Department of the Interior October 29, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice of a teleconference/web meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), propose new revisions to the existing experimental population designation of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) in Arizona and New Mexico under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). We are taking this action in response to a court-ordered remand of our January 16, 2015, final rule revising the regulations for the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican wolf. This document proposes to modify the population objective, establish a genetic objective, and temporarily restrict three of the forms of take of Mexican wolves in the MWEPA that we adopted in the January 16, 2015, final rule. We are proposing these revisions to ensure the long-term conservation and recovery of the Mexican wolf. In addition, this document proposes to maintain the nonessential designation for the experimental population. We are not proposing to revise the geographic boundaries of the MWEPA. We are seeking comment from the public on the proposed regulatory revisions and on a draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the proposed revisions. We also announce public information sessions and public hearings on this proposed rule and the associated draft supplemental environmental impact statement.

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 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas Lease Sale 258 (Lease Sale 258). This notice marks the start of the public review and comment period and announces three virtual public hearings on the DEIS. After the public hearings and written comments on the DEIS have been reviewed and considered, a final EIS will be prepared. The DEIS and associated information, including the exploration, development and production, and decommissioning scenario (E&D Scenario) are available for review on the agency's website at https://www.boem.gov/ ak258.