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

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued Letters of Authorization for the nonlethal take of polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and the adjacent northern coast of Alaska as well as northern sea otters in Cook Inlet, Alaska, in 2019 and 2020. This notice announces a list of the Letters of Authorizations that were issued in calendar years 2019 and 2020. The Letters of Authorization stipulate conditions and methods that minimize impacts to polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters from these activities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) proposes to establish annual hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2022-23 hunting season. We annually prescribe outside limits (frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, announces the Service Migratory Bird Regulations Committee (SRC) and Flyway Council meetings, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2022-23 general duck seasons and preliminary proposals that vary from the 2021-22 hunting season regulations, and requests proposals from Indian Tribes that wish to establish special migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations and ceded lands. Migratory bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of the Interior (DOI) proposes to modify the DOI-50, Insider Threat Program, system of records. The DOI Office of Law Enforcement and Security uses this system to identify potential threats to DOI resources and information assets and facilitate management of insider threat investigations, complaints, inquiries, and counterintelligence threat detection activities. DOI is publishing this revised system of records notice to reflect the updated system location and system manager address, authorities, expand the scope of categories of individuals and categories of records in the modified system, propose new and modified routine uses, and provide general and administrative updates to the remaining sections of the notice. Additionally, DOI is publishing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking elsewhere in the Federal Register to exempt this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. This modified system will be included in DOI's inventory of record systems.

The plats of survey of lands described in this notice are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, Anchorage, Alaska, 30 calendar days from the date of the Federal Register notice publication. The surveys, which were executed at the request of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the BLM, are necessary for the management of these lands.

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closure of certain public lands under its administration in Clark County, Nevada. This temporary closure is being made in the interest of public safety in relation to the authorized 2021 Rise Lantern Festival. This closure controls access to multiple points of entry to the festival located on the Jean Dry Lake Bed in order to minimize the risk of vehicle collisions with festival participants and workers. The temporary closure also ensures adequate time to conduct clean-up of the festival location.

This rule prescribes the seasons, hours, areas, and daily bag and possession limits for hunting migratory birds. Taking of migratory birds is prohibited unless specifically provided for by annual regulations. This rule permits the taking of designated species during the 2021-22 season.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Peary caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi) (a caribou subspecies) and the Dolphin and Union caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus x peary) as endangered or threatened subspecies under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Both Peary caribou and Dolphin and Union caribou are native only to Canada. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to add the Peary caribou to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. We find that listing the Dolphin and Union caribou as a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the barren-ground caribou subspecies (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list this DPS with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (``4(d) rule''). To ensure that subsequent rulemaking resulting from this proposed rule is as accurate and effective as possible, we are soliciting information from the public, other governmental agencies, the Government of Canada and its provincial governments, the scientific community, industry, and any other interested parties.

The plats of surveys of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed 30 calendar days from the date of this publication in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eastern States State Office, Falls Church, Virginia. The surveys, executed at the request of the BLM and National Park Service, are necessary for the management of these lands.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we, the National Park Service (NPS), are proposing a new information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt of an application from DifWind Farms Limited VII and DifWind Farms Limited IX (collectively, the applicants) for a 6-year incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), along with the applicants' draft habitat conservation plan. We also announce the availability of the associated draft National Environmental Policy Act categorical exclusion screening form. The applicants have applied for an incidental take permit under the ESA for the DifWind VII & IX Reclamation Project in Alameda County, California. The permit would authorize the take of two species incidental to the reclamation of a decommissioned commercial wind energy project. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on the application and related documents. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to reinstate a previously approved information collection with revisions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), propose to list six Central Texas mussel species: The Guadalupe fatmucket (Lampsilis bergmanni), Texas fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata), Texas fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon), Guadalupe orb (Cyclonaias necki), Texas pimpleback (Cyclonaias (=Quadrula) petrina), and false spike (Fusconaia (=Quincuncina) mitchelli) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing Guadalupe fatmucket, Texas fatmucket, Guadalupe orb, Texas pimpleback, and false spike as endangered species is warranted, and listing Texas fawnsfoot as a threatened species is warranted. We propose a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (``4(d) rule'') for the Texas fawnsfoot. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species. We also propose to designate critical habitat for all six species under the Act. In total, approximately 1,944 river miles (3,129 river kilometers) in Texas fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designations. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat. We also are notifying the public that we have scheduled two informational meetings followed by public hearings on the proposed rule.

The National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members on the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission (Commission).

The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 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 State Museum of Pennsylvania. 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 Gilcrease 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 sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. 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 Gilcrease 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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), assisted by the Pueblo Grande Museum (PGM), 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 BIA through the PGM. 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 University of California, Berkeley and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District have jointly 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 the University of California, Berkeley or the United States Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco District. 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 National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before August 14, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have adjusted the acquisition boundary line of a section of Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, to reflect an approved action from 2015.

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 or threatened 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.

The Wildlands Conservancy (applicant) has submitted a safe harbor agreement (SHA) and applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The Service is considering issuance to the applicant of a 30-year permit that would authorize take of the federally endangered mountain yellow-legged frog and unarmored threespine stickleback (a fish species). We have prepared a draft environmental action statement (EAS) for our preliminary determination that the SHA and permit decision may be eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We invite comments from the public on the aforementioned documents.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the receipt of an enhancement of survival (EOS) permit application from the Service's Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office that includes a proposed safe harbor agreement (SHA) in southern California for the federally threatened California red-legged frog. If granted, the SHA would provide for California red-legged frog recovery by providing a framework to reestablish frogs within their historical range. The EOS permit would be in effect for a 30-year period and would authorize take of the California red-legged frog incidental to the implementation of the Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement in Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, California. The documents available for review and comment are the SHA and National Environmental Policy Act documentation that supports a categorical exclusion. We invite comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Lava Ridge Wind Project (Lava Ridge). This notice initiates the scoping process and temporary segregation of public lands from appropriation under the public land and mining laws. Additionally, this NOI seeks public comment and input under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations.

This notice publishes the approval of Amendment IV to the Tribal-State Compact (Amendment) between the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (Tribe) and the State of Oregon (State).

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