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

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Northern California District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as follows.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert District Desert Advisory Council (DAC) will meet as follows.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) intends to grant to World Wildlife Fund, Inc., whose legal address is 1250 24th St. NW, Washington, DC 20037, an exclusive license to U.S. Patent No. 10,478,276, ``PELLET DELIVERY MECHANISM,'' filed August 11, 2017, and U.S. Patent No. 10,881,493, ``PELLET DELIVERY MECHANISM,'' filed November 19, 2019.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after consideration of comments received from the public, have revised marine mammal stock assessment reports for each of the two polar bear stocks in Alaska. We now make the final revised stock assessment reports for the Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear stock and the Chukchi/Bering Seas polar bear stock available to the public.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before June 12, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify from endangered to threatened (``downlist'') the smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) due to improvements in the species' overall status since the original listing in 1992. This proposed action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the species' status has improved such that it is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but that it is still likely to become so in the foreseeable future. This proposed rule completes the 5-year status review for the species, initiated on March 12, 2018. If this proposal is finalized, smooth coneflower would be reclassified as a threatened species under the Act. We seek information, data, and comments from the public on this proposal. We also propose to establish a rule under section 4(d) of the Act for the protection of smooth coneflower.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise the regulations governing the annual Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Contest (also known as the Federal Duck Stamp Contest (Contest)). Our proposed amendments would remove the previously specified permanent theme and the mandatory inclusion of an appropriate hunting element within all Contest entries and revise the qualifications of the judging panel to reflect this change. This change would be scheduled to begin with the 2022 Contest.

The Principal Deputy Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs made a final agency determination to acquire 35.92 acres, more or less, in the City of Elk Grove, Sacramento County, California (Site) in trust for the Wilton Rancheria for gaming and other purposes on January 19, 2017.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews for 37 species under the Endangered Species Act, as amended. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the previous status review for each species.

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) San Rafael Swell Recreation Area Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on two petitions to add species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we plan to initiate status reviews of the Temblor legless lizard (Anniella alexanderae) and Santa Ana speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby provides constructive notice that the decision approving lands for conveyance to Doyon, Limited, published in the Federal Register on March 11, 2009, will be modified to add one trail easement and to modify another trail easement to be reserved to the United States pursuant to Sec. 17(b) of ANCSA.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are removing Lepanthes eltoroensis (no common name), an orchid species from Puerto Rico, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants, due to recovery. This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Accordingly, the prohibitions and conservation measures provided by the Act will no longer apply to this species.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is processing an application for the conveyance of federally owned mineral interests in a 3,548.41-acre parcel of land located in Tooele County, Utah, to the surface owner, US Magnesium LLC.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability for public review and comment of the draft recovery plan for the Platanthera integrilabia (white fringeless orchid), a plant listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We request review and comment on the draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, Tribes, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine that the beardless chinchweed (Pectis imberbis) is an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, and designate critical habitat. In total, approximately 10,604 acres (4,291 hectares) in Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Acquisition and Property Management are proposing to renew an information collection.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before May 29, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing a new information collection.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issues this request for interest (RFI) to assess interest in, and to invite public comment on, possible commercial wind energy leasing on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. BOEM will consider information received in response to this RFI to determine whether to schedule a competitive lease sale or to issue a noncompetitive lease for any portion of the area described in this RFI (RFI Area). Even if you are not interested in identifying specific acreage for leasing consideration, BOEM is interested in understanding potential opportunities for all types of renewable energy development throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Those interested in leasing within the RFI Area for a commercial wind energy project should provide detailed and specific information described in the section of this RFI entitled ``Required Indication of Interest Information.'' Those interested in providing public comments and information regarding site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the RFI Area should provide information requested in the section of this RFI entitled ``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.'' As a result of this RFI, BOEM may or may not issue a lease for a commercial wind energy project within the RFI Area; a lease is the first step in BOEM's process to review and approve a commercial wind energy project. See the section of this RFI entitled ``BOEM's Planning and Leasing Process.''

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility Project (Project), and by this notice is announcing the opening of a 45-day public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Texas hornshell (Popenaias popeii), a freshwater mussel, under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, the proposed critical habitat designation includes approximately 463.6 river miles (745.9 kilometers) in Eddy County, New Mexico, and in Culberson, Brewster, Terrell, Val Verde, Kinney, Maverick, and Webb Counties, Texas. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species' critical habitat. The effect of this regulation is to designate critical habitat for the Texas hornshell under the Act. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat. We also are notifying the public that we have scheduled an informational meeting followed by a public hearing on the proposed rule.