Department of the Interior April 15, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published an interim final rule on title evidence for trust land acquisitions and received comments during the public comment period. The BIA anticipates making technical revisions to the rule in response to those comments. This notice delays the effective date of the interim final rule for 30 days, during which time BIA plans to publish a final rule with technical revisions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. The ANS Task Force's purpose is to develop and implement a program for U.S. waters to prevent introduction and dispersal of aquatic invasive species (AIS); to monitor, control, and study such species; and to disseminate related information.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) application and a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Remington Stewart, LLP (applicant), requests an ITP under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant's HCP describes the minimization and mitigation measures proposed to address the effects of the project on the Florida scrub-jay. We invite written comments on the ITP application and HCP.

The National Park Service intends to award a temporary concession contract to a qualified person for the conduct of certain visitor services within Oregon Caves National Mounument and Preserve for a term not to exceed 3 years. The visitor services include lodging, food and beverage and retail.

In accordance with provisions of 36 CFR 9.17, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that Vern Fiehler has filed a proposed plan to conduct mining operations on the Gold Run claims, a group of unpatented placer claims in the Chisana Mining District near Chisana, Alaska. The claims are located within the boundaries of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before March 19, 2016, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

This notice announces the availability of the Department of the Interior's (Department) draft 2016-2020 Environmental Justice Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan). This draft Strategic Plan builds on the Department's 2012-2017 Environmental Justice Strategic Plan and will guide the Department's actions regarding environmental justice for the upcoming years. Updates to Federal agencies' environmental justice strategic plans are conducted periodically to increase interagency cooperation and participation opportunities for minority, low-income, American Indian and Alaska Native Communities, and Tribal governments.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), announce the availability of the Midwest Wind Energy Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). Planning partners include the State conservation agencies from the States of Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), who is representing a consortium of wind energy companies called WEBAT (Wind Energy Bat Action Team), and The Conservation Fund. The Plan Area encompasses all lands within the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The covered species include six federally listed bat and bird species, one bat species that may be listed in the future, and the bald eagle. The activities covered under the MSHCP (``covered activities'') include the construction, operation, maintenance, decommissioning and repowering of wind energy facilities, as well as monitoring activities. Up to 18,004 megawatts (MW) of existing facilities and 33,000 MW of new wind development are proposed to be covered under the MSHCP. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, the Service is also announcing the availability of the MSHCP draft environmental impact statement (DEIS).