The Federal Register

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Pecos Sunflower

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the comment period on the proposed designation of critical habitat for Helianthus paradoxus (Pecos sunflower) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce a revision to proposed critical habitat Unit 4 and clarification of Unit 5, the availability of a draft economic analysis and draft environmental assessment, and an amended required determinations section of the proposal. The draft economic analysis estimates costs associated with conservation activities for H. paradoxus to be approximately $3.9 to $4.4 million in undiscounted dollars over the next 20 years ($193,000 to $221,000 annualized). We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule, our revisions to the proposed rule, the associated draft economic analysis and environmental assessment, and the amended required determinations section. You do not have to resend comm

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designations of Critical Habitat for the San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period and the scheduling of public hearings on the proposed rule to revise critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus), and on the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for Poa atropurpurea (San Bernardino bluegrass) and Taraxacum californicum (California taraxacum) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The reopened comment periods will provide the public; Federal, State, and local agencies; and Tribes with an additional opportunity to submit written comments on these proposed rules. Comments previously submitted for the proposed critical habitat designations for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat, P. atropurpurea, or T. californicum need not be resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in any final decisions.

Final Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Great Falls, Park, VA.

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(c), the National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan, Great Falls Park, Virginia (FEIS/GMP), administered by the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), a unit of the National Park System.

Receipt of Applications for Permit

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals.

Elk and Vegetation Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact Statement, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Elk and Vegetation Management Plan, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. This Final Plan analyzes five alternatives, including a no action alternative, to manage elk and vegetation within the Park. Alternative 3, the preferred alternative, would use a variety of conservation tools including fencing, redistribution of elk, vegetation restoration and lethal reduction of elk (culling). The number of elk removed would vary each year based on annual population surveys and hunter success outside the park.

Issuance of Permits

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

The following permits were issued.

Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, for the Martin Van Buren

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), as amended, the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the General Management Plan (GMP) for the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site (NHS) in Kinderhook, New York. This effort will result in a comprehensive general management plan that encompasses preservation of natural and cultural resources, visitor use and interpretation, park carrying capacity and any necessary facilities. The planning area includes Martin Van Buren's home from 183962, Lindenwald, various out buildings and roads and the 39 acres that comprise the entire National Historic Site established by Congress in 1974. Attention will also be given to resources outside the boundaries that may affect the integrity of the site.

The GMP/EIS will be prepared by planners in the NPS Northeast Region and park staff with assistance from advisors and consultants, and will propose a longterm approach to managing

Notice of Termination of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

This notice announces the termination of the process to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Resource Study. The study area includes parts of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. In accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service published a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register on March 5, 2002.

Subsequent scoping did not reveal the potential for significant adverse impacts or controversy; therefore, it was determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) would suffice to address National Environmental Policy Act requirements for this study.

The WashingtonRochambeau Revolutionary Route Resource Study and Environmental Assessment was made available for public review starting 11/13/2006, and the comment period ended 5/4/2007. Based on the results o

Update of Linear Right-of-Way Rent Schedule

Tue, Dec 11 2007 11:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to amend its rightofway regulations to update the linear rightofway rent schedule in 43 CFR parts 2800 and 2880. The rent schedule covers most linear rightsofway granted under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), and Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (MLA). Those laws require the holder of a rightofway grant to pay annually, in advance, the fair market value to occupy, use, or traverse public lands for facilities such as power lines, fiber optic lines, pipelines, roads, and ditches.

Section 367 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (the Act) directs the Secretary of the Interior to update the per acre rent schedule found in 43 CFR 2806.20. The Act requires that the BLM revise the per acre rental fee zone value schedule by state, county, and type of linear rightofway use to reflect current land values in each zone. The Act also requires the Secretary of Agriculture (Forest Service) to