Department of the Interior June 17, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing Eastern Puma (=Cougar) From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Document Number: 2015-14931
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-06-17
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The best available scientific and commercial data indicate that the eastern puma (=cougar) (Puma (=Felis) concolor couguar) is extinct. Therefore, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove this subspecies from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This proposed action is based on a thorough review of all available information, which indicates that there is no evidence of the existence of either an extant population or individuals of the eastern puma and that, for various reasons, it is highly unlikely that an eastern puma population could remain undetected over the time span since the last confirmed sighting was documented in 1938.
Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York
Document Number: 2015-14927
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-06-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GMP/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The Draft GMP/EIS includes a draft Wilderness Stewardship Plan for the Otis Pike High Dunes Fire Island Wilderness.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Identification and Proposed Listing of Eleven Distinct Population Segments of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) as Endangered or Threatened and Revision of Current Listings; Public Hearings; Extension of Comment Period
Document Number: 2015-14906
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-06-17
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
On March 23, 2015, we (NMFS and USFWS, or the Services) published a proposed rule to revise the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas; hereafter referred to as the green turtle) listings under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We proposed to remove the current range- wide listing and, in its place, list eight distinct population segments (DPSs) as threatened and three as endangered. We opened a public comment period that lasted through June 22, 2015, announced a public hearing in Honolulu, Hawaii, and solicited requests for additional public hearings. With this document, we announce additional public hearings in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and American Samoa. To allow adequate time for comments after the last public hearing, we extend the public comment period through July 27, 2015.
Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the California Tiger Salamander and California Red-Legged Frog, Sonoma County, California
Document Number: 2015-14853
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-06-17
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Steven Sannella (applicant) for a 5-year incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of two listed animals, the California tiger salamander and California red- legged frog. The applicant would implement a conservation program to minimize and mitigate the project activities, as described in the applicant's low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP). We request comments on the applicant's application and HCP, and our preliminary determination that the HCP qualifies as a ``low-effect'' HCP, 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.
Environmental Impact Statement for a Special Use Permit to Dare County for Activities Related to the Protection of North Carolina Highway 12 in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Document Number: 2015-14426
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-06-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is terminating preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a Special Use Permit to Dare County for Activities Related to the Protection of North Carolina Highway 12 in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina. Instead, the NPS will be preparing an environmental assessment (EA) to assist the NPS in determining whether, where, and under what conditions the NPS would issue a Special Use Permit to Dare County for actions related to the protection of Highway 12 in the Buxton Village area.
Plan of Operations To Conduct 3-Dimensional Seismic Oil and Gas Exploration Within Big Cypress National Preserve
Document Number: 2015-14425
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-06-17
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comments on Nobles Grade 3-D Seismic Survey/Plan of Operations (Plan) to explore for oil and gas within Big Cypress National Preserve. The Plan seeks approval to conduct a seismic survey over a 110 square mile area to evaluate the subsurface geologic structure and geophysical conditions pertaining to accumulations of commercial quantities of crude oil and natural gas in the Sunniland Oil Trend. The applicant, Burnett Oil Company, Inc., proposes to conduct the seismic survey by using small, portable seismic receivers (geophones) and recording devices, which measure and record subtle vibrations in the ground. No explosives will be used to create the vibrations or seismic acoustical signals, and there will be no ground disturbances from detonations. Instead, vibrations will be created using mobile plates attached to special off-road vehicles which are placed against the ground, vibrated, and then moved on to the next location. The source and receivers would be placed in a line grid to allow the applicant to map the subsurface geology.
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