Department of the Interior June 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an information collection without change.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM announces its intent to prepare an EIS for a construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Beacon Wind LLC (Beacon Wind). This NOI initiates the public scoping and comment process under NEPA and also seeks public comments under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations. Beacon Wind proposes to construct and operate an offshore wind facility located in Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0520 (Lease Area), which is approximately 128,811 acres and 17 nautical miles (nm) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and 52 nm east of Montauk, New York. Beacon Wind, a joint venture owned by Equinor U.S. Holdings, Inc. and BP Wind Energy North America, Inc., proposes to develop the entire Lease Area in two wind farms, known as Beacon Wind 1 (BW1) and Beacon Wind 2 (BW2) (collectively, the Project).

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Filson Historical Society has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any Indian Tribe. The human remains were removed from Muhlenberg County, KY.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University Chico (CSU Chico) 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 Butte County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Beloit College, Logan Museum of Anthropology (LMA) has completed an inventory of human remains and an associated funerary object and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary object and any Indian Tribe. The human remains and associated funerary object were removed from Logan County, Kentucky.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Okaloosa darter (Etheostoma okaloosae) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) due to recovery. This final rule 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 is no longer in danger of extinction or likely to become in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future. Therefore, the species no longer meets the definition of a threatened species, and does not meet the definition of an endangered 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.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Richard McGinley and Marion County, Florida (Florida Crossroads Commerce Park) (applicants) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicants request the ITP to take the federally listed Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) incidental to the construction of a warehouse, loading docks, parking lots, and associated stormwater systems within an existing industrial park, and incidental to Marion County's expansion of SW 49th Avenue in Marion County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicants' proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared a draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University Chico (CSU Chico) 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 Butte County, CA.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Cardinal Point Wind Farm, LLC for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act, for its Cardinal Point Wind Project (project). If approved, the permit would authorize the incidental take of two endangered species, the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat, and two species under federal review, the tricolored bat and little brown bat. The applicant has prepared a habitat conservation plan in support of their application. We also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment, which has been prepared in response to the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We invite comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University Chico (CSU Chico) 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 Tehama County, CA.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew, without change, a currently approved information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make available a draft screening form for a categorical exclusion (dCatEx form) under the National Environmental Policy Act and also a candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for water supply, water and wastewater treatment, and reservoir operations, as well as operation and maintenance activities for infrastructure associated with these services (e.g., pipelines, levees) in the Trinity River Basin, Texas. The Trinity River Authority (TRA) has applied for an enhancement of survival permit (EOS permit) that would authorize incidental take of four freshwater mussel species and two turtle species. If approved, the TRA would hold the permit and issue certificates of inclusion (CI) authorizing incidental take to participating non-Federal landowners (partners), including the North Texas Municipal Water District, Tarrant Regional Water District, City of Dallas, and City of Fort Worth. The dCatEx form evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, implementation of the proposed CCAA. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on the CCAA and EOS permit application, as well as on the Service's preliminary determination that the proposed permitting action may be eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality National Environmental Policy Act regulations and Department of the Interior (DOI) NEPA regulations and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we prepared the dCatEx form, also available for public review.

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.

This notice advises the public that the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC), have applied for an enhancement of survival (EOS) permit supported by the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Texas pimpleback (Cyclonaias petrina), Texas fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon), Texas fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata), and Balcones spike (Fusconaia iheringi) in the Lower Colorado River Basin below O.H. Ivie Reservoir (CCAA). LCRA is a conservation and reclamation district in the State of Texas that provides multiple services in the Colorado River basin, including managing water supplies, managing floods along the Highland Lakes, producing and delivering power, managing parks and recreation areas, and supporting community development. LCRA TSC is a nonprofit corporation conducting electric transmission operations within Texas. They own and operate 5,500 circuit miles of electric transmission lines and maintain and operate equipment at approximately 430 electric substations across the state. The requested EOS permit, if approved, would authorize incidental take of four proposed freshwater mussel species, Texas pimpleback, Texas fawnsfoot, Texas fatmucket, and Balcones spike resulting from activities covered by the CCAA, including freshwater mussel conservation actions, operations, inspections, repairs, construction, and maintenance activities in the Colorado River basin in Texas. We have made a preliminary determination that the CCAA is eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The basis for this determination is contained in a draft NEPA screening form to support the use of a categorical exclusion under NEPA, which evaluates the impacts of EOS permit issuance and implementation of the proposed CCAA. The documents available for comment include the NEPA screening form, the CCAA, and the EOS permit application.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to expand hunting opportunities on three National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). We also propose to make changes to existing station-specific regulations in order to reduce the regulatory burden on the public, increase access for hunters and anglers on Service lands and waters, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain language standards. Finally, the best available science, analyzed as part of this proposed rulemaking, indicates that lead ammunition and tackle have negative impacts on both wildlife and human health. In this proposed rule, Blackwater, Chincoteague, Eastern Neck, Erie, Great Thicket, Patuxent Research Refuge, Rachel Carson, and Wallops Island NWRs are each proposing a non-lead requirement, which would take effect on September 1, 2026, if we adopt them as part of a final rule. While the Service continues to evaluate the future of lead use in hunting and fishing on Service lands and waters, this rulemaking does not include any opportunities proposing to increase or authorize the new use of lead beyond fall 2026.

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) New Mexico State Director intends to develop a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (Monument) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues, is providing the planning criteria for public review, and is issuing a call for nominations for areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs). The Mimbres RMP currently provides for BLM management in this new planning area. The RMP revision would replace the existing Mimbres RMP within the now-established National Monument.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) has completed an inventory of human remains and determined they are related to the lineal descendants in this notice. The human remains were collected at the Sherman Institute in Riverside County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (LACMNH), 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 Bernalillo County, NM.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge 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 Churchill County, NV.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), California State University Chico (CSU Chico) 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 Butte County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University Chico (CSU Chico) 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 Butte County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) 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 Monmouth County, NJ.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University (PMAE) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined they are related to the lineal descendant in this notice. The human remains were collected at the Sherman Institute, Riverside County, CA.

We, FWS and NMFS (collectively referred to as the ``Services'' or ``we''), propose to amend portions of our regulations that implement section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The Services are proposing these changes to further clarify and improve the interagency consultation processes, while continuing to provide for the conservation of listed species.