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 Nevada, Las Vegas 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 an unknown county or counties in Nevada.

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closures of certain public lands under its administration for three annual off- highway vehicle (OHV) races that occur in Laughlin, Nevada. This area is used by OHV recreationists, and the temporary closures are needed to limit their access to the race area and to minimize the risk of potential collisions with spectators and racers.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the California State University, Chico (CSU, Chico) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 Placer and Sutter Counties, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Riverside (UCR) 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 Riverside, CA.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Louisiana State University, Museum of Natural Science (LSUMNS) has amended a Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2000. This notice amends the minimum number of individuals and the number of associated funerary objects in a collection removed from the Phillip Nicks Place site in Avoyelles Parish, LA (16AV4).

This notice publishes the approval of the Sixth Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Suquamish Tribe and the State of Washington.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), reclassify the relict darter (Etheostoma chienense) from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The relict darter is a fish species that occupies the Bayou de Chien stream system in western Kentucky. This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that relict darter is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but it is still likely to become so in the foreseeable future. We are also finalizing a rule under section 4(d) of the Act that provides for the conservation of the relict darter.

This notice publishes the approval of the Fourth Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the State of Washington.

This notice publishes the approval of the Fifth Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the State of Washington.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on permit applications regarding foreign bird species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA). With some exceptions, the WBCA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The WBCA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity it otherwise prohibits.

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closure of certain public lands under its administration in Clark County, Nevada. This temporary closure is being made in the interest of public safety for the Rise Lantern Festival over a 2-day period the first full weekend of October of each year from 2023 to 2027. This closure controls access to multiple points of entry to the festival located on the Jean Dry Lake to minimize the risk of vehicle collisions involving festival participants and workers. The temporary closure also ensures adequate time to conduct clean-up of the festival location.

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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications for a permit to conduct activities intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits certain activities that may impact endangered species, unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

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 with revisions.

This notice announces the decision to request that the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia prepare a draft nomination for inclusion on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The decision is the result of consultation with the Federal Interagency Panel for World Heritage and the review of public comments submitted in response to an earlier notice. This notice complies with applicable World Heritage Program regulations.

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

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.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 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 an unknown county in Utah.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 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 White Pine County, Nevada.