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

Pursuant to Public Law 106-148, the U.S National Platform for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)facilitated by the White House National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction (SDR), which is co-chaired by the U.S. Geological Surveyplans on hosting a listening session at the 39th Annual Natural Hazards Center Workshop (Interlocken A, Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield, Colorado) to hear multi-sectoral perspectives from non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, local and state governments, and private corporations on the development of UNISDR's successor strategy to the Hyogo Framework for Action to be launched in 2015.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), of the threatened Little Colorado spinedace (Lepidomeda vittata), endangered sentry milk-vetch (Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax), threatened Siler pincushion cactus (Pediocactus (=Echinocactus,=Utahia) sileri), endangered slender rush-pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella), and the endangered Yuma clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis). A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since our original listing of these five species or since the last 5-year review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (CCP/EA) for Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), located in Morris County, New Jersey, for public review and comment. The draft CCP/EA describes our proposal for managing the refuge for the next 15 years. Also available for public review and comment are the draft findings of appropriateness and draft compatibility determinations for uses to be allowed upon initial completion of the plan, if alternative B is selected. These are included as appendix C in the draft CCP/EA.

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Council) was established by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-320) (Act) to receive reports and advise Federal agencies on implementing the Act. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Reclamation announces that the Council will meet as detailed below. The meeting of the Council is open to the public.

As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, certain public land near Stead, Nevada, will be temporarily closed to all public use to provide for public safety during the 2014 Reno Air Racing Association Pylon Racing Seminar and the Reno National Championship Air Races.

This notice is to comply with section 804 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-447). The act requires agencies to give the public advance notice (6 months) of the establishment of a new recreation fee area. New River Gorge National River in West Virginia plans to collect the following expanded amenity recreation fees at the newly constructed Meadow Creek Campground beginning in late summer of 2014: $28 per night for an RV site with Electric and Water Hook-ups; $24 per night for an RV site with Electric Hook-ups but no site-specific water; $18 per night for a Tent Only site with Electric Hook-ups, but no site-specific water; $10 per night for a Tent Only site with No Hook-ups. Communal water spigots will be available to all campers, regardless of site type. Revenue will be used to cover the cost of collections at the campground and for deferred maintenance in the park.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is terminating preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a general management plan (GMP) for Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (Park), Tennessee and Georgia. Instead, the NPS will prepare two environmental assessments (EA) to support amendments to the 1987 general management plan, one for the Lookout Mountain Battlefield unit and one for the Moccasin Bend unit.

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) Dominguez- Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA) Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the ``Services'' or ``we'') propose to amend our regulations, which implements the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Our regulation establishes the procedural regulations governing interagency cooperation under section 7 of the Act. The Act requires Federal agencies, in consultation with and with the assistance of the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce, to insure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat of such species. In 1986, the Services established a definition for ``destruction or adverse modification'' (Sec. 402.02) that was found to be invalid by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth (2001) and Ninth (2004) Circuits. We propose to amend our regulations to replace the invalidated definition with one that is consistent with the Act and the circuit court opinions. Finally, the proposed amendment is part of the Services' response to Section 6 of Executive Order 13563 (January 18, 2011), which directs agencies to analyze their existing regulations and, among other things, modify or streamline them in accordance with what has been learned.

In accordance with 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 Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Domestic Sheep Grazing and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office (RSFO) intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Bird Canyon Natural Gas Infill Project and by this notice announces the opening of the scoping period. The plan of development for this project proposes that 348 natural gas wells be drilled on public lands in the 17,612 acre Bird Canyon project area.

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 (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested State and local government officials of the filing of Plats of Survey in Nevada.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to delist the southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). This species is currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that delisting the species is not warranted, but rather, a revision to the current listed entity to define a distinct population segment (DPS), consistent with our 1996 distinct population segment policy, is appropriate. As such, we propose to amend the current listing of the southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou by defining the Southern Mountain Caribou DPS, which includes the currently listed southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou, and we propose to designate the status of the Southern Mountain Caribou DPS as threatened under the Act. If we finalize this rule as proposed, the Southern Mountain Caribou DPS will be listed as threatened under the Act. This DPS includes the currently listed southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou, a transboundary population that moves between British Columbia, Canada, and northern Idaho and northeastern Washington, United States. We have determined that the approximately 30,010 acres (12,145 hectares) designated as critical habitat on November 28, 2012 (77 FR 71042), for the southern Selkirk Mountains population of woodland caribou is applicable to the U.S. portion of the proposed Southern Mountain Caribou DPS and, as such, reaffirm the existing critical habitat for the DPS should the proposed amendment to the listed entity become final.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in cooperation with the State of Alaska, will reestablish the wood bison, a federally threatened species, in historical habitat in central Alaska. We will reestablish the wood bison under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), and will classify any populations reestablished in the nonessential experimental population (NEP) area as part of the NEP identified in this rule. This final rule also establishes provisions under which wood bison in Alaska will be managed, and provides a plan for establishing the NEP and allowing for legal incidental taking of wood bison within the defined NEP area.

Pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1714) this notice schedules a public meeting to be conducted to provide information and solicit comments on the proposed withdrawal of lands along the Trinity Wild and Scenic River (TRWSR) in Trinity County, California. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in cooperation with the United States Forest Service (USFS) will address the proposed withdrawals of the federal lands (BLM/CACA 54196) and Forest System Lands under management of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USFS/ CACA 54303). The meeting will be open to the public and conducted in a workshop format. The public is invited to provide written comments on the proposed withdrawals, by submitting cards provided at the meeting.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell four parcels of public land totaling 6.72 acres in Gilpin County, Colorado, to the City of Black Hawk (Black Hawk) under the direct sale provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), for not less than the fair market value.

Pursuant to Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Pub. L. 91-190, as amended) and the regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1505.2), the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), has prepared and approved a Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Merced River Comprehensive Management Plan. Approval of the Merced River Comprehensive Management Plan culminates an extensive conservation planning and environmental impact analysis effort which began over 15 years ago. The requisite no- action ``wait period'' was initiated on February 18, 2014, with the Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Register notice of the filing of the Final EIS. Decision: The NPS has selected Alternative 5 (identified as both ``agency preferred'' and ``environmentally preferred'' in the Final EIS) for implementation as the approved Merced River Comprehensive Management Plan. Under the selected alternative, peak visitation could reach levels experienced in recent yearsapproximately 20,100 people per day in East Yosemite Valley. West Yosemite Valley will retain its overall natural character, with limited facilities and visitor services provided. Improvements to river access in the Valley, coupled with meadow enhancements and extensive riverbank restoration (189 acres of meadow and riparian habitat will be restored), will result in substantially improved visitor experiences. Visitors to Wawona will continue to enjoy the historic hotel and facilities; recreational options in this area will include tennis and golf, hiking, picnicking, horseback riding, and boating on the South Fork of the Merced River. The El Portal Administrative Site will continue to serve as a hub for park operations, and remote parking to reduce summer traffic congestion will be provided. Selected key components of the approved plan are as follows: (1) Provide for 72 campsites at Upper and Lower River Campgrounds and 482 lodging units at Curry Village; (2) increase parking at El Portal Remote Parking Area to 300 spaces and reduce parking at Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area to 750 spaces; (3) provide for raft and bicycle rentals at locations outside the river corridor; (4) retain Sugar Pine Bridge and remove Residence One (the Superintendent's House) through relocation or demolition; (5) adverse effects to cultural resources will be ameliorated according to a Programmatic Agreement executed with the State Historic Preservation Officer; and (6) undertake a rigorous adaptive management program of ecological restoration and monitoring actions in order to improve hydrologic flows, water infiltration, and reduce erosion. Five other alternatives were evaluated, the full range of foreseeable environmental consequences was assessed, and appropriate mitigation measures were identified. Interested parties desiring to review the Record of Decision may obtain a copy by contacting the Superintendent, Attn: Division of Project Management, Yosemite National Park, P.O. Box 700-W, 5083 Foresta Road, El Portal, CA 95318 or via telephone request at (209) 379-1202.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) application and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Troy Powell (applicant) requests an ITP under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant anticipates taking about 1.0 acre of foraging, breeding, and sheltering habitat used by the Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub- jay) incidental to land preparation and for the construction of a single-family residence, barn, and associated infrastructure in Charlotte County, Florida. The applicant's HCP describes the minimization and mitigation measures proposed to address the effects of the project on the scrub-jay.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for recovery permits to conduct activities with the purpose of enhancing the survival of 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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment periods on the August 6, 2013, proposed listing determination and the August 6, 2013, proposed designation of critical habitat for Penstemon grahamii (Graham's beardtongue) and Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis (White River beardtongue) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). For the proposed listing determination, we also announce the availability of a draft conservation agreement. For the proposed designation of critical habitat for Graham's beardtongue and White River beardtongue, we also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA); draft environmental assessment (draft EA); and amended required determinations section. In addition, we request public comment on new occurrence data that have become available since the publication of the proposed rules. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rules. We also announce that we will hold a public hearing on our proposed listing and proposed designation of critical habitat for these plants (see DATES and ADDRESSES).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), revise the critical habitat designation for the Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela nevadica lincolniana) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1,110 acres (ac) (449 hectares (ha)) in Lancaster and Saunders Counties, Nebraska, fall within the boundaries of our revised critical habitat designation. Publication of this final rule fulfills our obligations under a settlement agreement. The effect of this regulation is to conserve the Salt Creek tiger beetle and its habitat under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for Leavenworthia exigua var. laciniata (Kentucky glade cress), a plant species from Bullitt and Jefferson Counties, Kentucky. The effect of this regulation will be to add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Advisory Committee (GSENMAC) will meet as indicated below.