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

BOEM and BSEE are announcing the availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for well stimulation treatments (WSTs) on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This Notice of Availability (NOA) is published pursuant to implement the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The PEA evaluates potential environmental effects of WSTs on the Pacific OCS. These activities include: fracturing WSTs (diagnostic fracture injection tests; hydraulic fracturing (e.g., frac pacs); and acid fracturing) and non-fracturing WSTs (matrix acidizing and polymer/surfactant injection). BOEM and BSEE are also issuing a FONSI supported by the analysis in the PEA. The FONSI concludes that the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives, as set forth in the PEA, would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment; therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

On March 30, 2016, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published in the Federal Register a final rule that updates and streamlines the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas and sulfur leasing regulations, which will become effective on May 31, 2016 (81 FR 18111) (``Leasing Rule''). One of the regulations contained in the final rule was incorrectly stated. This document corrects that error

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the approved Nevada and California Greater Sage-Grouse Bi-State Distinct Population Segment Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) for the Carson City District and the Tonopah Field Office located in Nevada. The Nevada State Director signed the ROD on May 27, 2016, which constitutes the final decision of the BLM and makes the LUPA effective immediately.

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request approval for the collection of information for the Abandoned Mine Land Problem Area Description form, OSM-76. This information collection activity was previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0087.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.

The Department of the Interior is issuing public notice of its intent to amend ``Electronic FOIA Tracking System and FOIA Case Files Interior, DOI-71'' to update existing routine uses; add six new routine uses; and update the authority, system location, system manager, categories of records, storage, retrievability, safeguards, retention and disposal, notification procedures, record access procedures, contesting record procedures, record source categories, and exemptions sections.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the John Day-Snake Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below:

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before May 7, 2016, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before April 30, 2016, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for Domestic Sheep Grazing and Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cottonwood Field Office and by this notice is announcing its availability.

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 (Service), are listing the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox), smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica), and spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Convention), including live and dead whole specimens, and all readily recognizable parts, products, and derivatives. Listing these four native U.S. freshwater turtle species (including their subspecies, except Apalone spinifera atra, which is already included in Appendix I of CITES) in Appendix III of CITES is necessary to allow us to adequately monitor international trade in these species; to determine whether exports are occurring legally, with respect to State and Federal law; and to determine whether further measures under CITES or other laws are required to conserve these species and their subspecies.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our intention to conduct a 5-year status review under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), for the Eskimo curlew. 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 information that has become available since the last review of the species in 2011.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct activities intended to enhance the survival of endangered species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our October 17, 2012, proposed designation of critical habitat for three plant species (Bidens micrantha ssp. ctenophylla (kookoolau), Isodendrion pyrifolium (wahine noho kula), and Mezoneuron kavaiense (uhiuhi)) on Hawaii Island under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties further opportunity to comment on areas that we are considering for exclusion from critical habitat designation in the final rule. Comments previously submitted on the proposed rule do not need to be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Alabama regulatory program (Alabama program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Alabama proposes revisions to its Program to closely follow the Federal regulations regarding awarding of appropriate costs and expenses including attorneys' fees. This document gives the times and locations that the Alabama program and proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (refuge, NWR) for public review and comment. In this draft CCP/ EA we describe how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

The Department of the Interior is seeking nominations for individuals to be Committee members or alternates on the U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Advisory Committee. We seek nominees who can represent stakeholder constituencies from government, civil society, and industry so that we can fill current vacancies and create a roster of candidates in case future vacancies occur.

The Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs made a final agency determination to acquire approximately 61.83 acres, more or less, of land in trust for the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians, California, for gaming and other purposes on April 29, 2016.

Pursuant to the joint bidding provisions of 30 CFR 556.511, the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is publishing a List of Restricted Joint Bidders. Each entity within one of the following groups is restricted from bidding with any entity in any of the other following groups at Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held during the bidding period May 1, 2016, through October 31, 2016. This List of Restricted Joint Bidders will cover the period May 1, 2016, through October 31, 2016, and replace the prior list published on November 2, 2015, which covered the period of November 1, 2015, through April 30, 2016. Group I BP America Production Company BP Exploration & Production Inc. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. Group II Chevron Corporation Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Chevron Midcontinent, L.P. Unocal Corporation Union Oil Company of California Pure Partners, L.P. Group III Eni Petroleum Co. Inc. Eni Petroleum US LLC Eni Oil US LLC Eni Marketing Inc. Eni BB Petroleum Inc. Eni US Operating Co. Inc. Eni BB Pipeline LLC Group IV Exxon Mobil Corporation ExxonMobil Exploration Company Group V Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras America Inc. Group VI Shell Oil Company Shell Offshore Inc. SWEPI LP Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc. SOI Finance Inc. Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. Group VII Statoil ASA Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC Statoil USA E&P Inc. Statoil Gulf Properties Inc. Group VIII Total E&P USA, Inc.

This rule deletes the requirement for fee-to-trust applicants to furnish title evidence that meets the ``Standards for the Preparation of Title Evidence in Land Acquisitions by the United States'' issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and replaces the requirement with a more targeted requirement for title evidence, because adherence to the DOJ standards is not required for acquisitions of land in trust for individual Indians or Indian tribes.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in response to a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), as amended, from BlueCrest Alaska Operating LLC (BlueCrest), propose to authorize the incidental taking by harassment of small numbers of northern sea otters from the Southcentral stock in Cook Inlet, Alaska, from date of issuanceOctober 31, 2016. BlueCrest has requested this authorization for their planned oil and gas exploration activities. We anticipate no take by injury or death and include none in this proposed authorization, which would be for take by harassment only.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, (5 U.S.C. Appendix 1-16), that the June 1, 2016, meeting of the Wekiva River System Advisory Management Committee previously announced in the Federal Register, Vol. 81, February 2, 2016, pp. 5481, is cancelled.

The National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior, proposes to appoint new members to the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission (Commission). The NPS is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the Commission.