Department of the Interior March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Following consultation with the General Services Administration, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is renewing the charter for the Yakima River Basin Conservation Advisory Group (CAG). The purpose of the CAG is to provide recommendations to the Secretary and the State of Washington on the structure and implementation of the Yakima River Basin Water Conservation Program.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed a proposed template Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for the West Coast Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the fisher in Oregon, and proposes to issue enhancement of survival (EOS) permits under the CCAA, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permits would authorize incidental take with assurances to eligible landowners who are willing to enroll in the template CCAA and carry out conservation measures that would benefit the West Coast DPS of the fisher. We request comments from the public on the proposed template CCAA, the issuance of EOS permits, and on the Service's draft Environmental Action Statement (EAS) for our preliminary determination that the CCAA and issuance of EOS permits qualify for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

Per the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, Chesapeake Exploration LLC timely filed a petition for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas lease OKNM 118150, Major County, Oklahoma. The lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases were issued that affect these lands.

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), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona, with the possibility of Western Area Power Administration serving as a co-lead agency, intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Ten West Link 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and potential amendment to the Yuma Field Office Resource Management Plan pursuant to the BLM's land use planning regulations. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues on the proposed transmission line and potential plan amendment.

As provided for under the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for the reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC73441 from Synergy Resources Corporation, for lands in Morgan County, Colorado. The lessee filed the petition on time, along with all the rentals due since the lease terminated under the law.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces that the Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will conduct a meeting on matters pertaining to management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses and burros on the Nation's public lands.

Per the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, James Zerbst filed a petition for reinstatement of noncompetitive oil and gas lease WYW178970, in Niobrara and Weston counties, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time, and the lessee paid the required rentals accruing from the date of termination. No leases that affect these lands were issued before the petition was filed.

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.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) and a habitat conservation plan (HCP). Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Inc. (applicant) requests ITP TE86106B-0 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant anticipates taking about 2.54 acres of feeding, breeding, and sheltering habitat used by the sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to land preparation and construction in Polk County, Florida. The applicant's HCP describes proposed minimization measures and mitigation measures to address the effects of development on the covered species.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 (FLREA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from the Oregon Department of Forestry for an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Enhancement of Survival Permit (Permit) for take of the federally threatened northern spotted owl. The Permit application includes a draft Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) addressing Service access to Oregon Department of Forestry lands for the survey and removal of barred owls as part of the Service's Barred Owl Removal Experiment (Experiment) in Lane County, Oregon. In response to the permit application, the Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) addressing the permit action. We are making the Permit application, including the draft SHA and the draft EA, available for public review and comment.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Hartwood Residential, LLC, is requesting a 2-year ITP. We request public comment on the permit application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue collecting information for Permit ApplicationsMinimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM announces the availability of the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2017- 2022 Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Programmatic EIS) prepared by BOEM to support the Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022. This notice initiates the public review and comment period and also serves to announce public meetings on the Draft Programmatic EIS. After the public meetings and written comments on the Draft Programmatic EIS have been reviewed and considered, a Final Programmatic EIS will be prepared.

The Bureau of Reclamation has made available for public review and comment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on continuing to implement the 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio Grande Project(Operating Agreement), and to implement long-term contracts for storage of San Juan-Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir. The Operating Agreement is a description of how Reclamation allocates, releases from storage, and delivers Rio Grande Project water to Mexico, the Elephant Butte Irrigation District in New Mexico, and the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 in Texas.

This notice informs the public that the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs proclaimed approximately 20.00 acres, more or less, an addition to the reservation of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota on March 11, 2016.

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

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7233 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 7233 withdrew approximately 2,090 acres of National Forest Systems Lands in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest from mining for 20 years to protect the Rabbit Ears-Falcon Wildlife Area; Rogue River Wild and Scenic Corridor; Union Creek Historic District; Abbot Creek and Mill Creek Recreation Sites; and the Prospect Ranger Station Administrative Site. The withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 7233 will expire on January 1, 2017, unless extended. This notice also gives an opportunity to comment on the application and to request a public meeting.

The Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7260 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 7260 withdrew 8,896 acres of public lands from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws, including the United States mining and mineral leasing laws, except for conveyances under Section 701 of the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, to protect the Red Rock Canyon State Park resources in Kern County, California, until the lands can be conveyed to the State of California. This notice gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed action. This notice also announces the date, time, and location of the public meeting to be held in conjunction with the proposed extension.

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.

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 (Act) prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act also requires that we invite public comment before issuing recovery permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

On March 3, 2016, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community leasing regulations under the HEARTH Act. With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into the following type of leases without BIA approval: Business site leases.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before February 6, 2016, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to review the maps of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) at least once every 5 years and make any minor and technical modifications to the boundaries of the CBRS as are necessary to reflect changes that have occurred in the size or location of any CBRS unit as a result of natural forces. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has conducted this review and has prepared final revised maps for all of the CBRS units in Alabama, most units in Florida, all units in Georgia, several units in Louisiana, all units in Michigan, the only unit in Minnesota, all units in Mississippi, all units in the Great Lakes region of New York, all units in Ohio, and all units in Wisconsin. The maps were produced by the Service in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and in consultation with the appropriate Federal, State, and local officials. This notice announces the findings of the Service's review and the availability of final revised maps for 247 CBRS units. The final revised maps for these CBRS units, dated January 11, 2016, are the official controlling CBRS maps for these areas.