Fish and Wildlife Service April 18, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Mr. Allen Henrie (Applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival Permit (ESP) for the Utah prairie dog pursuant to section 10(a)1(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as amended (Act). This permit application includes a Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) between the Applicant, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), and the Service. The proposed SHA and permit would become effective upon signature of the SHA and issuance of the permit and would remain in effect for 40 years. We have made the determination that the proposed activities described in the application and SHA will improve prairie dog habitat and potentially establish a colony of prairie dogs on private land and that, therefore, it is categorically excluded under 516 DM 8.5 C. (1) of the Department of the Interior's Manual. This notice is provided pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and section 10 of the Act and the Service's Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR 32717). The Service requests information, views, and opinions from the public via this notice. Further, the Service is soliciting information regarding the adequacy of the SHA as measured against the Service's Safe Harbor Policy and the regulations that implement it.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Final CCP/EIS) for the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is available. This Final CCP/ EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Final CCP/EIS describes the Service's proposal for management of the Refuge for 15 years, beginning at Refuge establishment, which is anticipated to occur sometime between 2006 and 2008. Four alternatives for management of the Refuge were considered in the CCP/EIS and are described in the ROD. The Service adopted and plans to implement Alternative BWildlife, Habitat, and Public Use.