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

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Preservation Technology and Training Board (Board) of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) will meet as indicated below.

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.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before July 15, 2023, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Aniakchak National Monument Subsistence Resource Commission (SRC), the Denali National Park SRC, the Cape Krusenstern National Monument SRC, the Lake Clark National Park SRC, the Kobuk Valley National Park SRC, the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park SRC, and the Gates of the Arctic National Park SRC will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM Alaska) 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 four areas northeast of Seldovia, AK, on or near the southern shore of Kachemak Bay, located off the southwestern part of the lower Kenai Peninsula, AK.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology has completed an inventory of associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The associated funerary objects were removed from Essex County, MA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the High Desert Museum 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 the area of the Columbia and upper Snake Rivers.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Central Washington University 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 Klickitat County, WA.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list two species and one subspecies of Brazilian swallowtail butterflies as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Specifically, we are proposing to list the Fluminense swallowtail (Parides ascanius), Harris' mimic swallowtail (Eurytides (=Mimoides) lysithous harrisianus), and Hahnel's Amazonian swallowtail (Parides hahneli), all butterflies endemic to Brazil. After a review of the best scientific and commercial information available, we find that listing all three swallowtails is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the Fluminense swallowtail, Harris' mimic swallowtail, and Hahnel's Amazonian swallowtail as endangered species under the Act. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to these species.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, 30 calendar days from the date of this publication. The surveys, which were executed at the request of the U.S. Forest Service, are necessary for the management of these lands.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the green floater (Lasmigona subviridis), a mussel species from as many as 10 States in the eastern United States and the District of Columbia, as a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This document also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the green floater. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. We also propose to designate critical habitat for the green floater under the Act. In total, approximately 2,553 kilometers (1,586 miles) of streams in Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the green floater. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species and its designated critical habitat.

At the request of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 103.92 acres of public lands in Douglas County, Oregon, from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, for a period of 20 years, subject to valid existing rights, to protect the unique recreational values as well as current and future site improvements at three public recreation sites. An additional 21.20 acres of public lands with non-Federal mineral interest and 38.50 acres of non-Federal lands, if acquired by the United States, would also be subject to the withdrawal. This notice segregates these lands for up to 2 years from location or entry under the United States mining laws, initiates a 90-day public comment period, and announces an opportunity to request a public meeting.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that two species are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris illinoensis) and Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list two mussel species, the Salina mucket (Potamilus metnecktayi) and Mexican fawnsfoot (Truncilla cognata) (which we collectively refer to as the Rio Grande mussels in this document), as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month findings on petitions to list the Salina mucket and Mexican fawnsfoot. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the Salina mucket and Mexican fawnsfoot is warranted. We also propose to designate critical habitat for the Salina mucket and Mexican fawnsfoot under the Act. For Salina mucket, approximately 200 river miles (rmi) (321 river kilometers (rkm)) in Brewster, Terrell, and Val Verde Counties, Texas, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. For Mexican fawnsfoot, approximately 185 rmi (299 rkm) in Maverick, Webb, and Zapata Counties, Texas, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. We announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation of critical habitat for the Salina mucket and Mexican fawnsfoot. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species and their designated critical habitats.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered or threatened species under the ESA. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation and survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

BOEM announces the availability of the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the potential issuance of a wind energy research lease to the State of Maine. The draft EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the site characterization and site assessment activities that are expected to take place should this research lease be issued. This notice of availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period, as well as the dates and times for public meetings on the draft EA. After BOEM holds the public meetings and addresses public comments submitted during the review period, BOEM will publish a final EA. The EA will inform BOEM's decision whether to issue the research lease.

ONRR is republishing and revising certain subparts of its regulations to implement an order and judgment from the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming that vacated the Federal and Indian coal valuation provisions of the 2016 Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Reform rule. ONRR is further making non-substantive punctuation and grammatical corrections as part of this republication.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA 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 Sacramento and Yolo Counties, CA.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Eastern California Museum (ECM) 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 Inyo 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 collected at St. Michael's Mission in Fremont County, WY.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Gilcrease Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definitions of both sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items were removed from Shasta County, CA, and from northern California.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Lyon County Historical Society intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural item was removed from Lyon County, MN.