101040 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 240 / Friday, December 13, 2024 / Notices 

(Olmsted County Parcel IDs: 

850131079584, 850143079564, 

850134079589, 850132079567, 

851221079590, 851212038600, 

851214079569, 850144078534, 

850144078533, 850144079565, 

850144079566, 840633079595, 

840634079597, 840634078541, 

840633078539, 851211079570, 

840721039660, 840724039662, 

851214079571, 840723079573) 

(The ‘‘Subject Property’’). 

Authority: This notice is published in 

the exercise of authority delegated by 

the Secretary of the Interior to the 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by 

209 Departmental Manual 8.1, and is 

published to comply with the 

requirements of 25 CFR 151.12 (c)(2)(ii) 

that notice of the decision to acquire 

land in trust be promptly provided in 

the Federal Register. 

Bryan Newland, 

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29440 Filed 12–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4337–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of the Secretary 

[XXXD4523WT; DWT000000.000000; 

DP61201; DS61200000] 

Notice of Adoptions of a Categorical 

Exclusion Under Section 109 of the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the 

Interior (Department) is notifying the 

public and documenting the adoption of 

a National Park Service (NPS) 

categorical exclusion (CE) for invasive 

species management by seven other 

Department bureaus or offices (adopting 

bureaus). NPS and the adopting bureaus 

manage or provide funding to manage 

invasive species, which the NPS CE 

facilitates. These adopting bureaus are: 

the Bureau of Land Management, the 

Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, the U.S. 

Geological Survey, the Office of Insular 

Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 

and the Office of Surface Mining 

Reclamation and Enforcement. In 

accordance with section 109 of the 

National Environmental Policy Act, this 

notice identifies the types of actions to 

which the adopting bureaus will apply 

the CE; the considerations that the 

adopting bureaus will use in 

determining the applicability of the CE; 

the consultation between and among the 

Department, the adopting bureaus, and 

NPS on the use of the CE; and the 

application of extraordinary 

circumstances. 

DATES: The adoptions are effective 

December 13, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Hilary Smith, Senior Advisor for 

Invasive Species, Office of Policy 

Analysis, at hilary_smith@ios.doi.gov or 

202–763–3118. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Program Background 

The Department, through its bureaus, 

has been managing invasive species on 

Federal lands for more than 70 years. 

The bureaus also provide Federal 

financial assistance to Tribal, 

Territorial, State, and local governments 

for invasive species control and 

eradication outside of lands managed by 

the bureaus. However, significant 

challenges remain in addressing both 

established and newly arriving invasive 

species. Currently, less than one percent 

of invasive plant populations and about 

10 percent of invasive animal 

populations on Department-managed 

lands are under control. The impacts of 

invasive species are likely to increase in 

the coming decades. This is due in part 

to the growing global movement of 

people and materials and increased 

tourism and trade. In addition, a 

changing climate alters weather 

patterns, precipitation, and extreme 

weather events. Those changes disrupt 

ecosystems and make them more 

susceptible to biological invasions. 

In some areas managed by the 

Department’s bureaus, invasive species 

have become dominant, leading to 

significant ecosystem degradation. 

Controlling these species is one of the 

greatest challenges in land management. 

Left unmanaged, invasive species can 

create dense infestations that degrade 

soil productivity, reduce livestock 

forage quality, harm water quality and 

availability, reduce native species 

diversity, and negatively impact wildlife 

habitat quality. These changes can also 

lower wilderness values and impact 

recreational opportunities. 

The Department is adopting a NPS CE 

for invasive species management for use 

by the Bureau of Land Management, the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of 

Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, the Office of Insular Affairs, the 

U.S. Geological Survey, and the Office 

of Surface Mining Reclamation and 

Enforcement to support the adopting 

bureaus’ efforts to more effectively and 

efficiently control and eradicate 

invasive species. NPS is a bureau within 

the Department. NPS actions and best 

practices related to invasive species 

management are similar to those actions 

and best practices conducted by the 

adopting bureaus in the Department. In 

addition, like NPS, other adopting 

bureaus’ implementation of proposed 

actions would need to be consistent 

with the Department’s Invasive Species 

Policy (part 524 of the Departmental 

Manual chapter 1, (524 DM 1)), and 

Integrated Pest Management Policy (517 

DM 1). 

National Environmental Policy Act and 

Categorical Exclusions 

The National Environmental Policy 

Act, as amended, at 42 U.S.C. 4321– 

4347 (NEPA), requires all Federal 

agencies to consider the environmental 

impact of their proposed actions before 

deciding whether and how to proceed. 

42 U.S.C 4321, 4332. The NEPA aims to 

ensure agencies consider the 

environmental effects of their proposed 

actions in their decision-making 

processes and inform and involve the 

public in that process. 42 U.S.C. 4331. 

The NEPA created the Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ), which 

promulgated NEPA implementing 

regulations, 40 CFR parts 1500 through 

1508 (CEQ NEPA regulations). 

Under the NEPA and CEQ’s NEPA 

regulations, a Federal agency can 

establish CEs—categories of actions that 

normally do not have significant effect 

on the human environment, 

individually or in the aggregate, and 

therefore do not require the preparation 

of an environmental assessment (EA) or 

an environmental impact statement 

(EIS)—in their agency NEPA 

procedures. 42 U.S.C. 4336(e)(1); 40 

CFR 1501.4, 1507.3, 1508.1(e). If an 

agency determines that a CE covers a 

proposed action, it then evaluates the 

proposed action for extraordinary 

circumstances in which a normally 

excluded action may have a significant 

effect. 40 CFR 1501.4(b). If no 

extraordinary circumstances exist, the 

agency may apply the CE to the 

proposed action without preparing an 

EA or EIS. 42 U.S.C. 4336(a)(2), 40 CFR 

1501.4. 

Section 109 of the NEPA, enacted as 

part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 

2023, allows a Federal agency to 

‘‘adopt’’ or rely on another agency’s CE 

for a category of proposed agency 

actions. 42 U.S.C. 4336(c). To use 

another agency’s CEs under section 109, 

the adopting agency must identify the 

relevant CEs listed in another agency’s 

(‘‘establishing agency’’) NEPA 

procedures that cover the adopting 

agency’s category of proposed actions or 

related actions; consult with the 

establishing agency to ensure that the 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 240 / Friday, December 13, 2024 / Notices 101041 

proposed adoption of the CE for a 

category of actions is appropriate; 

identify to the public the CE that the 

adopting agency plans to use for its 

proposed actions; and document 

adoption of the CE. 42 U.S.C. 4336c. 

The Department has prepared this 

notice to meet the applicable statutory 

requirements for the adoption of the 

NPS CE by the adopting bureaus and to 

notify the public. 

The Department’s NEPA procedures 

are codified at 43 CFR part 46. These 

procedures address compliance with the 

NEPA. The Department’s protocol for 

application of CEs is at 43 CFR 46.205. 

The Department’s CEs available to all 

bureaus within the Department are 

listed in 43 CFR 46.210. Additional 

Department-wide NEPA policy is found 

in the Department’s Departmental 

Manual (DM), in chapters 1 through 4 of 

part 516. Supplementary NEPA 

procedures for the Department’s bureaus 

are published in additional chapters in 

part 516 of the DM. The NPS’s NEPA 

procedures are provided in the DM part 

516 Chapter 12 (516 DM 12). 

Categorical Exclusion Adopted 

The adopting bureaus identified the 

following NPS CE, found in 516 DM 12, 

for adoption and uses: 

E.6. Restoration of noncontroversial 

native species into suitable habitats 

within their historic range and 

elimination of exotic species. 

The CE will be added to the NEPA 

DM chapters for Bureau of Land 

Management, the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 

Office of Insular Affairs, the U.S. 

Geological Survey, and the Office of 

Surface Mining Reclamation and 

Enforcement. 

Consultation With NPS and 

Determination of Appropriateness 

In January and July 2024, the 

Department and its adopting bureaus 

consulted with NPS regarding the 

suitability of the Department’s adoption 

of the CE for use by those other bureaus. 

The consultation included a review of 

NPS’s experience applying the CE, as 

well as the types of actions the adopting 

bureaus intend to rely on the CE to 

support. 

The NPS CE provides for restoration 

of native species within their historic 

range. The NPS CE also includes the 

removal of exotic species. The NPS CE 

uses the term ‘‘exotic species.’’ Exotic 

Species is synonymous with the terms 

‘‘non-native’’ or ‘‘alien,’’ which refers to 

an organism, including its seeds, eggs, 

spores, or other biological material 

capable of propagating that species, that 

occurs outside of its natural range 

(definition in Executive Order (E.O.) 

13112 (amended by E.O. 13751)). When 

NPS established the CE in 1984, the 

term ‘‘exotic species’’ was the common 

term used; today the common term used 

is ‘‘invasive species,’’ and the adopting 

bureaus will rely on the CE to support 

projects conducted for the management 

of invasive species. E.O. 13751 defines 

invasive species to mean, ‘‘with regard 

to a particular ecosystem, a non-native 

organism whose introduction causes or 

is likely to cause economic or 

environmental harm, or harm to human, 

animal, or plant health.’’ 

Since 1984, the NPS has relied on this 

CE to conduct actions including 

physical control, pesticide applications, 

and the use of biological control 

organisms to manage invasive species. 

The NPS relies on this CE to conduct 

the types of actions listed below 

approximately 80 times each year. 

Invasive species such as salt cedar 

(Tamarisk spp.), Japanese honeysuckle 

(Lonicera japonica), kudzu (Pueraria 

montana), Chinese privet (Ligustrum 

sinense), Burmese python (Python 

bivittatus), feral hogs (Sus scrofa), cape 

ivy (Delairea odorata), French broom 

(Genista monspessulana), Scotch broom 

(Cytisus scoparius), capeweed 

(Arctotheca calendula), European 

beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria), 

Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis 

lehmanniana), tree-of-heaven 

(Ailanthus altissima), black acacia 

(Acacia mearnsii), non-native trout, and 

many others have been removed 

through chemical, mechanical, and 

biocontrol methods in NPS units. In 

many instances, the removal of invasive 

species has led to landscape 

improvements. The work has 

encouraged growth of native species and 

allowed parks to successfully 

reintroduce native species to their 

historical range. Removal of invasive 

plants has allowed parks to plant or 

relocate native grasses, vegetation, or 

trees such as Sonoma spineflower 

(Chorizanthe valida), red osier dogwood 

(Cornus sericea), juniper (Juniperus 

communis), buffalo grass (Bouteloua 

dactyloides), blue grama (Bouteloua 

gracilis), and blackbrush (Coleogyne 

ramosissima). Removal of invasive 

species has also improved ecosystems to 

allow reintroduction of fish and 

amphibians such as the humpback chub 

(Gila cypha), bonytail chub (Gila 

elegans), cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus 

clarkii), relict leopard frog (Lithobates 

onca), and California treefrog 

(Pseudacris cadaverine)—some of 

which were considered endangered or 

threatened. 

The NPS has also used biological 

control methods where appropriate to 

control invasive species effectively. 

Known predators of invasive species 

have been released to control the spread 

of invasive species without harming the 

natural ecosystem. For example, purple 

loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) 

infestations have been controlled by 

releasing leaf beetles (Galerucella spp.) 

and pine weevils (Hylobius spp.). Milea-minute vines (Persicaria perfoliata) 

have been reduced by releasing a weevil 

(Rhinoncomimus latipes) in 

Shenandoah National Park. In both 

instances, the biological control species 

caused no harm to the natural 

environment and prevented further 

spread of invasive species. The 

introduction of predator species has 

been used many times in various 

locations to successfully control 

invasive species when mechanical or 

chemical removal was not possible. 

The adopting bureaus intend to apply 

this CE to invasive species management 

in several ways: to actions undertaken 

directly by the adopting bureaus 

identified above; to actions requiring an 

approval by these adopting bureaus; or 

to funding for invasive species 

management made available by these 

adopting bureaus. The types of actions 

addressed by the CE include control or 

eradication of invasive species (such as 

invasive plants, trees, and shrubs; 

invasive invertebrates; invasive 

mammals; and invasive pathogens) as 

part of efforts to control or eradicate 

ongoing invasive species infestations or 

to respond to newly detected invasive 

species, using biological, cultural, 

physical (manual or mechanical), and 

chemical methods per Department 

policies and procedures listed below. 

Consistent with NPS’s use of the CE, 

these adopting bureaus could rely on 

the CE to conduct projects for the 

control or eradication of terrestrial or 

aquatic invasive plants, terrestrial or 

aquatic invasive animals, and terrestrial 

or aquatic invasive pathogens. 

Like NPS, any actions undertaken by 

an adopting bureau would be regulated 

and guided by existing Department and 

bureau policies, internal review and 

approval processes, and State and 

Federal laws and regulations, including 

the NEPA. Use of this CE would require 

local, site-specific environmental review 

of the proposed action to determine if 

reliance on the CE is appropriate, 

complies with the Endangered Species 

Act section 7(a)(2), and adheres to 

existing laws and bureau policies. 

Actions must be applied as part of an 

integrated pest management approach 

(IPM). Consistent with 517 DM 1, 

Integrated Pest Management Policy, the 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
101042 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 240 / Friday, December 13, 2024 / Notices 

Department manages invasive species 

by following IPM principles. IPM is 

defined as a sustainable approach to 

managing invasive species by a 

combination of biological, physical, and 

chemical methods that minimizes 

economic, health, and environmental 

risks (Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 

and Rodenticide Act [FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 

136r–1]). IPM is a science-based 

decision-making process that guides 

bureaus when investigating a pest 

situation. Following IPM principles 

means acting in a manner that reduces 

risks from both the target species and 

associated management activities. The 

IPM approach determines the most 

appropriate and cost-effective 

management solution for the specific 

situation. IPM reduces risks to people, 

resources, and the environment from 

pests and from the strategies used to 

manage them. Biological control 

methods include using predators, 

parasites, pathogens, and grazing 

animals. Physical methods include 

using manual and mechanical methods. 

Chemical methods include the 

application of pesticides. Any 

application of chemicals must be 

approved through the respective 

bureau’s pesticide use proposal process. 

It must also adhere to pesticide label 

requirements as approved by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency and 

all other applicable Federal, Tribal, 

Territorial, State, local, and agency 

regulations and bureau policies 

pertaining to application, handling, 

storage, and transportation. The 

pesticide use proposal systems at each 

bureau function to reduce risks to the 

public, bureau resources, and the 

environment from pests and pest-related 

management strategies. Each time a 

pesticide is used within the Federal 

boundaries that usage must be reviewed 

by a bureau subject matter expert. The 

internal review is determined by the 

type of pesticide, the site where its use 

is proposed, the target species, and 

many other criteria. 

Actions conducted by other bureaus 

within the Department for invasive 

species management are similar to the 

type of actions that NPS conducts. 

Therefore, the impacts of the adopting 

bureaus’ actions are anticipated to be 

similar to the impacts of NPS actions, 

which are not significant, absent the 

existence of extraordinary 

circumstances. The Department has 

determined that the adopting bureaus’ 

proposed adoption of the CE as 

described in this notice is appropriate. 

Consideration of Extraordinary 

Circumstances 

As NPS does when applying this CE, 

Responsible Officials within the 

adopting bureaus will evaluate the 

proposed actions to determine whether 

there are any extraordinary 

circumstances, listed at 43 CFR 46.215, 

that would preclude reliance on the CE. 

The extraordinary circumstances 

include, in part, consideration of 

impacts on public health and safety; 

natural resources and unique geographic 

characteristics as historic or cultural 

resources; park, recreation, or refuge 

lands; wilderness areas; wild or scenic 

rivers; national natural landmarks, sole 

or principal drinking water aquifers; 

prime farmlands; wetlands; floodplains; 

national monuments; migratory birds; 

and other ecologically significant or 

critical areas; unresolved conflicts 

concerning alternative uses of available 

resources; unique or unknown 

environmental risks; precedent for 

future decision-making; historic 

properties; listed species or critical 

habitat; low income or minority 

populations; access by Indian religious 

practitioners to, and for ceremonial use 

of, Indian sacred sites and the physical 

integrity of those sites; and contribution 

to the introduction, continued 

existence, or spread of invasive plants 

or non-native invasive species. The 

Department’s list of extraordinary 

circumstances is used by all bureaus 

within the Department. Therefore, 

Responsible Officials in the adopting 

bureaus intending to rely on this CE will 

review whether the proposed action has 

the potential to result in significant 

effects, as described in the Department’s 

extraordinary circumstances. If the 

Responsible Official cannot rely on a 

categorical exclusion to support a 

decision on a particular proposed action 

due to extraordinary circumstances, the 

Responsible Official will prepare an EA 

or EIS, consistent with 40 CFR 

1501.4(b)(2) and 43 CFR 46.205(c). 

Notice to the Public and Documentation 

of Adoption 

This notice identifies to the public 

that seven Department bureaus are 

adopting the NPS’s CE used for invasive 

species control and eradication (E.6 

Restoration of noncontroversial native 

species into suitable habitats within 

their historic range and elimination of 

exotic species.). The CE will be 

available to use by the adopting bureaus 

that undertake or fund invasive species 

management—the Bureau of Land 

Management, the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 

Office of Insular Affairs, the U.S. 

Geological Survey, and the Office of 

Surface Mining Reclamation and 

Enforcement, in addition to NPS. The 

notice identifies the types of actions to 

which the bureaus within the 

Department will apply the CE, as well 

as the considerations these bureaus will 

use in determining whether an action is 

within the scope of the CE. This 

documentation of the approved 

adoption is available at https://

www.doi.gov/oepc/nepa/categoricalexclusions and will also be made 

available on each adopting bureau’s web 

page for CE adoptions. The adopting 

bureaus will add the adopted CE to their 

applicable NEPA chapters in part 516 of 

the DM. 

Authorities 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 

seq.). 

Stephen G. Tryon, 

Director, Office of Environmental Policy and 

Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2024–29437 Filed 12–12–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4334–20–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[BLM_AK_FRN_PO#4820000251 

Notice of Availability of the Record of 

Decision for the Final Supplemental 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing 

Program, Alaska 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), Alaska State Office, 

announces the availability of the Record 

of Decision (ROD) for the Final 

Supplemental Environmental Impact 

Statement (SEIS) for the Coastal Plain 

Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The 

signature of the Acting Deputy Secretary 

of the Department of the Interior on the 

ROD constitutes the final decision of the 

Department, thereby completing the 

required National Environmental Policy 

Act process for implementing an oil and 

gas leasing program within the Coastal 

Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife 

Refuge. 

DATES: The ROD was signed on 

December 8, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: The ROD is available online 

at the BLM National Environmental 

Policy Act Register at https://

eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/ 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES