A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change, 8053-8054 [2010-3516]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2010 / Notices FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–3458 Filed 2–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. CP10–48–000] Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.; Notice of Request Under Blanket Authorization mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES February 16, 2010. Take notice that on January 29, 2010, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. (Southern Star), 4700 State Highway 56, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301, filed in Docket No. CP10–48–000, a prior notice request pursuant to sections 157.205, 157.210, and 157.216 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s regulations under the Natural Gas Act for authorization to replace a two mile section of the 12-inch diameter XT pipeline by constructing approximately two miles of 20-inch diameter pipeline, located in Johnson County, Missouri, all as more fully set forth in the application, which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. The filing may also be viewed on the Web at https:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659. Specifically, Southern Star proposes to replace two miles of 12-inch diameter XT pipeline with two miles of 20-inch diameter XM pipeline as a continuation of its multi-year plan initiated in 2008 to replace the remaining miles of 12inch diameter XT pipeline. Southern Star estimates the cost of construction to be $4,961,000, for which internally generated funds will be used. Southern Star asserts that after the proposed construction is completed, approximately two miles of the 12-inch diameter XT pipeline will be abandoned either in place or by removal at landowners’ discretion. Southern Star states that the replacement pipeline will improve reliability and offer flexibility on its system, but does not provide any additional firm capacity upstream and will continue to be operated at its VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:25 Feb 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 current Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) of 570 psi. Any questions regarding the application should be directed to David N. Roberts, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc., 4700 State Highway 56, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301, or call (270) 852–4654. Any person may, within 60 days after the issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to intervene or notice of intervention. Any person filing to intervene or the Commission’s staff may, pursuant to section 157.205 of the Commission’s Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (18 CFR 157.205) file a protest to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed therefore, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the day after the time allowed for protest. If a protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for authorization pursuant to section 7 of the NGA. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests, and interventions via the internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Web site (https:// www.ferc.gov) under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2010–3461 Filed 2–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9115–5; Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD– 2009–0816] A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period. SUMMARY: EPA is announcing an extension of the original 30-day public comment period for the draft document titled, ‘‘A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change’’ (EPA/600/R–09/011). This extension is being granted in response to request from interested parties. The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8053 within EPA’s Office of Research and Development. This draft document describes an evaluative framework that may be used to categorize the relative vulnerability of species to climate change. To illustrate the use of this framework, it was applied to six U.S. threatened and endangered species: the golden-cheeked warbler, the salt marsh harvest mouse, the Mount Graham red squirrel, the Lahontan cutthroat trout, the desert tortoise and the bald eagle. An external peer review of this report has been completed. The public comment period and the external peer review are separate processes. The public comment period provides an opportunity for all interested parties to comment on the document. When finalizing the draft document, EPA will consider any public comments received in accordance with this notice. EPA released this draft document solely for the purpose of predissemination review and comment under applicable information quality guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy or determination. DATES: The original 30-day public comment period began on November 25, 2009 and closed on December 28, 2009. All comments received to date will be considered, including those received after the close of the original public comment period. An additional 30-day comment period begins on February 23, 2010, and ends March 25, 2010. Comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA by March 25, 2010. ADDRESSES: The draft ‘‘A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change’’ is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment’s home page under the Recent Additions and the Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of paper copies are available from the Information Management Team, NCEA; telephone: 703–347–8561; facsimile: 703–347– 8691. If you are requesting a paper copy, please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, ‘‘A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change.’’ Comments may be submitted electronically via https:// www.regulations.gov, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1 8054 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2010 / Notices provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202–566–1752; facsimile: 202–566–1753; or e-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov. For technical information and all other questions, contact Susan Julius, NCEA; telephone: 703–347–8619; facsimile: 703–347–8694; or e-mail: julius.susan@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information About the Project/ Document The document, ‘‘A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change’’ describes an evaluative framework that may be used to categorize the relative vulnerability of species to climate change. Four modules compose this framework: Module 1 categorizes baseline vulnerability to extinction or major population reduction by scoring those elements of the species’ life history, demographics, and conservation status that influence the likelihood of its survival or extinction (excluding climatic changes); Module 2 scores the likely vulnerability of a species to future climate change, including the species’ potential physiological, behavioral, demographic, and ecological responses to climate change; Module 3 combines the results of Modules 1 and 2 into a matrix to produce an overall score of the species’ vulnerability to climate change, which maps to an adjectival category, such as ‘‘critically vulnerable,’’ ‘‘highly vulnerable,’’ ‘‘less vulnerable,’’ and ‘‘least vulnerable;’’ Module 4 is a qualitative determination of uncertainty of overall vulnerability (high, medium, and low) based on evaluations of uncertainty done in each of the first 3 modules. To illustrate the use of this framework, it was applied to six U.S. threatened and endangered species. Based on the framework, four of those species were categorized as ‘‘critically vulnerable:’’ the golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), the salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), the Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis), and the Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhyncus clarki henshawi). The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) was characterized as ‘‘highly vulnerable’’ and the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was categorized as ‘‘less vulnerable.’’ Certainty scores in Module 4 ranged VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:25 Feb 22, 2010 Jkt 220001 between medium and high and reflect the amount and quality of information available. This framework was developed by EPA’s Global Change Research Program and is offered as one of a number of potential approaches for prioritizing those species most vulnerable to climate change. It is not intended to serve as a tool for determining whether a species is endangered or threatened under the Section 4 listing process of the Endangered Species Act. EPA’s Global Change Research is an assessment-oriented program committed to developing frameworks and tools to assist decision-makers in evaluating the impacts of climate change to air quality, water quality and ecosystems. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at https:// www.regulations.gov Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD 2009– 0816, by one of the following methods: • https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov. • Fax: 202–566–1753. • Mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket (Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202–566–1752. • Hand Delivery: The OEI Docket is located in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center’s Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202–566–1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during the docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–ORD–2009– 0816. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked ‘‘late,’’ and may only be considered if time permits. It is EPA’s policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket without change and to PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 make the comments available online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https:// www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA’s public docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the EPA Headquarters Docket Center. Dated: February 1, 2010. Rebecca Clark, Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. 2010–3516 Filed 2–22–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1

Agencies

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8053-8054]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3516]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9115-5; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0816]


A Framework for Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of 
Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is announcing an extension of the original 30-day public 
comment period for the draft document titled, ``A Framework for 
Categorizing the Relative Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered 
Species to Climate Change'' (EPA/600/R-09/011). This extension is being 
granted in response to request from interested parties. The document 
was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within 
EPA's Office of Research and Development. This draft document describes 
an evaluative framework that may be used to categorize the relative 
vulnerability of species to climate change. To illustrate the use of 
this framework, it was applied to six U.S. threatened and endangered 
species: the golden-cheeked warbler, the salt marsh harvest mouse, the 
Mount Graham red squirrel, the Lahontan cutthroat trout, the desert 
tortoise and the bald eagle.
    An external peer review of this report has been completed. The 
public comment period and the external peer review are separate 
processes. The public comment period provides an opportunity for all 
interested parties to comment on the document. When finalizing the 
draft document, EPA will consider any public comments received in 
accordance with this notice.
    EPA released this draft document solely for the purpose of pre-
dissemination review and comment under applicable information quality 
guidelines. This document has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It 
does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency 
policy or determination.

DATES: The original 30-day public comment period began on November 25, 
2009 and closed on December 28, 2009. All comments received to date 
will be considered, including those received after the close of the 
original public comment period. An additional 30-day comment period 
begins on February 23, 2010, and ends March 25, 2010. Comments should 
be in writing and must be received by EPA by March 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The draft ``A Framework for Categorizing the Relative 
Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change'' 
is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for 
Environmental Assessment's home page under the Recent Additions and the 
Publications menus at https://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of 
paper copies are available from the Information Management Team, NCEA; 
telephone: 703-347-8561; facsimile: 703-347-8691. If you are requesting 
a paper copy, please provide your name, your mailing address, and the 
document title, ``A Framework for Categorizing the Relative 
Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change.''
    Comments may be submitted electronically via https://www.regulations.gov, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/
courier. Please follow the detailed instructions

[[Page 8054]]

provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment 
period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; 
telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: 
ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
    For technical information and all other questions, contact Susan 
Julius, NCEA; telephone: 703-347-8619; facsimile: 703-347-8694; or e-
mail: julius.susan@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Information About the Project/Document

    The document, ``A Framework for Categorizing the Relative 
Vulnerability of Threatened and Endangered Species to Climate Change'' 
describes an evaluative framework that may be used to categorize the 
relative vulnerability of species to climate change. Four modules 
compose this framework: Module 1 categorizes baseline vulnerability to 
extinction or major population reduction by scoring those elements of 
the species' life history, demographics, and conservation status that 
influence the likelihood of its survival or extinction (excluding 
climatic changes); Module 2 scores the likely vulnerability of a 
species to future climate change, including the species' potential 
physiological, behavioral, demographic, and ecological responses to 
climate change; Module 3 combines the results of Modules 1 and 2 into a 
matrix to produce an overall score of the species' vulnerability to 
climate change, which maps to an adjectival category, such as 
``critically vulnerable,'' ``highly vulnerable,'' ``less vulnerable,'' 
and ``least vulnerable;'' Module 4 is a qualitative determination of 
uncertainty of overall vulnerability (high, medium, and low) based on 
evaluations of uncertainty done in each of the first 3 modules.
    To illustrate the use of this framework, it was applied to six U.S. 
threatened and endangered species. Based on the framework, four of 
those species were categorized as ``critically vulnerable:'' the 
golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia), the salt marsh harvest 
mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris), the Mount Graham red squirrel 
(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis), and the Lahontan cutthroat trout 
(Oncorhyncus clarki henshawi). The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) 
was characterized as ``highly vulnerable'' and the bald eagle 
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was categorized as ``less vulnerable.'' 
Certainty scores in Module 4 ranged between medium and high and reflect 
the amount and quality of information available.
    This framework was developed by EPA's Global Change Research 
Program and is offered as one of a number of potential approaches for 
prioritizing those species most vulnerable to climate change. It is not 
intended to serve as a tool for determining whether a species is 
endangered or threatened under the Section 4 listing process of the 
Endangered Species Act.
    EPA's Global Change Research is an assessment-oriented program 
committed to developing frameworks and tools to assist decision-makers 
in evaluating the impacts of climate change to air quality, water 
quality and ecosystems.

II. How To Submit Technical Comments to the Docket at https://www.regulations.gov

    Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD 2009-
0816, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: ORD.Docket@epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-1753.
     Mail: Office of Environmental Information (OEI) Docket 
(Mail Code: 2822T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. The phone number is 202-
566-1752.
     Hand Delivery: The OEI Docket is located in the EPA 
Headquarters Docket Center, Room 3334 EPA West Building, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center's Public 
Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public 
Reading Room is 202-566-1744. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should 
be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    If you provide comments by mail or hand delivery, please submit 
three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number 
pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original 
and three copies.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-
2009-0816. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the 
specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will 
be marked ``late,'' and may only be considered if time permits. It is 
EPA's policy to include all comments it receives in the public docket 
without change and to make the comments available online at https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, 
unless a comment includes information claimed to be Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to 
be CBI or otherwise protected through https://www.regulations.gov or e-
mail. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ``anonymous 
access'' system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you 
send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without going through https://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be automatically captured 
and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket 
and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special 
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or 
viruses. For additional information about EPA's public docket visit the 
EPA Docket Center homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.
    Docket: Documents in the docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other materials, 
such as copyrighted material, are publicly available only in hard copy. 
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically 
in https://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the OEI Docket in the 
EPA Headquarters Docket Center.

    Dated: February 1, 2010.
Rebecca Clark,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-3516 Filed 2-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.