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

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is proposing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2016 season. These proposed regulations allow for the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska and prescribe regional information on when and where the harvesting of birds may occur. These proposed regulations were developed under a co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking proposes region-specific regulations that would go into effect on April 2, 2016, and expire on August 31, 2016.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for one animal and five plant species. A 5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the last review for the species.

The Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 and the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 require an annual determination of a discount rate for Federal water resources planning. The discount rate for Federal water resources planning for fiscal year 2016 is 3.125 percent. Discounting is to be used to convert future monetary values to present values.

This notice provides the names of individuals who have been appointed to serve as members of the Department of the Interior Senior Executive Service (SES) Performance Review Board.

This notice sets forth the date of the 301st Meeting of the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission.

The Powder River Basin Regional Coal Team will meet as indicated below to review coal management activities in the Powder River Coal Production Region (PRCPR).

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received two applications for incidental take permits (ITPs) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Jellyfish Realty, LLC requests a 5-year ITP; and Vulcan Materials Company requests a 20-year ITP. We request public comment on the permit applications and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plans (HCPs), as well as on our preliminary determination that the plans qualify as low-effect under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, which are also available for review.

On November 20, 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Gila River Indian Community leasing regulations under the HEARTH Act. With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into the following types of leases without BIA approval: Commercial leases and solar resource leases.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Budget, Office of the Secretary, and Department of the Interior (DOI), announces the proposed extension of a public information collection required by the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Act and seeks public comments on the provisions thereof. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Budget has submitted a request for renewal of approval of this information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and requests public comments on this submission.

The National Park Service hereby gives public notice that it proposes to extend the following expiring concession contracts for a period of up to one (1) year, or until the effective date of a new contract, whichever occurs sooner.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Pecos District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

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 Electrical Service Application authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0021 and Water Request authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0141. Both of these information collections expire March 31, 2016.

The National Park Service (NPS) announces that the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy have entered into an agreement governing the administration of facilities, land, or interests in land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy (DOE) that are to be initially included in the Manhattan Project National Historical Park (Park) and setting out the specific responsibilities of each of the Secretaries with regard to the Park. This agreement satisfies the legal requirements to establish the Park. This new unit of the National Park System is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

This notice publishes the liquor control statute of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California. The liquor control statute regulates and controls the possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in conformity with the laws of the State of California for the purpose of generating new Tribal revenues.

The Hudson Museum, University of Maine has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present- day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the Hudson Museum, University of Maine. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the definitions of sacred object and object of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The New York State Museum, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of sacred objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the New York State Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is publishing this notice in accordance with section 9 of the Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-223) (Settlement Act). The publication of this notice causes the waivers and release of certain claims to become effective as required to implement the Settlement.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a record of decision (ROD) for the final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) is proposing to establish the 2016-17 hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds. We annually prescribe frameworks, or outer limits, for dates and times when hunting may occur and the number of birds that may be taken and possessed in hunting seasons. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow recreational harvest at levels compatible with population and habitat conditions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to revise regulations governing the exercise of non-Federal oil and gas rights in order to improve our ability to protect refuge resources, visitors, and the general public's health and safety from potential impacts associated with non-Federal oil and gas operations located within U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge units. Non-Federal oil and gas development refers to oil and gas activities associated with any private, State, or tribally owned mineral interest where the surface estate is administered by the Service as part of the Refuge System. The existing non-Federal oil and gas regulations have remained unchanged for more than 50 years and provide vague guidance to staff and operators. This proposed rule would make the regulations consistent with existing laws, policies and industry practices. It is designed to provide regulatory clarity and guidance to oil and gas operators and refuge staff, provide a simple process for compliance, incorporate technological improvements in exploration and drilling technology, and ensure that non-Federal oil and gas operations are conducted in a manner that avoids or minimizes impacts to refuge resources.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to seek renewed approval for the collection of information for permits and permit processing. This information collection will also seek approval to collect permit processing fees approved under OSMRE regulations. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0115.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing that the information collection request for contractor eligibility, and the Abandoned Mine Land Contractor Information Form, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost. This information collection activity was previously approved by OMB and assigned control number 1029-0119.