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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection.

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

As provided for under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received petitions for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas leases WYW147077 and WYW147081 from Five Star Energy LLC and Moriah Powder River LLC for land in Johnson County, Wyoming. The lessees filed the petitions on time, along with all rentals due since the leases terminated under the law. No leases affecting this land were issued before the petitions were filed.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before November 16, 2019, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the receipt of an application from Copenhagen Wind Farm, LLC (applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The applicant requests the ITP for take of the federally endangered Indiana bat and threatened northern long-eared bat incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with operation of its Copenhagen Wind Farm, a 40-turbine wind farm that has been constructed in Jefferson and Lewis Counties, New York. The applicant proposes a conservation program to minimize and mitigate for the unavoidable incidental take as described in its Indiana Bat and Northern Long-eared Bat Habitat Conservation Plan for the Copenhagen Wind Farm, Lewis and Jefferson Counties, New York (HCP). We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed HCP, and the Service's draft environmental assessment, prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. We provide this notice to seek comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organization, 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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. If no additional requesters 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.

This Public Land Order (PLO) extends the duration of the withdrawal created by PLO No. 7419, issued effective December 9, 1999, for an additional 20-year term. The extension is necessary for the Department of the Air Force (DAF), Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), to continue providing safety buffers from potentially hazardous areas, protect populated areas, and comply with Department of Defense Directive No. 6055.09E regarding ammunition and explosive safety standards on lands adjacent to the Live Ordnance Loading Areas at Nellis AFB, northeast of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada. The safety buffer zone includes security patrol roads and a security checkpoint.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) are proposing to renew an information collection.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before November 9, 2019, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list Pectis imberbis (beardless chinchweed), a plant species from southern Arizona and northern Mexico, as an endangered species and to designate critical habitat for Beardless chinchweed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, we propose to designate approximately 10,604 acres (4,291 hectares) in southern Arizona as critical habitat for this plant. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for beardless chinchweed. In addition, we propose to list Graptopetalum bartramii (Bartram's stonecrop), a plant species from southern Arizona and northern Mexico, as a threatened species under the Act and to issue a rule under section 4(d) of the Act to provide for the conservation of Bartram's stonecrop. We are not proposing to designate critical habitat for Bartram's stonecrop because we find that a designation is not prudent. If we make this rule final as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to both of these species and to beardless chinchweed's critical habitat.

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. 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.

This Order revokes a withdrawal created by a Secretarial Order insofar as it affects 41.24 acres of public land withdrawn for use by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in connection with the Carlsbad Project (Avalon Reservoir). The BOR no longer needs the land for project purposes. This Order opens the land to the operation of the public land laws subject to valid existing rights. The land has been and will remain open to mineral leasing and will remain closed to location and entry under the United States mining laws.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Ten West Link 500 Kilovolt Transmission Line Project and approved Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Yuma Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP) and the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan. The BLM Arizona and California State Directors signed the ROD on November 21, 2019. This constitutes the final decision of the BLM for the approved land use plan amendments and makes them effective immediately.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving, with four exceptions and six additional requirements, an amendment to the Alaska regulatory program (the Alaska program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The amendment was submitted by Alaska to address changes made at its own initiative and in response to the required program amendment concerning postmining land use. Alaska intends to revise its program to be consistent with the corresponding Federal regulations and to conform to the drafting manual for the State of Alaska.

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) Buffalo Field Office prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Resource Management Plan (RMP) Amendment for the 2015 Buffalo Field Office RMP. This effort was in response to a United States District Court of Montana opinion and order (Western Organization of Resource Councils, et al. v. BLM; 3/26/2018 and 7/31/2018). The Wyoming State Director signed the ROD, which constitutes the final plan amendment decision of the BLM, on November 22, 2019.

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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an information collection.