Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe Harbor Agreement and Receipt of an Application for an Enhancement of Survival Permit Associated With Proposed Restoration Activities for the Karner Blue Butterfly in the West Gary, Indiana Recovery Unit, 55158-55159 [05-18682]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
55158
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 20, 2005 / Notices
Virginia (green blossom): Clinch River,
Powell River, North Fork Holston
River, and North Fork Clinch River.
Tennessee (green blossom): Clinch
River, Powell River, Holston River,
Nolichucky River, and North Fork
Clinch River.
Arkansas (turgid-blossom): Spring
Creek, Black River, and White River.
Missouri (turgid-blossom): White River.
Alabama (turgid-blossom): Shoal Creek
and Bear Creek.
Tennessee (turgid-blossom): Tennessee
River, Elk River, Duck River, Holston
River, Clinch River, Emory River, and
Cumberland River.
Alabama (yellow-blossom): Flint River,
Hurricane Creek, Limestone Creek,
Bear Creek, and Cypress Creek.
Tennessee (yellow-blossom): Tennessee
River, Elk River, Duck River, Holston
River, Little Tennessee River, Citico
Creek, Clinch River, and Cumberland
River.
We also request information
concerning changes in habitat
conditions in the above-listed streams
since the last reported collection of the
green-blossom, yellow-blossom, and
turgid-blossom. This information will
enable us to determine whether or not
populations of the species may still
exist in one or more of those streams.
Specific Information Requested for the
Cumberland Elktoe, Cumberlandian
Combshell, and Oyster Mussel
We are especially interested in
information on surviving populations of
the Cumberland elktoe, Cumberlandian
combshell and oyster mussel. We
specifically request any recent
information regarding the collection of
live or fresh dead shells of these species,
as well as information on their location,
numbers, habitats and/or threats.
Specific Information Requested for the
Painted Snake Coiled Forest Snail
We are especially interested in
obtaining any data pertaining to
previously known or newly discovered
occurrences of the painted snake coiled
forest snail or biological studies related
to this species. We specifically request
information regarding: potential threats
arising from commercial, industrial, or
residential development, timber
harvesting, or other land use activities;
conservation activities directed towards
this species; and studies related to life
history, genetics, and ecology of these
animals, including sensitivity to seismic
disturbance or limestone dust
deposition that could result from
quarrying operations.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:53 Sep 19, 2005
Jkt 205001
Specific Information Requested for the
Seabeach Amaranth
We are especially interested in
information on population trends,
distribution and genetics, as well as, the
effects of beach nourishment projects on
seabeach amaranth individuals,
populations and habitat.
Definitions Related to This Notice
The following definitions are
provided to assist those persons who
contemplate submitting information
regarding the species being reviewed:
A. Species includes any species or
subspecies of fish, wildlife, or plant,
and any distinct population segment of
any species of vertebrate which
interbreeds when mature.
B. Endangered means any species that
is in danger of extinction throughout all
or a significant portion of its range.
C. Threatened means any species that
is likely to become an endangered
species within the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of
its range.
How Do We Determine Whether a
Species Is Endangered or Threatened?
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act establishes
that we determine whether a species is
endangered or threatened based on one
or more of the following five factors:
A. The present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range;
B. Overutilization for commercial,
recreational, scientific, or educational
purposes;
C. Disease or predation;
D. The inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms; or
E. Other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence.
Section 4(a)(1) of the Act requires that
our determination be made on the basis
of the best scientific and commercial
data available.
What Could Happen as a Result of This
Review?
If we find that there is new
information concerning any of these 14
species indicating that a change in
classification may be warranted, we may
propose a new rule that could do one of
the following: (a) Reclassify the species
from endangered to threatened
(downlist); (b) reclassify the species
from threatened to endangered (uplist);
or (c) delist the species. If we determine
that a change in classification is not
warranted, then these species will
remain on the List under their current
status.
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Public Solicitation of New Information
We request any new information
concerning the status of these 14
species. See ‘‘What information is
considered in the review?’’ heading for
specific criteria. Information submitted
should be supported by documentation
such as maps, bibliographic references,
methods used to gather and analyze the
data, and/or copies of any pertinent
publications, reports, or letters by
knowledgeable sources. Our practice is
to make comments, including names
and home addresses of respondents,
available for public review. Individual
respondents may request that we
withhold their home addresses from the
supporting record, which we will honor
to the extent allowable by law. There
also may be circumstances in which we
may withhold from the supporting
record a respondent’s identity, as
allowable by law. If you wish us to
withhold your name and/or address,
you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comment. We will not
consider anonymous comments,
however. We will make all submissions
from organizations or businesses, and
from individuals identifying themselves
as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
Authority: This document is published
under the authority of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: August 25, 2005.
Jeffrey Fleming,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 05–18688 Filed 9–19–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe
Harbor Agreement and Receipt of an
Application for an Enhancement of
Survival Permit Associated With
Proposed Restoration Activities for the
Karner Blue Butterfly in the West Gary,
Indiana Recovery Unit
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Nature Conservancy
(Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (Service) for an
Enhancement of Survival Permit
Associated with proposed restoration
activities for the Karner blue butterfly
(Lycaeides melissa samuelis) pursuant
to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), as amended (Act). This permit
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 181 / Tuesday, September 20, 2005 / Notices
application includes a draft Safe Harbor
Agreement (SHA) between the
Applicant and the Service. The
proposed SHA and permit would
become effective upon signature of the
SHA and issuance of the permit and
would remain in effect for 15 years. We
are requesting comments on the permit
application and on the Service’s
preliminary determination that the
proposed SHA qualifies as a categorical
exclusion (516 DM 6 Appendix 1,
1.4C(1)) under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended. Further, the Service
is specifically soliciting information
regarding the adequacy of the SHA as
measured against the Service’s Safe
Harbor Policy and the implementing
regulations.
Written data or comments must
be received on or before October 20,
2005.
DATES:
1. Regional Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological
Services, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling,
Minnesota 55111–4056.
2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ecological Services, 620 South Walker
Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403–
2121.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr.
Peter Fasbender, (612) 713–5343.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Documents
Individuals requesting copies of the
enhancement of survival permit
application and SHA should contact the
Service by telephone at (612) 713–5343
or by letter (see ADDRESSES). Copies of
the proposed SHA also are available for
public inspection during regular
business hours at the Bloomington,
Indiana, Field Office (see ADDRESSES) or
at the Service’s Regional Web site at:
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/NEPA. All
comments received from individuals
become part of the official public
record. Requests for such comments will
be handled in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act and the
Council on Environmental Quality’s
NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)].
Our practice is to make comments,
including names and home addresses of
respondents, available for public review
during regular business hours.
Individual respondents may request that
we withhold their home address from
the record, which we will honor to the
extent allowable by law. If a respondent
wishes us to withhold his/her name
and/or address, this must be stated
prominently at the beginning of the
comment.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:53 Sep 19, 2005
Jkt 205001
Background
The Karner blue butterfly was once a
locally common species ranging from
New England across the Great Lakes
Region, extending as far west as eastern
Minnesota. In Indiana, the Karner was
originally distributed across the
northern tier of counties on outwash
and lake deposited sands. Currently
there are approximately 1,000 acres of
dune and swale topography remaining
in the West Gary Recovery Unit, of this
approximately 650 acres is potential
habitat. By 1990, the Karner blue
butterfly survived at only two dune and
swale remnants: Ivanhoe Nature
Preserve and Tolleston Ridges Nature
Preserve. At Ivanhoe Nature Preserve,
the butterfly was found within scattered
openings until it disappeared there in
1998. After several years of habitat
restoration effort, the Nature
Conservancy began a re-introduction
program in 2001. Despite recent success,
the Karner blue butterfly continues to
persist at limited habitat patches within
three relatively isolated natural areas.
Ecological fragmentation, combined
with complex landownership and land
use patterns, has created a difficult
landscape for developing and
implementing conservation strategies in
the West Gary Recovery Unit.
The purpose of the SHA is to allow
the Applicant and the Service to address
the regional needs of the species by
working with individual landowners to
develop site specific restoration and
management plans for a variety of
properties. These plans will be designed
to maximize Karner blue butterfly
habitat within the constraints of the
site’s landscape setting and current land
use and management needs. In addition
they will document baseline conditions,
monitoring protocols, timeframes, legal
and regulatory responsibilities of
participants, and will serve as a
framework for coordinating
conservation work in the West Gary
Recovery Unit.
The SHA will allow willing property
owners to enroll private and non-federal
governmental lands into a regional
program under an umbrella section
10(a)(1)(A) permit issued to the
Applicant by means of a Certification of
Inclusion. In addition, the Applicant
will develop individual restoration and
management plans to address the
specific conservation benefits that
enrolled properties contribute to
establishing a viable metapopulation.
The area encompassed by the SHA
may contain facilities eligible to be
listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Additionally, other
historical or archeological resources
PO 00000
Frm 00060
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55159
may be present. The National Historic
Preservation Act and other laws require
these properties and resources be
identified and considered in project
planning. The public is requested to
inform the Service of concerns about
archeological sites, buildings, and
structures; historic events; sacred and
traditional areas; and other historic
preservation concerns.
Dated: August 23, 2005.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological
Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 05–18682 Filed 9–19–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Candidate Conservation Agreement
With Assurances and Enhancement of
Survival Permit Application for the
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) has received an application
from the Ohio Department of Natural
Resources (Applicant) for an
enhancement of survival permit (ESP)
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C.
1531 et seq.), as amended (Act). The
Applicant proposes to implement
conservation measures for the Eastern
Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus
sistrurus catenatus) by removing the
threats to the survival and protecting
and managing its habitat within the
Rome State Nature Preserve. The
Service announces receipt of the ESP
application as well as the availability of
a proposed Candidate Conservation
Agreement with Assurances (CCAA)
intended to facilitate the
implementation of conservation
measures for the species by the
Applicant. Compliance under the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) for the proposed action was
addressed in an Environmental
Assessment (EA) approved July 26,
2005. A copy of the final EA and
Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) is available at: https://
www.fws.gov/midwest/NEPA.
DATES: Written data or comments must
be received on or before October 20,
2005.
1. Regional Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\20SEN1.SGM
20SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55158-55159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18682]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe Harbor Agreement and
Receipt of an Application for an Enhancement of Survival Permit
Associated With Proposed Restoration Activities for the Karner Blue
Butterfly in the West Gary, Indiana Recovery Unit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Nature Conservancy (Applicant) has applied to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival
Permit Associated with proposed restoration activities for the Karner
blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) pursuant to section
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), as amended (Act). This permit
[[Page 55159]]
application includes a draft Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) between the
Applicant and the Service. The proposed SHA and permit would become
effective upon signature of the SHA and issuance of the permit and
would remain in effect for 15 years. We are requesting comments on the
permit application and on the Service's preliminary determination that
the proposed SHA qualifies as a categorical exclusion (516 DM 6
Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
of 1969, as amended. Further, the Service is specifically soliciting
information regarding the adequacy of the SHA as measured against the
Service's Safe Harbor Policy and the implementing regulations.
DATES: Written data or comments must be received on or before October
20, 2005.
ADDRESSES: 1. Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ecological Services, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-
4056.
2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 620 South
Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403-2121.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Fasbender, (612) 713-5343.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Documents
Individuals requesting copies of the enhancement of survival permit
application and SHA should contact the Service by telephone at (612)
713-5343 or by letter (see ADDRESSES). Copies of the proposed SHA also
are available for public inspection during regular business hours at
the Bloomington, Indiana, Field Office (see ADDRESSES) or at the
Service's Regional Web site at: https://www.fws.gov/midwest/NEPA. All
comments received from individuals become part of the official public
record. Requests for such comments will be handled in accordance with
the Freedom of Information Act and the Council on Environmental
Quality's NEPA regulations [40 CFR 1506.6(f)]. Our practice is to make
comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available
for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents
may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which
we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If a respondent wishes us
to withhold his/her name and/or address, this must be stated
prominently at the beginning of the comment.
Background
The Karner blue butterfly was once a locally common species ranging
from New England across the Great Lakes Region, extending as far west
as eastern Minnesota. In Indiana, the Karner was originally distributed
across the northern tier of counties on outwash and lake deposited
sands. Currently there are approximately 1,000 acres of dune and swale
topography remaining in the West Gary Recovery Unit, of this
approximately 650 acres is potential habitat. By 1990, the Karner blue
butterfly survived at only two dune and swale remnants: Ivanhoe Nature
Preserve and Tolleston Ridges Nature Preserve. At Ivanhoe Nature
Preserve, the butterfly was found within scattered openings until it
disappeared there in 1998. After several years of habitat restoration
effort, the Nature Conservancy began a re-introduction program in 2001.
Despite recent success, the Karner blue butterfly continues to persist
at limited habitat patches within three relatively isolated natural
areas. Ecological fragmentation, combined with complex landownership
and land use patterns, has created a difficult landscape for developing
and implementing conservation strategies in the West Gary Recovery
Unit.
The purpose of the SHA is to allow the Applicant and the Service to
address the regional needs of the species by working with individual
landowners to develop site specific restoration and management plans
for a variety of properties. These plans will be designed to maximize
Karner blue butterfly habitat within the constraints of the site's
landscape setting and current land use and management needs. In
addition they will document baseline conditions, monitoring protocols,
timeframes, legal and regulatory responsibilities of participants, and
will serve as a framework for coordinating conservation work in the
West Gary Recovery Unit.
The SHA will allow willing property owners to enroll private and
non-federal governmental lands into a regional program under an
umbrella section 10(a)(1)(A) permit issued to the Applicant by means of
a Certification of Inclusion. In addition, the Applicant will develop
individual restoration and management plans to address the specific
conservation benefits that enrolled properties contribute to
establishing a viable metapopulation.
The area encompassed by the SHA may contain facilities eligible to
be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally,
other historical or archeological resources may be present. The
National Historic Preservation Act and other laws require these
properties and resources be identified and considered in project
planning. The public is requested to inform the Service of concerns
about archeological sites, buildings, and structures; historic events;
sacred and traditional areas; and other historic preservation concerns.
Dated: August 23, 2005.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 05-18682 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
