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

By this notice, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing the termination of the land use planning process described in the Draft Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan and the Bakersfield and Bishop Resource Management Plans (RMPs).

This notice lists programs or portions of programs that are eligible for inclusion in self-governance funding agreements with Indian Tribes and lists Fiscal Year 2021 programmatic targets for each of the non-Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) bureaus in the Department of the Interior (Department), pursuant to Title IV of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act (Act), as amended.

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

The Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to The Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the Missouri distinct population segment (DPS) of eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis), a salamander species. This rule adds this DPS of this species to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed 30 days after the date of this publication in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona. The surveys announced in this notice are necessary for the management of lands administered by the agency indicated.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior (Interior) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that some of the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of sacred objects and some of the other 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 MDAH. 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.

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 (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Arizona eryngo (Eryngium sparganophyllum), a plant species native to Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and to Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico, as an endangered species and to designate critical habitat in Arizona under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the Arizona eryngo as an endangered species under the Act. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and extend the Act's protections to the species. We also propose to designate critical habitat for the Arizona eryngo under the Act. In total, approximately 13.0 acres (5.3 hectares) in Pima and Cochise Counties, Arizona, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Arizona eryngo.

To implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or the Convention), the Parties to the Convention meet periodically to review what species in international trade should be regulated and other aspects of CITES implementation. The nineteenth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) is tentatively scheduled to be held in Costa Rica, March 3-14, 2022. With this notice we are soliciting recommendations for amending Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP19 as well as recommendations for resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for discussion at CoP19. We invite you to provide us with information and recommendations on animal and plant species for which the United States should consider submitting proposals to amend Appendices I and II of CITES at CoP19. Such proposals may concern the addition of species to Appendix I or II, the transfer of species from one Appendix to another, or the removal of species from Appendices. We also invite you to provide us with information and recommendations on resolutions, decisions, and agenda items that the United States might consider submitting for discussion at CoP19. Finally, with this notice, we also describe the U.S. approach to preparations for CoP19.

The Kansas State Historical Society 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 Kansas State Historical Society. 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 soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before February 20, 2021, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are delaying the effective date of a final rule we published on January 15, 2021, revising the designation of critical habitat for the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) (January 15, 2021, Final Rule). In addition, this action opens a 30-day comment period to allow interested parties to comment on issues of fact, law, and policy raised by that rule and whether further delay of the effective date is necessary.

In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA); the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA); the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS) and Record of Decision; and the Consent Decree, the Federal and State natural resource trustee agencies for the Florida Trustee Implementation Group (FL TIG) have prepared the Florida Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 2 and Environmental Assessment: Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Sea Turtles; Marine Mammals; Birds; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities (Draft RP/EA). In the Draft RP/EA, the FL TIG proposes projects to help restore injured habitats, sea turtles, marine mammals, birds, and to compensate for lost recreational use in the Florida Restoration Area as a result of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. The approximate cost to implement the FL TIG's proposed action (19 preferred alternatives) is $62,200,000. We invite public comments on the Draft RP/EA.

The U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Kaloko-Honok[omacr]hau National Historical Park 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 Kaloko- Honok[omacr]hau National Historical Park. 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 FWS and NOAA announce the availability of a draft monument management plan (MMP) for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Monument). The draft MMP describes proposed goals, objectives, and strategies for managing the Monument over a 15-year period.

This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and trapping seasons, harvest limits, and methods and means related to taking of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2022-2023 and 2023- 2024 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (Board) is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence taking of fish 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 determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the existing subsistence wildlife taking regulations. This proposed rule could also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is proposing to establish the 2021-22 hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds, and make a minor change to the special procedures for issuance of annual hunting regulations. We annually prescribe outside limits, frameworks, within which States may select hunting seasons. Frameworks specify the outside dates, season lengths, shooting hours, bag and possession limits, and areas where migratory game bird hunting may occur. These frameworks are necessary to allow State selections of seasons and limits and to allow harvest at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions. Migratory game bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance, and aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds.

This Notice advises the public that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is rescinding the Record of Decision (ROD) for Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 257.

The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), acting through BSEE and BOEM, is reopening the comment period for Proposed Rule: Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental ShelfRevisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf, which was published in the Federal Register on December 9, 2020.

On January 7, 2021, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, published a final rule (``MBTA rule'') defining the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) as it applies to conduct resulting in the injury or death of migratory birds protected by the MBTA. We are delaying the MBTA rule's effective date until March 8, 2021, in conformity with the Congressional Review Act (CRA). We request public comments to inform our review of this final rule and to determine whether the further extension of the effective date is necessary.

The Buffalo History Museum (previously known as the Buffalo Historical Society), in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the definition of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this cultural item should submit a written request to the Buffalo History Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.