Department of the Interior – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and draft categorical exclusion for activities associated with an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The ITP would authorize take of listed species incidental to construction of a single-family residence at 12 Rancho San Carlos (Ocho West). The Applicant developed the draft HCP as part of their application for an ITP. The Service prepared a draft categorical exclusion in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the Applicant. We invite public comment on these documents.

This notice informs the public that the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs proclaimed approximately 114 acres, more or less, an addition to the reservation of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community of Minnesota on June 3, 2020.

This notice announces that the Model Tribal Gaming Compact between the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma and the State of Oklahoma (Compact), and the Extension of State-Tribal Gaming Compact between the State Of Oklahoma and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma (Extension), are taking effect.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and draft categorical exclusion for activities described in an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The ITP would authorize take of a listed species incidental to construction of a single-family residence. The applicant developed the draft HCP in support of their application for an ITP. The Service prepared a draft categorical exclusion in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the applicant. We invite public comment on these documents.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is providing notice of an application from the United States Forest Service (USFS) requesting that Public Land Order (PLO) 7467 be extended for an additional 20-year term. PLO 7467 withdrew 74,689 acres of National Forest System lands in the Coconino National Forest, San Francisco Peaks/Mount Elden Recreation Area, Arizona. The PLO withdrew these lands from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the general land laws and the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws. This notice also gives the public the opportunity to comment on the withdrawal extension application, and announces the date, time, and venue for a virtual public meeting.

The Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) within the Office of the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs (AS-IA) within the Department of the Interior (Department) hereby provides notice that OFA has issued a Phase I negative Proposed Finding (PF) in response to the petition it received from the group known as the Fernande[ntilde]o Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (FTB), headquartered in San Fernando, California. The petitioner seeks Federal acknowledgment as an Indian Tribe under the Department's regulations. The OFA has found that FTB meets only three of the four mandatory criteria reviewed under the Phase I review, as defined by the regulations.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (OPLMA), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), as co-lead agencies, announce the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider a right-of-way (ROW) application submitted by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) (referred to henceforth as the Northern Corridor Project), and potential amendments to the St. George Field Office and Red Cliffs National Conservation Area (NCA) Resource Management Plans (RMPs).

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office, Canon City, Colorado, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed competitive mineral materials sale at Parkdale, Freemont County, Colorado, and by this notice is announcing its availability.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we) proposes to amend its refuge-specific regulations on Kenai National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to allow State-regulated trapping, harvest of brown bears over bait, discharge of firearms along the Kenai and Russian Rivers during certain times of the year in accordance with State law, increased access for the public using bicycles and game carts, and the use of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and utility task vehicles on certain lakes when there is adequate snow and ice cover. The purpose of this proposed rule is to align public use regulations on Kenai NWR with State of Alaska regulations, align Service and State management of fish and wildlife to the extent practicable and consistent with Federal law, enhance consistency with harvest regulations on adjacent non-Federal lands and waters, and increase access to Federal lands in furtherance of Secretarial Orders 3347 and 3356.

The Field Museum of Natural History (Field Museum), in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the Field Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

History Colorado has completed an inventory of human remains in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to History Colorado. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Field Museum of Natural History has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the Field Museum of Natural History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Laboratories of Archaeology has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and any present-day Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Laboratories of Archaeology. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meets the definition of sacred objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the FBI. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The John Michael Kohler Arts Center, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). Approximately 598,261 hectares (ha) (1,478,333 acres (ac)) in portions of 10 Florida counties fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would extend the Act's protections to this species' critical habitat. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), in coordination with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and four other cooperating agencies, announce the availability of the Lake Powell Pipeline (LPP) Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the Arizona Strip Field Office Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) (Draft EIS/Draft RMPA) for public review and comment for 90 days. The Draft EIS/Draft RMPA describes the potential environmental impacts of the No Action Alternative and two action alternatives for the LPP, proposed by the Utah Board of Water Resources (UBWR).

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for members to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Rio Puerco Management Committee (Committee).

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission (Commission) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service (NPS) is hereby giving notice that the National Park System Advisory Board (Board) will meet as noted below.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to establish a new permit for State and federally recognized Tribal (hereafter ``Tribe'' or ``Tribal'') wildlife agencies for the management of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; hereafter ``cormorants''). The new permit would authorize specific take activities that are normally prohibited and are intended to relieve or prevent impacts from cormorants on lands within State or Tribal jurisdictions to address conflicts related to the following issues: wild and publicly stocked fish stocked by State agencies or Tribes; Tribal- and State-owned or operated aquaculture facilities (including hatcheries); human health and safety; State- or Tribal-owned property and assets; and threatened and endangered species (listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, or identified in State- or Tribal-specific legislation as threatened or endangered). The Service would retain ultimate authority for regulating the take of cormorants. States and Tribes would have the discretion to determine whether, when, where, and for which of the above purposes they would conduct lethal take within limits and allocations set by the Service.

On April 5, 2016, BOEM published a proposed rule that would amend the regulations related to air quality measurement, evaluation, and control for oil, gas, and sulfur operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The rule proposed significant revisions to existing regulations. This final rule amends the air quality management regulations applicable to activities that BOEM authorizes on the OCS of the United States in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) west of 87.5 degrees longitude and adjacent to the North Slope Borough of the State of Alaska. The air quality regulatory program (AQRP) is a component of the review and approval of plans for the exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and sulfur on the OCS to comport with the Secretary of the Interior's separate and distinct statutory authority governing air quality. This final rule implements the Secretary of the Interior's statutory responsibility to ensure that conventional energy activities authorized under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) do not preclude compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to the extent those activities significantly affect the air quality of any State.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from Hog Creek Wind Project, LLC (the applicant), for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the Hog Creek Wind Farm Project. If approved, the ITP would authorize the incidental take of the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat for a 30-year term. The applicant has prepared a draft habitat conservation plan, which is available for public review. We also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We request public comment on the application and associated documents.

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 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 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.

The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD), Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), is soliciting grant proposals from federally recognized Indian Tribes to build Tribal capacity for energy resource regulation and management under the Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) grant program.