Department of the Interior October 1, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park is modified to include 31.94 acres of land donated to the United States. The land is located in Larimer County, Colorado, immediately adjacent to the current eastern boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. The ANS Task Force's purpose is to develop and implement a program for U.S. waters to prevent introduction and dispersal of aquatic invasive species (AIS); to monitor, control, and study such species; and to disseminate related information.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received applications from Mr. Albert C. McDonald of Greenbriar Enterprises LLC (applicant McDonald Farm) and Ms. Katherine H. Garrett of Greenbrier Enterprises LLC (applicant Horton Farm) (collectively, applicants) for enhancement of survival permits (permit or permits) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Each permit application includes a proposed candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) between the applicant and the Service as parties and the Land Trust of North Alabama as a cooperator for the conservation of the spring pygmy sunfish. Each Applicant is a limited liability company, created and existing under the laws of the State of Alabama. The CCAAs would be implemented at the Beaverdam Spring Complex within Limestone County, Alabama. We have made a preliminary determination that each permit application, including the proposed CCAA, is eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The basis for this preliminary determination is contained in the draft environmental action statement (EAS) prepared by the Service on each application. We are accepting comments on each permit application and the associated proposed CCAA, as well as on the draft EAS.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) and comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Refuge, NFWR) for public review and comment. In this draft EA/CCP we describe how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine that Echinomastus erectocentrus var. acunensis (acu[ntilde]a cactus) and Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae (Fickeisen plains cactus) meet the definition of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This final rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for these species. The effect of this regulation will be to add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act.