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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from Blue Creek Wind Farm, LLC (applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, for its Blue Creek Wind Farm project. If approved, the ITP would authorize the incidental take of the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat. The applicant has prepared a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), which is available for public review. We also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We request public comment on the application and associated documents.

This notice announces the extension of the Class III gaming compact between the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and the State of South Dakota.

This notice announces that the Tribal State Compact between the State of California and the Susanville Indian Rancheria is taking effect.

This notice announces that the address for submission of Tribal-State Class III gaming compacts, amendments, and extensions has changed.

The State of Oregon entered into a compact amendment with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon governing certain forms of class III gaming; this notice announces the approval of the Amendment to the Amended and Restated Tribal State Compact for Regulation of Class III Gaming between the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the State of OregonAmendment III.

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

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

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of the Interior proposes to modify the Bureau of Reclamation Privacy Act system of records titled, ``INTERIOR/WBR-12, Inventions and Patents.'' This system of records administers the Bureau of Reclamation internal program that manages and tracks applications for inventions and patents submitted by Federal employees, individuals, and organizations who have submitted a report of invention to Reclamation or employees who are seeking to file and secure patents. The Bureau of Reclamation is proposing to add new routine uses, modify existing routine uses to provide clarification, update authorities for this system, update categories of individuals and categories of records to reflect the expanded scope of the system, and to provide general and administrative updates to all sections in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-108, ``Federal Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication under the Privacy Act.'' This modified system will be included in the Department of the Interior's inventory of record systems.

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) Las Vegas Field Office has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gemini Solar Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the protest period.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC or Commission) is announcing its submission, concurrently with the publication of this notice or soon thereafter, of the following information collection requests to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The Commission is seeking comments on the renewal of information collections for the following activities: Compliance and enforcement actions under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act as authorized by OMB Control Number 3141-0001; tribal gaming ordinance approvals, background investigations, and issuance of licenses as authorized by OMB Control Number 3141-0003; National Environmental Policy Act submissions as authorized by OMB Control Number 3141-0006; and issuance to tribes of certificates of self-regulation for class II gaming as authorized by OMB Control Number 3141-0008. These information collections all expire on January 31, 2020.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before November 30, 2019, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Las Cruces District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a document in the December 9, 2019, Federal Register that announced the availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and a draft environmental impact statement for public comment. The subject heading of the document incorrectly referred to the ``Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan'' instead of the ``Upper Santa Ana River Wash Habitat Conservation Plan,'' which is the correct name of the HCP.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Acquisition and Property Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior, has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue the collection of information for the ``Private Rental Survey'' OMB Control No. 1084-0033. The information collection request (ICR) describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), and the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Band) as Cooperating Agencies, intends to file a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) with the EPA for the proposed Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Project (ESM Solar Project) on the Moapa River Indian Reservation (Reservation) in Clark County, Nevada. This notice also announces that the FEIS is now available for public review.

The San Diego Museum of Man, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the San Diego Museum of Man. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pocatello Field Office, in Pocatello, Idaho, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Blackrock Land Exchange. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the 45-day public comment period for the Draft EIS.

This notice publishes the Alcohol Control Ordinance of the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe. The alcohol control ordinance is to regulate and control the possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in conformity with the laws of the State of Washington for the purpose of generating new Tribal revenues. Enactment of this ordinance will help provide a source of revenue to strengthen Tribal government, provide for the economic viability of Tribal enterprises, and improve delivery of Tribal government services.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on two petitions to add species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we plan to initiate status reviews of the Bethany Beach firefly (Photuris bethaniensis) and Gulf Coast solitary bee (Hesperapis oraria) to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 12- month findings on petitions to list three species as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) and two additional findings that current candidate species no longer warrant listing. After a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Ozark chub, purpledisk honeycombhead, red tree vole (North Oregon Coast distinct population segment (DPS)), sand verbena moth, and skiff milkvetch. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened status for the Hawaiian goose (nene) (Branta sandvicensis). This rule changes the listing status of the nene from an endangered species to a threatened species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. We call this ``reclassifying'' or ``downlisting'' the species. We are also adopting a rule under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act (a ``4(d) rule'') to enhance conservation of the species through range expansion and management flexibility. This final rule is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific data, which indicate that the threats to this species have been reduced to the point that it no longer meets the definition of endangered under the Act, but that it is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future. In addition, this rule corrects the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife to reflect that Nesochen is not currently a scientifically accepted generic name for this species, and acknowledges the Hawaiian name ``nene'' as an alternative common name.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the final record of decision for the final comprehensive conservation plan and final environmental impact statement for the National Bison Range in Montana.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of land Management (BLM), Eastern States Office, Washington, DC, 30 days from the date of this publication. The surveys, executed at the request of the identified agencies, are required for the management of these lands.

The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the interest rate to be used by Federal agencies in the formulation and evaluation of plans for water and related land resources is 2.75 percent for fiscal year 2020. The prior fiscal year's rate as announced in the Federal Register (83 FR 64875) on December 18, 2018, was 2.875 percent for fiscal year 2019.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to renew an information collection request with revisions.