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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), received a permit application from Vintage Companies and are announcing the availability of a draft low-effect Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for review and comment by the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments. The proposed permit would authorize the incidental take of the federally threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse from Vintage Companies' proposed Kettle Creek Ranch residential development in El Paso County, Colorado. We request comments on the permit application, including the draft low-effect HCP.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16), the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Advisory Council for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail will hold a meeting, June 3, 2014. Designated through amendments to the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 to 1251, as amended), the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail consists of ``a series of water routes extending approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the States of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and in the District of Columbia,'' tracing the 1607-1609 voyages of Captain John Smith to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. This meeting is open to the public. Preregistration is required for both public attendance and comment. Any individual who wishes to attend the meeting and/or participate in the public comment session should register via email at Christine_Lucero@nps.gov or telephone (757) 258- 8914. For those wishing to make comments, please provide a written summary of your comments prior to the meeting. The Designated Federal Official for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Advisory Council is Jonathan Doherty, Assistant Superintendent, telephone (410) 260-2477.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Bradley Jacobs (applicant) for a 5-year incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of one listed animal, the California red-legged frog. The applicant would implement a conservation program to minimize and mitigate the project activities, as described in the applicant's low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP). We request comments on the applicant's application and HCP, and our preliminary determination that the HCP qualifies as a ``low-effect'' habitat conservation plan, eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). We discuss our basis for this determination in our environmental action statement (EAS), also available for public review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our September 30, 2013, proposal to list the rufa red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In accordance with section 4(b)(5) of the Act, during the reopened public comment period we will hold two public hearings, one in North Carolina and one in Texas, with public informational sessions immediately preceding the public hearings. This comment period will allow all interested parties an opportunity to attend the public hearings and provide testimony and additional comments on the proposed rufa red knot listing. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

The National Park Service is terminating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan, Devils Postpile National Monument, Mammoth Lakes, California. A Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the General Management Plan (GMP) was published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2009. The National Park Service has since determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS is the appropriate environmental documentation for the GMP. This determination includes due consideration of all public comment and other agency information received during the public scoping period. Background: The new GMP for Devils Postpile National Monument will provide long-term guidance for resource management, visitor services and interpretive programming. The planning team originally scoped the GMP as an EIS and a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2009. No concerns or issues expressed during public scoping process and subsequently during development of preliminary GMP alternatives convey either the potential for controversy or identify potential significant impacts. In 2011, the planning team developed three action alternatives for the GMP. These three alternatives explored ways to enhance long-term preservation of park resources and provide new recreational and educational opportunities. The planning team produced a newsletter and comment form to seek public input on the preliminary alternatives in the summer of 2011. Feedback on the preliminary alternatives affirmed that the planning team provided an appropriate range of future management directions for the monument. Most of the public comments on the preliminary alternatives were supportive of various aspects of the proposed alternative concepts and desired conditions. To date, no major concerns or issues have been expressed during public involvement for the GMP that would convey the potential for public controversy. Initial analysis of the alternatives has revealed no potential for either major or significant effects on the human environment, nor any potential for impairing park resources and values. The foreseeable potential impacts which may occur from implementing any of the alternatives are expected to be negligible to moderate in magnitude. For these reasons, the NPS determined that the appropriate level of conservation planning and environmental impact analysis for the GMP is an EA. It is also noted that many of the actions proposed in the GMP will have benefits to the monument's resources, operational needs, and visitor experiences.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet in Phoenix, Arizona, as indicated below.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado River Valley Field Office (CRVFO), Silt, Colorado, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to undertake NEPA analysis addressing previous decisions to issue 65 leases underlying White River National Forest (WRNF) lands. In 2007, the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) ruled that before including WRNF parcels in an oil and gas lease sale, the BLM must either formally adopt NEPA analysis completed by the WRNF or conduct a NEPA analysis of its own (see Board of Commissioners of Pitkin County, 173 IBLA 173 (2007)). Because the BLM has determined that the WRNF NEPA analysis conducted is no longer adequate, the BLM will conduct its own NEPA analysis through this EIS regarding these previous decisions to lease WRNF lands for oil and gas development. The BLM will determine whether these 65 leases should be voided, reaffirmed, modified with additional or different terms, or subject to additional mitigation measures for site-specific development proposals. By this notice, the CRVFO is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

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

This rule adjusts the penalty amount of certain civil monetary penalties authorized by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The rule implements SMCRA and the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, which requires that civil monetary penalties be adjusted for inflation at least once every four years.

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.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), remove the island night lizard (Xantusia riversiana) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to this species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or threatened species under the Act.