Department of the Interior January 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received two applications for an incidental take permit (ITP), one for the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle and one for the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The County of Santa Cruz submitted a permit application that, if issued, would authorize take of the Mount Hermon June beetle incidental to otherwise lawful activities described in the draft habitat conservation plan for renovation of the County of Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall. Verizon Wireless submitted a permit application that, if issued, would authorize take of the Mount Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper incidental to otherwise lawful activities described in the Verizon Wireless telecommunications facility expansion project draft habitat conservation plan. We invite public comment on these documents.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the draft recovery plan for rusty patched bumble bee for public review and comment. We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public.

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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan and a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area (HGLA), Inyo County, California, and by this notice is announcing its availability. The proposed action is to amend the CDCA Plan to allow for geothermal leasing within approximately 22,805 acres. The proposed action also responds to three geothermal lease applications for 4,460 acres of public lands within the HGLA.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Holland Development, Inc. (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink incidental to construction in Lake County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Gargiulo, Inc. (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests to join 11 other landowners, collectively known as ``Eastern Collier Property Owners, LLC,'' in requesting individual 50- year ITPs authorizing take of the Florida panther and 18 other Federal or State-listed species. The take would be incidental to residential and commercial development, earth mining, and low-intensity rural land activities on properties in Collier County, Florida (project). We are accepting comments on Gargiulo, Inc.'s ITP application.

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 Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

This document advises the public that we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, intends to gather information necessary to develop a proposed rule to expand management of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) throughout the United States, and prepare a draft environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. We are furnishing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking to advise other agencies and the public of our intentions; obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to include in the environmental review; and announce public scoping webinars to occur in 2020.

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

In compliance 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) Humboldt River Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and Land Use Plan Amendment to the current Resource Management Plan (RMP), to analyze the potential impacts of approving the Lithium Nevada Corp. (LNC), Thacker Pass Project Proposed Plan of Operations and Reclamation Plan Permit Application (Project) in Humboldt County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues to be considered in the EIS, and serves to initiate public consultation, as required under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Resources and Planning Directorate, located in Washington, DC, by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. Scoping is the process by which the BLM solicits input on the issues, impacts, and potential alternatives and the extent to which those issues and impacts will be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft recovery plan for Topeka shiner, a fish species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. We are requesting review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Summergate Development, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink incidental to construction in Lake County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Dean Wooley (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed scrub-jay incidental to construction in Brevard County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Ernie Caldwell Properties, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink incidental to construction in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

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) has prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) to Authorize a Right-of-Way (ROW) and amend the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan for the Desert Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, and by this Notice is announcing its availability. This decision is subject to appeal under Departmental regulations.

This Notice advises the public that BOEM is rescinding the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the OCS Gulf of Mexico (GOM) lease sales for 2020 and subsequent GOM lease sales through 2022.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, as amended, the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee (BENM MAC) will meet as indicated below.

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before December 28, 2019, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for three Bureau of Land Management (BLM) citizens' advisory councils affiliated with specific sites on the BLM's National Conservation Lands. The three advisory councils provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the development and implementation of management plans in accordance with the statutes under which the sites were established.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a teleconference meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council), in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Council's purpose is to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on aquatic conservation endeavors that benefit recreational resources and recreational boating and that encourage partnerships among industry, the public, and the government. The teleconference meeting is open to the public.

The Department of the Interior is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt certain records in the BSEE-01, Investigations Case Management System, from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of civil and administrative law enforcement requirements.

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

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