Department of the Interior May 3, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee (BENM-MAC) will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act. We also announce the availability of the final habitat conservation plan (HCP). These documents were prepared in support of a permit application submitted to us under the Endangered Species Act. We will use these documents to inform our decision regarding issuance of the permit.

The San Diego Museum of Man 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 San Diego Museum of Man. 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.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) from endangered to threatened on the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List). This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to this species have been reduced to the point that it no longer meets the definition of an endangered species under the Act, but is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. We are also proposing a rule under section 4(d) of the Act to provide for the conservation of the species. Many routine activities in the species' range will not be regulated if this proposal is finalized because these practices will not affect the overall viability of the American burying beetle. We are soliciting additional data and information that may assist us in making a final decision on this proposed action. This document also serves as the 12- month finding on a petition to remove this species from the List.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bakersfield Field Office, Bakersfield, California, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), analyzing the impacts of a proposal by Plains Pipeline, L.P. to replace its roughly 127-mile pipeline, which includes approximately 14 miles of Federal public lands, in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern counties. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.