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

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.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Committee for the Preservation of the White House will meet as indicated below.

Sierra Pacific Industries of Anderson, California (applicant), has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We advise the public of the availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), which covers the northern spotted owl and California spotted owl, and the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), for public review and comment. The HCP covers forest management, species management, and monitoring activities on commercial timberland in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, and Yuba Counties, California.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Illinois regulatory program (Illinois program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Illinois proposes revisions to its regulations, including allowing the extraction of coal as an incidental part of a government-financed construction project, revising its Ownership and Control rules, and clarifying land use changes requiring a significant permit revision. Illinois intends to revise its program to be as effective as the Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations where the Illinois program documents and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, establishes the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and describes 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 Missouri regulatory program (Missouri program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). As a result of Missouri's Red Tape Reduction Initiative (Executive Order 17-03), Missouri proposes amendments and rescissions to its Missouri Coal Mining Regulations in order to reduce the volume of these regulations without reducing the program's requirements. Missouri proposes amendments to multiple sections of its regulations to incorporate by reference the corresponding Federal regulations. Missouri also proposes to rescind multiple sections of its regulations that will be incorporated by reference in the aforementioned proposed amended sections. Missouri intends these revisions to its program to remain as effective as the Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations where the Missouri program documents and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, establishes the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and describes the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Public Lands Access Subcommittee will meet as indicated below.