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

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has submitted applications to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (together, the Services) for incidental take permits (permits) for a term of 50 years, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permit applications address incidental take of listed species caused by WDNR authorizations of shellfish aquaculture, log booming and storage, and overwater structures undertaken by individuals, businesses, and governmental agencies on 2.6 million acres of State-owned aquatic lands, including marine and freshwater tidelands, shorelands, and bedlands of the State of Washington. The proposed permits would authorize take, incidental to otherwise lawful activities, of 29 species of fish and wildlife, including federally listed threatened and endangered species. As required by the ESA, WNDR has prepared a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) designed to minimize and mitigate the impacts to the maximum extent practicable, that will likely result from such taking. A draft implementing agreement (IA) for the HCP has also been prepared. The Services have jointly prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The DEIS evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, the proposed HCP and issuance of the permits. We are announcing public meetings and requesting public comment on the DEIS, proposed HCP, and the IA.

The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review and comment, the Upper San Joaquin River Basin Storage Investigation Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS describes the potential environmental effects of the No-Action Alternative and five action alternatives for a multiple purpose dam and reservoir to increase water storage for agricultural, municipal, and environmental uses, and improve regional water management flexibility.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (Tribe) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serving as cooperating agencies, is making available for public review the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) regarding the Tribe's application for the conveyance into trust of 170 acres located in Mashpee, Massachusetts, and 151 acres located in Taunton, Massachusetts, for the benefit of the Tribe.

This notice announces a meeting of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area Advisory Council. The agenda includes a discussion and vote on changes to the Committee bylaws, and the Council's mission, goals, and community outreach initiative. Superintendent Parker will also give updates about park summer operations, topics will include: Visitation, staffing, private boater use of the park, ferry service/schedule/ridership, vendor operations (marina/moorings/food service/park store), volunteering, planning for the 2016 anniversaries of the park (20 years), the National Park Service (100 years), and the Boston Light Tricentennial (300 years).

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16), the National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission will hold quarterly meetings to discuss park projects and the implementation of the park's general management plan.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), are amending the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) by adding: five species of foreign sturgeon (Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii), Chinese sturgeon (A. sinensis), European sturgeon (A. sturio), Kaluga sturgeon (Huso dauricus), and Sakhalin sturgeon (A. mikadoi)); four distinct population segments (DPSs) of scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) (Central and Southwest Atlantic (Central & SW Atlantic) DPS, Eastern Atlantic DPS, Indo-West Pacific DPS, and Eastern Pacific DPS); and a nonessential experimental population of Upper Columbia River spring-run Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). These amendments are based on previously published determinations by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has jurisdiction for these species.

The National Park Service plans to install parking meters and collect expanded amenity recreation fees at public parking areas in West Potomac Park and the National Mall. We are installing the parking meters to better manage public parking in West Potomac Park and on the National Mall, to allow more visitors access to park sites, and to encourage the use of public transit and other transportation alternatives. We will use the revenue to provide improved and more affordable visitor-transportation-related activities inside the park.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received applications for enhancement of survival permits (EOS permits) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), pursuant to the Greater Sage-grouse Umbrella Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Wyoming Ranch Management (Umbrella CCAA). The permit applications, if approved, would authorize incidental take associated with implementation of specified individual Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (individual CCAAs) developed in accordance with the Umbrella CCAA. We invite the public to comment on the EOS permit applications set out below. The Act requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

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

The Department of the Interior is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt certain records in the Incident Management, Analysis and Reporting System from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative law enforcement requirements.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of the Interior is issuing a public notice of its intent to create the Department of the Interior Insider Threat Program system of records. The Department of the Interior Office of Law Enforcement and Security will use the system to facilitate management of insider threat investigations and activities associated with counterintelligence complaints, inquiries and investigations; identify potential threats to Department of the Interior resources and information assets; track referrals of potential insider threats to internal and external partners; and provide statistical reports and meet other insider threat reporting requirements. This newly established system will be included in the Department of the Interior's inventory of record systems.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the public that we are reopening the public review and comment period for the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

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.