Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Alabama Sturgeon, 21993-21994 [2012-8744]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2012 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES and future workforce. The job skills it will need are dispersed throughout its nine bureaus and include, among others, making visitors welcome to various facilities, such as parks and refuges, processing permits for a wide variety of uses of the public lands, collecting royalties for minerals extracted from the public lands, rounding-up and adopting-out wild horses and burros found in the west, protecting archeological and cultural resources of the public lands, and enforcing criminal laws of the United States. As a result of this broad spectrum of duties and services, the DOI touches the lives of most Americans. The people who deal with the DOI bring with them a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. A diverse workforce enables the DOI to provide a measure of understanding to its customers by relating to the diverse background of those customers. By including employees of all backgrounds, all DOI employees gain a measure of knowledge, background, experience, and comfort in serving all of the DOI’s customers. In order to determine if there are barriers in our recruitment and selection processes, DOI must track the demographic groups that apply for its jobs. The most effective and statistically valid method to make these determinations is information directly from applicants. The data collected is not provided to selecting officials and plays no part in the merit staffing or the selection processes. The data collected will be used in summary form to determine trends covering the demographic make-up of applicant pools and job selections within a given occupation or organizational group. The records of those applicants not selected are destroyed in accordance with DOI’s records management procedures. II. Data (1) Title: Applicant Background Survey. OMB Control Number: 1091–0001. Current Expiration Date: July 31, 2012. Type of Review: Information Collection Renewal. Affected Entities: Applicants for DOI jobs. Estimated annual number of respondents: 13,433. Frequency of Response: One per job application. (2) Annual reporting and record keeping burden: Average reporting burden per application: 5 minutes. Total annual reporting: 1,119 hours. (3) Description of the need and use of the information: This information is VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Apr 11, 2012 Jkt 226001 required to obtain the source of recruitment, ethnicity, race, and disability data on job applicants to determine if the recruitment is effectively reaching all aspects of relevant labor pools and to determine if there are proportionate acceptance rates at various stages of the recruitment process. Response is optional. The information is used for evaluating recruitment only, and plays no part in the selection of who is hired. III. Request for Comments Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able to respond to a collection of information, to search data sources, to complete and review the collection of information, and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information. All written comments will be available for public inspection in the Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC during normal business hours, excluding legal holidays. For an appointment to inspect comments, please contact Ophelia Anderson by telephone on (202) 219– 0805, or by email at Ophelia_Anderson@ios.doi.gov. A valid picture identification is required for entry into the Department of the interior. Dated: April 5, 2012. Sharon Eller, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012–8810 Filed 4–11–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–RE–P PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21993 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2012–N027; FXES11130400000C2–123–FF04E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Alabama Sturgeon Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for the endangered Alabama Sturgeon. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria that would have to be met in order for us to downlist the species to be threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public. DATES: In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or before June 11, 2012. ADDRESSES: If you wish to review this technical/agency draft recovery plan, you may obtain a copy by contacting Jeff Powell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alabama Field Office, 1208–B Main Street, Daphne, AL 36532; tel. (251) 441–6630, or by visiting either the Service’s recovery plan Web site at https://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/ index.html#plans or the Daphne Field Office Web site at https://www.fws.gov/ daphne/. If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by one of the following methods: • You may submit written comments and materials to Jeff Powell, at the above address. • You may hand-deliver written comments to our Alabama Field Office, at the above address, or fax them to (251) 441–6222. • You may send comments by email to jeff_powell@fws.gov. For additional information about submitting comments, see the ‘‘Request for Public Comments’’ section below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Powell, at the above addresses or by telephone: (251) 441–5858. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhyncus suttkusi) was listed as E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 21994 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 71 / Thursday, April 12, 2012 / Notices an endangered species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on May 5, 2000 (65 FR 26438). Its historic range encompassed all major rivers in the Mobile Basin, including the Alabama, Tombigbee, and Cahaba River systems, below the fall lines for each river. (Fall lines are changes in elevation (i.e., falls) that block navigation upstream by fish.) Recent collections of Alabama sturgeon have been restricted to the lower Alabama River, from below R.F. Henry Lock and Dam to the confluence of the Tombigbee River, and the lower Cahaba River near its confluence with the Alabama River; however, records are extremely rare. The last capture of an Alabama sturgeon was on April 3, 2007, by biologists at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR). Critical habitat was designated for the species on June 2, 2009 (74 FR 26488). The Alabama sturgeon is one of the rarest fish in the nation and may be close to extinction. 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 our endangered species program. To help guide the recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most listed species. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or delisting, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery measures. The Act 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 requires us to provide a public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan development. We will consider all information we receive during a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. We and other Federal agencies will take these comments into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans. Downlisting of the Alabama sturgeon from endangered to threatened will be considered when: (1) A population consisting of approximately 500 sexually mature Alabama sturgeon is shown to be surviving and naturally reproducing in the Alabama/Cahaba Rivers; (2) population studies show that the Alabama sturgeon population is naturally recruiting (consisting of multiple age classes) and sustainable over a period of 20 years (2–3 generations), and no longer requires hatchery augmentation; and (3) an agreement is in place that ensures adequate flows are being delivered down the Alabama River to allow for successful development of sturgeon larvae, and that fish are able to move successfully both upstream and downstream at dams on the Alabama River. Request for Public Comments We request written comments on the draft recovery plan. We will consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES prior to final approval of the plan. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email 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. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533 (f). Dated: February 1, 2012. Mark J. Musaus, Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2012–8744 Filed 4–11–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Recovery Plan Components DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the recovery of the Alabama sturgeon, so that protection under the Act is no longer necessary. Delisting is not currently foreseeable, due to extreme curtailment of range and extensive modification to the riverine habitats. Therefore, if finalized, this draft recovery plan would establish downlisting criteria for the Alabama sturgeon so that it may be reclassified as threatened. Bureau of Land Management VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:27 Apr 11, 2012 Jkt 226001 [LLAK930000 L16100000.DS0000.12XL] Notice of Correction to Notice of Availability of the Draft Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and Announcement of Public Subsistence-Related Hearings AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ACTION: Notice of correction. On March 30, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a Notice of Availability of the Draft Integrated Activity Plan (IAP)/ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the National Petroleum ReserveAlaska and Announcement of Public Subsistence-Related Hearings in the Federal Register (77 FR 19318). The BLM inadvertently stated that the comments on the Draft IAP/EIS must be received by May 31, 2012. The BLM will accept public comments on the Draft IAP/EIS until June 1, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Ducker, BLM Alaska State Office, 907– 271–3130. SUMMARY: Ronald L. Dunton, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2012–8860 Filed 4–11–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 337–TA–807] Certain Digital Photo Frames and Image Display Devices and Components Thereof; Notice of Request for Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding With Respect to Defaulting Respondent Aiptek International Inc. U.S. International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission is requesting briefing on remedy, the public interest, and bonding with respect to relief against respondent Aiptek International Inc. (‘‘Aiptek’’) of Hsinchu, Taiwan, which was previously found in default in the above-captioned investigation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clint Gerdine, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 708–2310. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation are or will be available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21993-21994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8744]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2012-N027; FXES11130400000C2-123-FF04E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for Alabama 
Sturgeon

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability 
of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for the endangered Alabama 
Sturgeon. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives 
and criteria that would have to be met in order for us to downlist the 
species to be threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act). We request review and comment on this draft recovery 
plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public.

DATES: In order to be considered, comments on the draft recovery plan 
must be received on or before June 11, 2012.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review this technical/agency draft recovery 
plan, you may obtain a copy by contacting Jeff Powell, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Alabama Field Office, 1208-B Main Street, Daphne, AL 
36532; tel. (251) 441-6630, or by visiting either the Service's 
recovery plan Web site at https://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/#plans or the Daphne Field Office Web site at https://www.fws.gov/daphne/.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by one of the 
following methods:
     You may submit written comments and materials to Jeff 
Powell, at the above address.
     You may hand-deliver written comments to our Alabama Field 
Office, at the above address, or fax them to (251) 441-6222.
     You may send comments by email to jeff_powell@fws.gov.
    For additional information about submitting comments, see the 
``Request for Public Comments'' section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Powell, at the above addresses or 
by telephone: (251) 441-5858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Alabama sturgeon (Scaphirhyncus suttkusi) was listed as

[[Page 21994]]

an endangered species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) on May 5, 
2000 (65 FR 26438). Its historic range encompassed all major rivers in 
the Mobile Basin, including the Alabama, Tombigbee, and Cahaba River 
systems, below the fall lines for each river. (Fall lines are changes 
in elevation (i.e., falls) that block navigation upstream by fish.) 
Recent collections of Alabama sturgeon have been restricted to the 
lower Alabama River, from below R.F. Henry Lock and Dam to the 
confluence of the Tombigbee River, and the lower Cahaba River near its 
confluence with the Alabama River; however, records are extremely rare. 
The last capture of an Alabama sturgeon was on April 3, 2007, by 
biologists at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural 
Resources (ADCNR). Critical habitat was designated for the species on 
June 2, 2009 (74 FR 26488). The Alabama sturgeon is one of the rarest 
fish in the nation and may be close to extinction.
    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 our endangered species program. To help guide the 
recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most listed species. 
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for conservation 
of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or delisting, and 
estimate time and cost for implementing recovery measures.
    The Act 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 requires us to provide a 
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during 
recovery plan development. We will consider all information we receive 
during a public comment period prior to approval of each new or revised 
recovery plan. We and other Federal agencies will take these comments 
into account in the course of implementing approved recovery plans.

Recovery Plan Components

    The objective of this plan is to provide a framework for the 
recovery of the Alabama sturgeon, so that protection under the Act is 
no longer necessary. Delisting is not currently foreseeable, due to 
extreme curtailment of range and extensive modification to the riverine 
habitats. Therefore, if finalized, this draft recovery plan would 
establish downlisting criteria for the Alabama sturgeon so that it may 
be reclassified as threatened.
    Downlisting of the Alabama sturgeon from endangered to threatened 
will be considered when: (1) A population consisting of approximately 
500 sexually mature Alabama sturgeon is shown to be surviving and 
naturally reproducing in the Alabama/Cahaba Rivers; (2) population 
studies show that the Alabama sturgeon population is naturally 
recruiting (consisting of multiple age classes) and sustainable over a 
period of 20 years (2-3 generations), and no longer requires hatchery 
augmentation; and (3) an agreement is in place that ensures adequate 
flows are being delivered down the Alabama River to allow for 
successful development of sturgeon larvae, and that fish are able to 
move successfully both upstream and downstream at dams on the Alabama 
River.

Request for Public Comments

    We request written comments on the draft recovery plan. We will 
consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES prior 
to final approval of the plan.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email 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.

Authority

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

    Dated: February 1, 2012.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-8744 Filed 4-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.