Fish and Wildlife Service February 1, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The State of Idaho (Idaho Department of Lands and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game) have applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Columbia spotted frog at Sam Noble Springs, Owyhee County, Idaho (Agreement) between the Service, and the State of Idaho. Also available is a draft environmental assessment evaluating the proposed Agreement and permit. Under the proposed Agreement, the parties would implement conservation measures for Columbia spotted frogs (Rana luteiventris; CSF) over approximately 680 acres (275 ha) in Owyhee County, Idaho. The intent of the proposed Agreement would be to conserve CSFs by protecting and enhancing habitat and populations, in a manner that is consistent with the State's land use activities and the Agreement. The proposed term of the Agreement and the permit is 22 years. The Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment for approval of the Agreement and issuance of the permit. We request comments from the public on the permit application, proposed Agreement, and the draft Environmental Assessment. All comments we receive, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be released to the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise critical habitat for the endangered Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 1,298 acres (ac) (525 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in Baldwin County, Alabama.