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

In accordance with the John S. McCain III 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act, the National Park Service (NPS) is giving notice that the Department of the Interior is holding consultation with Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and the Native Hawaiian community to announce the availability of draft guidelines for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior to implement the Indian Youth Service Corps Program. This notice provides a link to the draft guidelines and provides information for how to register for each of the consultation sessions.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Navajo Nation as a cooperating agency, intends to file a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) with the Environmental Protection Agency for the proposed Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan (NNIWMP). This notice also announces that the DPEIS is now available for public review and comment and that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the DPEIS.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before October 16, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

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

The University of California, Santa Barbara (U.C. Santa Barbara) 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 U.C. Santa Barbara. 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 Anthropological Studies Center, Archaeological Collections Facility, Sonoma State University (ACF) 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 ACF. 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.

The National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Committee) will hold two virtual meetings as indicated below.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of a proposed regulatory and statutory amendment to the Wyoming coal program (Wyoming program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). On March 2, 2016 the Wyoming Environmental Quality Council approved a number of revisions to the rules governing coal exploration by drilling under the Wyoming program. Specifically, the proposed revisions include more detailed instructions for plugging and sealing drill holes, incorporate best management practices, and make additional formatting and organizational changes. Additionally, between 1978 and 2007 the Wyoming state legislature enacted a number of revisions to the statutes governing coal exploration by drilling. The proposed statutory revisions reflect organizational updates at the Wyoming Land Quality Division, correct a typographical error, provide more detailed instructions for plugging and sealing drill holes, incorporate provisions for the awarding of attorney fees and other litigation costs, and include more detailed instructions for bond release. Accordingly, the State submitted this proposal to OSMRE at its own initiative. This document gives the times and locations that the Wyoming program and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

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

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, we, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (hereafter collectively referred to as the ``Services'' or ``we''), propose to rescind the final rule titled ``Regulations for Listing Endangered and Threatened Species and Designating Critical Habitat'' that was published on December 16, 2020, and became effective on January 15, 2021. The proposed rescission, if finalized, would remove the regulatory definition of ``habitat'' established by that rule.

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

We, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 22, 2020, to add a definition for electric bikes (E-bikes) and exclude E-bikes from the regulatory definition of an off-road vehicle. Since the publication of the final rule, an editorial error was discovered in the definitions section. This action makes the necessary correction to the final rule.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit to take the federally listed Delhi Sands flower-loving fly under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The permit application includes a proposed low- effect habitat conservation plan (HCP). In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we have prepared a draft low-effect screening form supporting our preliminary determination that the proposed action qualifies as a categorical exclusion under NEPA. We invite comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments on the permit application, proposed low-effect HCP, and draft NEPA compliance documentation.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose critical habitat for the coastal distinct population segment of Pacific marten (coastal marten) (Martes caurina), a mammal species from coastal California and Oregon, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1,413,305 acres (571,965 hectares) in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this entity's critical habitat.

The United States Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting that the Secretary of the Interior extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7549 for an additional 20-year term. PLO No. 7549 withdrew 1,328.84 acres of National Forest System land from location and entry under the United States mining laws to protect the Lemhi Pass National Historic Landmark. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 7549 will expire on December 26, 2022, unless it is extended. The land will remain open to the general land laws and leasing under the mineral leasing laws. This notice also gives an opportunity for the public to comment and to request a public meeting on the withdrawal extension application.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, and by this Notice is announcing the opening of the public comment period.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw, for a 20- year term, approximately 225,378 acres of National Forest System lands in the Rainy River Watershed on the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, from disposition under the United States mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. This notice segregates the lands for up to two years from operation of the United States mineral and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights; provides an opportunity for the public to submit written comments on the withdrawal application; and notifies the public that one or more public meetings will be held regarding the application.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, 23,785 acres (9,625 hectares) in Greenlee, Apache, Yavapai, Gila, and Coconino Counties, Arizona, and Grant, Hidalgo, and Catron Counties, New Mexico, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation for the narrow-headed gartersnake. This rule extends the Act's protections to the narrow-headed gartersnake's designated critical habitat.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted a new information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.

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

Through this notice the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is segregating public lands included in the right-of-way application for the Rough Hat Clark County Solar Project from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice, subject to valid existing rights. This segregation is to allow for the orderly administration of the public lands to facilitate consideration of development of renewable energy resources. The public lands segregated by this notice total 3,273.96 acres.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby updates the filing fee for Applications for Permits to Drill (APD) on Federal oil and gas leases. The updated APD fee amount is $10,900, reflecting the adjustment for inflation as required by statute.

As part of its implementation of an Executive order, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, the Department of the Interior (DOI) is conducting five virtual listening sessions and inviting public comments to obtain stakeholder input on barriers that underserved communities and individuals may face in participating in recreation opportunities on DOI-managed public lands and waters.