Department of the Interior April 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of the Interior seeks nominations for individuals to be considered to fill one vacancy to serve as an ex officio non-voting representative on the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council). The Council operates under statutory procedures established under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Council members review and recommend grant funding for wetland protection and restoration projects in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Council provides recommendations to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, which provides final funding approval for these projects.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are amending the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) by adding 16 species (gulf grouper, island grouper, common guitarfish, blackchin guitarfish, daggernose shark, Brazilian guitarfish, striped smoothhound shark, spiny angelshark, Argentine angelshark, narrownose smoothhound shark, Maui dolphin, Hector's dolphin, giant manta ray, oceanic whitetip shark, Taiwanese humpback dolphin, and chambered nautilus) and by removing one species (Puget Sound-Georgia Basin distinct population segment (DPS) of canary rockfish). We are also updating the entries for the following six species by adding critical habitat designation citations: Gulf of Maine DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, New York Bight DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, Chesapeake Bay DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, South Atlantic DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, Carolina DPS of Atlantic sturgeon, and Main Hawaiian Islands Insular DPS of false killer whale. Lastly, we are updating the genus name for the Saimaa subspecies of ringed seal. The above amendments are based on previously published determinations by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has jurisdiction for these species. We are also adding nonsubstantive corrections to entries for 10 other species on the List: Three foreign coral species, dusky sea snake, Banggai cardinalfish, the Tanzanian DPS of African coelacanth, Nassau grouper, and three angelshark species. We added these 10 species to the List in 2016, but the entries did not include the Federal Register citations for the final listing rule, as is our standard practice when we add new entries to the List. The changes being made via this rule simply provide information that may be helpful to members of the public who are interested in tracking the regulatory history of these species.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has cancelled its planning process for the Redding and Arcata Field Offices and the associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC, Harvest Alaska, LLC, and the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, have proposed to issue regulations authorizing the nonlethal, incidental take by harassment of small numbers of northern sea otters in State and Federal waters (Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf) within Cook Inlet, Alaska, as well as all adjacent rivers, estuaries, and coastal lands. Take may result from oil and gas exploration, development, production, and transportation activities occurring for a period of 5 years. We previously published these proposed regulations and requested comments and now, in response to requests, extend the deadline for comment submission.

The National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee) will hold one meeting via teleconference. All meetings are open to the public.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs (AS-IA), are proposing to renew three information collections.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of Class III tribal gaming ordinances approved by the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 12- month findings on petitions to list eight species as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Arkansas mudalia, ashy darter, Barrens darter, Chihuahua scurfpea, coldwater crayfish, Eleven Point River crayfish, Spring River crayfish, and red-crowned parrot. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information that becomes available relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing migratory bird subsistence harvest regulations in Alaska for the 2019 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. The proposed rule for the 2019 season was delayed, requiring this interim rule to allow subsistence hunting to begin in April. We will respond to public comments, and based on public comments received, may revise this interim rule.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the Ohio program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Through this proposed amendment, Ohio seeks to revise its program to require permit applications to list all unabated ``violation notices,'' as that term is defined in the approved program. This change is necessary to be consistent with the Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations that the Ohio program and this 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 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Through this proposed amendment, Pennsylvania seeks to revise its regulatory program to include statutory provisions that permit reclamation bond coverage for no cost to surface mining operators who remine and then reclaim the area with biofuel crops and establish a Land Reclamation Financial Guarantee program that provides for land reclamation financial guarantees as a form of reclamation bond. Implementing regulations are also included. This document gives the times and locations that the Pennsylvania program and this 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.

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

On March 6, 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, Fond du Lac Band leasing ordinance under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into leases for agricultural, residential, business, wind and solar, wind energy evaluation, and other authorized purposes without further BIA approval.

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (Museum) at the University of Oklahoma has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information collection.