Department of the Interior September 20, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

At the request of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and subject to valid existing rights, the Secretary of the Interior proposes to withdraw 4,212.98 acres of public lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, and from disposal of minerals under the Materials Act of 1947, for up to a 50-year term. This notice segregates the lands for up to two years from location and entry under the United States mining laws, from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, and from disposal of mineral materials, subject to valid existing rights; initiates a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal; and notifies the public that one public meeting will be held regarding the application.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the Texas abandoned mine land reclamation plan (Texas Plan) and regulations under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Texas proposed to revise its existing Plan and regulations in response to OSMRE's request to amend the Texas Plan and to improve the readability and efficiency of the document.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Miami cave crayfish (Procambarus milleri), a crayfish species from Miami-Dade County, Florida, as a threatened species 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 Miami cave crayfish. 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 Miami cave crayfish as a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (``4(d) rule''). If we finalize this proposed rule, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are reopening the public comment period due to a request for an extension of the public comment period to a proposed amendment to the Montana regulatory program (hereinafter, the Montana program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Montana proposed this amendment to OSMRE, on its own initiative, following its passing of Montana House Bill 576 (2023), which amends the Montana Code Annotated and proposes changes to the definition of material damage and changes to permit requirements related to hydrologic information. HB 576 also adds four contingencies to the proposed amendments of the MCA: a severability clause, a contingent voidness clause, an effective date clause, and a retroactive applicability clause. This document gives the times and locations that the Montana program and this revised proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the revised amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are approving an amendment to the Ohio regulatory program (the Ohio program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Ohio's proposed amendment is prompted by requirements within the Ohio statute that all agencies must review their administrative rules every five years. Consistent with this requirement, the Ohio Reclamation Commission (the Commission), proposes an amendment to its procedural rules in order to ensure an orderly, efficient, and effective appeals process.

The U.S. Geological Survey seeks nominations for individuals to be considered for membership to serve on the Advisory Committee on Landslides.