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

The U.S. Department of the Interior (Interior) proposes to appoint members to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG). The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting as administrative lead, is soliciting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the AMWG.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration intend to prepare a draft monument management plan for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was established by Presidential Proclamation 9496 and updated by Presidential Proclamation 10287. When the draft plan is complete, we will advertise its availability and seek public comment. We furnish this notice to advise the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments and agencies of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider during the planning process. An environmental assessment to evaluate the potential effects of various management alternatives will also be prepared. The environmental assessment will provide resource managers with the information needed to determine if the potential effects may be significant and warrant preparation of an environmental impact statement, or if the potential impacts lead to a finding of no significant impact.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is publishing this notice to announce that Reclamation plans to consult with federally recognized Indian Tribes in Reclamation's 17 western states on implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act as it applies to Tribes.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee), will hold the fifth public meeting to negotiate and advise the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on a proposed rule to implement the Practical Reforms and Other Goals To Reinforce the Effectiveness of Self-Governance and Self-Determination for Indian Tribes Act of 2019 (PROGRESS Act).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an Information Collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing this information collection request (ICR) to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1010-0187.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the Florida bristle fern (Trichomanes punctatum ssp. floridanum) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. In total, approximately 1,698 hectares (ha) (4,195 acres (ac)) fall within 10 units of critical habitat in Miami-Dade and Sumter Counties, Florida. This rule extends the Act's protections to the Florida bristle fern's designated critical habitat.

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

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tonopah Field Office, Tonopah, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of authorizing the proposed Ioneer Rhyolite Ridge LLC (Ioneer) Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project (Project) in Esmeralda County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues and alternatives; it also serves to initiate public consultation, as required, under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Oberlin College has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were removed from the City of Ashton, Spink County, South Dakota.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Arkansas Museum Collections has amended a Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2022. This notice amends the number of associated funerary objects in collections removed from Cross, Mississippi, and Poinsett Counties, AR.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Pinal County, Maricopa County, and Pima County, AZ.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is announcing an extension of the comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Coquille Indian Tribe fee-to-trust and Gaming Facility Project, City of Medford, Jackson County, Oregon. Additionally, this notice announces that the BIA intends to hold a second virtual hearing to receive comments on the DEIS.

TF Cibolo Canyons LP (applicant) has applied to the U.S. and Wildlife Service (Service) to amend their existing incidental take permit (ITP), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. In support of the application, the applicant submitted a proposed amendment to their Cibolo Canyon Master Phase II Environmental Assessment and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The requested amendment, if approved, would continue authorization of incidental take of the golden-cheeked warbler. We also announce the availability of a draft screening form that has been prepared to evaluate the ITP application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on the ITP application, as well as the amended HCP and draft NEPA screening form.

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.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has adjusted its electric power rates for the Power Division of San Carlos Irrigation Project (SCIP/PD).

This notice publishes the approval of the Amended Gaming Compact between the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation and the State of North Dakota and the Amended Gaming Compact between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the State of North Dakota (Amendments) governing class III gaming for the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (Tribes) in the State of North Dakota (State).

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice. This notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about proposed contractual actions for capital recovery and management of project resources and facilities consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. Additional announcements of individual contract actions may be published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by the proposed action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for Tiehm's buckwheat (Eriogonum tiehmii), a plant species native to Nevada in the United States. We also designate critical habitat. In total, we designate approximately 910 acres (368 hectares) in one unit in Nevada as critical habitat for Tiehm's buckwheat. This rule adds the species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and extends the Act's protections to the species.

BOEM announces the availability of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Virginia Electric and Power Company, doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia (Dominion Energy), for its proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project (CVOW Project or Project). The DEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the Project as described in the COP (the proposed action) and alternatives to the proposed action, including no action. This notice of availability announces the start of the public review and comment period, as well as the dates and times for virtual public hearings on the DEIS. After the comment period and public hearings, BOEM will publish a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) addressing comments received on the DEIS. The FEIS will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the Dominion Energy COP for the CVOW Project.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (PMAE), Harvard University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items were removed from Hale and Tuscaloosa Counties, Alabama.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Lincoln County, OR.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine that whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), a high-elevation tree species found across western North America, is a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. We also finalize a rule under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the species. We have determined that designation of critical habitat for the whitebark pine is not prudent at this time.