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

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northeastern States District, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of issuing a proposed new preference right lease (MNES 57965) and approving a Mine Plan of Operation in the Superior National Forest in Lake and St. Louis Counties, Minnesota. The approval of a Mine Plan of Operation allows the lessee to access, and once other necessary permits are obtained, to mine federal minerals. The BLM will conduct a public scoping process, including public meetings. During this time, the public will be invited to submit comments.

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

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

The Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs has made a final determination to acquire 29 acres, more or less into trust for the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California on May 15, 2020.

On June 12, 2020, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation (Tribe) leasing regulations under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into residential leases without further BIA approval.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) will conduct consultations to obtain oral and written comments on the draft School Reopening Plan (Plan) for school year 2020-2021, for its Bureau-funded schools to ensure BIE is meeting the needs of its students, schools, and Tribal communities to provide a safe environment for the continuation of education of the students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and following guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.

The Field Museum of Natural History (Field Museum), 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 Field Museum. 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.

The boundary of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is adjusted to include two parcels of land totaling 45.22 acres of land, more or less. The fee simple interest in 44.11 acres will be donated to the United States by The Conservation Fund and the fee simple interest in 1.11 acres is already owned by the United States. These properties are located in Pike County and Monroe County, Pennsylvania, respectively.

The Secretary of the Interior, after consultation with the General Services Administration, has renewed the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (Council) for 2 years. The Council provides recommendations on aspects of the implementation of a number of Departmental authorities and other authorities applicable to specific bureaus.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the Sonoyta mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, 12.28 acres (4.97 hectares) in Pima County, Arizona, located entirely within the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. This rule extends the Act's protections to this subspecies' designated critical habitat.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is initiating a competitive bid process for granting a communications-use lease on public land in Hinsdale County, Colorado. The successful bidder will be granted a communications-use lease to construct a new communications facility at the Hill 71 communications site.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application for a permit for take of endangered and threatened species that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out otherwise lawful activities. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act and its implementing regulations as applicable to the species at issue prohibit take of endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. We invite comments on this application which we will take into consideration before issuing a permit.

The Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs has made a final determination to acquire 16.63 acres, more or less, into trust for the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe on March 18, 2020.

The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), through its Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI), is soliciting proposals from Tribes for technical assistance funding to hire consultants to perform feasibility studies of economic development opportunities located in designated Opportunity Zones. Eligibility for funding is limited to those applicants whose proposed projects, businesses, or technologies will be located in designated Opportunity Zones. These grants are also intended to fund applicants to obtain qualified guidance on how the development projects, businesses, or technologies they propose can attract investments from an Opportunity Fund.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before May 30, 2020, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) and draft categorical exclusion (CatEx) for activities described in an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The ITP would authorize take of a listed species incidental to water tank stabilization activities on private property near Big Sur in Monterey County, California. The applicant developed the draft HCP as part of their application for an ITP. The Service prepared a draft CatEx in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the applicant. We invite public comment on these documents.

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.

In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing the availability of a supplement to the Vineyard Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Supplement) prepared for the Construction and Operation Plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Wind LLC (Vineyard Wind). The Supplement analyzes reasonably foreseeable effects from an expanded cumulative activities scenario for offshore wind development, previously unavailable fishing data, a new transit lane alternative, and changes to the COP since publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This notice of availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period, as well as the time and dates for virtual public meetings on the Supplement. After BOEM holds the public meetings and addresses comments provided, BOEM will prepare a final EIS.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, with the Tejon Indian Tribe (Tribe), Kern County (County), National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) serving as cooperating agencies, intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the EPA in connection with the Tribe's application for acquisition in trust by the United States of approximately 306 acres for gaming and other purposes to be located west of the Town of Mettler, Kern County, California. This notice also announces that the DEIS is now available for public review and that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the DEIS.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We also announce receipt of an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and receipt of a draft habitat conservation plan. The Stanislaus Regional Water Authority (SWRA) has applied for an incidental take permit under the ESA for the SRWA Water Supply Project in Stanislaus County, California. The permit would authorize the take of one species incidental to the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on this application. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), are removing the Borax Lake chub (currently listed as Gila boraxobius), a fish native to Oregon, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on the basis of recovery. This final rule is based on a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to the Borax Lake chub have been eliminated or reduced to the point where the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, 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 no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. 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 Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

Central Washington University and the Thomas Burke Memorial Washington State Museum (Burke Museum) have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations and have 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 Central Washington University or the Burke Museum. 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.