Department of the Interior August 2, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our intent to prepare a draft environmental analysis/document under the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (NEPA), for the proposed issuance of an incidental take permit (ITP) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), for the draft General Conservation Plan for Oil and Gas Activities in Santa Barbara County (GCP). The GCP is being developed to streamline environmental permitting and compliance with the ESA for proponents engaged in geophysical exploration (seismic), development, extraction, storage, transport, remediation, and/or distribution of crude oil, natural gas, and/or other petroleum products, and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of oil and gas pipelines and well field infrastructure. The GCP is a conservation plan as required under the ESA for issuance of incidental take permits. Participation in the GCP would be voluntary. ITP holders would be authorized for incidental take of threatened and endangered wildlife species that could result from the activities covered under the GCP. The GCP would include conservation measures for an endangered plant species that would also be covered under the plan. We also are announcing the initiation of a public scoping process to engage Federal, tribal, State, and local governments and the public in the identification of issues and concerns, potential impacts, and possible alternatives to the proposed action. The Service is inviting input regarding development of a draft environmental analysis/document, which will evaluate the impacts to the human environment associated with issuance of ITPs and implementation of the GCP and alternatives.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before July 8, 2017, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.