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

The National Park Service has prepared the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the proposed General Management Plan (GMP) for Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods National Monument. The Final EIS/GMP evaluates four alternatives for managing Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Muir Woods, and upon approval the GMP will serve as a blueprint to guide management of these units of the National Park System over the next 20 years.

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.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter the Service or we) proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2014-15 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2014-15 duck hunting seasons, requests proposals from Indian tribes that wish to establish special migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands, and requests proposals for the 2016 spring and summer migratory bird subsistence season in Alaska. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests comments and suggestions that might assist the agency in the establishment of a program to capture, use, or destroy waste mine methane that is released into the mine environment and the atmosphere as a direct consequence of underground mining operations on Federal leases for coal and other minerals.

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

In accordance with the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Carrizo Plain National Monument Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing final supplementary rules. The Final Environmental Impact Statement that is associated with the RMP identified and thoroughly analyzed the effects of land use limitations and restrictions, and specified that supplementary rules would be required for resource protection and visitor safety. The BLM has determined that these final supplementary rules are necessary to promote the health and sustainability of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, while reducing the risks to the Monument's ecosystem that, if left unchecked, could cause undue ecological degradation. Upon publication, these final supplementary rules will supersede the interim supplementary rules that are currently in place and which apply to public lands within the Carrizo Plain National Monument. These final rules do not impose or implement any land use limitations and restrictions other than those included within the Carrizo Plain National Monument RMP, nor do they include modifications to the interim final supplementary rules published on December 21, 2012 (77 FR 75649).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Collado Homes, LLC (applicant), for a renewal of incidental take permit TE179280-1 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant has requested a renewal that will extend permit expiration by 5 years from the date the permit is reissued. The applicant has agreed to follow all of the existing habitat conservation plan (HCP) conditions. If renewed, no additional take will be authorized. The permit would authorize take of the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata), incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the Collado Homes residential development.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose changes in the regulations governing the administration of the national Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG). We published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on March 28, 2012. We received 22 responses from the public during the 60-day comment period that ended May 29, 2012. Fifteen of the responses contained comments applicable to the proposed rule, and 11 asked for more time to review the proposed rule. Some comments expressed full support, and others suggested changes. We amend the proposed rule based on these comments and our further review and consideration of the proposed rule. The amended proposed rule gives the public a 90-day comment period.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

BOEM is seeking interested and qualified individuals to serve on its OCS Scientific Committee (Committee) during the period of October 15, 2014, through October 14, 2017. The initial 3-year term may be renewable for up to an additional 3 years. The Committee is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of BOEM, on the scientific quality and value for decisionmaking of the OCS Environmental Studies Program (ESP). The ESP, which was authorized by the Outer Continental Shelf Land Act as amended (Section 20), is administered by BOEM and covers a wide range of field and laboratory studies in biology, chemistry, and physical oceanography, as well as studies of the social and economic impacts of OCS energy and marine minerals development. As a FACA committee, the Committee provides advice from vetted, consensus-oriented, experts that are more focused and technically deeper than public hearings typically can provide. The recognized expertise and diverse associations of the Committee members also help BOEM build partnerships and optimize resources. The OCS Scientific Committee comprises distinguished scientists in appropriate disciplines of the biological, physical, chemical and social sciences. We will have 15 positions to fill on the Committee by October 14, 2014. These positions exist in the fields of economics, physical oceanography, and biological oceanography/marine biology. We are interested in scientists who have experience in those disciplines, and we also look for geographical balance, drawing members from the contiguous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. The selections are based on maintaining disciplinary expertise in all areas of research, as well as geographic balance. Demonstrated knowledge of the scientific issues related to OCS energy and mineral development is essential. Selections are made by the Secretary of the Interior on the basis of these factors. Ethics Responsibilities of Members: All members will comply with applicable rules and regulations. The Department of the Interior will provide materials to those members appointed as Special Government Employees explaining their ethical obligations with which the members should be familiar. Consistent with the ethics requirements, members will endeavor to avoid any actions that would cause the public to question the integrity of the Committee's operations, activities or advice. The provisions of this paragraph do not affect any other statutory or regulatory ethical obligations to which a member may be subject. Interested individuals should send a letter of interest and resume within 30 days to: Ms. Phyllis Clark, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Division of Environmental Studies, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop HM-3115, Herndon, Virginia 20170. She may be reached by telephone at (703) 787-1716.

The purpose of this notice is to reopen the request for public nominations for certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Advisory Committees that have member terms expiring this year. These Advisory Committees provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their respective geographic areas. The Advisory Committees covered by this request for nominations are identified below. The BLM will accept public nominations for 30 days after the publication of this notice.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for its Technical Evaluation customer surveys has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost. The OMB control number for this collection of information is 1029-0114 and is on the forms along with the expiration date.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a joint meeting between the Trinity Adaptive Management Working Group (TAMWG) and Trinity Management Council (TMC). The TAMWG is a Federal advisory committee that affords stakeholders the opportunity to give policy, management, and technical input concerning Trinity River (California) restoration efforts to the Trinity Management Council (TMC). The TMC interprets and recommends policy, coordinates and reviews management actions, and provides organizational budget oversight.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that we have established a Friends policy, the purpose of which is to assist Service employees in achieving our mission more efficiently and effectively by increasing community involvement through partnerships with nonprofit Friends organizations (Friends). The policy includes guidance on the relationship between the Service and Friends, Service employee responsibilities, financial and administrative practices, Friends Partnership Agreements, and revenue generating operations.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on the reconsideration of our final rule listing Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) as a threatened species throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA or Act), published February 12, 2014. We published the reconsideration of the final rule in response to the Idaho District Court's remand because the Court asked us to reconsider the definition of the ``foreseeable future'' in regard to this particular species. We are seeking input on our interpretation of the foreseeable future as it pertains specifically to L. papilliferum. In addition, we also seek any new information regarding population status, trends, or threats that has become available since our last review of the status of the species in 2009. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of our final determination.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 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 also requires that we invite public comment before issuing recovery permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

We, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from the City of Santa Clara, doing business as Silicon Valley Power (applicant), for a 30-year incidental take permit for five species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of one listed animal and four listed plants. 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.

The Secretary of the Interior is giving notice of renewal of the National Park Service Concessions Management Advisory Board. This action is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of statutory duties imposed upon the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Tylerhorse Wind Project (TWP) and a Draft Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan 1980, as amended, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupe[ncaron]o Indians, National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the City of Barstow serving as cooperating agencies, intends to file a FEIS with the EPA for the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupe[ncaron]o Indians Fee-to-Trust and Casino-Hotel Project proposed to be located within the City of Barstow, San Bernardino County, California, and that the FEIS is now available for public review.

Texas A&M University has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 should submit a written request to Texas A&M University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

Texas A&M University 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 a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 Texas A&M University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

Texas A&M University 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 a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or 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 Texas A&M University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.