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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Pauma Estates, Inc., for renewal of an incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The applicant has requested a renewal that will extend permit authorization by 5 years from the date the permit is reissued. If the permit is renewed, no additional take above the original authorized limit of 10.74 acres of habitat will be authorized. The permit would authorize take of the federally endangered arroyo toad, incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP) for Pauma Estates in San Diego County, California. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed 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), 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) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft conservation plan (plan), as well as the associated draft categorical exclusion (CatEx), for cultivation activities within and around Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, California. The Service developed the plan in accordance with the Endangered Species Act to provide a streamlined mechanism for proponents engaged in activities associated with agricultural development, to meet statutory and regulatory requirements while promoting conservation of the Santa Barbara County distinct population segment of the California tiger salamander. The Service prepared the draft CatEx in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing permits under the plan. We invite public comment on these documents.

The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a Sediment Management Framework (framework) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (the Seashore). The framework will include certain sediment management activities implemented by the Seashore and by local jurisdictions, state agencies, and other federal agencies.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend its off- road vehicle regulations to add a definition for electric bikes (e- bikes) and, where certain criteria are met and an authorized officer expressly determines through a formal decision that e-bikes should be treated the same as non-motorized bicycles, expressly exempt those e- bikes from the definition of off-road vehicles. This proposed change would facilitate increased recreational opportunities for all Americans, especially those with physical limitations, and would encourage the enjoyment of lands and waters managed by the BLM.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) will conduct an open meeting on April 28, 2020, to identify and discuss preliminary issues concerning the 2021-2022 migratory bird hunting regulations. We will conduct another meeting in October 2020 to review information on the status of migratory game birds and develop 2021-2022 migratory game bird regulations recommendations for these species. In accordance with Departmental policy, these meetings are open to public observation.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to open, for the first time, eight National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that are currently closed to hunting and sport fishing. In addition, we propose to open or expand hunting and sport fishing at 89 other NWRs, and add pertinent station-specific regulations for other NWRs that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing for the 2020-2021 season. We also propose to open hunting or sport fishing on nine units of the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHs). We also propose to add pertinent station- specific regulations that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing at these nine NFHs for the 2020-2021 season. Further, we propose to open 41 limited- interest easement NWRs in North Dakota for upland game and big game hunting, and sport fishing in accordance with State regulations. Access to these NWRs is controlled by the current landowners, and, therefore, they are not fully open to the public unless authorized by the landowner. We also propose to make regulatory changes to existing station-specific regulations in order to reduce the regulatory burden on the public, increase access for hunters and anglers on Service lands and waters, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain language standards. Lastly, we propose to prohibit domestic sheep, goat, and camelid pack animals on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

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

The National Park Service is soliciting comments on the significance of properties nominated before March 14, 2020, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs published a document in the Federal Register of February 10, 2020, that contained an incorrect CFDA Number. This notice corrects the CDFA Number to be 15.032.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, received an application from Duane DeChaux (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The ITP would authorize the applicant's take of the Yelm pocket gopher, incidental to otherwise lawful activities during construction of their single-family home and agricultural shop in Thurston County, Washington. The application includes a habitat conservation plan (HCP) with measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking on the covered species. We have also prepared a draft environmental action statement for our preliminary determination that the HCP and permit decision may be eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We provide this notice to open a public comment period and invite comments from all interested parties regarding the documents.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the public comment period for the draft environmental assessment (draft EA) and draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) in support of an incidental take permit (ITP) application received from Aera Energy, LLC.

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) Boise District Office, Boise, Idaho, and the BLM Vale District Office, Vale, Oregon, have prepared the Tri-state Fuel Breaks Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOI-BLM-ID-B000-2015-0001-EIS) (Final EIS) and, by this notice, are announcing its availability.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is establishing regulations for the subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska for the 2020 season and beyond. These regulations allow for the continuation of customary and traditional subsistence uses of migratory birds in Alaska and prescribe regional information on when and where the harvesting of birds may occur. These regulations were developed under a co-management process involving the Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Native representatives and are subject to public review. Based on any comments received, we may revise this interim rule. The Alaska subsistence harvest season begins on April 2, 2020.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter, Service or we) proposes special migratory bird hunting regulations for certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands for the 2020-21 migratory bird hunting season.