Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for Two Petitions To List the Gray Wolf in the Western United States, 51857-51859 [2021-20088]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 178 / Friday, September 17, 2021 / Proposed Rules
J. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and
Low-Income Populations
The EPA believes that this action does
not have disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority populations, lowincome populations and/or indigenous
peoples, as specified in Executive Order
12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629
(February 16, 1994)) establishes federal
executive policy on environmental
justice.
As stated in section VI of the
preamble of this action, there are no
anticipated adverse environmental
impacts and no adverse economic
impacts anticipated from compliance
with this rule. As stated in section I of
this action, section 183(e) of the CAA
requires the control of VOC emissions
from certain categories of consumer and
commercial products for purposes of
reducing VOC emissions contributing to
ozone formation and nonattainment of
the ozone NAAQS. The health and
environmental risks associated with
ozone were considered in the
establishment of the ozone NAAQS. The
level is designed to be protective of the
public with an adequate margin of
safety. Accordingly, these actions would
help increase the level of environmental
protection to populations in affected
ozone nonattainment areas without
having any disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental
effects on any populations, including
any minority or low-income
populations.
Michael S. Regan,
Administrator.
LLC, Nickolas G. Spina, on behalf of
Kepler Communications Inc., and by
Eric Graham, on behalf of WorldVu
Satellites Limited (d/b/a OneWeb)
(NGSO Satellite Coalition).
DATES: Oppositions to the Petitions
must be filed on or before October 4,
2021. Replies to oppositions must be
filed on or before October 12, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE,
Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Regina Brown, Attorney-Advisor,
Financial Operations, Office of the
Managing Director, (202) 418–0792 or
via email at regina.brown@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s
document, Report No. 3182, released
September 1, 2021. The full text of the
Petitions can be accessed online via the
Commission’s Electronic Comment
Filing System at: https://apps.fcc.gov/
ecfs/. The Commission will not send a
Congressional Review Act (CRA)
submission to Congress or the
Government Accountability Office
pursuant to the CRA, 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A), because no rules are being
adopted by the Commission.
Subject: In the Matter of Assessment
and Collection of Regulatory Fees for
Fiscal Year 2021, MD Docket No. 21–
190; Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2020,
MD Docket No. 20–105, Report and
Order and Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, 86 FR 26677, May 17,
2021. This document is being published
pursuant to 47 CFR 1.429(e). See also 47
CFR 1.4(b)(1) and 1.429(f), (g).
Number of Petitions Filed: 2.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021–19896 Filed 9–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
[FR Doc. 2021–20143 Filed 9–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
47 CFR Part 1
Fish and Wildlife Service
[MD Docket Nos. 21–190 and 20–105;
Report No. 3182; FR ID 46762]
50 CFR Part 17
Petitions for Reconsideration of Action
in Rulemaking Proceeding
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Petition for reconsideration.
AGENCY:
Petitions for Reconsideration
(Petitions) have been filed in the
Commission’s rulemaking proceeding
by Ms. Elisabeth Neasmith, on behalf of
Telesat Canada, David Goldman, on
behalf of Space Exploration Holdings,
SUMMARY:
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15:47 Sep 16, 2021
Jkt 253001
[Docket No. FWS–HQ–ES–2021–0106;
FF09E21000 FXES11110900000212]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; 90-Day Finding for Two
Petitions To List the Gray Wolf in the
Western United States
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notification of petition findings
and initiation of status reviews.
AGENCY:
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51857
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce a
90-day finding on a petition to add the
gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the Northern
Rocky Mountains and a petition to add
the gray wolf in western North America
to the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). Based on our review, we
find that the petitions present
substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the
petitioned actions may be warranted.
Therefore, with the publication of this
document, we announce that we plan to
initiate a status review to determine
whether the petitioned actions are
warranted. To ensure that the status
review is comprehensive, we are
requesting scientific and commercial
data and other information regarding the
species and factors that may affect its
status. Based on the status review, we
will issue a 12-month petition finding,
which will address whether or not the
petitioned actions are warranted, in
accordance with the Act.
DATES: The findings announced in this
document were made on September 17,
2021. As we commence our status
review, we seek any new information
concerning the status of, or threats to,
the gray wolf, or its habitats in the
Northern Rocky Mountains and/or
Western United States. Any information
we receive during the course of our
status review will be considered.
ADDRESSES:
Supporting documents: A summary of
the basis for the petition findings
contained in this document is available
on https://www.regulations.gov in Docket
No. FWS–HQ–ES–2021–0106. In
addition, this supporting information is
available by contacting the person
specified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Status reviews: If you have new
scientific or commercial data or other
information concerning the status of, or
threats to, the gray wolf or its habitats
in the Northern Rocky Mountains and/
or Western United States, please
provide those data or information by
one of the following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. In the Search box,
enter the docket number presented
above in the document headings. For
best results, do not copy this number
from this document but instead type it
into the Search box using hyphens.
Then, click on the ‘‘Search’’ button.
After finding the correct document, you
may submit information by clicking on
‘‘Comment.’’ If your information will fit
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\17SEP1.SGM
17SEP1
51858
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 178 / Friday, September 17, 2021 / Proposed Rules
in the provided comment box, please
use this feature of https://
www.regulations.gov, as it is most
compatible with our information review
procedures. If you attach your
information 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
to: Public Comments Processing, Attn:
FWS–HQ–ES–2021–0106, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–
3803.
We request that you send information
only by the methods described above.
We will post all information we receive
on https://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marjorie Nelson, Division Manager,
Ecological Services Mountain-Prairie
Region, 720–582–3524, marjorie_
nelson@fws.gov. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf,
please call the Federal Relay Service at
800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533)
and its implementing regulations in title
50 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(50 CFR part 424) set forth the
procedures for adding species to,
removing species from, or reclassifying
species on the Federal Lists of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants (Lists) in 50 CFR part 17.
Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Act requires
that we make a finding on whether a
petition to add a species to the Lists
(i.e., ‘‘list’’ a species), remove a species
from the Lists (i.e., ‘‘delist’’ a species),
or change a listed species’ status from
endangered to threatened or from
threatened to endangered (i.e.,
‘‘reclassify’’ a species) presents
substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the
petitioned action may be warranted. To
the maximum extent practicable, we are
to make this finding within 90 days of
our receipt of the petition and publish
the finding promptly in the Federal
Register.
Our regulations establish that
substantial scientific or commercial
information with regard to a 90-day
petition finding refers to credible
scientific or commercial information in
support of the petition’s claims such
that a reasonable person conducting an
impartial scientific review would
conclude that the action proposed in the
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Jkt 253001
petition may be warranted (50 CFR
424.14(h)(1)(i)).
A species may be determined to be an
endangered species or a threatened
species because of one or more of the
five factors described in section 4(a)(1)
of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)). The
five factors are:
(a) The present or threatened
destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range
(Factor A);
(b) Overutilization for commercial,
recreational, scientific, or educational
purposes (Factor B);
(c) Disease or predation (Factor C);
(d) The inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms (Factor D); and
(e) Other natural or manmade factors
affecting its continued existence (Factor
E).
These factors represent broad
categories of natural or human-caused
actions or conditions that could have an
effect on a species’ continued existence.
In evaluating these actions and
conditions, we look for those that may
have a negative effect on individuals of
the species, as well as other actions or
conditions that may ameliorate any
negative effects or may have positive
effects.
We use the term ‘‘threat’’ to refer in
general to actions or conditions that are
known to, or are reasonably likely to,
affect individuals of a species
negatively. The term ‘‘threat’’ includes
actions or conditions that have a direct
impact on individuals (direct impacts),
as well as those that affect individuals
through alteration of their habitat or
required resources (stressors). The term
‘‘threat’’ may encompass—either
together or separately—the source of the
action or condition, or the action or
condition itself. However, the mere
identification of any threat(s) may not
be sufficient to compel a finding that the
information in the petition is substantial
information indicating that the
petitioned action may be warranted. The
information presented in the petition
must include evidence sufficient to
suggest that these threats may be
affecting the species to the point that the
species may meet the definition of an
endangered species or threatened
species under the Act.
If we find that a petition presents
such information, our subsequent status
review will evaluate all identified
threats by considering the individual-,
population-, and species-level effects
and the expected response by the
species. We will evaluate individual
threats and their expected effects on the
species, then analyze the cumulative
effect of the threats on the species as a
whole. We also consider the cumulative
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
effect of the threats in light of those
actions and conditions that are expected
to have positive effects on the species—
such as any existing regulatory
mechanisms or conservation efforts that
may ameliorate threats. It is only after
conducting this cumulative analysis of
threats and the actions that may
ameliorate them, and the expected effect
on the species now and in the
foreseeable future, that we can
determine whether the species meets
the definition of an endangered species
or threatened species under the Act. If
we find that a petition presents
substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the
petitioned action may be warranted, the
Act requires that we promptly
commence a review of the status of the
species, and we will subsequently
complete a status review in accordance
with our prioritization methodology for
12-month findings (81 FR 49248; July
27, 2016).
Summary of Petition Findings
Evaluation of Two Petitions To List the
Gray Wolf in the Western United States
Both petitions request listing of a
distinct population segment (DPS) for
the gray wolf. The gray wolf (Canis
lupus) is a recognized species by the
Integrated Taxonomic Information
System.
Species and Range: Gray wolf in the
western United States.
Historical range: Western United
States, except Southwest.
Current range: CA, CO, ID, MT, OR,
WA, WY.
The petitions include two alternative
DPSs for listing the gray wolf in a
portion of its range that encompasses
the Northern Rocky Mountains and
excludes the range of the listed Mexican
gray wolf (C. l. baileyi): (1) The Northern
Rocky Mountains DPS, or (2) a Western
DPS.
Petition History
On June 1, 2021, we received a
petition (dated May 26, 2021) from
Center for Biological Diversity, the
Humane Society of the United States,
Humane Society Legislative Fund, and
the Sierra Club requesting that the gray
wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains
be emergency listed as a threatened
species or an endangered species under
the Act (first petition). The Act does not
provide for a process to petition
emergency listing; therefore, we are
evaluating this petition under the
normal process of determining if it
presents substantial scientific or
commercial information indicating that
the petitioned action may be warranted.
E:\FR\FM\17SEP1.SGM
17SEP1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 178 / Friday, September 17, 2021 / Proposed Rules
On July 29, 2021, we received a new
petition (dated July 29, 2021) from
Western Watersheds Project and 70
other organizations requesting that the
gray wolf in western North America be
listed as an endangered species under
the Act (second petition). On August 10,
2021, we received an addendum (dated
August 9, 2021) to the second petition.
Both petitions clearly identified
themselves as such and included the
requisite identification information for
the petitioner, required at 50 CFR
424.14(c). This finding addresses both
petitions.
Evaluation of Information Summary and
Finding
We reviewed the petitions, sources
cited in the petitions, and other readily
available information. We considered
the factors under section 4(a)(1) and
assessed the effect that the threats
identified within the factors—as may be
ameliorated or exacerbated by any
existing regulatory mechanisms or
conservation efforts—may have on the
species now and in the foreseeable
future. Based on our review of the
petitions and readily available
information regarding human-caused
mortality, we find that the petitioners
present credible and substantial
information that human-caused
mortality (Factor B) may be a potential
threat to the species in Idaho and
Montana. These two States include
VerDate Sep<11>2014
15:47 Sep 16, 2021
Jkt 253001
approximately 75 percent of gray wolves
in a potential Northern Rocky
Mountains or Western DPS. The
petitioners also provide credible and
substantial information that new
regulations in these two States may be
inadequate to address this potential
threat (Factor D). Therefore, we find that
the petitions present substantial
information indicating that the
petitioned action may be warranted in a
Northern Rocky Mountains or Western
DPS. The petitioners also presented
information suggesting that habitat
modification due to a reduced prey base
(Factor A), disease (Factor C), and loss
of genetic diversity caused by isolation
and small population size (Factor E)
may be threats to the gray wolf. We will
fully evaluate these and all other
potential threats, as well as the validity
of each DPS, in detail based on the best
scientific and commercial data available
when we conduct the status assessment
and make the 12-month finding.
The basis for our finding on these
petitions, and other information
regarding our review of the petitions,
can be found as an appendix at https://
www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWS–HQ–ES–2021–0106 under the
Supporting Documents section.
Conclusion
On the basis of our evaluation of the
information presented in the petitions
under sections 4(b)(3)(A) and
PO 00000
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Sfmt 9990
51859
4(b)(3)(D)(i) of the Act, we have
determined that the petitions
summarized above for the gray wolf
present substantial scientific or
commercial information indicating that
the petitioned actions may be
warranted. We are, therefore, initiating
a status review of the species to
determine whether the actions are
warranted under the Act. At the
conclusion of the status review, we will
issue a finding, in accordance with
section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act, as to
whether the petitioned actions are not
warranted, warranted, or warranted but
precluded by pending proposals to
determine whether any species is an
endangered species or a threatened
species.
Authors
The primary authors of this document
are staff members of the Ecological
Services Program, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
Authority
The authority for these actions is the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Gary Frazer,
Assistant Director, Ecological Services, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–20088 Filed 9–16–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 178 (Friday, September 17, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51857-51859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20088]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0106; FF09E21000 FXES11110900000212]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for
Two Petitions To List the Gray Wolf in the Western United States
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notification of petition findings and initiation of status
reviews.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a
90-day finding on a petition to add the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the
Northern Rocky Mountains and a petition to add the gray wolf in western
North America to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our
review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or
commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be
warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we
announce that we plan to initiate a status review to determine whether
the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status review
is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and
other information regarding the species and factors that may affect its
status. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month petition
finding, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are
warranted, in accordance with the Act.
DATES: The findings announced in this document were made on September
17, 2021. As we commence our status review, we seek any new information
concerning the status of, or threats to, the gray wolf, or its habitats
in the Northern Rocky Mountains and/or Western United States. Any
information we receive during the course of our status review will be
considered.
ADDRESSES:
Supporting documents: A summary of the basis for the petition
findings contained in this document is available on https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0106. In addition,
this supporting information is available by contacting the person
specified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Status reviews: If you have new scientific or commercial data or
other information concerning the status of, or threats to, the gray
wolf or its habitats in the Northern Rocky Mountains and/or Western
United States, please provide those data or information by one of the
following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the docket number
presented above in the document headings. For best results, do not copy
this number from this document but instead type it into the Search box
using hyphens. Then, click on the ``Search'' button. After finding the
correct document, you may submit information by clicking on
``Comment.'' If your information will fit
[[Page 51858]]
in the provided comment box, please use this feature of https://www.regulations.gov, as it is most compatible with our information
review procedures. If you attach your information 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 to: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0106, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We request that you send information only by the methods described
above. We will post all information we receive on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any
personal information you provide us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marjorie Nelson, Division Manager,
Ecological Services Mountain-Prairie Region, 720-582-3524,
[email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device for the
deaf, please call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533) and its implementing
regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (50 CFR part
424) set forth the procedures for adding species to, removing species
from, or reclassifying species on the Federal Lists of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists) in 50 CFR part 17. Section
4(b)(3)(A) of the Act requires that we make a finding on whether a
petition to add a species to the Lists (i.e., ``list'' a species),
remove a species from the Lists (i.e., ``delist'' a species), or change
a listed species' status from endangered to threatened or from
threatened to endangered (i.e., ``reclassify'' a species) presents
substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the
petitioned action may be warranted. To the maximum extent practicable,
we are to make this finding within 90 days of our receipt of the
petition and publish the finding promptly in the Federal Register.
Our regulations establish that substantial scientific or commercial
information with regard to a 90-day petition finding refers to credible
scientific or commercial information in support of the petition's
claims such that a reasonable person conducting an impartial scientific
review would conclude that the action proposed in the petition may be
warranted (50 CFR 424.14(h)(1)(i)).
A species may be determined to be an endangered species or a
threatened species because of one or more of the five factors described
in section 4(a)(1) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)). The five factors
are:
(a) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of its habitat or range (Factor A);
(b) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or
educational purposes (Factor B);
(c) Disease or predation (Factor C);
(d) The inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms (Factor D);
and
(e) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued
existence (Factor E).
These factors represent broad categories of natural or human-caused
actions or conditions that could have an effect on a species' continued
existence. In evaluating these actions and conditions, we look for
those that may have a negative effect on individuals of the species, as
well as other actions or conditions that may ameliorate any negative
effects or may have positive effects.
We use the term ``threat'' to refer in general to actions or
conditions that are known to, or are reasonably likely to, affect
individuals of a species negatively. The term ``threat'' includes
actions or conditions that have a direct impact on individuals (direct
impacts), as well as those that affect individuals through alteration
of their habitat or required resources (stressors). The term ``threat''
may encompass--either together or separately--the source of the action
or condition, or the action or condition itself. However, the mere
identification of any threat(s) may not be sufficient to compel a
finding that the information in the petition is substantial information
indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. The information
presented in the petition must include evidence sufficient to suggest
that these threats may be affecting the species to the point that the
species may meet the definition of an endangered species or threatened
species under the Act.
If we find that a petition presents such information, our
subsequent status review will evaluate all identified threats by
considering the individual-, population-, and species-level effects and
the expected response by the species. We will evaluate individual
threats and their expected effects on the species, then analyze the
cumulative effect of the threats on the species as a whole. We also
consider the cumulative effect of the threats in light of those actions
and conditions that are expected to have positive effects on the
species--such as any existing regulatory mechanisms or conservation
efforts that may ameliorate threats. It is only after conducting this
cumulative analysis of threats and the actions that may ameliorate
them, and the expected effect on the species now and in the foreseeable
future, that we can determine whether the species meets the definition
of an endangered species or threatened species under the Act. If we
find that a petition presents substantial scientific or commercial
information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted, the
Act requires that we promptly commence a review of the status of the
species, and we will subsequently complete a status review in
accordance with our prioritization methodology for 12-month findings
(81 FR 49248; July 27, 2016).
Summary of Petition Findings
Evaluation of Two Petitions To List the Gray Wolf in the Western United
States
Both petitions request listing of a distinct population segment
(DPS) for the gray wolf. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is a recognized
species by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Species and Range: Gray wolf in the western United States.
Historical range: Western United States, except Southwest.
Current range: CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY.
The petitions include two alternative DPSs for listing the gray
wolf in a portion of its range that encompasses the Northern Rocky
Mountains and excludes the range of the listed Mexican gray wolf (C. l.
baileyi): (1) The Northern Rocky Mountains DPS, or (2) a Western DPS.
Petition History
On June 1, 2021, we received a petition (dated May 26, 2021) from
Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United
States, Humane Society Legislative Fund, and the Sierra Club requesting
that the gray wolf in the Northern Rocky Mountains be emergency listed
as a threatened species or an endangered species under the Act (first
petition). The Act does not provide for a process to petition emergency
listing; therefore, we are evaluating this petition under the normal
process of determining if it presents substantial scientific or
commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be
warranted.
[[Page 51859]]
On July 29, 2021, we received a new petition (dated July 29, 2021) from
Western Watersheds Project and 70 other organizations requesting that
the gray wolf in western North America be listed as an endangered
species under the Act (second petition). On August 10, 2021, we
received an addendum (dated August 9, 2021) to the second petition.
Both petitions clearly identified themselves as such and included the
requisite identification information for the petitioner, required at 50
CFR 424.14(c). This finding addresses both petitions.
Evaluation of Information Summary and Finding
We reviewed the petitions, sources cited in the petitions, and
other readily available information. We considered the factors under
section 4(a)(1) and assessed the effect that the threats identified
within the factors--as may be ameliorated or exacerbated by any
existing regulatory mechanisms or conservation efforts--may have on the
species now and in the foreseeable future. Based on our review of the
petitions and readily available information regarding human-caused
mortality, we find that the petitioners present credible and
substantial information that human-caused mortality (Factor B) may be a
potential threat to the species in Idaho and Montana. These two States
include approximately 75 percent of gray wolves in a potential Northern
Rocky Mountains or Western DPS. The petitioners also provide credible
and substantial information that new regulations in these two States
may be inadequate to address this potential threat (Factor D).
Therefore, we find that the petitions present substantial information
indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted in a Northern
Rocky Mountains or Western DPS. The petitioners also presented
information suggesting that habitat modification due to a reduced prey
base (Factor A), disease (Factor C), and loss of genetic diversity
caused by isolation and small population size (Factor E) may be threats
to the gray wolf. We will fully evaluate these and all other potential
threats, as well as the validity of each DPS, in detail based on the
best scientific and commercial data available when we conduct the
status assessment and make the 12-month finding.
The basis for our finding on these petitions, and other information
regarding our review of the petitions, can be found as an appendix at
https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2021-0106 under
the Supporting Documents section.
Conclusion
On the basis of our evaluation of the information presented in the
petitions under sections 4(b)(3)(A) and 4(b)(3)(D)(i) of the Act, we
have determined that the petitions summarized above for the gray wolf
present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating
that the petitioned actions may be warranted. We are, therefore,
initiating a status review of the species to determine whether the
actions are warranted under the Act. At the conclusion of the status
review, we will issue a finding, in accordance with section 4(b)(3)(B)
of the Act, as to whether the petitioned actions are not warranted,
warranted, or warranted but precluded by pending proposals to determine
whether any species is an endangered species or a threatened species.
Authors
The primary authors of this document are staff members of the
Ecological Services Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Authority
The authority for these actions is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Gary Frazer,
Assistant Director, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-20088 Filed 9-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
