Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), 30819-30820 [E7-10673]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 106 / Monday, June 4, 2007 / Notices ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is available for Mingo, Pilot Knob, and Ozark Cavefish NWRs, Missouri. The CCP was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Goals and objectives in the CCP describe how the agency intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years. Copies of the Final CCP are available on compact disk or hard copy. You may obtain a copy by writing to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111 or you may access and download a copy via the planning Web site at https:// www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/mingo. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Burchett, (573) 222–3589. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Established in 1944 under authority of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the 21,592-acre Mingo NWR serves as a resting and wintering area for migratory waterfowl. A shallow basin, the Refuge lies in an abandoned channel of the Mississippi River bordered on the west by the Ozark Plateau and on the east by Crowley’s Ridge. The Refuge contains approximately 15,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, 5,000 acres of marsh and water, 1,100 acres of cropland and moist soil units, and nearly 500 acres of grassy openings. During fall and spring migration, the Refuge wetlands support thousands of waterfowl. The 90-acre Pilot Knob NWR was established in 1987. It is located atop Pilot Knob Mountain and contains abandoned iron mine shafts excavated in the mid-1800s that have since become critical habitat for the Federally endangered Indiana bat. Ozark Cavefish NWR was established in 1991. The 41.8-acre Refuge is located in southwest Missouri and includes the outlet of an underground stream that contains a population of the Federally endangered Ozark cavefish. The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd–668ee et seq.), requires the Service to develop a CCP for each National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide refuge rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:34 Jun 01, 2007 Jkt 211001 managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction for conserving wildlife and their habitats, the CCP identifies wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update these CCPs at least every 15 years in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370d). Management of the refuges for the next 15 years will focus on: (1) Improving the long-term sustainability of the bottomland forest; (2) increasing opportunities for wildlife dependent recreation and a number of other recreational activities; and (3) strengthening and expanding partnerships with government agencies, organizations, and communities. Dated: August 11, 2006. Robyn Thorson, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Snelling, Minnesota. [FR Doc. E7–10676 Filed 6–1–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of postdelisting monitoring plan; request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan (PDM Plan) for the Western Great Lakes (WGL) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). Under the Draft PDM Plan, we would monitor the status of the gray wolves in the WGL DPS over a 5-year period. Our monitoring would include population estimates, health PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30819 data from individual wolves, and review of changes in State and tribal management and legal protections that might impact the WGL DPS’s status. During the PDM period, we and the Eastern Timber Wolf Recovery Team would annually conduct a review of the monitoring data and monitoring program. We solicit review and comment on this Draft Monitoring Plan from local, tribal, State, and Federal agencies and the public. DATES: We must receive any written comments on or before July 5, 2007. ADDRESSES: To request a copy of the 11page PDM Plan, write to our Midwest Regional Office: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111–4056, or call 612–713–5350. Copies also may be requested by fax at 612–713–5292 or by sending a request to graywolfPDM@fws.gov. Specify whether you want to receive a hard copy by U.S. mail or an electronic copy by e-mail or fax. The PDM Plan may also be downloaded from our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/. Send your comments by any of the following methods. You may also drop off comments in person. See ‘‘Viewing Documents’’ and ‘‘Public Comments Solicited’’ under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for important information. • E-mail: graywolfPDM@fws.gov. Include ‘‘Wolf PDM Plan Comments’’ in the subject line of the message. • Fax: 612–713–5292. Include ‘‘Wolf PDM Plan Comments’’ in the subject line. • U.S. Mail: Wolf PDM Plan Comments, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111–4056. • In-Person Drop-off: Room 646 at the above address during regular business hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct all questions or requests for additional information to Ron Refsnider, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111–4056 or 612–713–5350. Additional information is also available on our World Wide Web site at https:// www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/. Individuals who are hearing-impaired or speech-impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–8337 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background We published our decision to remove the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the gray wolf from the Federal List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plants on E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM 04JNN1 rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 30820 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 106 / Monday, June 4, 2007 / Notices February 8, 2007 (72 FR 6052), and it became effective March 12, 2007. We determined this DPS to be recovered as a result of its primary threats being reduced or eliminated and because wolf populations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have greatly exceeded the numerical recovery criteria established in the Federal recovery plan. Section 4(g)(1) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that we implement a system, in cooperation with the States, to monitor for no fewer than 5 years the status of all species that have recovered and no longer need the protection of the Act. We began developing the PDM Plan in advance of making a final decision on the delisting proposal in order to be able to implement the PDM activities in a timely manner in the event that we determined that delisting the WGL DPS is appropriate. Now that we have made the delisting determination for the WGL DPS, we are implementing the PDM as described in the Draft PDM Plan, although we recognize that the PDM Plan may be modified as a result of this review. We have used the expertise of the Recovery Team during the drafting of the PDM Plan. The WGL DPS includes all of Minnesota; Wisconsin; Michigan; the part of North Dakota that is north and east of the Missouri River, upstream as far as Lake Sakakawea, and east of Highway 83, from Lake Sakakawea to the Canadian border; the part of South Dakota that is north and east of the Missouri River; the parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana that are north of Interstate Highway 80; and the part of Ohio north of Interstate Highway 80 and west of the Maumee River (at Toledo). This includes the area currently occupied by wolf packs in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; the nearby areas in these States, including the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, in which wolf packs may become established in the foreseeable future; and a surrounding area into which Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan wolves may disperse, but where we do not expect packs to persist. The area surrounding the core wolf populations includes the locations of most known dispersers from the core populations, especially the shorter- and mediumdistance dispersers that are most likely to survive and potentially return to the core areas. We propose to monitor the status of the gray wolf WGL DPS over a 5-year period following delisting. The PDM program primarily would be a continuation of State monitoring activities similar to those which have been conducted by the Departments of VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:34 Jun 01, 2007 Jkt 211001 Natural Resources in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan over several decades. These activities would include both population monitoring and health monitoring of individual wolves, as well as Service review of changes to State and tribal wolf management and protection. Additionally, the PDM would review evidence of increased post-delisting threats, especially humancaused mortality and disease. During the PDM period, we and the Recovery Team would annually conduct a review of the monitoring data and monitoring program. We would consider various relevant factors (including but not limited to mortality rates, population changes and rates of change, disease occurrence, and range expansion or contraction) to determine if the population of gray wolves within the WGL DPS warrants expanded monitoring, additional research, and/or resumption of Federal protection. At the end of the 5-year PDM program, we would conduct a final review. personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Viewing Documents The complete file for the monitoring plan is available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at our Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, Regional Office. Call 612–713–5350 to make arrangements. The comments and materials we receive on the monitoring plan during the comment period also will be available for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the Ft. Snelling office and also at our Ecological Services Field Offices in Bloomington, Minnesota (612–725– 3548); New Frankin, Wisconsin (920– 866–1717); East Lansing, Michigan (517–351–2555), and Marquette, Michigan (906–226–6571). Call those offices to make arrangements. Fish and Wildlife Service Public Comments Solicited We intend for the PDM Plan to effectively monitor the status of the delisted gray wolf WGL DPS as required by section 4(g)(1) of the Act. Therefore, we hereby solicit comments, new information, or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested party concerning our draft PDM Plan. We will consider all comments and information we receive during the comment period on this draft PDM during our preparation of a final PDM. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Author The primary author of this document is Ron Refsnider (see ADDRESSES). Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: April 27, 2007. Wendi Weber, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, Minnesota. [FR Doc. E7–10673 Filed 6–1–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability: final recovery plan for Chiricahua leopard frog. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final recovery plan for the Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis). The species occurs in central and southeastern Arizona, westcentral and southwestern New Mexico, and the sky islands and Sierra Madre Occidental of northeastern Sonora and northwestern Chihuahua, Mexico. The Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan (Recovery Plan) presents information on the species and its habitat, including delisting criteria and recovery actions to conserve the species. ADDRESSES: You may access this document from our Web site, https:// fws.gov/arizonaes/. Copies of the Recovery Plan are also available on compact disk or in hard copy. To obtain a copy, contact Jim Rorabaugh by U.S. mail at Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021–4951. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Rorabaugh (see ADDRESSES), (602) 242– 0210 x238 (telephone) or jim_rorabaugh@fws.gov (e-mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM 04JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 106 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30819-30820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10673]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Post-
Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct 
Population Segment of the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of post-delisting monitoring plan; 
request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan (PDM Plan) for 
the Western Great Lakes (WGL) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the 
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). Under the Draft PDM Plan, we would monitor the 
status of the gray wolves in the WGL DPS over a 5-year period. Our 
monitoring would include population estimates, health data from 
individual wolves, and review of changes in State and tribal management 
and legal protections that might impact the WGL DPS's status. During 
the PDM period, we and the Eastern Timber Wolf Recovery Team would 
annually conduct a review of the monitoring data and monitoring 
program. We solicit review and comment on this Draft Monitoring Plan 
from local, tribal, State, and Federal agencies and the public.

DATES: We must receive any written comments on or before July 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: To request a copy of the 11-page PDM Plan, write to our 
Midwest Regional Office: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal 
Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111-4056, or call 612-
713-5350. Copies also may be requested by fax at 612-713-5292 or by 
sending a request to graywolfPDM@fws.gov. Specify whether you want to 
receive a hard copy by U.S. mail or an electronic copy by e-mail or 
fax. The PDM Plan may also be downloaded from our Web site at https://
www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/.
    Send your comments by any of the following methods. You may also 
drop off comments in person. See ``Viewing Documents'' and ``Public 
Comments Solicited'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for important 
information.
     E-mail: graywolfPDM@fws.gov. Include ``Wolf PDM Plan 
Comments'' in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 612-713-5292. Include ``Wolf PDM Plan Comments'' in 
the subject line.
     U.S. Mail: Wolf PDM Plan Comments, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111-
4056.
     In-Person Drop-off: Room 646 at the above address during 
regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct all questions or requests for 
additional information to Ron Refsnider, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111-4056 
or 612-713-5350. Additional information is also available on our World 
Wide Web site at https://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/. Individuals who are 
hearing-impaired or speech-impaired may call the Federal Relay Service 
at 1-800-877-8337 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    We published our decision to remove the Western Great Lakes 
Distinct Population Segment of the gray wolf from the Federal List of 
Threatened and Endangered Wildlife and Plants on

[[Page 30820]]

February 8, 2007 (72 FR 6052), and it became effective March 12, 2007. 
We determined this DPS to be recovered as a result of its primary 
threats being reduced or eliminated and because wolf populations in 
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have greatly exceeded the numerical 
recovery criteria established in the Federal recovery plan. Section 
4(g)(1) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
requires that we implement a system, in cooperation with the States, to 
monitor for no fewer than 5 years the status of all species that have 
recovered and no longer need the protection of the Act. We began 
developing the PDM Plan in advance of making a final decision on the 
delisting proposal in order to be able to implement the PDM activities 
in a timely manner in the event that we determined that delisting the 
WGL DPS is appropriate. Now that we have made the delisting 
determination for the WGL DPS, we are implementing the PDM as described 
in the Draft PDM Plan, although we recognize that the PDM Plan may be 
modified as a result of this review. We have used the expertise of the 
Recovery Team during the drafting of the PDM Plan.
    The WGL DPS includes all of Minnesota; Wisconsin; Michigan; the 
part of North Dakota that is north and east of the Missouri River, 
upstream as far as Lake Sakakawea, and east of Highway 83, from Lake 
Sakakawea to the Canadian border; the part of South Dakota that is 
north and east of the Missouri River; the parts of Iowa, Illinois, and 
Indiana that are north of Interstate Highway 80; and the part of Ohio 
north of Interstate Highway 80 and west of the Maumee River (at 
Toledo). This includes the area currently occupied by wolf packs in 
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; the nearby areas in these States, 
including the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, in which wolf packs 
may become established in the foreseeable future; and a surrounding 
area into which Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan wolves may disperse, 
but where we do not expect packs to persist. The area surrounding the 
core wolf populations includes the locations of most known dispersers 
from the core populations, especially the shorter- and medium-distance 
dispersers that are most likely to survive and potentially return to 
the core areas.
    We propose to monitor the status of the gray wolf WGL DPS over a 5-
year period following delisting. The PDM program primarily would be a 
continuation of State monitoring activities similar to those which have 
been conducted by the Departments of Natural Resources in Minnesota, 
Wisconsin, and Michigan over several decades. These activities would 
include both population monitoring and health monitoring of individual 
wolves, as well as Service review of changes to State and tribal wolf 
management and protection. Additionally, the PDM would review evidence 
of increased post-delisting threats, especially human-caused mortality 
and disease. During the PDM period, we and the Recovery Team would 
annually conduct a review of the monitoring data and monitoring 
program. We would consider various relevant factors (including but not 
limited to mortality rates, population changes and rates of change, 
disease occurrence, and range expansion or contraction) to determine if 
the population of gray wolves within the WGL DPS warrants expanded 
monitoring, additional research, and/or resumption of Federal 
protection. At the end of the 5-year PDM program, we would conduct a 
final review.

Viewing Documents

    The complete file for the monitoring plan is available for 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at our Ft. 
Snelling, Minnesota, Regional Office. Call 612-713-5350 to make 
arrangements. The comments and materials we receive on the monitoring 
plan during the comment period also will be available for public 
inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the Ft. 
Snelling office and also at our Ecological Services Field Offices in 
Bloomington, Minnesota (612-725-3548); New Frankin, Wisconsin (920-866-
1717); East Lansing, Michigan (517-351-2555), and Marquette, Michigan 
(906-226-6571). Call those offices to make arrangements.

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend for the PDM Plan to effectively monitor the status of the 
delisted gray wolf WGL DPS as required by section 4(g)(1) of the Act. 
Therefore, we hereby solicit comments, new information, or suggestions 
from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific 
community, industry, or any other interested party concerning our draft 
PDM Plan. We will consider all comments and information we receive 
during the comment period on this draft PDM during our preparation of a 
final PDM.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Author

    The primary author of this document is Ron Refsnider (see 
ADDRESSES).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: April 27, 2007.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
 [FR Doc. E7-10673 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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