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

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.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as follows.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet as indicated below.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before March 27, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

This final rule revises regulations for seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish for subsistence uses in Alaska during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) completes the biennial process of revising subsistence hunting and trapping regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence fishing and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use and rural determinations during the applicable biennial cycle. This rule also revises rural determinations.

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), the Office of the Secretary, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, Department of the Interior (we) are proposing to renew an information collection.

This notice announces the addition of the thermal features within Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico, to the list of significant thermal features within units of the National Park System under the Geothermal Steam Act. This designation will provide additional protection of these important thermal features, as well as opportunities for enhanced collaboration among Federal Agencies, scientists, and resource managers.

In accordance with a statute and as authorized by the Secretary of Transportation through the Secretary of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), under the Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP), will make funds available to federally recognized Indian Tribes on an annual basis for implementing traffic safety programs and projects designed to reduce the number of traffic crashes, death, injuries, and property damage within these populations. All project applications received will be reviewed and selected on a competitive basis.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is scheduled to file plats of survey 30 calendar days from the date of this publication in the BLM Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming. This survey, which was executed at the request of the Bureau of Indian Affairs was necessary for the management of these lands.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the TVA. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the associated funerary objects to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.