81 FR 26825 - Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Northern Islands Submerged Lands Transfer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Draft Environmental Assessment
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 86 (May 4, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 86 (May 4, 2016)
| Page Range | 26825-26826 | |
| FR Document | 2016-09955 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 26825-26826] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-09955] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R1-R-2015-N020; FF01R05000-FVRS8451-0100000] Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Northern Islands Submerged Lands Transfer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Draft Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (Draft EA) for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Monument) Northern Islands Submerged Lands (submerged lands) Transfer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), for public review and comment. The Draft EA describes our proposal for the Secretary of the Interior to convey specific submerged lands within the Monument from the United States to the CNMI Government under the authority of the Territorial Submerged Lands Act (TSLA), 48 U.S.C. 1705, et seq. DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments, please send your written comments by June 6, 2016. ADDRESSES: You can download the Draft EA from our Web site: www.fws.gov/marianastrenchmarinemonument/, and review printed copies of it at the locations listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Submit comments on the Draft EA and requests for more information by any of the following methods. Email: [email protected]. Include ``Submerged Lands Transfer'' in the subject line of the message. Fax: Attn: Charles Houghten, (503) 231-6161. U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Region, Attn: Charles Houghten, Chief, Lands Division, 911 NE 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97232. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Houghten, (503) 231-6207 (phone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction With this notice, we are announcing the availability of our Draft EA developed in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the CNMI Government, and in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other Federal laws and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with those laws and regulations. We are also requesting public comments on the Draft EA, and will review and consider all comments as part of our NEPA process. Background The subject of our EA is the Northern Islands submerged lands surrounding the islands of Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas), Maug, and Asuncion in the CNMI, which include lands permanently or periodically covered by tidal waters up to the mean low water line, and extending three miles seaward from the mean high tide line of each of these islands. The submerged lands are among some of the most biologically diverse in the Western Pacific Ocean, with relatively pristine coral reef ecosystems that have been proclaimed objects of scientific interest and reserved for protection as part of the Monument's Islands Unit, by Presidential Proclamation 8335 of January 6, 2009. The submerged lands and associated waters were excepted from transfer to the CNMI Government by operation of the TSLA in Presidential Proclamation 9077 of January 15, 2014. Proclamation 9077 also provided that it did not affect the authority of the Secretary of the Interior granted under the TSLA, to convey the submerged lands after an agreement has been entered for coordination of management that ensures the protection of the Monument. The Draft EA The purpose of the Draft EA is to analyze alternatives for the proposed conveyance of the Northern Islands submerged lands and associated waters to the CNMI Government. We identify two alternatives in the Draft EA. Alternative 1 is our Current Land Status Alternative (No Action); under it, the Department of the Interior (DOI) would not convey the submerged lands, including mineral rights, to CNMI. The Service and NOAA would continue to coordinate management of the submerged lands and associated waters, including fishery-related activities of the Islands Unit, in consultation with the CNMI Government. We would manage the Monument in accordance with the directives of Presidential Proclamation 8335, and implement activities to address priority management needs based on agency-specific authorities and an integrated management plan. Under our preferred alternative, Alternative 2 (or Northern Islands Submerged Lands Conveyance alternative), DOI would convey the submerged lands, including mineral rights, to the CNMI Government through a patent with a reserved easement. Consistent with the requirements of Proclamation 9077, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would also be implemented to outline the roles and responsibilities of the CNMI Government, the Service, and NOAA, for ensuring protection of the Monument, and managing and conducting activities within the submerged lands and associated waters. Upon the conveyance of the NISL to CNMI and pursuant to the MOA, the Service and NOAA would, at no additional cost to the CNMI, continue managing the conveyed submerged lands, for the benefit of and in consultation with the CNMI Government, until such time that the CNMI Government notifies the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce of its intent to assume either all or a portion of the management responsibilities of the conveyed submerged lands. Alternative 2 would allow the CNMI Government to assume primary responsibility for managing and protecting the Northern Islands submerged lands and associated waters consistent with the purposes and requirements of Proclamations 8335 and 9077, and in coordination with the Service and NOAA, at such time as the CNMI Government notifies the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce of its desire to do so. Consistent with the Proclamations 8335 and 9077, this management would include the benthic and living marine resources of the associated water column, and subterranean of the submerged lands, and the associated mineral rights within. [[Page 26826]] Public Availability of the Draft EA Printed copies of the Draft EA are available for review at the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, Gualo Rai Center, Chalan Pale Arnold-Middle Road, Saipan, MP 96950, and the following libraries.Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Beach Road and Insatto St., Saipan, MP 96950. Tinian Public Library, San Jose Village, Tinian, MP 96952. Antonio Camacho Atalig Memorial Library, Tatachog Village, Rota, MP 96951. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Robyn Thorson, Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 2016-09955 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 4, 2016 / Notices 26825
Dated: April 13, 2016. Houghten, Chief, Lands Division, 911 the Department of the Interior (DOI)
Noah Matson, NE 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97232. would not convey the submerged lands,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: including mineral rights, to CNMI. The
Service. Charles Houghten, (503) 231–6207 Service and NOAA would continue to
Dated: April 13, 2016. (phone). coordinate management of the
Samuel D. Rauch, III, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: submerged lands and associated waters,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for including fishery-related activities of
Regulatory Programs, National Marine Introduction the Islands Unit, in consultation with
Fisheries Service. With this notice, we are announcing the CNMI Government. We would
[FR Doc. 2016–10479 Filed 5–3–16; 8:45 am] the availability of our Draft EA manage the Monument in accordance
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P developed in cooperation with the with the directives of Presidential
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Proclamation 8335, and implement
Administration (NOAA) and the CNMI activities to address priority
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Government, and in compliance with management needs based on agency-
the National Environmental Policy Act specific authorities and an integrated
Fish and Wildlife Service (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. management plan.
4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR
[FWS–R1–R–2015–N020; FF01R05000– Under our preferred alternative,
FVRS8451–0100000] parts 1500–1508); other Federal laws
Alternative 2 (or Northern Islands
and regulations; and our policies and
procedures for compliance with those Submerged Lands Conveyance
Marianas Trench Marine National alternative), DOI would convey the
Monument, Commonwealth of the laws and regulations. We are also
requesting public comments on the submerged lands, including mineral
Northern Mariana Islands; Northern rights, to the CNMI Government through
Islands Submerged Lands Transfer to Draft EA, and will review and consider
all comments as part of our NEPA a patent with a reserved easement.
the Commonwealth of the Northern
process. Consistent with the requirements of
Mariana Islands Draft Environmental
Proclamation 9077, a Memorandum of
Assessment Background Agreement (MOA) would also be
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, The subject of our EA is the Northern implemented to outline the roles and
Interior. Islands submerged lands surrounding responsibilities of the CNMI
ACTION: Notice of availability; request the islands of Farallon de Pajaros Government, the Service, and NOAA,
for comments. (Uracas), Maug, and Asuncion in the for ensuring protection of the
CNMI, which include lands Monument, and managing and
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and permanently or periodically covered by conducting activities within the
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the tidal waters up to the mean low water submerged lands and associated waters.
availability of a draft environmental line, and extending three miles seaward
Upon the conveyance of the NISL to
assessment (Draft EA) for the Marianas from the mean high tide line of each of
CNMI and pursuant to the MOA, the
Trench Marine National Monument these islands.
The submerged lands are among some Service and NOAA would, at no
(Monument) Northern Islands
of the most biologically diverse in the additional cost to the CNMI, continue
Submerged Lands (submerged lands)
Western Pacific Ocean, with relatively managing the conveyed submerged
Transfer to the Commonwealth of the
pristine coral reef ecosystems that have lands, for the benefit of and in
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), for
public review and comment. The Draft been proclaimed objects of scientific consultation with the CNMI
EA describes our proposal for the interest and reserved for protection as Government, until such time that the
Secretary of the Interior to convey part of the Monument’s Islands Unit, by CNMI Government notifies the
specific submerged lands within the Presidential Proclamation 8335 of Secretaries of Interior and Commerce of
Monument from the United States to the January 6, 2009. its intent to assume either all or a
CNMI Government under the authority The submerged lands and associated portion of the management
of the Territorial Submerged Lands Act waters were excepted from transfer to responsibilities of the conveyed
(TSLA), 48 U.S.C. 1705, et seq. the CNMI Government by operation of submerged lands.
the TSLA in Presidential Proclamation Alternative 2 would allow the CNMI
DATES: To ensure consideration of your
9077 of January 15, 2014. Proclamation Government to assume primary
comments, please send your written
9077 also provided that it did not affect responsibility for managing and
comments by June 6, 2016.
the authority of the Secretary of the protecting the Northern Islands
ADDRESSES: You can download the Draft Interior granted under the TSLA, to
EA from our Web site: www.fws.gov/ submerged lands and associated waters
convey the submerged lands after an consistent with the purposes and
marianastrenchmarinemonument/, and agreement has been entered for
review printed copies of it at the requirements of Proclamations 8335 and
coordination of management that
locations listed under SUPPLEMENTARY 9077, and in coordination with the
ensures the protection of the
INFORMATION. Submit comments on the Service and NOAA, at such time as the
Monument.
Draft EA and requests for more CNMI Government notifies the
information by any of the following The Draft EA Secretaries of Interior and Commerce of
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
methods. The purpose of the Draft EA is to its desire to do so. Consistent with the
Email: fw1_sltransfer_cnmi@fws.gov. analyze alternatives for the proposed Proclamations 8335 and 9077, this
Include ‘‘Submerged Lands Transfer’’ in conveyance of the Northern Islands management would include the benthic
the subject line of the message. submerged lands and associated waters and living marine resources of the
Fax: Attn: Charles Houghten, (503) to the CNMI Government. We identify associated water column, and
231–6161. two alternatives in the Draft EA. subterranean of the submerged lands,
U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Alternative 1 is our Current Land and the associated mineral rights
Service, Pacific Region, Attn: Charles Status Alternative (No Action); under it, within.
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![26826 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 4, 2016 / Notices
Public Availability of the Draft EA DATES: To ensure that your comments the information is useful; (b) the
are considered, we must receive them accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
Printed copies of the Draft EA are
on or before July 5, 2016. burden of the proposed collection of
available for review at the
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments information; (c) ways to enhance the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
on this information collection to the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the
Islands Bureau of Environmental and
Information Collection Clearance information to be collected; and (d) how
Coastal Quality, Gualo Rai Center,
Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 to minimize the burden on the
Chalan Pale Arnold–Middle Road,
Sunrise Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, respondents, including the use of
Saipan, MP 96950, and the following
VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648–7197 (fax); automated collection techniques or
libraries.
or gs-info_collections@usgs.gov (email). other forms of information technology.
• Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Beach Please note that the comments
Please reference ‘Information Collection
Road and Insatto St., Saipan, MP 96950. submitted in response to this notice are
1028–0059, Comprehensive Test Ban
• Tinian Public Library, San Jose Treaty in all correspondence. a matter of public record. Before
Village, Tinian, MP 96952. including your personal mailing
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori
• Antonio Camacho Atalig Memorial address, phone number, email address,
E. Apodaca, National Minerals
Library, Tatachog Village, Rota, MP or other personally identifiable
Information Center, U.S. Geological
96951. information in your comment, you
Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS
989, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); 703–648– should be aware that your entire
Public Availability of Comments
7724 (phone); or lapodaca@usgs.gov comment, including your personally
Before including your address, phone (email). You may also find information identifiable information, may be made
number, email address, or other about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov. publicly available at any time. While
personal identifying information in your you can ask us in your comment to
comment, you should be aware that SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
withhold your personally identifiable
your entire comment—including your I. Abstract information from public view, we
personal identifying information—may cannot guarantee that we will be able to
The collection of this information is
be made publicly available at any time. do so.
required by the Comprehensive Test
While you can ask us in your comment
Ban Treaty (CTBT), and will, upon Michael J. Magyar,
to withhold your personal identifying
request, provide the CTBT Technical Associate Director, National Minerals
information from public review, we
Secretariat with geographic locations of Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey.
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
sites where chemical explosions greater [FR Doc. 2016–10379 Filed 5–3–16; 8:45 am]
do so.
than 300 tons TNT-equivalent have BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
Robyn Thorson, occurred.
Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland,
II. Data
Oregon. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[FR Doc. 2016–09955 Filed 5–3–16; 8:45 am] OMB Control Number: 1028–0059.
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Form Number: USGS Form 9–4040–A. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Title: Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. [167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/
Type of Request: Renewal of existing A0A501010.999900]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR information collection.
Affected Public: Business or Other- Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible
Geological Survey For-Profit Institutions: U.S. nonfuel To Receive Services From the United
minerals producers. States Bureau of Indian Affairs
[GX16LR000F60100] Respondent’s Obligation: None.
Participation is voluntary. AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Agency Information Collection Frequency of Collection: Annually. Interior.
Activities: Request for Comments Estimated Total Number of Annual ACTION: Notice.
Responses: 2,500.
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Estimated Time per Response: 15 SUMMARY: This notice publishes the
Interior. minutes. current list of 567 Tribal entities
Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 625 recognized and eligible for funding and
ACTION: Notice of a renewal of a
hours. services from the Bureau of Indian
currently approved information
Estimated Reporting and Affairs (BIA) by virtue of their status as
collection (1028–0059).
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ Indian Tribes. The list is updated from
SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Burden: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’ the notice published on January 29,
Survey) will ask the Office of burdens associated with this IC. 2016 (81 FR 5019).
Management and Budget (OMB) to Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
approve the information collection (IC) (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an Laurel Iron Cloud, Bureau of Indian
described below. This collection agency may not conduct or sponsor and Affairs, Division of Tribal Government
consists of 1 form. As required by the you are not required to respond to a Services, Mail Stop 4513–MIB, 1849 C
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of Street NW., Washington, DC 20240.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
collection of information unless it
1995, and as part of our continuing displays a currently valid OMB control Telephone number: (202) 513–7641.
efforts to reduce paperwork and number and current expiration date. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
respondent burden, we invite the notice is published pursuant to Section
general public and other Federal III. Request for Comments 104 of the Act of November 2, 1994
agencies to take this opportunity to We are soliciting comments as to: (a) (Pub. L. 103–454; 108 Stat. 4791, 4792),
comment on this IC. This collection is Whether the proposed collection of and in exercise of authority delegated to
scheduled to expire on October 31, information is necessary for the agency the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs
2016. to perform its duties, including whether under 25 U.S.C. 2 and 9 and 209 DM 8.
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Document Created: 2016-05-04 01:23:06
Document Modified: 2016-05-04 01:23:06
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability; request for comments. | |
| Dates | To ensure consideration of your comments, please send your written comments by June 6, 2016. | |
| Contact | Charles Houghten, (503) 231-6207 (phone). | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 26825 |
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