCS. This announcement also requests that interested and affected parties comment and provide information about site conditions and multiple uses within the area identified in this notice that would be relevant to the proposed project or its potential impacts. A detailed description of the proposed lease area can be found in the section of this notice entitled, ``Description of the Area.''