Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project 5-Year Review, 13624-13625 [E6-3800]

Download as PDF 13624 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 51 / Thursday, March 16, 2006 / Notices developing these procedures will reference a specific portion of the Information Collection Request, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that support such recommended change. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number DHS–2005–0051 for this Information Collection Request. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www. regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov. Analysis Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, Office of Systems Engineering and Development. Title: SAFECOM Interoperability Baseline Survey. OMB Control Number: 1640–NEW. Frequency: On occasion. Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 18,411 (increased from 18,375 to include site visit interviews and reflect those people associated with the interviews). Estimated Time Per Response: 20 minutes per survey, one hour per interview (36 interviews altogether). Total Burden Hours: 6,161 (increased from 6,125 in the December 19, 2005 notice in order to reflect the time involved in the interviews). Total Cost Burden: None. Dated: March 8, 2006. Scott Charbo, Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E6–3822 Filed 3–15–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410–10–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project 5-Year Review Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability of the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project (Reintroduction Project) 5-Year Review under the authority of section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:48 Mar 15, 2006 Jkt 208001 (Act), as amended. The 5-Year Review was conducted by the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Adaptive Management Oversight Committee (AMOC). The 5Year Review and public comment will inform our decision to continue, continue with modification, or terminate the Reintroduction Project. This 5-Year Review should not be confused with status reviews (also called 5-year reviews) conducted under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. This 5-year program evaluation of the Reintroduction Project is conducted pursuant to a 1998 section 10(j) final rule. DATES: The comment period for this 5Year Review closes April 17, 2006. Comments on the 5-Year Review must be received by the closing date to assure consideration. ADDRESSES: Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. To review documents or submit comments, see ‘‘Public Comments Solicited’’ under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator, telephone: (800) 299–0196 ×4748; facsimile: (505) 346–2542; or e-mail: FW2ESWolf5YReview@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) reintroduction in Arizona and New Mexico is conducted under the authority of section 10(j) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). On January 12, 1998, the Service published a final rule (63 FR 1752) that established a nonessential experimental population of the gray wolf in Arizona and New Mexico and defined the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) and the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) within the states of Arizona and New Mexico. Initial releases of captive-reared Mexican wolves into the BRWRA occurred in 1998, and additional initial releases and translocations have occurred annually. The final rule states that the Service will prepare periodic progress reports, annual reports, and full evaluations after three and five years that will recommend continuation, modification, or termination of the reintroduction effort. In 2004–2005, the AMOC, which consists of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, USDA-Forest Service, USDA–APHIS Wildlife Services, White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Service, conducted the 5-Year Review of PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the Reintroduction Project. The AMOC transmitted a final 5-Year Review to the Service on December 31, 2005. The 5Year Review provides synthesized information on all aspects of the Reintroduction Project, including the status of the wolf population, the social and economic impacts of wolf reintroduction on surrounding communities, and program management. This information is organized in four primary components: Administrative, Technical, Socioeconomic, and Recommendations. The Service acknowledges and commends the AMOC for its evaluation of the Reintroduction Project, and recognizes AMOC’s responsiveness to the public during the development and completion of the 5-Year Review. Public Comments Solicited Persons wishing to review the 5-year review may request a printed copy by contacting the Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES) or by downloading it from the Internet at: https://www.fws.gov/ifw2es/ mexicanwolf/MWNR_FYRD.shtml. Comments and materials concerning this 5-year review may be mailed to the Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES), or faxed or e-mailed (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a respondent’s identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. To the extent consistent with applicable law, 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. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at our New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES). To ensure that we have conducted a transparent process that is based on the best available scientific and commercial information throughout the development of the 5-Year Review and to inform our subsequent decision to continue, continue with modification, or terminate the Reintroduction Project, we are soliciting written comments on the 5-Year Review from the public, concerned governmental agencies, E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 51 / Thursday, March 16, 2006 / Notices Tribes, the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and any other interested parties. The Administrative, Technical, and Socioeconomic components of the 5Year Review have undergone extensive public review under the oversight of the AMOC. The Service is specifically interested in comments from the public pertaining to the Recommendations and whether they follow logically from the background information and analyses provided in the Administrative, Technical, and Socio-economic components. However, comments on all components of the 5-Year Review received by the date specified above will be considered prior to the Service’s decision to continue, continue with modifications, or terminate the Reintroduction Project. This 5-Year Review should not be confused with status reviews (also called 5-year reviews) conducted under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. This is a 5-year program evaluation of the Reintroduction Project as required by the section 10(j) final rule (63 FR 1752). Authority The authority for this action is Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1539(j). Dated: February 22, 2006. Benjamin N. Tuggle, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. E6–3800 Filed 3–15–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Silene spaldingii (Spalding’s Catchfly) Background Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment. wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Silene spaldingii (Spalding’s Catchfly) for public review and comment. Silene spaldingii, a plant native to portions of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada, was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act on October 10, 2001 (66 FR 51598). DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before May 15, 2006. VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:48 Mar 15, 2006 Jkt 208001 Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the following locations: Snake River Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 368, Boise, Idaho 83709 (telephone: 208–378–5243; fax: 208– 378–5262); Helena Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 100 N. Park, Suite 320, Helena, Montana 59601 (telephone: 406–449–5322; fax: 406–449–5339); La Grande Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 3502 Highway 30, La Grande, Oregon 97850 (telephone: 541–962– 8584; fax: 541–962–8581); and Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Suite 2, Spokane, Washington 99206 (telephone: 509–665–3508; fax: 509–665–3509). Requests for copies of the document should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above offices. An electronic copy of the draft recovery plan is also available online at https:// endangered.fws.gov/recovery/ index.html#plans and at https:// idahoes.fws.gov. For all comments submitted, a subject line must state ‘‘Spalding’s catchfly comments’’ and include the name and address of the person submitting the comments. Comments may be submitted electronically at the following e-mail address: fw1srbocomment@fws.gov. Written comments may be sent directly to the Field Supervisor at the above Boise address or by facsimile to 208– 378–5262. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Duke, Division Chief, at the above Boise address (telephone: 208–387– 5345; e-mail: Steve_Duke@fws.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. The Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) requires the development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Recovery plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions considered necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing criteria for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimating time and cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery. Section 4(f) of the ESA requires that public notice, and an opportunity for public review and comment, be provided during recovery plan PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13625 development. We will consider all information presented during the public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. Substantive technical comments may result in changes to the recovery plan. Substantive comments regarding recovery plan implementation may not necessarily result in changes to the recovery plan, but will be forwarded to appropriate Federal or other entities so that they can take these comments into account during the course of implementing recovery actions. Individual responses to comments will not be provided. Silene spaldingii (Spalding’s catchfly) is a long-lived perennial forb in the pink or carnation family (Caryophyllaceae) with four to seven pairs of lance-shaped leaves and small greenish-white flowers. The green portions of the plant are covered in sticky hairs that often catch debris and small insects, hence the common name of the plant, ‘‘Spalding’s catchfly.’’ Silene spaldingii is currently known from 85 primarily small populations; only 7 of these have more than 500 individuals, and an additional 20 populations have at least 100 individuals. Occupied habitat includes five physiographic regions in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and British Colombia. These regions are as follows: the Palouse Grasslands in westcentral Idaho and southeastern Washington, the Channeled Scablands in eastern Washington, the Blue Mountain Basins in northeastern Oregon, the Canyon Grasslands of the Snake River and its tributaries in Washington and Idaho, and the Intermontane Valleys of northwestern Montana and southern British Columbia. Silene spaldingii is impacted by habitat loss due to human development, habitat degradation associated with domestic livestock and wildlife grazing, and invasions of aggressive nonnative plants. In addition, a loss of genetic fitness is a problem for many small, fragmented populations where genetic exchange is limited. Other impacts include changes in fire frequency and seasonality, off-road vehicle use, and herbicide spraying and drift. The objective of this recovery plan is to recover Silene spaldingii by protecting and maintaining reproducing, self-sustaining populations in identified key conservation areas in each of its five distinct physiographic regions. Under the draft recovery plan this would be accomplished by developing habitat management plans at those key conservation areas that provide a strategy for managing Silene spaldingii and effectively address the threats to the E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13624-13625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3800]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project 5-Year Review

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Reintroduction Project 
(Reintroduction Project) 5-Year Review under the authority of section 
10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The 5-
Year Review was conducted by the Mexican Wolf Blue Range Adaptive 
Management Oversight Committee (AMOC). The 5-Year Review and public 
comment will inform our decision to continue, continue with 
modification, or terminate the Reintroduction Project. This 5-Year 
Review should not be confused with status reviews (also called 5-year 
reviews) conducted under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. This 5-year 
program evaluation of the Reintroduction Project is conducted pursuant 
to a 1998 section 10(j) final rule.

DATES: The comment period for this 5-Year Review closes April 17, 2006. 
Comments on the 5-Year Review must be received by the closing date to 
assure consideration.

ADDRESSES: Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator, New Mexico Ecological 
Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. To review 
documents or submit comments, see ``Public Comments Solicited'' under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator, 
telephone: (800) 299-0196 x4748; facsimile: (505) 346-2542; or e-mail: 
FW2ESWolf5YReview@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) reintroduction in Arizona and 
New Mexico is conducted under the authority of section 10(j) of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). On January 12, 1998, the Service published a 
final rule (63 FR 1752) that established a nonessential experimental 
population of the gray wolf in Arizona and New Mexico and defined the 
Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area (MWEPA) and the Blue Range 
Wolf Recovery Area (BRWRA) within the states of Arizona and New Mexico. 
Initial releases of captive-reared Mexican wolves into the BRWRA 
occurred in 1998, and additional initial releases and translocations 
have occurred annually.
    The final rule states that the Service will prepare periodic 
progress reports, annual reports, and full evaluations after three and 
five years that will recommend continuation, modification, or 
termination of the reintroduction effort. In 2004-2005, the AMOC, which 
consists of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, New Mexico Department 
of Game and Fish, USDA-Forest Service, USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, 
White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the Service, conducted the 5-Year 
Review of the Reintroduction Project. The AMOC transmitted a final 5-
Year Review to the Service on December 31, 2005. The 5-Year Review 
provides synthesized information on all aspects of the Reintroduction 
Project, including the status of the wolf population, the social and 
economic impacts of wolf reintroduction on surrounding communities, and 
program management. This information is organized in four primary 
components: Administrative, Technical, Socio-economic, and 
Recommendations.
    The Service acknowledges and commends the AMOC for its evaluation 
of the Reintroduction Project, and recognizes AMOC's responsiveness to 
the public during the development and completion of the 5-Year Review.

Public Comments Solicited

    Persons wishing to review the 5-year review may request a printed 
copy by contacting the Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator (see 
ADDRESSES) or by downloading it from the Internet at: https://
www.fws.gov/ifw2es/mexicanwolf/MWNR_FYRD.shtml.
    Comments and materials concerning this 5-year review may be mailed 
to the Mexican Wolf Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES), or faxed or 
e-mailed (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Respondents may request that we withhold a respondent's 
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or 
address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of 
your comment. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. To the 
extent consistent with applicable law, 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. Comments 
and materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at our New Mexico Ecological 
Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES).
    To ensure that we have conducted a transparent process that is 
based on the best available scientific and commercial information 
throughout the development of the 5-Year Review and to inform our 
subsequent decision to continue, continue with modification, or 
terminate the Reintroduction Project, we are soliciting written 
comments on the 5-Year Review from the public, concerned governmental 
agencies,

[[Page 13625]]

Tribes, the scientific community, industry, environmental entities, and 
any other interested parties. The Administrative, Technical, and 
Socioeconomic components of the 5-Year Review have undergone extensive 
public review under the oversight of the AMOC. The Service is 
specifically interested in comments from the public pertaining to the 
Recommendations and whether they follow logically from the background 
information and analyses provided in the Administrative, Technical, and 
Socio-economic components. However, comments on all components of the 
5-Year Review received by the date specified above will be considered 
prior to the Service's decision to continue, continue with 
modifications, or terminate the Reintroduction Project. This 5-Year 
Review should not be confused with status reviews (also called 5-year 
reviews) conducted under section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act. This is a 5-
year program evaluation of the Reintroduction Project as required by 
the section 10(j) final rule (63 FR 1752).

Authority

    The authority for this action is Section 10(j) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1539(j).

    Dated: February 22, 2006.
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Fish and Wildlife Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-3800 Filed 3-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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