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

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 or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. 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.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing the availability of a Record of Decision for proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM) regionwide oil and gas Lease Sale 253. This Record of Decision identifies BOEM's selected alternative for proposed Lease Sale 253, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Lease Sale: Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 2018 (2018 GOM Supplemental EIS).

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 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the United States Gypsum Company Mine Expansion/Modernization Project (Project), and by this notice is announcing the opening of the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Davis and Davis Farms (applicant) for an Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take permit (ITP) in association with the Douglas County Multiple Species General Conservation Plan (GCP). The applicant agrees to implement conservation measures consistent with the GCP that will minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking on the Columbia Basin distinct population segment of the pygmy rabbit, the greater sage-grouse, the Washington ground squirrel, and the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. Covered activities include dryland farming of wheat and horse grazing on the Davis and Davis farm in Douglas County, Washington. We invite the public to review and comment on the permit application and associated documents.

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

The Nebraska-Kansas Area Office of the Bureau of Reclamation, and History Nebraska (formerly the Nebraska State Historical Society) have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and have 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 History Nebraska. 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.

The Oregon State University, Department of Anthropology and NAGPRA Office, and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and have 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 Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. 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.

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

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes a non-competitive (direct) sale of 10.53 acres of public land in Big Horn County, Wyoming, to Merit Energy Company for the purpose of resolving an inadvertent unauthorized use of public lands. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), and BLM regulations. The appraised fair market value (FMV) for the sale parcel is $7,100.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Gila District, Tucson Field Office has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendments for the Ray Land Exchange and by this notice is announcing its availability.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

Notice is hereby given that a temporary restriction of activities is in effect on public lands administered by the Little Snake Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

This Order partially revokes two Public Land Orders (PLOs) insofar as they affect 217,486 acres of public lands reserved for study and classification as appropriate by the Department of the Interior. The purposes for which these lands were withdrawn no longer exist as described in the analysis and decisions made through the 2007 East Alaska Resource Management Plan (East Alaska RMP).

The National Park Service is temporarily revising a regulation for the National Capital Region. This revision will allow the projection of government-selected film footage and associated imagery of the Apollo 11 Mission onto the Washington Monument for an official celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. This revision will allow for the event within a restricted zone at the Washington Monument from July 16 to July 20, 2019. The revision to the regulations will last long enough to allow for the setup and take-down of equipment related to the event, from July 12 through July 23.

The Michigan State Police (MSP) has completed an inventory of human remains, 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 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 should submit a written request to the Michigan State Police. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) 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 Milwaukee Public 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.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer, by competitive sale, three parcels of public land totaling 431.53 acres in White Pine County, Nevada, pursuant to the White Pine County Conservation, Recreation, and Development Act of 2006 (WPCCRDA). The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended and the BLM land sale regulations. Public lands must sell at not less than the appraised fair market values (FMV).

The National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with Federal coal management regulations, the New Elk Coal Company, LLC (New Elk Coal) Federal Coal Lease-by- Application (LBA) Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public review and comment. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the EA, Fair Market Value (FMV), and Maximum Economic Recovery (MER) of the coal resources contained in the proposed New Elk Coal LBA lease tract, serial number COC-71978.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Louisiana Abandoned Mine Land Plan (hereinafter, the Plan) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Louisiana proposes revisions to its Plan to allow its AML program to receive limited liability protection for certain non-coal reclamation projects. Louisiana intends to revise its Plan in order to meet the requirements of SMCRA and the implementing Federal regulations. This document gives the times and locations where the Louisiana Plan and this proposed amendment to that Plan 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.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announces its decision to adopt the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Alton Coal Tract Lease by Application at the Coal Hollow Mine located in Kane County, UT. In accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA, and other applicable authorities, OSMRE has conducted an independent review and evaluation of the BLM's FEIS for the Alton Coal Tract Lease by Application at the Coal Hollow Mine dated July 2018. As a cooperating agency with responsibility for the Federal Lands Program and the preparation of mining plan decision documents for review by the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), OSMRE provided subject matter expertise to the BLM during the environmental review process. Based on its independent review and evaluation, OSMRE has determined the FEIS, including all supporting documentation, as incorporated by reference, adequately assesses and discloses the environmental impacts for the mining plan, and that adoption of the 2018 FEIS by OSMRE is authorized. Accordingly, OSMRE adopts the 2018 FEIS, and takes full responsibility for the scope and content that addresses the proposed mining plan at Coal Hollow Mine.

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

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before June 22, 2019, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), provided a list to the public of certain permits issued under the ESA. With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that authorizes or exempts the taking under the ESA. In a recent Federal Register notice announcing these permit issuances, we inadvertently made some errors, which we correct via this notice. We regret any inconvenience to the public.

In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS), Record of Decision, and Consent Decree, the Federal and State natural resource trustee agencies for the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group (Mississippi TIG) have prepared a Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group 2019 Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan: Grand Bay Land Acquisition and Habitat Management (SRP) to evaluate funding additional land acquisition from willing sellers and habitat management within the Grand Bay Land Acquisition and Habitat Management project (Grand Bay Project) footprint. The Mississippi TIG originally evaluated and selected the Grand Bay Project as part of the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group 2016-2017 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment (2016-2017 RP/EA). The SRP provides for an additional $10,000,000 for the Grand Bay Project. The Grand Bay Project would continue the process of conserving and restoring wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats injured as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which occurred on or about April 20, 2010, in the Gulf of Mexico. We invite comments on the draft SRP.