Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Chiricahua Leopard Frog Recovery Plan, 30820-30821 [E7-10674]

Download as PDF 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 rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 106 / Monday, June 4, 2007 / Notices Background The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery plan development. On April 12, 2006, we published a notice of document availability in the Federal Register announcing the availability for public review of the draft Recovery Plan (71 FR 18767). We accepted public comments through June 12, 2006. We also conducted peer review at this time. We received six letters of comment during the comment period. Based on this input, we revised and finalized the Recovery Plan. The Recovery Plan describes the status, current management, recovery objectives and criteria, and specific actions needed to recover and delist the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog. The Recovery Plan was developed by a recovery team, including a Technical Subgroup and three Stakeholders Subgroups, in coordination with the Service. The Technical Subgroup included experts on the species, conservation biology, and other relevant topics. The Stakeholders Subgroups included land owners and managers, agency representatives, ranchers, the mining industry, environmental organizations, herpetologists, and other interested parties. The Chiricahua leopard frog is an inhabitant of a variety of valley and montane aquatic habitats, such as springs, pools, cattle tanks, lakes, reservoirs, streams, and rivers. The frog has disappeared from more than 80 percent of its historical localities due to threats including predation by nonnative organisms, especially American bullfrogs, fishes, and crayfish; the fungal disease chytridiomycosis; drought; floods; degradation and loss of habitat as a result of water diversions, groundwater pumping, and livestock management that has or continues to degrade frog habitats; a long history of fire suppression, mining, development, and other human activities; disruption of metapopulation dynamics; increased chance of extirpation or extinction resulting from small numbers of populations and individuals existing in dynamic environments; and probably environmental contamination (such as runoff from mining operations and airborne contaminants from copper smelters). VerDate Aug<31>2005 20:34 Jun 01, 2007 Jkt 211001 Actions needed to recover the Chiricahua leopard frog include protection of existing populations and occupied habitats, creation or restoration of additional habitats and populations, control of non-native predators and minimizing spread of disease, monitoring of the recovery effort and frog populations, research that will facilitate better and more efficient recovery, and adaptive management. The Recovery Plan provides delisting criteria for the species that will indicate the species is no longer threatened with extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. When the following criteria have been met, the species may be considered for removal from the List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife: (1) At least two metapopulations located in different drainages plus at least one isolated and robust population in each recovery unit exhibit long-term persistence and stability as demonstrated by a scientifically acceptable population monitoring program; (2) Aquatic breeding habitats necessary for persistence of metapopulations and isolated populations are protected and managed; (3) Additional habitat needed for population connectivity, recolonization, and dispersal is protected and managed; and (4) Threats and causes of decline have been reduced or eliminated, and commitments of long-term management are in place in each recovery unit such that the Chiricahua leopard frog is unlikely to need protection under the Act in the foreseeable future. Authority The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). Dated: March 14, 2007. Benjamin N. Toggle, Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. E7–10674 Filed 6–1–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Geological Survey Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1028–0070). AGENCY: SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30821 (PRA), USGS is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the Consolidated Consumers’ Report, Form 9–4117MA. DATES: Submit written comments by August 3, 2007. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1028–0070 as an identifier in your message. • E-mail USGS at atravnic@usgs.gov. Identify with Information Collection Number 1028–0070 in the subject line. • Fax: 703–648–6821. Identify with Information Collection Number 1028– 0070. • Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; U.S. Geological Survey; Attention: Alfred Travnicek; 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS–807; Reston, Virginia 20192. Please reference ‘‘Information Collection 1028– 0070’’ in your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Imogene Bynum, Data Collection and Coordination Section, Minerals Information Team at (703) 648–7960. You may also contact Imogene Bynum to obtain a copy, at no cost, of Form 9– 4117MA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Consolidated Consumers’ Report, Form 9–4117MA. OMB Control Number: 1028–0070. Abstract: Respondents supply the U.S. Geological Survey with domestic consumption data of 12 metals and ferroalloys, some of which are considered strategic and critical. This information will be published as chapters in Minerals Yearbooks, monthly Mineral Industry Surveys, annual Mineral Commodity Summaries, and special publications, for use by Government agencies, industry, education programs, and the general public. We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2) and under regulations at 30 CFR 250.197, ‘‘Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection.’’ No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are voluntary. We intend to release data collected on Form 9– 4117MA only in a summary format that is not company-specific. Frequency: Monthly and Annually. Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 397 consumers of ferrous E:\FR\FM\04JNN1.SGM 04JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 106 (Monday, June 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30820-30821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10674]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Chiricahua Leopard 
Frog Recovery Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: final recovery plan for Chiricahua 
leopard frog.

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

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, west-central 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:

[[Page 30821]]

Background

    The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, 
requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and 
comment be provided during recovery plan development. On April 12, 
2006, we published a notice of document availability in the Federal 
Register announcing the availability for public review of the draft 
Recovery Plan (71 FR 18767). We accepted public comments through June 
12, 2006. We also conducted peer review at this time. We received six 
letters of comment during the comment period. Based on this input, we 
revised and finalized the Recovery Plan.
    The Recovery Plan describes the status, current management, 
recovery objectives and criteria, and specific actions needed to 
recover and delist the threatened Chiricahua leopard frog. The Recovery 
Plan was developed by a recovery team, including a Technical Subgroup 
and three Stakeholders Subgroups, in coordination with the Service. The 
Technical Subgroup included experts on the species, conservation 
biology, and other relevant topics. The Stakeholders Subgroups included 
land owners and managers, agency representatives, ranchers, the mining 
industry, environmental organizations, herpetologists, and other 
interested parties.
    The Chiricahua leopard frog is an inhabitant of a variety of valley 
and montane aquatic habitats, such as springs, pools, cattle tanks, 
lakes, reservoirs, streams, and rivers. The frog has disappeared from 
more than 80 percent of its historical localities due to threats 
including predation by non-native organisms, especially American 
bullfrogs, fishes, and crayfish; the fungal disease chytridiomycosis; 
drought; floods; degradation and loss of habitat as a result of water 
diversions, groundwater pumping, and livestock management that has or 
continues to degrade frog habitats; a long history of fire suppression, 
mining, development, and other human activities; disruption of 
metapopulation dynamics; increased chance of extirpation or extinction 
resulting from small numbers of populations and individuals existing in 
dynamic environments; and probably environmental contamination (such as 
runoff from mining operations and airborne contaminants from copper 
smelters).
    Actions needed to recover the Chiricahua leopard frog include 
protection of existing populations and occupied habitats, creation or 
restoration of additional habitats and populations, control of non-
native predators and minimizing spread of disease, monitoring of the 
recovery effort and frog populations, research that will facilitate 
better and more efficient recovery, and adaptive management. The 
Recovery Plan provides delisting criteria for the species that will 
indicate the species is no longer threatened with extinction throughout 
all or a significant portion of its range. When the following criteria 
have been met, the species may be considered for removal from the List 
of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife: (1) At least two metapopulations 
located in different drainages plus at least one isolated and robust 
population in each recovery unit exhibit long-term persistence and 
stability as demonstrated by a scientifically acceptable population 
monitoring program; (2) Aquatic breeding habitats necessary for 
persistence of metapopulations and isolated populations are protected 
and managed; (3) Additional habitat needed for population connectivity, 
recolonization, and dispersal is protected and managed; and (4) Threats 
and causes of decline have been reduced or eliminated, and commitments 
of long-term management are in place in each recovery unit such that 
the Chiricahua leopard frog is unlikely to need protection under the 
Act in the foreseeable future.

Authority

    The authority for this action is Section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: March 14, 2007.
Benjamin N. Toggle,
Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
 [FR Doc. E7-10674 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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