Department of the Interior January 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Final regulations that ONRR published on September 13, 2004 (69 FR 55076), provide two types of accounting and auditing relief for Federal onshore or Outer Continental Shelf lease production from marginal properties. As the regulations require, ONRR provided a list of qualifying marginal Federal oil and gas properties to States that received a portion of Federal royalties. Each State then decided whether to participate in one or both relief options. For calendar year 2015, we provide in this notice the affected States' decisions to allow one or both types of relief.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Bakersfield Field Office located in Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, eastern Fresno, and western Kern counties in south-central California. The California State Director signed the ROD on December 22, 2014, which constitutes the BLM's final decision and makes the Approved RMP effective immediately.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), revise the regulations for the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This action is being taken in coordination with our final rule in this Federal Register to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered subspecies. The regulatory revisions in this rule will improve the project to reintroduce a nonessential experimental population, thereby increasing potential for recovery of this species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activities. Both the Act and the National Environmental Policy Act require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is announcing that the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children (Advisory Board) will hold its next meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The purpose of the meeting is to meet the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) for Indian children with disabilities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has finalized a policy to implement a strategic approach to the growth of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System, System). The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, requires that we ``plan and direct the continued growth of the System in a manner that is best designed to accomplish the mission of the System.'' This policy directs Refuge System employees to focus their protection measures on priority conservation features to ensure that our limited resources are used to make the greatest contribution to the conservation of species in a cost-effective and transparent manner. It ensures that the growth of the System reflects our vision toward managing functional landscapes, enhancing our scientific rigor, improving our effectiveness, and involving our partners and the American people. The Strategic Growth policy is found in ``Refuge Planning,'' chapter 5, part 602 in the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee ActPublic Law 92- 463, 5 United States Code, Appendix 2, Section 10 (a) (b); and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA), (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) requests nominations of individuals to serve on the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children (Advisory Board). There are six positions available. The BIE will consider nominations received in response to this request for nominations, as well as other sources. The ``Supplementary Information'' section for this notice provides committee and membership criteria.

This notice announces the next four meetings of the United States Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (USEITI) Multi- Stakeholder Group (MSG) Advisory Committee. Dates and Times: The four meetings in 2015 will occur on February 24-25, 2015; May 20-21, 2015; September 16-17, 2015; and December 15- 16, 2015; in Washington, DC, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, unless we indicate otherwise at www.doi.gov/eiti/faca, where we will post agendas, meeting logistics, and meeting materials prior to the meeting.

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.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend the duration of the withdrawal created by Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7179 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 7179 withdrew 45 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, to protect the seismic integrity of the University of CaliforniaBerkeley Seismic Observatory located in Siskiyou County, California. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 7179 will expire on January 24, 2016, unless extended. This notice provides an opportunity to comment on the withdrawal extension application and to request a public meeting.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for the endangered laurel dace, a small fish native to the Tennessee River Basin in Tennessee. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order for us to downlist the species to threatened status or delist it under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to sell a 40-acre parcel of public land in White Pine County, NV by competitive sale. Bidding on the subject parcel will begin at not less than the appraised fair market value (FMV) of $81,580. The BLM is proposing to use the competitive sale procedures consistent with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the applicable BLM land sale regulations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer by competitive sale, a 38.02-acre parcel of public land in White Pine County, NV, at no less than the appraised fair market value (FMV) of $135,000. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and applicable BLM land sale regulations.

This notice advises the public that we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), in response to an application from Wright Solar Park, LLC (the applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant has prepared the draft Wright Solar Park Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to describe and implement a conservation plan that will minimize and mitigate environmental effects associated with the construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of an up-to-200-megawatt photovoltaic power generating facility and implementation of conservation actions associated with the Habitat Conservation Plan in Merced County, California. We also announce a 60-day public comment period on the permit application, including the draft EA and the proposed HCP. We request data, comments, new information, or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party.

The Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary is announcing a public meeting of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Public Advisory Committee.

Pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, and to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations, all interested parties are hereby invited to participate with Black Butte Coal Company on a pro rata cost-sharing basis, in a program for the exploration of coal deposits owned by the United States of America in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pahrump Field Office has examined and proposes to change the use of a 400-acre Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Lease from a buffer zone to a landfill located in Nye County, Nevada. The land has been leased by the Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL) since 1962, and it surrounds an existing 80-acre landfill. The conveyance would be offered pursuant to the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act of 1926. The NDSL proposes to use the land for a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C landfill and disposal site.

Under the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), Federal and State trustees for natural resources are authorized to assess natural resource injuries resulting from an oil discharge or the substantial threat of discharge, as well those injuries that result from response activities. The trustees develop and implement a restoration plan to identify and quantify injuries to natural resources and the restoration required to compensate for those injuries. This notice announces the intent of the Federal and State trustees to conduct restoration planning regarding the discharge of oil from the Kirby Barge 27706 resulting from the collision with an inbound bulk carrier, the M/V SUMMER WIND, an incident that occurred in the Houston Ship Channel near Texas City, Texas on March 22, 2014.

The Bureau of Reclamation is extending the public review and comment period for the Central Valley Project Municipal and Industrial Water Shortage Policy Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft EIS was initially noticed by Reclamation on November 19, 2014 and public comments were originally due on January 12, 2015. In response to public requests, the comment period is being extended until March 13, 2015.

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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Long Canyon Mine Project and by this notice is announcing its availability.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the General Management Plan (GMP) for Gulf Islands National Seashore (National Seashore). On September 11, 2014, the Regional Director, Southeast Region, approved the ROD for the project.

The Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior concerning Glen Canyon Dam operations and other management actions to protect resources downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act. The AMWG meets two to three times a year.

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) proposes to change the regulations governing valuation for royalty purposes of oil and gas produced from Federal onshore and offshore leases and coal produced from Federal and Indian leases. The proposed rule also consolidates definitions for oil, gas, and coal product valuation into one subpart applicable to the Federal oil and gas and Federal and Indian coal subparts.

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