Final Recovery Plan, First Revision; Mexican Spotted Owl, 74688-74689 [2012-30348]

Download as PDF 74688 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 242 / Monday, December 17, 2012 / Notices srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or that is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of https://www.regulations.gov. Issues for Comment Focus DHS, USCIS invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, and the estimated burden (i.e. the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to respond). For Forms I–765 and I–765WS, USCIS is especially interested in the public’s experience, input, and estimates on the burden in terms of time and money incurred by applicants for the following aspects of this information collection: • The time burden incurred by preparers (persons who assist the respondent with the preparation of the form) who are not paid by the respondent. • For preparers who are paid, the time and expense to the respondent to find and secure such preparers for assistance. • The amount that paid preparers charge for their services. • The time required to obtain supporting documents for Forms I–765 and I–765WS. • The monetary costs incurred to secure supporting documents from sources such as a landlord, church, utility, public agency (housing, social services, law enforcement, local/state governments), school, medical care provider, advocacy group, law firm, or military service. • The average time required and cost incurred to secure secondary evidence such as an affidavit or a statement. • The percentage of total applicants who require English translations of their supporting documents. • The percentage of supporting documents for each individual VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:21 Dec 14, 2012 Jkt 229001 applicant that require translation into English. • The time required to find, hire or otherwise obtain translations of supporting documents for immigration benefit requests. • The average out of pocket monetary cost if any to obtain translations of supporting documents when required. In addition, to truly be helpful to the improvement of this form and the program that oversees the services associated with this information collection; written comments and suggestions concerning this collection of information are requested to provide clear and specific suggestions on the data elements captured through these forms and the evidence required to be submitted with a focus on one or more of the following four points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) How to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) How to reduce or minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Overview of This Information Collection (1) Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved information collection. (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Application for Employment Authorization; Form I–765 Work Sheet. (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: Form I–765 and Form I–765WS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or Households. The information collected on this form is used by USCIS to determine eligibility for the issuance of the employment authorization document. (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 respond: 1,420,000 responses related to Form I–765 at 3.42 hours per response; 1,043,992 responses related to Biometrics at 1.17 hours; 706,057 responses related to Form I–765WS at .50 hours; and 1,420,000 responses related to Passport-Style Photographs at .50 hours per response. (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: 7,140,900 annual burden hours. If you need a copy of the information collection instrument with instructions, or additional information, please visit the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: https://www.regulations.gov. We may also be contacted at: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529–2140, Telephone number 202–272–8377. Dated: December 11, 2012. Laura Dawkins, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2012–30340 Filed 12–14–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–97–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–ES–2012–N182; 20124–1113– 0000–C2] Final Recovery Plan, First Revision; Mexican Spotted Owl Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of document availability. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of our final recovery plan, first revision, for the Mexican Spotted Owl, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This species occurs in the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, and south through the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico. The recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order to enable us to remove this species from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. ADDRESSES: If you wish to view the recovery plan, you may obtain a copy by any one of the following methods: Internet: https://endangered.fws.gov/ recovery/#plans (type ‘‘Mexican spotted owl’’ in the document title search field); SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 242 / Monday, December 17, 2012 / Notices U.S. mail: Arizona Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Phoenix, AZ 85021–4951; or Telephone: 602– 242–0210. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor, at the above address and phone number, or by email at incomingazcorr@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of our final recovery plan, first revision, for the Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida). The revised recovery plan was prepared by a team of experts from both the United States and Mexico; team members were appointed by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southwest Region. We made the draft plan available via a Federal Register notice published on June 24, 2011 (76 FR 37141); this notice opened a comment period that ran through August 23, 2011, and requested comments from local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the public. We considered information we received from these entities, as well as that obtained from three independent peer reviewers, in finalizing this revised recovery plan. 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 our 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. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with Species’ History We listed the Mexican spotted owl as a threatened species under the Act on March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14248). We designated critical habitat on August 31, 2004 (69 FR 53182). We originally completed a recovery plan for the Mexican spotted owl on October 16, 1995. However, updates on status information and experience in implementing the original recovery plan led to our determination that revision was warranted. The Mexican spotted owl nests and roosts in forested areas exhibiting multilayered, unevenly aged tree structure, and in steep, rocky canyonlands. Forested habitats used by the owl vary throughout the species’ VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:21 Dec 14, 2012 Jkt 229001 range and by activity (nesting, roosting, foraging, dispersal/migration). However, the forest types believed most important to Mexican spotted owls are mixed conifer, pine-oak, and riparian habitats. At the time of the species’ listing, chief threats to the owl’s population in the United States were commercialbased timber harvest; however, at this time, the risk of stand-replacing wildfire has come into prominence. The revised recovery plan recommends protection of currently occupied home ranges, plus development of replacement nesting/ roosting habitat over time. The plan recognizes the need to manage these forest landscapes to minimize the effects of large, stand-replacing wildfires, believed to be the greatest current threat to the species. 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 remove it from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (List). 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 recovery plan identifies the following objectives: • Support the population of the Mexican spotted owl for the foreseeable future. • Maintain habitat conditions necessary to provide roosting and nesting habitat for the Mexican spotted owl through time. The revised recovery plan contains recovery criteria based on maintaining and/or increasing population numbers and habitat quality and quantity. The revised recovery plan focuses on protecting populations, managing threats, maintaining habitat, monitoring progress, and building partnerships to facilitate recovery. As the subspecies meets recovery criteria, we will review the subspecies’ status and consider removal from the List. Authority We developed our 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.). PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 74689 Dated: September 5, 2012. Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2012–30348 Filed 12–14–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Land Acquisitions; Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of final agency determination. AGENCY: The Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs made a final agency determination to acquire approximately 127.65 acres of land in trust for the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma on December 6, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula L. Hart, Director, Office of Indian Gaming, Bureau of Indian Affairs, MS– 3657 MIB, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; Telephone (202) 219–4066. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published in the exercise of authority delegated by the Secretary of the Interior to the Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs by 209 Departmental Manual 8.1, and is published to comply with the requirements of 25 CFR 151.12(b) that notice be given to the public of the Secretary’s decision to acquire land in trust at least 30 days prior to signatory acceptance of the land in trust. On December 6, 2012, the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs decided to accept approximately 127.65 acres of land into trust for the Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma under the authority of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, 25 U.S.C. 465, described as: SUMMARY: The 127.65 acres are located approximately 6 miles from the tribal headquarters in Kay County, Oklahoma, and described as follows: A tract of land in the Northwest Quarter of Section 31, Township 26 North, Range 1 West of the Indian Meridian, Kay County, State of Oklahoma and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at the Northwest corner of said Northwest Quarter of Section 31, Township 26 North, Range 1 West; thence North 89 deg. 02 min. 51 sec. East along the North line of said Section 31, for A distance of 800 feet; thence South 0 deg. 57 min.09 sec. East 430 feet; thence North 89 deg. 02 min. 51 sec. East, 1423.15 (Measured) feet to a point on the West right of way line of Interstate Highway 35; thence South 14 deg. 10 min. 32 sec. East, 687.71 feet along said West right of way line; thence South 14 deg. 10 min. 32 sec. East, 687.71 feet along said West right of E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 242 (Monday, December 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74688-74689]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30348]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2012-N182; 20124-1113-0000-C2]


Final Recovery Plan, First Revision; Mexican Spotted Owl

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability 
of our final recovery plan, first revision, for the Mexican Spotted 
Owl, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act). This species occurs in the States of Arizona, 
Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah, and south through the Sierra 
Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico. The recovery plan 
includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order 
to enable us to remove this species from the list of endangered and 
threatened wildlife and plants.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to view the recovery plan, you may obtain a copy 
by any one of the following methods:
    Internet: https://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/#plans (type 
``Mexican spotted owl'' in the document title search field);

[[Page 74689]]

    U.S. mail: Arizona Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; or 
Telephone: 602-242-0210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor, at 
the above address and phone number, or by email at 
incomingazcorr@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of our final 
recovery plan, first revision, for the Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix 
occidentalis lucida). The revised recovery plan was prepared by a team 
of experts from both the United States and Mexico; team members were 
appointed by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Southwest 
Region. We made the draft plan available via a Federal Register notice 
published on June 24, 2011 (76 FR 37141); this notice opened a comment 
period that ran through August 23, 2011, and requested comments from 
local, State, and Federal agencies; Tribes; and the public. We 
considered information we received from these entities, as well as that 
obtained from three independent peer reviewers, in finalizing this 
revised recovery plan.

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 our 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 the Mexican spotted owl as a threatened species under the 
Act on March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14248). We designated critical habitat on 
August 31, 2004 (69 FR 53182). We originally completed a recovery plan 
for the Mexican spotted owl on October 16, 1995. However, updates on 
status information and experience in implementing the original recovery 
plan led to our determination that revision was warranted.
    The Mexican spotted owl nests and roosts in forested areas 
exhibiting multilayered, unevenly aged tree structure, and in steep, 
rocky canyonlands. Forested habitats used by the owl vary throughout 
the species' range and by activity (nesting, roosting, foraging, 
dispersal/migration). However, the forest types believed most important 
to Mexican spotted owls are mixed conifer, pine-oak, and riparian 
habitats.
    At the time of the species' listing, chief threats to the owl's 
population in the United States were commercial-based timber harvest; 
however, at this time, the risk of stand-replacing wildfire has come 
into prominence. The revised recovery plan recommends protection of 
currently occupied home ranges, plus development of replacement 
nesting/roosting habitat over time. The plan recognizes the need to 
manage these forest landscapes to minimize the effects of large, stand-
replacing wildfires, believed to be the greatest current threat to the 
species.

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 remove it from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife and Plants (List). 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 recovery plan identifies 
the following objectives:
     Support the population of the Mexican spotted owl for the 
foreseeable future.
     Maintain habitat conditions necessary to provide roosting 
and nesting habitat for the Mexican spotted owl through time.
    The revised recovery plan contains recovery criteria based on 
maintaining and/or increasing population numbers and habitat quality 
and quantity. The revised recovery plan focuses on protecting 
populations, managing threats, maintaining habitat, monitoring 
progress, and building partnerships to facilitate recovery.
    As the subspecies meets recovery criteria, we will review the 
subspecies' status and consider removal from the List.

Authority

    We developed our 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.).

    Dated: September 5, 2012.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-30348 Filed 12-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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