Department of the Interior February 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is publishing this notice in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The BLM gives notice that the Secretary of the Interior is establishing the San Juan Islands National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC) and seeking nominations for individuals to be considered as MAC members.

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.

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 (BLM) Colorado's Northwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC) is announcing its 2024 winter meeting.

In this notice, the Office of Self-Governance (OSG) establishes a deadline for Indian tribes/consortia to submit completed applications to begin participation in the tribal self-governance program in fiscal year 2025 or calendar year 2025.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes a new information collection request (ICR).

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we, the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing a new information collection.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) proposes to establish hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2024-25 hunting season. Through an annual rulemaking process, we prescribe outside limits (which we refer to as frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2024-25 general duck seasons, and provides preliminary proposals that vary from the 2023-24 hunting season regulations. Migratory bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing a new information collection in use without Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Goucher College intends to repatriate 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 thirteen cultural items were removed from areas in the present-day states of New Mexico and Arizona.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes in this notice. The cultural items were removed from Riverside County, CA.

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

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ohio History Connection 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 Lucas County, Ohio.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ohio History Connection 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 Hancock County, Ohio.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ohio History Connection 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 Defiancé County, OH.

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Central Washington University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items were removed from Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima County, WA.

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

This notice publishes the approval of the Memorandum of Incorporation of Most Favored Nation Amendments to the Tribal-State Compact for Class III Gaming between the Tulalip Tribes of Washington and the State of Washington.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that two species are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list the north Oregon coast distinct population segment (DPS) of the red tree vole (Arborimus longicaudus) and Plateau spot-tailed earless lizard (Holbrookia lacerata). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of either of the species mentioned above or their habitats.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is issuing this direct final rule to amend its regulations by reducing the threshold for electronic payment of quarterly Abandoned Mine Land (AML) reclamation fees from $25,000 to $500. On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) will close OSMRE's lockbox, which is used to process non-electronic reclamation fee payments. After April 15, 2024, quarterly reclamation fees of $500 or more must be paid by electronic transfer, while quarterly reclamation fees of less than $500 may be paid by electronic transfer or by check or money order sent to OSMRE's Division of Financial Management. By reducing the threshold for electronic payments, OSMRE will receive more payments through electronic funds transfer, which will expedite and streamline its fee collection efforts.

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.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the draft environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the reasonably foreseeable impacts from additional site assessment plan (SAP) activities in Lease Area OCS-A 0520 offshore Massachusetts. Beacon Wind, LLC (Beacon Wind), the leaseholder, requests to conduct additional site assessment activities in the lease area that were not analyzed in the initial EA titled ``Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts'' (2014 EA). The draft EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the proposed site assessment activities, which consist of 35 deployments and removals of a single suction bucket foundation at 26 locations within the Lease Area to gather information to support the engineering design of wind turbine and offshore substation foundations that would potentially be installed within the Lease Area for a future Beacon Wind project. This notice of availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period, as well as the dates and times for public meetings on the draft EA. After BOEM holds the public meetings and addresses public comments submitted during the review period, BOEM will publish a final EA. The EA will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve the site assessment plan amendment for additional site assessment activities.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose new regulations to ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health (BIDEH) of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) are maintained, and where appropriate, restored and enhanced, in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. In addition, the Service is proposing updates to the existing BIDEH policy, which will be available for public comment concurrently with the proposed regulations in this docket. These proposed regulatory and policy revisions would support conservation throughout the Refuge System in response to both longstanding and contemporary conservation challenges, including the universal and profound effects of climate change on refuge species and ecosystems. Together, these proposals would uphold BIDEH across the Refuge System by providing refuge managers with a consistent approach for evaluating and implementing management actions to protect vulnerable species, restore and connect habitats, promote natural processes, sustain vital ecological functions, increase resilience, and adapt to climate change.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an application for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. As part of the application, the applicant submitted a proposed safe harbor agreement. The Service prepared a draft screening form in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects of the specific project to the natural and human environment. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these documents. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.