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

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared this Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. BLM Nevada and BLM California are soliciting comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS.

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 of 1973, as amended. 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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

The Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University (SMU) 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 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 Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University. 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 Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains 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 should submit a written request to the Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

This rule provides for annual adjustments to the level of civil monetary penalties contained in Bureau of Indian Affairs (Bureau) regulations to account for inflation under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a peer-reviewed scientific manuscript and associated model regarding seismic survey design and potential impacts to maternal polar bear dens. This manuscript contains information, including a methodology and model that may be used for evaluating the effects of future seismic survey proposals for their potential impacts to maternal polar bear dens. We are also announcing public webinars that will provide an overview of the manuscript and model and respond to questions. We request public comments on the value of the model and the associated methodology described in the peer-viewed scientific manuscript in assisting in the evaluation of the effects of future seismic survey proposals for their potential impacts to maternal polar bear dens.

The plat of survey of the following described land was officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona, on the date indicated. The survey announced in this notice is necessary for the management of lands administered by the agency indicated.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes a non-competitive (direct) sale of 58.54 acres of public land in Big Horn County, Wyoming, to Paint Rock Angus Ranch, Inc., for the purpose of resolving an inadvertent unauthorized use of public lands. The non-competitive, direct sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), and BLM regulations. The sale will be for no less than the appraised fair market value (FMV) of $40,000.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) and Approved Haines Amendment to the Ring of Fire Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the BLM-managed public lands in the Haines area of Alaska. The State Director signed the ROD on February 7, 2020, which constitutes the BLM's final decision and makes the ROD effective immediately.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania regulatory program (hereinafter, the Pennsylvania program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). The proposed amendment would make changes to Pennsylvania's Coal Refuse Disposal Control Act. Those changes would include establishing the terms and conditions under which a system that prevents precipitation from contacting coal refuse must be installed, requiring that the regulations regarding temporary cessation at coal refuse disposal areas conform with Federal SMCRA regulations, and providing for future regulations addressing the connection with source mines that are in temporary cessation in determining temporary cessation for the coal refuse disposal permit. This document provides the times and locations that the Pennsylvania program and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

In accordance 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) Lewistown and Butte Field Offices have prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for BLM public lands and resources managed by the Lewistown Field Office, and a portion of the Butte Field Office in northern Lewis and Clark County, Montana, and by this notice are announcing the opening of the protest period.

In compliance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (the Act) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC or Commission) is amending its civil monetary penalty rule to reflect an annual adjustment for inflation in order to improve the penalty's effectiveness and maintain its deterrent effect. The Act provides that the new penalty level must apply to penalties assessed after the effective date of the increase, including when the penalties whose associated violation predate the increase.

This rule revises U.S. Department of the Interior regulations implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act to provide for annual adjustments of civil penalties to account for inflation under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Office of Management and Budget guidance. The purpose of these adjustments is to maintain the deterrent effect of civil penalties and to further the policy goals of the underlying statutes.

On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region-wide Oil and Gas Lease Sale 254 (GOM Region-wide Sale 254), in accordance with the provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended, and the implementing regulations issued pursuant thereto. The GOM Region-wide Sale 254 Final Notice of Sale (NOS) package contains information essential to potential bidders, and consists of the NOS, information to lessees, and lease stipulations.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, this notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in connection with the approval of a lease between the Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Tribe) and Terra-Gen Development Company, LLC (Terra-Gen), to construct and operate a wind energy generation project on the Campo Indian Reservation (Reservation). This Notice of Availability (NOA) also announces that the FEIS is now publicly available for 30 days.

The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), Office of the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs, is soliciting proposals from Indian Tribes for grant funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies for deployment or expansion of high-speed internet (broadband) transmitted, variously, through digital subscriber line (DSL), cable modem, fiber, wireless, satellite and broadband over power lines (BPL).

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

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of proposed amendments to the West Virginia regulatory program (hereinafter, the West Virginia program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Through these proposed amendments, West Virginia seeks to revise its program to amend its statutory and regulatory provisions that involve blasting and make organizational changes within the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP).

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before January 18, 2020, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

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 final rule implements the 2020 inflation adjustments to the maximum daily civil monetary penalties contained in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (FCPIA Improvements Act) and relevant Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. The 2020 adjustment multiplier of 1.01764 accounts for one year of inflation from October 2018 through October 2019.

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.

As provided for under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of competitive oil and gas lease WYW180585 from Bondero, LLC and Wave Petroleum, LLC for land in Converse County, Wyoming. The lessees filed the petition on time, along with all rentals due since the lease terminated under the law. No leases affecting this land were issued before the petition was filed.

The University of Louisville, 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 University of Louisville. 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.