Department of the Interior February 22, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of the availability for public review of the draft U.S. Geological Survey report, ``Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency'', commonly known as Bulletin 17B. This report was drafted under the auspices of the Hydrologic Frequency Analysis Work Group (HFAWG), which operates under the supervision of the Advisory Committee on Water Information's (ACWI) Subcommittee on Hydrology (SOH). Public review and comment is sought under the HFAWG Terms of Reference and the USGS peer review plan for the report (URL: https://www.usgs.gov/peer_review/docs/guidelines_for_determini ng_flood- flow_frequency.pdf). The ACWI was established under the authority of the Office of Management and Budget Memorandum 92-01 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the ACWI is to provide a forum for water- information users and professionals to advise the Federal Government about activities and plans which may improve the effectiveness of meeting the Nation's water information needs. It has been 33 years since the last revision of Bulletin 17B in March 1982. At that time, it was recognized that continued investigation and improvements of flood frequency analysis techniques were needed. In fact, Bulletin 17B included a list of areas where additional research was recommended by the Work Group in 1982. The SOH's HFAWG has done extensive work during the last few years to update the Bulletin. The draft report resulting from that process is now available for public review and comment. The report may be accessed at https:// acwi.gov/hydrology/Frequency/b17c/. A printed copy of the report may be obtained by contacting the U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, 417 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192; (703) 648-6810.

The Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service announce an interagency policy to clarify the role of State agencies in activities undertaken by the Services under authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and associated regulations. The policy, which is a revision of a policy issued in 1994, reflects a renewed commitment by the Services and State fish and wildlife agencies to work together in conserving America's imperiled wildlife.

This proposed rule would establish regulations for fish and shellfish seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish and shellfish for subsistence uses during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of fish and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years and subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even-numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the existing subsistence fish and shellfish taking regulations. This proposed rule would also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife.