Department of the Interior November 6, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The final rule to list the gray wolf as endangered throughout its range in the United States published in 1978. On October 6, 2014, a suspected gray wolf was seen wandering in the area of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Deer hunting season is beginning in this area of Arizona, and it is believed that the wolf may be in danger of possible harm and could accidentally be shot either as a result of misunderstanding of status or misidentification. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have, under an Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit, authorized qualified researchers to capture, draw blood, and possibly affix a brightly colored GPS radio collar on the suspect wolf and release it back into the general area where it was captured. It is essential for its safety to conduct these actions.

The California State Director for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing interim final supplementary rules and requests public comments. These interim final supplementary rules will become effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register, and will apply to 695 acres of public lands, known as Kanaka Valley, in El Dorado County, California. The BLM has determined that these interim final supplementary rules are necessary to enhance the safety of visitors and local residents and reduce the risk of undue ecological degradation to Kanaka Valley's rare soils and plants and other significant values. These rules are in accordance with the Kanaka Valley Management Plan (2013).

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the final recovery plan for the endangered Georgia pigtoe mussel, interrupted rocksnail, and rough hornsnail. The final recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria the interrupted rocksnail and rough hornsnail would have to meet in order for us to downlist them to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Recovery criteria for the Georgia pigtoe will be developed after we complete critical recovery actions and gain a greater understanding of the species.

The Standard Criteria for Agricultural and Urban Water Management Plans (Criteria) are now available for public comment. To meet the requirements of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 and the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982, the Bureau of Reclamation developed and published the Criteria. The Criteria apply to any Water Management Plans submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation as required by applicable Central Valley Project water service contracts, settlement contracts, or any contracts that specifically invokes the Criteria. Note: For the purpose of this announcement, Water Management Plans are considered the same as Water Conservation Plans (Plans).