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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Montana 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 McKenzie County, ND.

The National Park Service published in the Federal Register on October 2, 2023, a notice of public meeting of the Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee scheduled for November 16, 2023. The document contained an incorrect date. The date of the meeting is November 9, 2023.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on October 21, 2021, segregated public lands included in the right-of-way application (N- 089655) for the Copper Rays Solar Project 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 subject to valid existing rights. This 2-year extension of the segregation is necessary for the orderly administration of the public lands in order to allow the BLM to complete review of the Copper Rays Solar Project application and reach a decision on the application.

Under the Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) Act of 1934, as amended by the JOM Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act of 2018, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is publishing a Final Report that describes the initial determination of the number of eligible Indian students served or potentially served by each eligible entity, the data used for BIE to make such determination, feedback gained during the comment period, and justification for not applying feedback gained during the comment period.

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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Hult Reservoir and Dam Safety Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

This notice announces changes to the mailing and street address for the Northeastern States District Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The plats of survey of the following described land were officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona State Office, Phoenix, Arizona on the dates indicated. The surveys announced in this notice are necessary for the management of lands administered by the agency indicated.

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.

The National Park Service proposes to amend the special regulations for Cape Hatteras National Seashore to allow for bicycle use on an approximately 1.6-mile multi-use pathway to be constructed in the Hatteras Island District of the Seashore.

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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing Nelson's checker-mallow (Sidalcea nelsoniana) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Our review of the best available scientific and commercial data indicates that the threats to Nelson's checker-mallow have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from the County of Santa Cruz (applicant) for renewal of an existing incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant has requested a renewal that will extend permit duration by 20 years from the date the permit is reissued. The permit would continue to authorize take of the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle that is incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the approved Interim Programmatic Habitat Conservation Plan for the Endangered Mount Hermon June Beetle and Ben Lomond Spineflower. We invite comment on the application and associated documents from agencies, Tribes, and the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), withdraw the proposal to remove Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants (List). This withdrawal is based on new surveys conducted over the past 3 years since completing the 5-year review for the species; these surveys have identified new suitable habitats comprised of native vegetation within the former range of P. glabra var. lanaiensis. Therefore, we determined that additional information is needed before concluding that the species is extinct. With this withdrawal of the proposal, P. glabra var. lanaiensis will remain on the List as endangered. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we publish a final rule removing 21 species that were part of our September 30, 2021, proposed rule.

The plats of survey of lands described in this notice are scheduled to be officially filed in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, Anchorage, Alaska. The surveys, which were executed at the request of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and BLM, are necessary for the management of these lands.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce two 90-day findings on petitions to reclassify the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), or populations thereof, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Two valid subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), are currently protected under the Act as part of the threatened West Indian manatee species-level listing. One petition requests the Puerto Rico population of the Antillean manatee be listed as an endangered distinct population segment (DPS) and critical habitat be designated for this entity under the Act. The second petition requests to reclassify the West Indian manatee, including its subspecies the Antillean manatee and Florida manatee, as endangered species under the Act. Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we plan to initiate a status review to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are requesting new scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the West Indian manatee throughout its range, including information specific to the Puerto Rico population of Antillean manatee, and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month petition finding, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice of a public meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council (Council), in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

The National Park Service is soliciting electronic comments on the significance of properties nominated before August 26, 2023, for listing or related actions in the National Register of Historic Places.

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 Endangered Species Act. 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.

On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 261 (GOM Lease Sale 261), in accordance with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended, and its implementing regulations. This revised GOM Lease Sale 261 Final Notice of Sale (Final NOS) package contains information essential to potential bidders and comprises this notice, Information to Lessees, and Lease Stipulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is renewing an existing information collection.

As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, notice is hereby given that temporary closures and temporary restrictions of activities will be in effect on public lands administered by the Lake Havasu Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to minimize the risk of potential collisions with spectators and racers during the Legacy Racing off- highway vehicle (OHV) race event authorized under a Special Recreation Permit.

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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the Lassics lupine (Lupinus constancei), a plant species native to northern California. We also designate critical habitat for the species. In total, approximately 512 acres (207 hectares) in Humboldt and Trinity Counties, California, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. This rule extends the protections of the Act to this species and its designated critical habitat.

This notice publishes the approval of the Addendum to the Tribal-State Compact for Control of Class III Blackjack between the Prairie Island Indian Community and the State of Minnesota.