Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Four Subspecies of Island Fox, 56858-56859 [2012-22657]

Download as PDF 56858 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 179 / Friday, September 14, 2012 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5601–N–36] Federal Property Suitable as Facilities To Assist the Homeless Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juanita Perry, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 708–1234; TTY number for the hearing- and speechimpaired (202) 708–2565, (these telephone numbers are not toll-free), or call the toll-free Title V information line at 800–927–7588. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the December 12, 1988 court order in National Coalition for the Homeless v. Veterans Administration, No. 88–2503–OG (D.D.C.), HUD publishes a Notice, on a weekly basis, identifying unutilized, underutilized, excess and surplus Federal buildings and real property that HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. Today’s Notice is for the purpose of announcing that no additional properties have been determined suitable or unsuitable this week. SUMMARY: Dated: September 6, 2012. Ann Marie Oliva, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs. [FR Doc. 2012–22360 Filed 9–13–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P INTER-AMERICAN FOUNDATION Sunshine Act Meetings September 24, 2012, 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. PLACE: 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 12th Floor North, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20004. STATUS: Open session except for the portion specified as closed session as provided in 22 CFR 1004.4 (f) MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: D Approval of the Minutes of the June 25, 2012, Meeting of the Board of Directors. D Resolution Honoring Service of Kay Arnold. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES TIME AND DATE: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:39 Sep 13, 2012 Jkt 226001 D Management Report. D FY13 Budget and Funding Perspective. D Public Information about IAF Grants. D Executive Session. PORTIONS TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: D Approval of the Minutes of the June 25, 2012, Meeting of the Board of Directors. D Resolution Honoring Service of Kay Arnold. D Management Report. D FY13 Budget and Funding Perspective. D Public Information about IAF Grants. PORTIONS TO BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC: D Executive Session—Personnel issues. Closed session as provided in 22 CFR 1004.4(f). CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION: Paul Zimmerman, General Counsel, (202) 683–7118. Paul Zimmerman, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2012–22840 Filed 9–12–12; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 7025–01–P will accept information about any species at any time. ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the draft recovery plan, you may obtain a copy by visiting our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/ species/recovery-plans.html. Alternatively, you may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003; telephone 805–644–1766. If you wish to comment on the plan, you may submit your comments in writing by any one of the following methods: • U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, at the above address; • Hand-delivery: Ventura Field Office, at the above address; • Fax: (805) 644–3958; or • Email: fw8islandfox@fws.gov. If you submit comments by email, please include your name and return address in your email message. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael McCrary, Listing and Recovery Coordinator, at the above address, phone number, or email. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–ES–2012–N164; 80221–1113– 0000–C2] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Four Subspecies of Island Fox Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and public comment. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of our Draft Recovery Plan for Four Subspecies of Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Each of the four subspecies, San Miguel Island fox (Urocyon littoralis littoralis), Santa Rosa Island fox (U. l. santarosae), Santa Cruz Island fox (U. l. santacruzae), and Santa Catalina Island fox (U. l. catalinae), is endemic to the Channel Island off southern California for which it is named. We request review and comment on our plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public. We will also accept any new information on the species’ status throughout its range. DATES: We must receive comments on or before November 13, 2012. However, we SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystems is a primary goal of the endangered species program and the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status of listed species to the point at which listing is no longer appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Species’ History We listed four of the six subspecies of island fox endemic to the California Channel Islands as endangered on March 5, 2004, following catastrophic population declines (69 FR 10335). The San Miguel Island fox had declined from an estimated 450 individuals to 15; the Santa Rosa Island fox had declined from over 1,750 individuals to 14; the Santa Cruz Island fox had declined from approximately 1,450 individuals to approximately 55; and the Santa Catalina Island fox had declined from over 1,300 individuals to 103. The San Clemente Island fox (Urocyon littoralis clementae) and the San Nicolas Island fox (U. l. dickeyi) were not federally listed at that time, as their population numbers had not experienced similar declines. E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 179 / Friday, September 14, 2012 / Notices The Draft Recovery Plan for Four Subspecies of Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis) was developed by the Island Fox Recovery Team, Recovery Coordination Group. We coordinated with the California Department of Fish and Game, and a team of stakeholders, which included scientific experts, landowners and managers, agency representatives, and non-government organizations. The two primary threats that resulted in the listing of the four subspecies of island fox as federally endangered were (1) predation by golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) (San Miguel Island fox, Santa Rosa Island fox, and Santa Cruz Island fox) and (2) disease (Santa Catalina Island fox). Additionally, because the size of each island fox population is small, they are highly vulnerable to stochastic events and the effects of low genetic diversity. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Recovery Plan Goals The objective of an agency recovery plan is to provide a framework for the recovery of a species so that protection under the Act is no longer necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about the species and provides criteria and actions necessary for us to be able to downlist or delist the species. Recovery plans help guide our recovery efforts by describing actions we consider necessary for the species’ conservation and by estimating time and costs for implementing needed recovery measures. To achieve its goals, this draft recovery plan identifies the following objectives: 1. Wild island fox populations exhibit demographic characteristics consistent with long-term viability; and 2. Land managers are able to respond in a timely fashion to potential and ongoing predation by golden eagles, to potential or incipient disease outbreaks, and to other identified threats. As the species meets reclassification and recovery criteria, we review the species’ status and consider the species for reclassification on or removal from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Request for Public Comments Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan development. It is also our policy to request peer review of recovery plans (July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). We will consider all information presented during the public comment period prior to approval of the recovery plan. In an appendix to the approved recovery plan, VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:39 Sep 13, 2012 Jkt 226001 we will summarize and respond to the issues raised by the public, agencies, and peer reviewers. Responses to individual commenters will not be provided, but we will provide a summary of how we addressed substantive comments in an appendix to the approved recovery plan. Substantive comments may or may not result in changes to the recovery plan. Comments regarding recovery plan implementation will be forwarded as appropriate to Federal or other entities so that they can be taken into account during the course of implementing recovery actions. We invite written comments on the draft recovery plan. Before we approve the plan, we will consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES. Methods of submitting comments are in ADDRESSES. 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. Comments and materials we receive will be available, by appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at our office (see ADDRESSES). Authority We developed our draft recovery plan under the authority of section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under section 4(f) Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Tom McCabe, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2012–22657 Filed 9–13–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–PWR–10709; 9475–5000–NZY] Federal Register Notification of Redesignation of Potential Wilderness as Wilderness, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, Washington AGENCY: PO 00000 National Park Service, Interior. Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56859 Notice of Redesignation of Potential Wilderness as Wilderness. ACTION: The 1988 Washington Parks Wilderness Act (Pub. L. 100–668, November 16, 1988) designated 634,614 acres of North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area as the Stephen Mather Wilderness. Due to the potential for hydroelectric development, the Act also designated an additional 5,226 acres of potential wilderness within Ross Lake National Recreation Area, including approximately 1,667 acres of land within the Lower Big Beaver Valley and 3,559-acres of the Lower Thunder Creek Valley. Seattle City Light (SCL), a hydroelectric utility with the City of Seattle, retained rights, through Section 505 of the Act of October 2, 1968 (82 Stat. 930; 16 U.S.C. 90d–4) as amended under Title II, Section 202 of Public Law 100–668, for hydroelectric development SUMMARY: ‘‘* * *in the lands and waters within the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission Project 53, including the proposed Copper Creek, High Ross, and Thunder Creek elements of the project’’. In April 2008, SCL formally abandoned hydroelectric development plans for the potential wilderness area within the Lower Thunder Creek Valley after determining the proposal was not economically or environmentally feasible. Consequently there are no current, or proposed, uses of the 3,559 acres of Thunder Creek Potential Wilderness which are incompatible with wilderness designation. Title IV, Section 2 of the Washington Parks Wilderness Act authorized the Secretary of the Interior to designate administratively as wilderness any lands designated as potential wilderness upon publication in the Federal Register of a notice that all uses thereon that are inconsistent with the Wilderness Act of 1964 (Pub. L. 88–577) have ceased or that non-Federal interests in land have been acquired. Accordingly, this notice hereby converts the 3,559 acres of potential wilderness in Lower Thunder Creek Valley, within North Cascades National Park Service Complex, to designated wilderness. The 3,559 acres shall be added to the 634,614 acres of designated wilderness within the Stephen Mather Wilderness, and managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act of 1964. The 1,667 acres of land within the Lower Big Beaver Valley are not affected by this Notice. E:\FR\FM\14SEN1.SGM 14SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56858-56859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22657]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2012-N164; 80221-1113-0000-C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery 
Plan for Four Subspecies of Island Fox

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and public comment.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of our Draft Recovery Plan for Four Subspecies of Island 
Fox (Urocyon littoralis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act). Each of the four subspecies, San Miguel Island fox 
(Urocyon littoralis littoralis), Santa Rosa Island fox (U. l. 
santarosae), Santa Cruz Island fox (U. l. santacruzae), and Santa 
Catalina Island fox (U. l. catalinae), is endemic to the Channel Island 
off southern California for which it is named. We request review and 
comment on our plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the 
public. We will also accept any new information on the species' status 
throughout its range.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before November 13, 2012. 
However, we will accept information about any species at any time.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the draft recovery plan, you may 
obtain a copy by visiting our Web site at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. Alternatively, you may contact 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 
2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003; telephone 805-
644-1766. If you wish to comment on the plan, you may submit your 
comments in writing by any one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, at the above address;
     Hand-delivery: Ventura Field Office, at the above address;
     Fax: (805) 644-3958; or
     Email: fw8islandfox@fws.gov.
    If you submit comments by email, please include your name and 
return address in your email message.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael McCrary, Listing and Recovery 
Coordinator, at the above address, phone number, or email.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants to the 
point where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of the endangered species program and the 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement of the status 
of listed species to the point at which listing is no longer 
appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. 
The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed species, 
unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a particular 
species.

Species' History

    We listed four of the six subspecies of island fox endemic to the 
California Channel Islands as endangered on March 5, 2004, following 
catastrophic population declines (69 FR 10335). The San Miguel Island 
fox had declined from an estimated 450 individuals to 15; the Santa 
Rosa Island fox had declined from over 1,750 individuals to 14; the 
Santa Cruz Island fox had declined from approximately 1,450 individuals 
to approximately 55; and the Santa Catalina Island fox had declined 
from over 1,300 individuals to 103. The San Clemente Island fox 
(Urocyon littoralis clementae) and the San Nicolas Island fox (U. l. 
dickeyi) were not federally listed at that time, as their population 
numbers had not experienced similar declines.

[[Page 56859]]

    The Draft Recovery Plan for Four Subspecies of Island Fox (Urocyon 
littoralis) was developed by the Island Fox Recovery Team, Recovery 
Coordination Group. We coordinated with the California Department of 
Fish and Game, and a team of stakeholders, which included scientific 
experts, landowners and managers, agency representatives, and non-
government organizations.
    The two primary threats that resulted in the listing of the four 
subspecies of island fox as federally endangered were (1) predation by 
golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) (San Miguel Island fox, Santa Rosa 
Island fox, and Santa Cruz Island fox) and (2) disease (Santa Catalina 
Island fox). Additionally, because the size of each island fox 
population is small, they are highly vulnerable to stochastic events 
and the effects of low genetic diversity.

Recovery Plan Goals

    The objective of an agency recovery plan is to provide a framework 
for the recovery of a species so that protection under the Act is no 
longer necessary. A recovery plan includes scientific information about 
the species and provides criteria and actions necessary for us to be 
able to downlist or delist the species. Recovery plans help guide our 
recovery efforts by describing actions we consider necessary for the 
species' conservation and by estimating time and costs for implementing 
needed recovery measures.
    To achieve its goals, this draft recovery plan identifies the 
following objectives:
    1. Wild island fox populations exhibit demographic characteristics 
consistent with long-term viability; and
    2. Land managers are able to respond in a timely fashion to 
potential and ongoing predation by golden eagles, to potential or 
incipient disease outbreaks, and to other identified threats.
    As the species meets reclassification and recovery criteria, we 
review the species' status and consider the species for 
reclassification on or removal from the Federal List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

Request for Public Comments

    Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an 
opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan 
development. It is also our policy to request peer review of recovery 
plans (July 1, 1994; 59 FR 34270). We will consider all information 
presented during the public comment period prior to approval of the 
recovery plan. In an appendix to the approved recovery plan, we will 
summarize and respond to the issues raised by the public, agencies, and 
peer reviewers. Responses to individual commenters will not be 
provided, but we will provide a summary of how we addressed substantive 
comments in an appendix to the approved recovery plan. Substantive 
comments may or may not result in changes to the recovery plan. 
Comments regarding recovery plan implementation will be forwarded as 
appropriate to Federal or other entities so that they can be taken into 
account during the course of implementing recovery actions. We invite 
written comments on the draft recovery plan.
    Before we approve the plan, we will consider all comments we 
receive by the date specified in DATES. Methods of submitting comments 
are in ADDRESSES.

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.
    Comments and materials we receive will be available, by 
appointment, for public inspection during normal business hours at our 
office (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

    We developed our draft recovery plan under the authority of section 
4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under 
section 4(f) Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.).

Tom McCabe,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-22657 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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