Department of the Interior April 27, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The States of Alaska, California, Colorado, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming are requesting that ONRR renew current delegations of audit and investigation authority. This notice gives members of the public an opportunity to review and comment on the States' proposals.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mojave- Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold three meetings in Nevada in fiscal year 2016. The meetings are open to the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have reconsidered whether designating critical habitat for the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is prudent. We have determined that such a designation is not prudent. We listed the northern long- eared bat as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), on April 2, 2015. At the time the species was listed, we determined that designation of critical habitat was prudent, but not determinable. Since that time, information has come available that demonstrates that designating the wintering habitat as critical habitat for the bat would likely increase the threat from vandalism and disturbance, and could, potentially, increase the spread of white-nose syndrome. In addition, designating the summer habitat as critical habitat would not be beneficial to the species, because there are no areas within the summer habitat that meet the definition of critical habitat. Thus, we have determined that the designation of critical habitat is not prudent for the northern long-eared bat.