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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley 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. The human remains and associated funerary objects were removed from Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, CA.

Through this notice the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is segregating public lands included in the right-of-way application for the Pantheon Solar project (N-099861) from appropriation under the public land laws, including the Mining Law, but not the Mineral Leasing or Material Sales Acts, for a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice, subject to valid existing rights. This segregation is to allow for the orderly administration of the public lands to facilitate consideration of development of renewable energy resources. The public lands segregated by this notice total 4,210.06 acres.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), expand hunting opportunities on three National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). We also 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 rulemaking, indicates that lead ammunition and tackle have negative impacts on both wildlife and human health. In this rule, Blackwater, Chincoteague, Eastern Neck, Erie, Great Thicket, Patuxent Research Refuge, Rachel Carson, and Wallops Island NWRs each adopt a non-lead requirement, which will take effect on September 1, 2026. 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 increasing or authorizing the new use of lead beyond fall 2026.

The plats of survey of the following described lands are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Oregon State Office, Portland, Oregon, 30 calendar days from the date of this publication.

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

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is publishing this notice to announce that a Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC) will take place.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes a modified competitive sale of an 80-acre parcel of public land in Emery County, Utah. The parcel would be offered for sale pursuant to the John D. Dingell Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The sale would be subject to the applicable provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and BLM land sale regulations. The surface estate would be sold for no less than the appraised fair market value of $34,000.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before October 14, 2023, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

This order extends the duration of the withdrawal created by Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7587, which withdrew 852 acres of National Forest System lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights, for an additional 20- year period. The purpose of this withdrawal is to protect the United States Forest Service-managed Langmuir Principal Research Site to study thundercloud mechanisms, lightning, and precipitation, for an additional 20 years. This order also corrects the legal description of, but does not change, the lands withdrawn.

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 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 three areas near Kasilof, south of Soldotna, in the northwestern portion of the upper Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK.

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 near the Native Village of Ambler in the Northwest Arctic Borough, AK.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for 16 of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) statewide and regional Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have vacant positions or members whose terms are scheduled to expire. These RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within the geographic areas for which the RACs are organized.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing a new information collection.

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 Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties, MA.

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 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 Calaveras County, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) 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 Kane County, IL.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of Anthropology at Washington State University (WSU Museum of Anthropology) 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 Asotin County, WA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh 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 Green Lake County, WI.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (CASA) 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 St. Johns County, FL.

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 a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The human remains were removed from Inyo County, CA.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes this information collection request (ICR) to renew Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1010-0191.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Self-Governance PROGRESS Act Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (Committee), will hold their ninth 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 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Hastings Museum 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 Bartow County, GA.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing receipt of 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 submitted this proposed amendment to us, on its own initiative, following the passage of a Montana House Bill during the 2023 legislative session. Montana proposes several changes to the Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Montana adds a new section detailing the procedures a permittee must follow when applying for a ``minor revision'' to its permit. Montana adds several new definitions and removes the current procedures for a permit revision application. Furthermore, Montana adds clarifying language regarding ``minor revisions'' of permits. Lastly, Montana adds contingencies that will not be codified into law but that will apply to the proposed amendment: ``Codification Instructions'' and ``Contingent Termination.'' This document gives the times and locations that the Montana program and this proposed amendment to that program are available for your inspection, the comment period during which you may submit written comments on the amendment, and the procedures that we will follow for the public hearing, if one is requested.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Orange County Parks and Recreation Division (Horizon West Regional Park, applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) incidental to the construction of a recreational park in Orange County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's 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.