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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer 61 parcels of public land totaling 893.35 acres in the Las Vegas Valley (Valley) by modified competitive sale, sealed bid and oral auction, at not less than the appraised Fair Market Values (FMV) pursuant to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (SNPLMA), as amended. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the BLM land sale regulations. The BLM is also terminating Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Classification and Segregation of one parcel of land in Clark County. The BLM has completed a Determination of National Environmental Policy Act Adequacy (DNA) for the sale.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Domestic Sheep Grazing Permit Renewals in the Gunnison Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

The Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University 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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology at Western Kentucky University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Carter County Museum 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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Carter County Museum. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability for public review and comment of 29 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery criteria for 43 endangered or threatened species located in 16 States (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas), two unincorporated territories (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the French West Indies, and Mexico. We are updating recovery criteria to better assist in determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that it may be reclassified as threatened, or that the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), are no longer necessary and the species may be removed from the Act's protections. We request review of these draft recovery plan revisions and invite comments from local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.

Under the Johnson O'Malley (JOM) Act, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) provides assistance, through contracts, for Indian students attending public schools and non-sectarian private schools. Congress recently updated the JOM Act with the JOM Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act (JOM Modernization Act). This proposed rule would implement the JOM Act, as amended, to clarify the eligibility requirements for Indian students to receive the benefits of a JOM contract, to clarify the funding formula and process to ensure full participation of contracting parties, and to otherwise reconcile and modernize the rules to comport with the activities of the contracting parties under the Act, as amended.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed 30 days after the date of publication in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona. Surveys announced in this notice are necessary for the management of lands administered by the agencies indicated.

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

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to open seven National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that are currently closed to hunting and sport fishing. In addition, we propose to expand hunting and sport fishing at 67 other NWRs, and add pertinent station-specific regulations for other NWRs that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing for the 2019- 2020 season. We also propose to formally open 15 units of the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHs) to hunting and sport fishing. We also propose to add pertinent station-specific regulations that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing at these 15 NFHs for the 2019-2020 season. This proposed rule includes global administrative updates to every NWR entry in our refuge-specific regulations and the reorganization of general public use regulations. We propose to remove approximately 2,100 regulations that will have no impact on the administration of hunting and sport fishing within the National Wildlife Refuge System. We also propose to simplify over 2,900 refuge-specific regulations to comply with a Presidential mandate to adhere to plain language standards and to reduce the regulatory burden on the public. Lastly, we propose to amend certain provisions of the regulations specific to Alaska NWRs. The proposed amendments include the removal of the regulations concerning same-day airborne hunting.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the depredation order that allows take of resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities by authorized personnel between May 1 and August 31. This time period is too restrictive in portions of the Atlantic Flyway where specific crops are now being planted and depredated prior to May 1. Under this proposal, we would allow take of resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities in the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia between April 1 and August 31.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before June 8, 2019, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

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

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), Central Coast Field Office, Marina, California, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) for the California Coastal National Monument RMP. This RMP amendment will provide management direction for the Cotoni-Coast Dairies Unit of the California Coastal National Monument. In particular, management direction is needed to provide opportunities for public access and recreation on the public lands. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and help identify issues and planning criteria.

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

This notice publishes the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation Liquor Ordinance. The Ordinance certifies the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation's Liquor licensing laws to regulate and control the possession, sale, and consumption of liquor within the jurisdiction of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. The Ordinance repeals and replaces the previous liquor control ordinance published in the Federal Register on July 17, 1995 (60 FR 36564), and any and all previous statutes.

The Principal Deputy Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs has made a final determination to acquire 3.133 acres, more or less, into trust for the Delaware Tribe of Indians on June 6, 2019.

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) Ukiah Field Office, Ukiah, California, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a potential Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment for the Ukiah Resource Management Plan. The EIS will analyze the impacts of a proposal by Colusa Wind LLC to build a Type III wind energy project called the Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project in Colusa and Lake counties. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, 30 calendar days from the date of this publication. The surveys, which were executed at the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. National Park Service, and the BLM, are necessary for the management of these lands.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Royal Gorge Field Office and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

This rule removes special regulations for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area about rock climbing and commercial vehicles that are no longer necessary.

In 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') published a final environmental impact statement on management of resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis) that documented resident Canada goose population levels ``that are increasingly coming into conflict with people and causing personal and public property damage.'' Subsequently, the Service implemented several actions intended to reduce, manage, and control resident Canada goose populations in the continental United States and to reduce related damages; those actions included depredation and control orders that allow destruction of Canada goose nests and eggs by authorized personnel between March 1 and June 30. However, some resident Canada geese currently initiate nests in February, particularly in the southern United States, and it seems likely that in the future nest initiation dates will begin earlier and hatching of eggs will perhaps end later than dates currently experienced. This final rule amends the depredation and control orders to allow destruction of resident Canada goose nests and eggs at any time of year.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has examined certain public lands in Lyon County, and has found them suitable for classification for lease and conveyance to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) under the provisions of the Recreation & Public Purpose (R&PP) Act, as amended; Sec. 7 of the Taylor Grazing Act; and Executive Order No. 6910. The NDOT proposes to use the land as a highway maintenance station.