Federal Register - March 2016

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USDA - The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a series of revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for use by NRCS State Conservationists. [Friday, March 4, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 43)]

DOE - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Disposal of Greater-Than-Class C (GTCC) Low-Level Radioactive Waste and GTCC-Like Waste. [Friday, March 4, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 43)]

NSF - The Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources of the National Science Foundation (NSF) will hold a meeting on April 19-20 to provide advice to NSF on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and human resources programming. [Thursday, March 10, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 47)]

EPA - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) will hold a public teleconference of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) Particulate Matter (PM) Panel to peer review the EPA’s Draft Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter on May 23. [Monday, March 14, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 49)]

USGS - The National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC) of the U.S. Geological Survery (USGS) will meet on April 6–7.  [Monday, March 14, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 49)]

BOEM - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the availability of the 2017–2022 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program (PP). This proposal is the second of three proposals for the 2017–2022 OCS program, that will succeed the current 2012–2017 Program. The PP provides information and analyses to inform the Secretary of the Interior’s decision on the size, timing, and location of leasing during the 5 year time period. [Friday, March 18, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 53)]

BOEM -  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the availability of the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2017– 2022 Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Programmatic EIS) prepared by BOEM to support the Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017–2022. The notice initiates a public review and comment period. After the public meetings and written comments on the Draft Programmatic EIS have been reviewed and considered, a Final Programmatic EIS will be prepared. Comments must be received before May 2. [Friday, March 18, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 53)]

EPA -  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) final report on the National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA). The NRSA describes the results of a nation-wide probabilistic survey that was conducted in 2008-2009. This final report includes information on how the survey was implemented, what the findings are on a national and ecoregional scale, and future actions and challenges. [Monday, March 21, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 54)]

BOEM -  The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a proposed rule to address the use of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sand, gravel and shell resources for shore protection, beach restoration, or coastal wetlands restoration projects by Federal, State, or local government agencies. The proposed rule describes the noncompetitive agreement process for qualifying projects and codifies new and existing procedures. [Monday, March 21, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 54)]

NASA - The Applied Sciences Advisory Committee (ASAC) of NASA will hold a meeting on April 19. The meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting, from the applied sciences community and other persons, scientific and technical information relevant to Earth Science Division program planning. [Wednesday, March 23, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 56)]

DOE - The  State Energy Advisory Board (STEAB) of the Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a teleconference on April 21 to make recommendations to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy regarding their goals and policies. [Wednesday, March 23, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 56)]

DOE -  The National Coal Council (NCC) of the Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a meeting on April 20 to provide advice and recommendations to DOE on general policy matters relating to coal and the coal industry. [Wednesday, March 23, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 56)]

NRC -  On December 7, 2015, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a framework of cooperation between them in radiological emergency response planning and preparedness matters. [Thursday, March 24, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 57)]

USGS - The Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will hold a meeting on April 19 to identify focus areas for the next two to three years and outline an action plan. [Tuesday, March 29, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 60)]

NOAA - In accordance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Programmatic Damage Assessment and Restoration Plan and Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PDARP/PEIS). The ROD sets the decision to select Alternative A, a Comprehensive Integrated Ecosystem Alternative. [Tuesday, March 29, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 60)]

BLM -  In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced their intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to review the Federal coal program. This Notice of Intent begins the process of defining the scope of the Programmatic EIS by providing background on the Federal coal program and identifying the issues that may be addressed in the Programmatic EIS. [Wednesday, March 30, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 61)]

BOEM - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released the final rule for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing regulations, reorganizing them to more effectively communicate the leasing process and makes changes to regulations which relate to the oil, gas, and sulfur leasing requirements. [Wednesday, March 30, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 61)]

BLM -  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office is issuing a call for nominations and comments on tracts for the upcoming 2016 National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR–A) Oil and Gas Lease Sale.  [Thursday, March 31, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 62)]