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

On November 9, 2011, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), published a notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment (DEA) and receipt of an application for an incidental take permit (permit) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), submitted by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), for the Maine Trapping Program Incidental Take Plan (ITP). MDIFW is requesting a permit under the ESA to authorize take of the federally threatened Canada lynx incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with MDIFW's statewide furbearer trapping program. The permit would be in effect for 15 years. During the 60-day comment period, the Service received numerous comments on the DEA and the ITP. MDIFW revised the draft ITP to address public and Service comments and submitted a revised ITP to the Service in July 2013. The Service then revised its DEA. This notice announces the availability for a 30-day supplemental public comment period of both the revised DEA and the revised ITP for MDIFW's incidental take permit application.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information for the permanent program performance standardssurface mining activities and underground mining activities.

This notice informs the public that the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs proclaimed approximately 63.96 acres, more or less, as the Stillaguamish Indian Reservation.

As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision will be issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., Successor in Interest to Akuliak Incorporated. The decision approves the surface estate in the lands described below for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.). The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. when the surface estate is conveyed to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., as Successor in Interest to Akuliak Incorporated. Akuliak Incorporated was the original ANCSA corporation for the village of Selawik, but merged with the NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. in 1976 under the authority of PL 94-204. The lands are in the vicinity of Selawik, Alaska, and are located in:

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce that our draft environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) is available. The proposed AFA would allow CSKT to design, manage, and implement the biology, visitor services, fire, and maintenance program on the National Bison Range Complex. This draft EA describes and analyzes four alternatives, including the draft AFA and the No Action alternative.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our October 28, 2013, proposed rule to list the bi-State distinct population segment (DPS) of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, with a special rule. We are taking this action based on new information received regarding population trends, and recent State and Federal agency funding and staffing commitments for various conservation efforts associated with the Bi-State Action Plan, making it necessary to solicit feedback by reopening the comment period for 30 days. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final listing determination. We anticipate publishing a final listing determination on or before April 28, 2015.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on, and plans to request approval to continue, the collection of information from applicants for oil shale leases, oil shale lessees, and oil shale operators. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0201 to this information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, designate critical habitat for the sharpnose shiner (Notropis oxyrhynchus) and smalleye shiner (N. buccula) under the Endangered Species Act. In total, approximately 1,002 river kilometers (623 river miles) of river segments occupied by the species in Baylor, Crosby, Fisher, Garza, Haskell, Kent, King, Knox, Stonewall, Throckmorton, and Young Counties, in the upper Brazos River basin of Texas, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. The effect of this regulation is to designate critical habitat for sharpnose shiner and smalleye shiner under the Endangered Species Act.

On June 16, 2014, BOEM published a Request for Information and Comments on the preparation of a new Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022, as required by section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344). The Act requires the Department of the Interior to invite and solicit information on all 26 OCS planning areas from interested and affected parties as the first step in the preparation of a Five Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (Five Year Program). The June 16 notice provided for a 45-day comment period, which is scheduled to end on July 31, 2014. BOEM has received requests from several coastal states to extend the comment period. To further the intent of the OCS Lands Act to collect information for future decision- making and provide ample opportunity for interested and affected parties to comment, BOEM is extending the comment period to August 15, 2014. See instructions for commenting below as they are simplified from the original notice as explained on the BOEM Five Year Web page.

We (the U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the information collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this ICR.

Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, the National Park Service (NPS) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the White-tailed Deer Management Plan (Plan), Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland; Monocacy National Battlefield, Maryland; and Manassas National Battlefield Park, Virginia. The plan would manage white-tailed deer populations in order to support preservation of the natural and cultural landscape.