Department of the Interior 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct activities intended to enhance the survival of endangered or threatened species. Federal law prohibits certain activities with endangered species unless a permit is obtained.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued the following permits to conduct activities with endangered and threatened species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act (Act), as amended. With some exceptions, the Act prohibits activities involving listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activity. We provide this list for the convenience of the public as a summary of our permit issuances for the second half of calendar year 2016.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC, for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would authorize take of the federally endangered California tiger salamander (Santa Barbara distinct population segment) and the threatened California red-legged frog, incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the Cal Coast Pipeline Replacement Project Habitat Conservation Plan. We invite public comment.

In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (Act), as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act) and recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) is publishing this final rule to adjust our maximum civil monetary penalty (CMP) rates for calendar year 2017. This final rule also adopts as final a 2016 interim final rule that adjusted the amount of our civil monetary penalties for inflation with initial ``catch-up'' adjustments under the 2015 Act.

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. 4145, as modified by PLO No. 7322, for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 4145, as modified by PLO No. 7322, withdrew approximately 32 acres of National Forest System lands in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest from location and entry under the United States mining laws. The purpose of the proposed extension is to continue to protect the recreational values of the USFS West Eagle Meadow Campground. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 4145, as modified by PLO No. 7322, will expire on April 15, 2018, unless extended. This notice gives the public an opportunity to comment on the application and to request a public meeting. This notice also corrects an error in the legal description.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on two petitions to list or reclassify wildlife or plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted, and we are not initiating status reviews in response to those petitions. We refer to these findings as ``not- substantial'' petition findings.

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and accompanying documents for activities associated with the construction of the Suncoast Parkway 2, a four-lane limited-access toll facility (project) in Citrus and Hernando Counties, Florida. If issued, the permit would authorize take of the federally threatened eastern indigo snake (indigo snake) and the Federal candidate gopher tortoise incidental to project construction. We invite the public to comment on these documents.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations covered under Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of two properties Determined Eligible on March 13, 2017, for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is notifying the public that we have submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under subpart I, Platforms and Structures. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the revised paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

The Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations will host its annual Listening Session on April 25, 2017, at the Tulalip Resort Casino's hotel in Tulalip, Washington. As described below, the Program hopes to receive feedback from tribes and individuals on critical issues related to Program implementation, future efforts to reduce land fractionation, and its 2016 Status Report.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have members whose terms are scheduled to expire. RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their geographic areas.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before March 11, 2017, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

This notice announces that the Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact entered into between the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the State of California is taking effect.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activities. Both the Act and the National Environmental Policy Act require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

The City of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for a Recordable Disclaimer of Interest from the United States for land lying along the north shore of the Spokane River in Kootenai County, Idaho. This notice informs the public of the opportunity to comment on the pending application.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), withdraw the proposed rule to list the headwater chub (Gila nigra) and a distinct population segment (DPS) of the roundtail chub (Gila robusta) from the lower Colorado River basin as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (Act). This withdrawal is based on a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, which indicate that the headwater chub and the roundtail chub DPS are not discrete taxonomic entities and do not meet the definition of a species under the Act. These fish are now recognized as a part of a single taxonomic speciesthe roundtail chub (Gila robusta). Because the entities previously proposed for listing are no longer recognized as species, as defined by the Act, we have determined that they are not listable entities and we are withdrawing our proposed rule to add them to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Section 4(b)(6) of the Act and implementing regulations at 50 CFR 424.17 provide that the Service must, within 1 year of a proposed rule to list, delist, or reclassify species, or to designate or revise critical habitat, withdraw the proposal if the available evidence does not justify the proposed action. The document withdrawing the rule must set forth the basis upon which the proposed rule has been found not to be supported by available evidence. Once withdrawn, the action may not be re-proposed unless sufficient new information is available.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities. We also invite the public to comment applications for approval to conduct certain activities with bird species covered under the Wild Bird Conservation Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) from New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. requests a 5-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. 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 Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of information for the ``Financial Assistance and Social Services'' authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0017. This information collection expires June 30, 2017.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request continued approval for the collection of information associated with surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Indian lands.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), reclassify the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) from endangered to threatened under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The endangered designation no longer correctly reflects the current status of the West Indian manatee. This action is based on the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the West Indian manatee no longer meets the definition of endangered under the Act. When this rule becomes effective, the West Indian manatee, including its two subspecies, will remain protected as a threatened species under the Act and the existing critical habitat designation in Florida will remain in effect.

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) proposes to repeal the Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Reform Rule that was published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2016 (``2017 Valuation Rule''). Repeal of the 2017 Valuation Rule would maintain the current regulatory status quo by keeping the longstanding pre-existing regulations in effect.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2017 season. These regulations allow for the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska and prescribe regional information on when and where the harvesting of birds may occur. These regulations were developed under a co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives. The rulemaking is necessary because the regulations governing the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska are subject to annual review. This rulemaking establishes region-specific regulations that go into effect on March 31, 2017, and expire on August 31, 2017.

The National Park Service is soliciting nominations for one member of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee). The Secretary of the Interior will appoint one member from nominations submitted by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, or traditional Native American religious leaders. The nominee need not be a traditional Indian religious leader. The Review Committee was established by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA), and is regulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).