Fish and Wildlife Service 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice advises the public that Longbow, LLC has applied for the installation of one natural gas pipeline for a 30 year right- of-way permit across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) easement tract (37P) located at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Sacramento County, California. The pipeline would be underground and would transport natural gas produced from a well located approximately 800 feet east of the Refuge boundary, to a gas sales point two miles to the southwest, located off the Refuge boundary. The applicant proposes to perpendicular bore the pipeline 15-20 feet under the ground. The portion of the Refuge the pipeline would pass under is the right-of-way for the abandoned Southern Pacific Railroad and associated borrow channel. The pipeline would be bored and installed from private agricultural land 800 feet east of the Refuge using directional drilling equipment, construction and operation of the pipeline would not be detectable at the surface of the Refuge and cause no detectable ground surface disturbances to terrestrial or aquatic habitats within Stone Lakes NWR at any time during it's construction or operation. Therefore the proposed use would not negatively affect the purposes of Stone Lakes NWR or the mission of the Service or impact existing or potential wildlife-dependent recreational uses.

On December 15, 2004, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) signed an annual funding agreement (AFA or Agreement) with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Governments (CSKT) under the Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994. The action was taken at the discretion of the Service. The decision reflects review and consideration of concerns, issues, and comments received during a 90- day public comment period which began on July 14, 2004, and ended on October 12, 2004. The public comment period was reopened for an additional 15 days on October 20, 2004, and closed on November 4, 2004. The Agreement was re-negotiated and slightly re-worded following the public comment period. The Agreement provides for the CSKT to perform certain programs, services, functions, and activities (Activities) for the National Bison Range and ancillary properties (Northwest Montana Wetland Management District, Pablo, and Ninepipe NWRs) during an 18- month period. The Regional Director for the Service in Denver, Colorado, signed the agreement December 15, 2004. The Secretary of the Interior immediately endorsed the Agreement, and forwarded it to the U.S. Congress for a 90-day review period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the regulations promulgated under the Endangered Species Act (ESA or Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to add a new subsection to govern certain activities with U.S. captive-bred populations of three antelope species that have been proposed for listing as endangered, should they become listed. These specimens are the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), addax (Addax nasomaculatus), and dama gazelle (Gazella dama). For U.S. captive-bred live specimens, embryos, gametes, and sport- hunted trophies of these three species, this proposed rule would authorize certain otherwise prohibited activities that enhance the propagation or survival of the species. International trade in specimens of these species will continue to require permits under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We have prepared a draft Environmental Assessment of the impact of this proposed rule under regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Service seeks data and comments from the public on this proposed rule and the draft Environmental Assessment.

Robert Becker (Applicant) has applied for an incidental take permit (TE-098535-0) pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The requested permit would authorize incidental take of the endangered Houston toad. The proposed take would occur as a result of the construction and occupation of a single family residence and associated structures on 0.5 acres (0.2 hectare) of a 6.58-acre (2.66 hectare) property located on Barras Road, Bastrop County, Texas.

The Lamont Public Utilities District (Applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Service is considering the issuance of a 50-year permit to the Applicant that would authorize take of the endangered Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), the endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica), and the western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), a species of special concern, incidental to otherwise lawful activities. Such take would occur during the proposed construction and operation of the Applicant's effluent disposal site expansion on a 160-acre site south of Lamont, Kern County, California. The proposed expansion includes the construction of two ponds, a series of leaching terraces, and access roads. The proposed project would affect suitable habitat for the San Joaquin kit fox and western burrowing owl, and permanently affect about 19 acres of occupied habitat of the Tipton kangaroo rat. We request comments from the public on the permit application and Environmental Assessment, both of which are available for review. The permit application includes the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) and an accompanying Implementing Agreement. The Plan describes the proposed action and the measures that the Applicant would undertake to minimize and mitigate take of the covered species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day petition finding for petitions to list Bromus arizonicus (Arizona brome) and Nassella cernua (nodding needlegrass) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We find that neither petition presented substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing one or both of these species may be warranted. We will not be initiating a further status review in response to the petitions to list.

Notice is hereby given that the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York 10460 [Dr. Howard C. Rosenbaum, Principal Investigator], has been issued a permit to obtain and import/export marine mammal specimens for purposes of scientific research.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) hereby provides public notice that Spherical Precision, Inc. of Tustin, California, has applied for approval of 40 to 76 percent tungsten, 10 to 37 percent iron, 9 to 16 percent copper, and 5 to 7 percent nickel shot as nontoxic for waterfowl hunting in the United States. The Service has initiated review of the shot under the criteria set out in Tier 1 of the nontoxic shot approval procedures given at 50 CFR 20.134.

We (Fish and Wildlife Service, Service) plan to submit to OMB a request to renew approval for information collection associated with our Training Application (FWS Form 3-2193). Applicants who wish to participate in training sponsored by the Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center complete a training application, which is offered in both electronic (Web) and hard copy versions. The Web application form is at https://training.fws.gov/catalog/app99.html. Information collection requirements for this submission implement the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 41 and 5 CFR 410.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the technical agency draft recovery plan for six Mobile Basin aquatic snails. The six snails included in the recovery plan are: the endangered cylindrical lioplax (Lioplax cyclostomaformis), flat pebblesnail (Lepyriam showalteri), and plicate rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla); and the threatened painted rocksnail (Leptoxis taeniata), round rocksnail (Leptoxis ampla), and lacy elimia (Elimia crenatella). All are endemic to the Mobile River Basin (Basin) where they inhabit shoals, rapids and riffles of large streams and rivers above the Fall Line. All six species have disappeared from more than 90 percent of their historic ranges as a result of impoundment, channelization, mining, dredging, and pollution from point and non-point sources. The technical agency draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order to reclassify (downlist) the cylindrical lioplax, flat pebblesnail, and plicate rocksnail to threatened species and for the eventual delisting of all six species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We solicit review and comment on this technical agency draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public.

Deleta Earle (Applicant) requests an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as amended (Act). The Applicant anticipates taking about 0.23 acre of Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub-jay) foraging, sheltering, and possibly nesting habitat incidental to lot preparation for the construction of a single-family home and supporting infrastructure in Brevard County, Florida (Project). The destruction of 0.23 acre of foraging, sheltering, and possibly nesting habitat is expected to result in the take of one family of scrub-jays. The Applicant's Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of the Project to the Florida scrub-jay. These measures are outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. We have determined that the Applicant's proposal, including the proposed mitigation and minimization measures, will individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, the ITP is a ``low-effect'' project and qualifies as a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as provided by the Department of Interior Manual (516 DM2, Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1). We announce the availability of the HCP for the incidental take application. Copies of the HCP may be obtained by making a request to the Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). Requests must be in writing to be processed. This notice is provided pursuant to section 10 of the Endangered Species Act and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding for three petitions to list the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. After reviewing the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing is not warranted. We ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the status of or threats to the species. This information will help us monitor and encourage the conservation of this species.

The following permits were issued.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), propose to remove the plant Agave arizonica (Arizona agave) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Agave arizonica was listed as endangered on June 18, 1984, due to threats of habitat modification and collection. Evidence collected subsequent to the listing indicates that plants attributed to Agave arizonica do not constitute a distinct species but rather are individuals that have resulted from recent and sporadic instances of hybridization between two species. Current taxonomic practice is not to recognize such groups of individuals as a species. The term ``species,'' as defined by the Act, only includes species, subspecies, and distinct population segments. Since Agave arizonica is not recognized as a species, it no longer qualifies for protection under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the Colorado butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana ssp. coloradensis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1,432 hectares (ha) (3,538 acres (ac)) along approximately 82 kilometers (km) (51 stream miles (mi)) fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation located in Laramie and Platte Counties in Wyoming. The designation excludes 30% of private and municipality lands through Wildlife Extension Agreements. Military lands as well as other areas within its range in Nebraska and Colorado are not included.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the re-opening of the comment period for public review of a draft Recovery Plan for the sentry milk-vetch (Astragalus cremnophylax var. cremnophylax) for an additional 30 days. The original public comment period was held from September 14, 2004 to October 14, 2004. We are re- opening the public comment period in response to a specific request from the National Park Service, Grand Canyon National Park (Park) to allow additional time for public review of this draft Recovery Plan. All known populations of the species occur on land managed by the Park in Coconino County, Arizona.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as the lead agency, advises the public that it is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in Riverside County, California. The proposed HCP is being prepared in compliance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The HCP is intended to support the issuance of an incidental take permit to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Tribe) from the Service under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. The requested incidental take permit, if granted, would authorize the permittees to incidentally take species federally listed under the Act as a result of activities proposed to be covered under the HCP. It would also address incidental take of other species that are not currently listed, should they be listed during the permit term. The planning area for the HCP is located within the Coachella Valley in eastern Riverside County. The HCP would provide measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the proposed taking of covered species and the habitats upon which they depend. The Service is furnishing this notice in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and implementing regulations for the following purposes: (1) to advise other Federal and State agencies, affected tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an EIS; (2) announce the initiation of a 30-day public scoping period; and (3) to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) advises the public that we intend to gather information necessary to prepare a NEPA document and determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) that is being prepared by the Rio Grande Water Conservation District (District) on behalf of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties (five counties). The proposed HCP is being prepared in support of an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The District intends to apply for an ITP, through development and implementation of the San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), as required by the ESA. The HCP will provide measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the proposed actions, which might result in take of federally listed species. We provide this notice to: (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, affected tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare a NEPA document; (2) Announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and (3) Obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to be considered in the scoping process.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and/or marine mammals.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), reclassify from endangered to threatened status the Mariana fruit bat (Pteropus mariannus mariannus) from Guam, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and determine the Mariana fruit bat from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to be a threatened species under the authority of the Act. This rule lists the Mariana fruit bat as threatened throughout its range. The Mariana fruit bat was listed previously as endangered on Guam. The bat populations on the southern islands of the CNMI (Aguiguan, Tinian, and Saipan) were candidates for listing. The best available scientific information indicates that Mariana fruit bats on Guam and throughout the CNMI comprise one subspecies. The protections of the Act, therefore, apply to this subspecies throughout its known range in the Mariana archipelago.

We are publishing a draft list of the nonnative bird species that have been introduced by humans into the United States or its territories and to which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) does not apply. This action is required by the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act (MBTRA) of 2004. The MBTRA amends the MBTA by stating that it applies only to migratory bird species that are native to the United States or its territories, and that a native migratory bird is one that is present as a result of natural biological or ecological processes. This notice identifies those species that are not protected by the MBTA, even though they belong to biological families referred to in treaties that the MBTA implements, as their presence in the United States and its territories is solely the result of intentional or unintentional human-assisted introductions.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the threatened Santa Ana sucker (Catostomus santaanae) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This species is now restricted to three noncontiguous populations in three different stream systems in southern California: The lower and middle Santa Ana River in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties; the East, West, and North Forks of the San Gabriel River in Los Angeles County; and lower Big Tujunga Creek, a tributary of the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles County. We have identified 23,719 acres (ac) (9,599 hectares (ha)) of aquatic and riparian habitats essential to the conservation of the Santa Ana sucker. We are designating two areas in Los Angeles County, one along the San Gabriel River (Unit 2) and the other along the Big Tujunga Creek (Unit 3) as critical habitat for Santa Ana sucker. These units encompass approximately 8,305 ac (3,361 ha) of essential habitat for the Santa Ana sucker within Los Angeles County. Essential habitat for the Santa Ana sucker in Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties has been excluded from the final critical habitat designation, because we have concluded that the benefits of excluding these lands from critical habitat designation outweigh the benefits of their inclusion pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act.