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

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 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 Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, CA.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Empire Wind, LLC (Empire Wind) for its proposed Empire Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project (Project) offshore New York. The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the Project as described in the COP (the proposed action) and the alternatives to the proposed action. The FEIS will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the COP.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has made available the draft 2023 Criteria for Evaluating Water Management Plans (Standard Criteria) for public review and comment.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the Quitobaquito tryonia (Tryonia quitobaquitae), a springsnail species from Arizona, as an endangered 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 Quitobaquito tryonia. 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 Quitobaquito tryonia under the Act. In total, approximately 6,095 square feet (566 square meters) across 2 subunits in Pima County, Arizona, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis (DEA) of the proposed designation of critical habitat for Quitobaquito tryonia. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species and its designated critical habitat.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Witte Museum has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Val Verde County, TX.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the David A. Fredrickson Archaeological Collections Facility at Sonoma State University intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an object of cultural patrimony and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural item was removed from Sutter County, CA.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a supplementary rule to protect natural resources and provide for public health and safety. The proposed supplementary rule would apply to all public lands and BLM facilities in Wyoming.

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

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Western Montana Resource Advisory Council (Council) will meet as follows.

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 issues the official trail marker insignias for El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail, El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail, and the Old Spanish National Historic Trail in the National Trails System.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a new rule to govern the management of surface resources and Special Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A), consistent with its duties under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act (NPRPA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and other authorities. The proposed rule would revise the framework for designating and assuring maximum protection of Special Areas' significant resource values, and would protect and enhance access for subsistence activities throughout the NPR-A. It would also incorporate aspects of the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) approved in April 2022. The proposed rule would have no effect on currently authorized oil and gas operations in the NPR-A. We solicit comments on all aspects of this proposed action.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) will meet as follows.

As part of the rulemaking process for the 2023-2024 season for migratory game bird hunting, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter, Service or we) has revised the process for establishing regulations for certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off- reservation trust lands, and ceded lands. The Service recognizes Tribal treaty rights and the reserved hunting rights and management authority of Indian Tribes and seeks to strengthen Tribal sovereignty. We will no longer require that Tribes annually submit a proposal to the Service for our review and approval and no longer publish in the Federal Register the annual Tribal migratory bird hunting regulations. Instead, the regulations now include elements of our current guidelines for establishing migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations (including off-reservation trust lands) and ceded lands. Since 1985, Tribal migratory bird harvest has been small with negligible impact to bird population status, and we anticipate that Tribal hunting of migratory birds will continue to have similar negligible impacts to bird populations in the future. This rule will reduce administrative burdens on both the Tribes and the Service while continuing to sustain healthy migratory game bird populations for future generations.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the approval of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon Class III gaming ordinance by the Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission.