Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Utah Prairie Dog, 57055-57056 [2010-23234]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 180 / Friday, September 17, 2010 / Notices cottonwood gallery forest for migratory landbirds? • What are our options for preventing the introduction and dispersal of invasive plants and animals? • What is the refuge’s role in supporting native fish and restoring riparian habitat in Camas Creek? • How can we maintain, manage, and restore the refuge’s sagebrush, wet meadow, and upland habitats to support the long-term viability of native wildlife populations, and maximize habitat values for key wildlife species? • How can the refuge adaptively manage habitat in response to climate change issues? • How can we protect the refuge’s cultural and historical resources? • What is the most appropriate refuge land management strategy for providing contiguous and quality habitats for focal wildlife resources? 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. Dated: August 5, 2010. Theresa E. Rabot, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 2010–23243 Filed 9–16–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R6–ES–2008–N188; 60120–1113– 0000; C2] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Utah Prairie Dog Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment. wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1 AGENCY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the availability of a draft revised recovery plan for the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens). This species is federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Service solicits SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:21 Sep 16, 2010 Jkt 220001 review and comment from the public on this draft revised plan. DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be received on or before November 16, 2010. ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available by request from the Utah Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2369 West Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 84119; telephone 801–975–3330. Submit comments on the draft recovery plan to the Field Supervisor at this same address. An electronic copy of the draft recovery plan is available at https:// www.fws.gov/endangered/species/ recovery-plans.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, at the above address, or telephone 801–975–3330. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point where it is again a secure, selfsustaining member of its ecosystem is a primary goal of the Service’s endangered species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares recovery plans for the federally listed species native to the United States where a plan will promote the conservation of the species. Recovery plans describe site-specific actions necessary for the conservation of the species, establish objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result in a determination that the species no longer needs the protection of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and provide estimates of the time and cost for implementing the needed recovery measures. The Act requires 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 opportunity for public review and comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider all information received during a public comment period when preparing each new or revised recovery plan for approval. The Service and other Federal agencies also will take these comments into consideration in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. It is our policy to request peer review of recovery plans. We will summarize and respond to the issues raised by the public and peer reviewers in an appendix to the approved recovery plan. The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens), found only in southwestern and central Utah, was listed as an PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 57055 endangered species on June 4, 1973 (38 FR 14678). At the time of listing, the species was threatened by habitat destruction and modification, overexploitation, disease, and predation. Subsequently, Utah prairie dog populations increased significantly in portions of their range, and on May 29, 1984 (49 FR 22330), the species was reclassified as threatened with a special rule to allow regulated take of the species. This special rule was amended on June 14, 1991 (56 FR 27438), to increase the amount of regulated take allowed throughout the species’ range. Recent Utah prairie dog population trends appear to be relatively stable, although the species remains vulnerable to several serious threats. These include habitat loss, plague, changing climatic conditions, unauthorized take, and disturbance from recreational and economic land uses. The recovery of Utah prairie dogs will rely on effective conservation responses to the issues facing the species, which remain varied and complex. These issues include plague, urban expansion, grazing, cultivated agriculture, vegetative community changes, invasive plants, off-highway vehicle and recreation uses, climate change, energy resource exploration and development, fire management, poaching, and predation. Strategically, these issues can be reduced to two overriding concerns: loss of habitat and plague. The recovery strategy for the Utah prairie dog focuses on the need to address colony loss and disease through a program that encompasses threats abatement, population management, research, and monitoring. We emphasize conserving extant colonies, many of which occur on non-Federal lands; establishing additional colonies on Federal and nonFederal lands via habitat improvement or translocations; controlling the transmission of plague; and monitoring habitat conditions. Request for Public Comments The Service solicits public comments on the draft recovery plan. All comments received by the date specified in DATES will be considered prior to approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding the plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section). Comments and materials received will be available, by appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at the above address. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM 17SEN1 57056 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 180 / Friday, September 17, 2010 / Notices Dated: August 18, 2010. Hugh Morrison, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 2010–23234 Filed 9–16–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWYP07000; L16100000.DU0000] Notice of Availability of the Draft Buffalo Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Fortification Creek Planning Area and Environmental Assessment, Wyoming Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment (RMPA/ EA) for the Buffalo Field Office (BFO) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. The RMPA/EA will amend the 1985 Buffalo Resource Management Plan. The BLM also announces the availability of information regarding a proposed Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) considered in the Draft RMPA/ EA. DATES: The BLM must receive written comments on the Draft RMPA/EA and on the proposed ACEC information within 60 days following the date that this Notice of Availability appears in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Draft RMPA/EA by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/ st/en/info/NEPA/bfodocs/ fortification_creek.html. • E-mail: Fort_Crk_WYMail@blm.gov. • Fax: (307) 684–1122. • Mail: Buffalo RMP Amendment/ Fortification Creek EA, BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834. Copies of the Draft RMPA/EA are available in the Buffalo Field Office at the above address and at the following location: • Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Thomas wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1 SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:46 Sep 16, 2010 Jkt 220001 Bills, Buffalo RMPA Team Leader, telephone at 307–684–1133; mailing address at BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834; e-mail at tom_bills@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fortification Creek Planning Area (FCPA) is described as requiring ‘‘special management’’ in the Powder River Basin Oil and Gas Project Environmental Impact Statement (PRB EIS). The FCPA also contains an isolated elk herd, a Wilderness Study Area (WSA) and a citizen-proposed ACEC. The FCPA is 100,655 acres in size and located in the center of the Powder River Basin in parts of Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan Counties, Wyoming. An RMP amendment has been initiated to simplify, consolidate and unify overlapping planning decisions in the FCPA while ensuring the viability of the existing elk herd and maintaining other management activities in the planning area. The Draft RMPA/EA documents the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of three alternatives for management of BLMadministered public lands and mineral resources within the Fortification Creek Area of the BFO. The alternatives incorporate best management practices for oil and gas development and other measures necessary to address impacts to transportation, public safety, cultural resources, recreational opportunities, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, visual resources, air quality, wilderness characteristics, and other relevant issues. The following descriptions of alternatives considered in the Draft RMPA/EA have been included to provide context for reviewers. Three alternatives are analyzed in detail: Alternative 1 (No Action Alternative): Continues the existing management direction in conformance with the current RMP and would not designate an ACEC in the FCPA; Alternative 2: Amends the existing RMP to allow overhead power lines on BLM surface within pre-defined corridors, applies elk security habitat standards as recommended by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), prescribes acceptable mitigation measures, and would designate an ACEC based on citizen proposed boundaries (33,757 acres; primarily public surface); and Alternative 3 (Agency Preferred Alternative): Amends the existing RMP by allowing overhead power lines along roads on BLM surface, applies elk security habitat standards developed PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 jointly by the BLM and WGFD, establishes standards for performance based mitigation, and does not designate any area as an ACEC. There are no ACECs in the existing BFO land use plan. As proposed in the Draft RMPA/EA, there is potential for designation of a Fortification Creek ACEC. Values of concern include steep slopes, erosive soils, elk habitat, cultural resources, and visual resources. When commenting, please include reference to either the page or section in the Draft RMPA/EA to which the comment applies. To facilitate analysis of comments and information submitted, the BLM encourages those individuals submitting comments to submit them in electronic format. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and e-il addresses of respondents will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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 may 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. Donald A. Simpson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2010–23330 Filed 9–16–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R5–R–2010–N150; 50133–1265– CHNP–S3] Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge, Accomack County, VA; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of public scoping and request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), are gathering information to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and associated environmental impact statement (EIS) SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17SEN1.SGM 17SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57055-57056]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23234]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2008-N188; 60120-1113-0000; C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Revised 
Recovery Plan for Utah Prairie Dog

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of a draft revised recovery plan for the Utah prairie dog 
(Cynomys parvidens). This species is federally listed as threatened 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Service 
solicits review and comment from the public on this draft revised plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be received on 
or before November 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised recovery plan are available by 
request from the Utah Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
2369 West Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 84119; telephone 
801-975-3330. Submit comments on the draft recovery plan to the Field 
Supervisor at this same address. An electronic copy of the draft 
recovery plan is available at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, at the above 
address, or telephone 801-975-3330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, the Service prepares recovery plans for the 
federally listed species native to the United States where a plan will 
promote the conservation of the species. Recovery plans describe site-
specific actions necessary for the conservation of the species, 
establish objective, measurable criteria which, when met, would result 
in a determination that the species no longer needs the protection of 
the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and provide estimates of the time and 
cost for implementing the needed recovery measures.
    The Act requires 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 opportunity for public review and comment be provided during 
recovery plan development. The Service will consider all information 
received during a public comment period when preparing each new or 
revised recovery plan for approval. The Service and other Federal 
agencies also will take these comments into consideration in the course 
of implementing approved recovery plans. It is our policy to request 
peer review of recovery plans. We will summarize and respond to the 
issues raised by the public and peer reviewers in an appendix to the 
approved recovery plan.
    The Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens), found only in 
southwestern and central Utah, was listed as an endangered species on 
June 4, 1973 (38 FR 14678). At the time of listing, the species was 
threatened by habitat destruction and modification, overexploitation, 
disease, and predation. Subsequently, Utah prairie dog populations 
increased significantly in portions of their range, and on May 29, 1984 
(49 FR 22330), the species was reclassified as threatened with a 
special rule to allow regulated take of the species. This special rule 
was amended on June 14, 1991 (56 FR 27438), to increase the amount of 
regulated take allowed throughout the species' range. Recent Utah 
prairie dog population trends appear to be relatively stable, although 
the species remains vulnerable to several serious threats. These 
include habitat loss, plague, changing climatic conditions, 
unauthorized take, and disturbance from recreational and economic land 
uses.
    The recovery of Utah prairie dogs will rely on effective 
conservation responses to the issues facing the species, which remain 
varied and complex. These issues include plague, urban expansion, 
grazing, cultivated agriculture, vegetative community changes, invasive 
plants, off-highway vehicle and recreation uses, climate change, energy 
resource exploration and development, fire management, poaching, and 
predation. Strategically, these issues can be reduced to two overriding 
concerns: loss of habitat and plague. The recovery strategy for the 
Utah prairie dog focuses on the need to address colony loss and disease 
through a program that encompasses threats abatement, population 
management, research, and monitoring. We emphasize conserving extant 
colonies, many of which occur on non-Federal lands; establishing 
additional colonies on Federal and non-Federal lands via habitat 
improvement or translocations; controlling the transmission of plague; 
and monitoring habitat conditions.

Request for Public Comments

    The Service solicits public comments on the draft recovery plan. 
All comments received by the date specified in DATES will be considered 
prior to approval of the plan. Written comments and materials regarding 
the plan should be addressed to the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES 
section). Comments and materials received will be available, by 
appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at the 
above address.

Authority

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


[[Page 57056]]


    Dated: August 18, 2010.
Hugh Morrison,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-23234 Filed 9-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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