Department of the Interior October 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On behalf of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, the Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw approximately 224,793.73 acres, including approximately 200,518.28 acres of National Forest System lands, approximately 15,464.99 acres of BLM-managed public lands, and approximately 8,810.46 acres of reserved Federal mineral interest, from all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights. The boundary of the proposed withdrawal area also includes approximately 35,472.94 acres of non- Federal lands with no Federal interest, which would not be subject to the proposed withdrawal unless they are subsequently acquired by the Federal Government. The withdrawal is proposed for a period of 20 years to protect agricultural, ranching, wildlife, air quality, recreational, ecological, and scenic values in the Thompson Divide Area of Colorado. This notice segregates the land for 2 years from all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws, subject to valid existing rights, and initiates a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal.

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

On behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Forest Service (USFS) filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior extend Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6958 for an additional 30- year term. PLO No. 6958 withdrew 220 acres of National Forest System lands in Beaverhead County, Montana, from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, to protect the USFS-managed recreation area. The lands remain open to leasing under the mineral leasing laws, and to such uses as may be made on National Forest System lands. The withdrawal created by PLO No. 6958 will expire on March 1, 2023, unless extended. This notice announces to the public an opportunity to comment on the proposal and announces the date, time, and how to access the virtual public meeting to be held in conjunction with this withdrawal extension application.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley, has amended a Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2005. This notice amends both the number of associated funerary objects and the cultural affiliation of the human remains and associated funerary objects removed from Sonoma County, CA.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for Sideroxylon reclinatum ssp. austrofloridense (Everglades bully), Digitaria pauciflora (Florida pineland crabgrass), Chamaesyce deltoidea ssp. pinetorum (pineland sandmat), and Dalea carthagenensis var. floridana (Florida prairie- clover) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, approximately 179,680 acres (72,714 hectares) for Everglades bully, 177,879 acres (71,985 hectares) for Florida pineland crabgrass, 8,867 acres (3,588 hectares) for pineland sandmat, and 179,300 acres (72,560 hectares) for Florida prairie-clover in Monroe, Collier, and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designations. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to the species' critical habitats. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designations of critical habitat for these four plant species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list two Florida species, the Key ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus acricus) and the rim rock crowned snake (Tantilla oolitica), and propose to designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on the petition to list the Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing both species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list both species as endangered species under the Act. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add the species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to both species. We also propose to designate critical habitat for the Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake under the Act. In total, approximately 2,604 acres (ac) (1,054) hectares (ha) in Monroe County, Florida, and approximately 5,972 ac (2,418 ha) in Miami-Dade County and Monroe County, Florida, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation for the Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake, respectively. We announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for both species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are announcing the availability of documents associated with an application to amend an enhancement of survival permit (permit) under the Endangered Species Act. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has applied to amend the existing Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for 14 Aquatic Species in Kansas (SHA/CCAA) by adding one additional covered species, the western fanshell (Cyprogenia aberti). The documents available for review and comment are the applicant's proposed amended programmatic SHA/CCAA, which is part of the permit amendment application, and our draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, which support a categorical exclusion for the amendment under the National Environmental Policy Act. We invite comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from Weyerhaeuser Timber Holdings, Inc., for an enhancement of survival permit (permit) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. If granted, the permit would authorize incidental take of the marbled murrelet, associated with forest management actions on private lands. The application includes a draft safe harbor agreement (SHA), which describes the actions the applicant will take to achieve a net conservation benefit for the marbled murrelet within its range on enrolled lands in Washington. We announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment addressing the SHA and permit application. We invite comments from all interested parties.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings on the status of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) rangewide and in the eastern (east of the Mobile and Tombigbee Rivers) and western (west of the Mobile and Tombigbee Rivers) portions of the range 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 gopher tortoise as an endangered or a threatened species rangewide is not warranted. We find that the gopher tortoise in the eastern portion of its range and the gopher tortoise in the western portion of its range meet the criteria of separate distinct population segments (DPS), as defined by our Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct Vertebrate Population Segments Under the Endangered Species Act. We determine the Eastern DPS of the gopher tortoise is not warranted for listing at this time. Further, we confirm that the Western DPS of the gopher tortoise meets the definition of a threatened species. Additionally, this notice serves as our completed 5-year review of the Western DPS of the gopher tortoise. We ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to the gopher tortoise or its habitat at any time.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Andris Upitis (applicant) to amend an incidental take permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would continue to authorize take of the central distinct population segment (DPS) of the California tiger salamander and the California red-legged frog, incidental to construction of a single-family residence at 12 Rancho San Carlos (Ocho West). We invite public comment on the amendment request, which includes the applicant's original HCP. In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, we have prepared a draft low-effect screening form supporting our preliminary determination that the proposed action qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NEPA. To make this determination, we reassessed our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form prepared for the current HCP, and this draft NEPA compliance documentation is also available for public review.

The William and Mary, Department of Anthropology 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 William and Mary's Anthropology Department. 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 Northern Arizona University, Department of Anthropology 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 Northern Arizona University, Department of Anthropology. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, notice is hereby given that temporary closures will be in effect on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Hassayampa Field Office, to minimize the risk of potential collision during operation of the Vulture Mine Off-Road Challenge off-highway vehicle (OHV) race event, authorized under a special recreation permit (SRP).

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Lassics lupine (Lupinus constancei), a plant species native to northern California, as an endangered species and designate critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the Lassics lupine. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. 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 Lassics lupine under the Act. In total, approximately 512 acres (ac) (207 hectares (ha)) in Humboldt and Trinity Counties, California, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. In addition, we announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Lassics lupine.

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) has rescheduled public meetings originally scheduled for September 22 and October 11 and 13, 2022.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for five of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) citizens' advisory committees affiliated with specific sites on the BLM's National Conservation Lands. The five advisory committees provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the development and implementation of management plans in accordance with the statute under which the sites were established. The advisory committees covered by this request for nominations are identified below. The BLM will accept public nominations for 30 days after the publication of this notice.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for 13 of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) statewide and regional Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have vacant positions or members whose terms are scheduled to expire. These RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their geographic areas.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct activities intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits certain activities that may impact endangered species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming and Montana/Dakotas State Directors each intend to prepare Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendments with associated Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for the Supplemental EIS and Potential RMP for the Buffalo Approved RMP and the Supplemental EIS and Potential RMP Amendment for the Miles City Approved RMP and by this notice are announcing the beginning of the scoping periods to solicit public comments and identify issues, and are providing the planning criteria for public review.