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

The Bureau of Reclamation, the lead Federal agency, and the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San), the lead state agency, will prepare a joint Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the South County Ag Water Recycling Program (Project). The Project would deliver approximately 45,000 acre-feet per year of Title 22 disinfected tertiary treated recycled water to about 16,000 acres of irrigated lands in southern Sacramento County for agricultural and urban landscape uses and to the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The Project could also provide an additional 5,000 acre-feet per year of recycled water for groundwater recharge, for a total recycled water delivery of 50,000 acre-feet per year.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) will meet to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). This meeting is open to the public. The Advisory Group for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grants program (Advisory Group) also will meet. This meeting is also open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in coordination with the State of Wyoming and other partners, will reestablish additional populations of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a federally listed endangered mammal, into prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) occupied habitat in Wyoming and classify any reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This final rule establishes the NEP area and provides for allowable legal incidental taking of the black-footed ferret within the defined NEP area. The best available data indicate the reintroduction of black-footed ferrets to Wyoming is biologically feasible and will promote conservation and recovery of the species. This NEP area and two previously designated NEPs in Wyoming collectively cover the entire State of Wyoming and provide consistent management flexibility Statewide. We are also amending the historical range column for the species within the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) to include Mexico; the historical range information in the List is informational, not regulatory.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to amend its regulations to add to the list of injurious fish the following freshwater fish species: Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus), stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva), Nile perch (Lates niloticus), Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii), European perch (Perca fluviatilis), zander (Sander lucioperca), and wels catfish (Silurus glanis). In addition, the Service also proposes to amend its regulations to add the freshwater crayfish species common yabby (Cherax destructor) to the list of injurious crustaceans. These listings would prohibit the importation of any live animal, gamete, viable egg, or hybrid of these 10 fish and 1 crayfish into the United States, except as specifically authorized. These listings would also prohibit the interstate transportation of any live animal, gamete, viable egg, or hybrid of these 10 fish and 1 crayfish between the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States, except as specifically authorized. As proposed, these species are injurious to human beings, to the interests of agriculture, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States, and the listing will prevent the purposeful or accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of these 10 fish and 1 crayfish into ecosystems of the United States. We are also making available for public review and comment the associated draft environmental assessment and draft economic analysis for this action.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the intent to officially file the survey plats listed below and afford a proper period of time to protest this action prior to the plat filing. During this time, the plats will be available for review in the BLM Colorado State Office.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for approval for the collection of information for the Loan Guarantee, Insurance, and Interest Subsidy Program. The information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0020, which expires October 31, 2015.

This notice announces the addition of a new categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act to be included in the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The categorical exclusion pertains to adding species to the injurious wildlife list under the Lacey Act. This action will improve the process of listing species by regulation as injurious wildlife and thereby help to prevent their introduction into and spread within the United States.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before October 3, 2015, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is finalizing supplementary rules for all BLM-administered public lands within an approximately 400-acre area in Idaho known as Castle Rocks. The BLM addressed this area in the November 2013 Cassia Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Record of Decision (ROD). The Cassia RMP amendment made implementation-level decisions designed to conserve natural and cultural resources while providing for recreational opportunities. These supplementary rules will allow the BLM and law enforcement partners to enforce those decisions.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in coordination with the California State Coastal Conservancy, announce the reopening of the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) for Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond (SBSP) Restoration Project at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties, California. The DEIS/EIR, which we prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), describes and analyzes the alternatives identified for Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for Tribal Self-Governance Program authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0143. This information collection expires January 31, 2016.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from The Meier Group, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (permit) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The applicant requests a permit with a 5-year term that would authorize ``take'' of the threatened Olympia pocket gopher incidental to otherwise lawful land development in Thurston County, Washington. The application includes the applicant's draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), which describes the actions the applicant will implement to minimize and mitigate the impacts of incidental take caused by covered activities. The Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that has been prepared in response to the permit application in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We are making the permit application, including the draft HCP and the draft EA, available for public review and comment.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for the Tribal Reassumption of Jurisdiction over Child Custody Proceedings, authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0112. This information collection expires November 30, 2015.

The plats of survey of the described lands were officially filed in the Arizona State Office, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix, Arizona, on dates indicated.

The Department of the Interior (Interior) is seeking nominations for individuals to be Committee members or alternates on the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Advisory Committee (Committee). We seek nominees who can represent stakeholder constituencies from government, civil society, and industry so that we can fill current vacancies and create a roster of candidates in case future vacancies occur.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides notice that the Tribal State Compact between the State of California and the Jackson Band of Miwuk Indians governing Class III gaming (Compact) is effective on publication of this notice.

Notice is hereby given that the Indian Gaming Compact between the State of New Mexico and the Pueblo of Tesuque governing Class III gaming (Compact) taking effect.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Nonfederal Oil and Gas Regulations (36 CFR part 9, subpart B) Revisions.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Eastern Washington Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below:

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 plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 days from the date of this publication.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), is announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Virginia regulatory program (the Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Through this proposed amendment, the State seeks to revise the Virginia Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Regulations (the State regulations) in light of legislative changes made by the General Assembly of Virginia. If approved, the proposed amendment would incorporate these legislative changes into the approved State program. Additionally, the State regulations would be amended to revise the language of the public participation regulations to clarify proof of publication, remove the self-bonding instrument, and remove duplicate pool bond regulations already addressed under the Code of Virginia. This document gives the times and locations that the Virginia program and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Oil and Gas Sub-Group is scheduled to meet as indicated below.

As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (16 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16), the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the National Park Service Subsistence Resource Commission for Gates of the Arctic National Park (SRC) will hold a meeting to develop and continue work on NPS subsistence program recommendations, and other related regulatory proposals and resource management issues. The NPS SRC program is authorized under Section 808 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, (16 U.S.C. 3118), title VII.