Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Northern Long-Eared Bat as an Endangered Species, 72058-72059 [2013-28705]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72058-72059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28705]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2011-0024]; [4500030113]
RIN 1018-AY98


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the 
Northern Long-Eared Bat as an Endangered Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On October 2, 2013, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list the 
eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii) and the northern long-eared 
bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as endangered or threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) and to designate 
critical habitat. After review of the best available scientific and 
commercial information, we found that listing the eastern small-footed 
bat is not warranted but listing the northern long-eared bat is 
warranted. Accordingly, we proposed to list the northern long-eared bat 
as an endangered species throughout its range under the Act. In the 
October 2, 2013, proposed rule, we also determined that critical 
habitat for the northern long-eared bat is not determinable at this 
time.
    We announce the extension of the comment period for our October 2, 
2013, proposed rule to ensure the public has sufficient time to comment 
on the proposal for this wide-ranging species that involves many 
stakeholders. The Service seeks data and comments from the public on 
the October 2, 2013, proposed listing rule for the northern long-eared 
bat.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published October 2, 
2013 (78 FR 61046), is extended. We request that comments on this 
proposal be submitted by the close of business on January 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain copies of the proposed 
rule on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-
R5-ES-2011-0024, or by mail from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green 
Bay, Wisconsin Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Written comments: You may submit comments by one of the following 
methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-
2011-0024, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the 
Search panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type 
heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You 
may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!'' If your comments 
will fit in the provided comment box, please use this feature of https://www.regulations.gov, as it is most compatible with our comment review 
procedures. If you attach your comments as a separate document, our 
preferred file format is Microsoft Word. If you attach multiple 
comments (such as form letters), our preferred format is a spreadsheet 
in Microsoft Excel.
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R5-ES-2011-0024; Division of Policy and 
Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all information received on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the Information Requested 
section below for more details).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Fasbender, Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay Ecological Services Office, 
2661 Scott Tower Dr., New Franken, Wisconsin 54229; by telephone (920) 
866-3650 or by facsimile (920) 866-1710. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 2, 2013, we published a 12-month finding on a petition 
to list the eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii) and the northern 
long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as endangered or threatened 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) and to 
designate critical habitat (78 FR 61046). After review of the best 
available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing 
the eastern small-footed bat is not warranted but listing the northern 
long-eared bat is warranted. Accordingly, we proposed to list the 
northern long-eared bat as an endangered species throughout its range 
under the Act and also determined that critical habitat for the 
northern long-eared bat is not determinable at this time (78 FR 61046).
    We received several requests to extend the public comment period on 
the proposed endangered species status of the northern long-eared bat 
beyond the December 2, 2013, due date. The northern long-eared bat has 
an extensive range; in the United States, it occurs in 39 states, and 
thus there are many involved stakeholders. Thus, in order to ensure 
that the public has an adequate opportunity to review and comment on 
our proposed rule, we are extending the comment period for an 
additional 30 days.

Information Requested

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule 
will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and 
be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request 
comments or information from other concerned Federal and State 
agencies, the scientific community, or any other interested party 
concerning this proposed rule. We particularly seek comments regarding 
the northern long-eared bat concerning:
    (1) The species' biology, range, and population trends, including:
    (a) Habitat requirements for feeding, breeding, and sheltering;
    (b) Genetics and taxonomy;
    (c) Historical and current range, including distribution patterns;
    (d) Historical and current population levels, and current and 
projected trends; and
    (e) Past and ongoing conservation measures for the species, its 
habitat, or both.
    (2) Any information on the biological or ecological requirements of 
the species, and ongoing conservation measures for the species and its 
habitat.
    (3) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning 
any threats (or lack thereof) to this species and regulations that may 
be addressing those threats.
    (4) Current or planned activities in the areas occupied by the 
species and possible impacts of these activities on this species.
    (5) Additional information regarding the threats to the species 
under the five listing factors, which are:
    (a) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of its habitat or range;
    (b) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes;
    (c) Disease or predation;
    (d) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
    (e) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued 
existence.
    (6) The reasons why areas should or should not be designated as 
critical

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habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
including the possible risks or benefits of designating critical 
habitat, including risks associated with publication of maps 
designating any area on which this species may be located, now or in 
the future, as critical habitat.
    (7) The following specific information on:
    (a) The amount and distribution of habitat for the northern long-
eared bat;
    (b) What areas, that are currently occupied and that contain the 
physical and biological features essential to the conservation of this 
species, should be included in a critical habitat designation and why;
    (c) Special management considerations or protection that may be 
needed for the essential features in potential critical habitat areas, 
including managing for the potential effects of climate change;
    (d) What areas not occupied at the time of listing are essential 
for the conservation of this species and why;
    (e) The amount of forest removal occurring within known summer 
habitat for this species;
    (f) Information on summer roost habitat requirements that are 
essential for the conservation of the species and why; and
    (g) Information on species winter habitat (hibernacula) features 
and requirements for the species.
    (8) Information on the projected and reasonably likely impacts of 
changing environmental conditions resulting from climate change on the 
species and its habitat.
    For more background on our proposed rule, see the October 2, 2013, 
Federal Register. The proposed rule is available at the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES section 
above).
    If you previously submitted comments or information on the proposed 
rule, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the 
public record, and we will fully consider them in our final rulemaking. 
Our final determination concerning this proposed rulemaking will take 
into consideration all written comments and any additional information 
we receive.
    Please note that submissions merely stating support for or 
opposition to the action under consideration without providing 
supporting information, although noted, will not be considered in 
making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that 
determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or threatened 
species must be made ``solely on the basis of the best scientific and 
commercial data available.''
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed 
rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you 
send comments only by the methods described in the ADDRESSES section. 
If you submit information via https://www.regulations.gov, your entire 
submission--including any personal identifying information--will be 
posted on the Web site. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that 
includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top 
of your document that we withhold this information from public review. 
However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will 
post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov. Please 
include sufficient information with your comments to allow us to verify 
any scientific or commercial information you include.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be 
available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov, or by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Green Bay, Wisconsin Field Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT). You may obtain copies of the proposed rule on the 
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2011-
0024, or by mail from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay, 
Wisconsin Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this notice are the staff members of the 
Green Bay, Wisconsin, Field Office.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: November 21, 2013.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-28705 Filed 11-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P