U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Park Service (NPS) have terminated the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal to develop and implement a Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan for the North Cascades ecosystem, a portion of the species' historical range. The Agencies have discontinued the proposal.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, the U.S. Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration (Western) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have, as joint lead agencies, prepared the Upper Great Plains Wind Energy Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft PEIS).\1\ The Draft PEIS evaluates issues associated with wind energy development within Western's Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region (UGP Region), which encompasses all or parts of the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and upon the Service's landscape-level grassland and wetland easements in the same area. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utility Services (RUS) have participated as cooperating agencies. Public hearings will be held during the public comment period on the Draft PEIS. The Draft PEIS is available on the project Web site at: https://plainswindeis.anl.gov https://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/ricesolar/.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has issued an incidental take permit (ITP) to the Salt River Project (SRP) for 16 federally listed and candidate species in Maricopa and Yavapai counties, Arizona. Authorized take will occur as the result of modified operation of Horseshoe Dam and Reservoir (Horseshoe) and Bartlett Dam and Reservoir (Bartlett). The Record of Decision (ROD) became effective on June 13, 2008. It states that the preferred alternative will be implemented and discusses all factors leading to the decision.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), announce that the Draft Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Draft CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the southern unit of the Innoko National Wildlife Refuge is available for public comment. The Draft CCP/EA was prepared pursuant to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act) as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). It describes two alternatives for managing the southern unit of the Innoko Refuge for the next 15 years, including continuing current management. We will use special mailings to inform the public of opportunities to provide input on the CCP/EA and will hold public meetings in communities near the Refuge (Grayling, Anvik, Shageluk, Holly Cross, Kaltag, McGrath, and Takotna).

Notice is hereby given that the NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP), Silver Spring, MD (Dr. Teri Rowles, Principal Investigator) has applied in due form for a permit to conduct enhancement and research activities on marine mammals.

Notice is hereby given that Darlene R. Ketten, Ph.D., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department, MRF- Room 233, MS 50, Woods Hole, MA 02543 has been issued a permit to receive, import, and export marine mammal specimens for scientific research purposes.

Notice is hereby given that the Darlene R. Ketten, Ph.D., Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Biology Department, MRF- Room 233, MS 50, Woods Hole, MA 02543 has applied in due form for a permit from NMFS and FWS to take parts from species of marine mammals for purposes of scientific research.

Notice is hereby given that the Museum of Natural History Collections, Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 [Principal Investigator: Tonya Haff], has requested an amendment to scientific research permit no. 960-1528/ PRT01789.