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

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request approval to continue the collection of information regarding leases of solid minerals other than coal and oil shale. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0121 to this information collection.

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 titled ``Reindeer in Alaska.'' This information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0047, which expires September 30, 2015.

The National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, is seeking nominations for individuals to be considered for appointment to the Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service, on the development of a reuse plan and on matters relating to future uses of the Fort Hancock Historic Landmark District, located within the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area.

The National Park Service is amending its special regulations for Lake Meredith National Recreation Area to require permits to operate motor vehicles off roads, designate areas and routes where motor vehicles may be used off roads, create management zones that will further manage this activity, and establish camping, operational, and vehicle requirements. These changes will allow off-road vehicle use for recreation while reducing associated impacts to resources. Unless authorized by special regulation, operating a motor vehicle off roads within areas of the National Park System is prohibited.

The plats of survey of lands described below are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, Sacramento, California.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) as an endangered or threatened species and to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the New England cottontail is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to the New England cottontail or its habitat at any time.

BOEM announces the availability of the Proposed Notice of Sale (NOS) for the proposed Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area (CPA) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 241 (CPA Sale 241). This Notice is published pursuant to 30 CFR 556.29(c) as a matter of information to the public. With regard to oil and gas leasing on the OCS, the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to section 19 of the OCS Lands Act, provides affected States the opportunity to review the Proposed NOS. The Proposed NOS sets forth the proposed terms and conditions of the sale, including minimum bids, royalty rates, and rental rates.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field Office, Rawlins, Wyoming, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

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 Indian Reservation Roads (IRR). The information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0161, which expires September 30, 2015.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for Student Transportation Form. This information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0134, which expires September 30, 2015.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking comments to assist us in developing a proposed rule for the Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA). The proposed rule will use plain language to clarify topics that have led to varying interpretations and will incorporate changes in legislation and technology. We seek public input to advise us on topics of interest to the boating community in regard to projects funded through CVA. We ask for response from anyone having an interest in CVA and associated topics, but particularly from members of the public having experience, expertise, or both in administering CVA; entities receiving services from CVA-funded facilities; entities manufacturing, selling, or installing CVA-funded facilities and equipment; or persons possessing other professional or practical knowledge of the subjects we present in this document. We present topics of interest, but encourage comments on any topic relevant to CVA and the proposed rulemaking. The terms you or your in this document refer to those members of the public from whom we seek response. The terms we, us, and our refer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a new information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). In accordance with the requirements of the PRA, the OCC may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning a new collection of information titled, ``Bank Appeals Follow-Up Questionnaire.'' The OCC also is giving notice that it has sent the collection to OMB for review.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (collectively, the agencies) may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), of which the agencies are members, has approved the agencies' publication for public comment of a proposal to extend, with revision, the Foreign Branch Report of Condition (FFIEC 030 and FFIEC 030S), which is a currently approved information collection for each agency. The proposed changes would be effective for the FFIEC 030 and FFIEC 030S reports as of the December 31, 2015, report date. At the end of the comment period, the comments and recommendations received will be analyzed to determine the extent to which the FFIEC and the agencies should modify the proposed revisions prior to giving final approval. The agencies will then submit the revisions to OMB for review and approval.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) (collectively, the Agencies) are amending their regulations regarding loans in areas having special flood hazards to implement certain provisions of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HFIAA), which amends some of the changes to the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 mandated by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Biggert-Waters). Specifically, the final rule requires the escrow of flood insurance payments on residential improved real estate securing a loan, consistent with the changes set forth in HFIAA. The final rule also incorporates an exemption in HFIAA for certain detached structures from the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirement. Furthermore, the final rule implements the provisions of Biggert-Waters related to the force placement of flood insurance. Finally, the final rule integrates the OCC's flood insurance regulations for national banks and Federal savings associations. The Agencies plan to address the private flood insurance provisions in Biggert-Waters in a separate rulemaking.

The Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Geological Survey intends to grant to Glosten Associates, 1201 Western Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98101, an exclusive license to practice the following: A system, method, and apparatus for treating ship ballast water.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined and found suitable for classification for conveyance under the Taylor Grazing Act, and the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, 160 acres of public land in Utah County, Utah. Utah County proposes to develop a public shooting range facility on the land.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a collection of information to support recreation planning and management on public lands. The respondents will be recreationists visiting BLM-managed areas and members of communities near BLM-managed areas. The BLM invites public comments on this proposed collection. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, is seeking nominations for individuals to be considered for appointment to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Advisory Council (Council).

The Bureau of Reclamation will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of the Long-Term Plan for the Protection of Adult Salmon in the lower Klamath River. The proposed action is to increase lower Klamath River flows to reduce the likelihood, and potentially reduce the severity, of any fish die-off in future years due to crowded holding conditions for pre-spawn adults, warm water temperatures, and presence of disease pathogens as the likely major factors contributing to the adult mortalities. The proposed increased flows would be provided primarily from releases of water stored in Trinity Reservoir on the main stem of the Trinity River, with the potential for some of the flows to be derived from the Klamath River above the confluence with the Trinity River depending on existing hydrologic and related environmental conditions. The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the likelihood, and potentially reduce the severity, of any Ich epizootic event that could lead to an associated fish die-off in future years. The need is based on the past extensive fish die-off in 2002.

The Department of the Interior (Department) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule governing land exchanges involving Hawaiian home lands and amendments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act proposed by the State of Hawaii until August 12, 2015. The proposed rule would clarify under current Federal law what Departmental procedures would apply.

This notice serves to segregate the identified public lands located in Lyon County and Mineral County, Nevada for up to two years from appropriation pursuant to the public land laws, including location pursuant to the General Mining Act, subject to valid existing rights. The purpose of such segregation is to promote the orderly administration of the public lands identified in section 3009(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act, Public Law 113-291 (December 19, 2014).

The National Park Service proposes to authorize a solid waste transfer station near Stehekin, Washington, within the boundary of Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, that does not meet all regulatory siting criteria and accepts solid waste generated within the boundary of the recreation area from non-NPS activities. The proposed rule would authorize this transfer station, notwithstanding certain restrictions found in the general regulations governing solid waste disposal sites in units of the National Park System.