Department of the Interior April 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 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 any 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Leasing Ordinance under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into business, residential, wind and solar leases without further BIA approval.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), ONRR is proposing to renew an information collection. Currently, the information collection is authorized by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') under OMB Control Number 1012-0001, which expires on February 28, 2022. Through this Information Collection Request (``ICR''), ONRR seeks renewed authority to collect information related to the paperwork requirements under the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (``CFO Act'') covering the collection of royalties and other mineral revenues due, which obligations are accounted for as accounts receivables.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing renew an information collection. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an information collection.

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 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 the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary are proposing to renew an information collection.

Notice is hereby given of a temporary closure of certain public lands administered by the Arizona Strip Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking stakeholder input on its plans to rely upon the latest U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance regarding reopening its K-12 schools, residential facilities, and post- secondary schools for safe delivery of in-person and hybrid instruction and determine if BIE schools should include additional guidelines.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (``PRA''), ONRR is proposing to renew an information collection. Currently, the information collection is authorized by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') under OMB Control Number 1012-0003, which expires on December 31, 2021. ONRR uses the information collected under this Information Collection Request (``ICR'') both to review and approve delegation proposals from a State that is seeking to perform royalty management functions and to prepare a cooperative agreement with a State or Indian tribe seeking to perform royalty audits and investigations.

For orderly management of the public lands subject to Public Land Order (PLO) 7899, published on Jan. 19, 2021 and extended by 60 days on Feb. 18, 2021, the lands described therein shall not be opened until April 16, 2023. This notice also clarifies that the BLM has not published opening orders for PLOs 7900, 7901, 7902, and 7903 and therefore they have no effective date. These Orders will be included in the process described below for PLO 7899.

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.

The Temple University 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 Temple 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 Mississippi Department of Archives and History 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 Mississippi Department of Archives and History. 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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), reopen the public comment period on the proposed rule to list the Panama City crayfish (Procambarus econfinae) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act); propose a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (``4(d) rule'') for the species; and propose to designate critical habitat for the Panama City crayfish under the Act. In total, approximately 7,177 acres (2,904 hectares) in Bay County, Florida, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation, all of which are currently occupied by the species. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) for the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Panama City crayfish. We will accept comments on the proposed listing, 4(d) rule, and critical habitat designation, as well as the draft economic analysis, during the open comment period. Finally, we announce a public informational meeting and public hearing on the proposed listing rule and this proposed rule.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) examined certain public lands in Washington County, Utah, and found them suitable for classification for lease or conveyance to the Washington County Water Conservancy District (WCWCD) under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as amended, the Taylor Grazing Act, and Executive Order 6910. WCWCD proposes to use the 10.87-acre parcel described below as a camping and recreation area adjacent to a proposed reservoir near the junction of Interstate 15 and State Route 17.

This notice advises the public that LPC Conservation LLC (applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (ITP) supported by the Renewable (Wind and Solar) Energy, Power Line, and Communication Tower Habitat Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie-chicken; Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas (HCP). The applicant has applied to the Service for the ITP pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The requested ITP, if approved, would authorize incidental take of the lesser prairie-chicken resulting from activities covered by the HCP (e.g., wind, solar, transmission lines, and communication towers) and incidental take resulting from conservation actions taken to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts of the incidental take of the LEPC that result from covered activities. If approved, the requested ITP would become effective should the LEPC become federally listed during the life of the ITP and HCP. With this notice we also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that has been prepared to evaluate the ITP application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We are making the ITP application package, including the HCP and draft EA, available for public review and comment.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recently proposed to reclassify the beach layia (Layia carnosa) as a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. We are reopening the proposed rule comment period to give all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule, and we announce a public informational meeting and public hearing on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule.

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is seeking Tribal and public input on draft policies regarding progress and promotion and certificate of completion. The purpose of these two policies is to make certain that student promotion is based on the meeting of minimum standards, with high school graduation marking the culmination of a student's K-12 education, in recognition of all the learning that occurred during that journey.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to affirm the listing of the streaked horned lark (Eremophila alpestris strigata), a bird species from Washington and Oregon, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we again conclude that listing the species as threatened is warranted. We also propose to revise the rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (``4(d) rule'') for this bird. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it will maintain this species as a threatened species on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and continue to extend the Act's protections to the species.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is publishing this notice to announce that a Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) will take place.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the San Juan Islands National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC) will meet as follows.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan Business Site Leasing Ordinance under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into business leases without further BIA approval.