Fish and Wildlife Service October 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi), Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii (Kincaid's lupine), and Erigeron decumbens var. decumbens (Willamette daisy) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Approximately 3,010 acres (ac) (1,218 hectares (ha)) for Fender's blue butterfly in Benton, Lane, Polk, and Yamhill Counties, Oregon; 585 ac (237 ha) for L. sulphureus ssp. kincaidii in Benton, Lane, Polk, and Yamhill Counties, Oregon, and Lewis County, Washington; and 718 ac (291 ha) for E. decumbens var. decumbens in Benton, Lane, Linn, Marion, and Polk Counties, Oregon, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge are available for distribution. The plan was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It describes how the refuge will be managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for fishing, environmental education and interpretation, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, research, mosquito control, interim citrus grove management, and commercial ecotour operations are also available within the plan.

This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Cape Meares, Oregon Islands and Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuges (Refuges); and announces five public open house meetings. The Refuges are located in Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Lane, Coos and Curry Counties in Oregon. We are furnishing this notice to advise the public and other agencies of our intentions and obtain public comments, suggestions, and information on the scope of issues to include in the CCP.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge are available for distribution. The plan was prepared pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. It describes how the refuge will be managed for the next 15 years. The compatibility determinations for recreational hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation are also available within the plan.

This notice announces the availability of the draft ``Management and Control Plan for Asian Carps in the United States.'' This draft document was prepared by the Asian Carp Working Group of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. We are seeking public comments on this draft document. Comments received will be considered during the preparation of the final national management and control plan, which will guide cooperative and integrated management of Asian carps in the United States.

The following permits were issued.

This notice announces a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting topics are identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), notify the public of the reinstatement of our July 15, 2002 proposed rule to list Lepidium papilliferum (slickspot peppergrass) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and announce the reopening of the public comment period on that proposed listing.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council) will meet November 8-9, 2006.

We invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

Daniel Keig (applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') for an incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are considering issuing a 5-year permit to the applicant that would authorize take of the federally endangered Smith's blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi) incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with construction of a single family home, which would remove 0.3 acre of Smith's blue butterfly habitat within a 6.1-acre parcel in Carmel Highlands, Monterey County, California. We invite comments from the public on the permit application, which is available for review. The application includes a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), that fully describes the proposed project and the measures that the applicant would undertake to minimize and mitigate anticipated take of the Smith's blue butterfly, as required in Section 10(a)(2)(B) of the Act. These measures are outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. We also invite comments on our preliminary determination that the HCP qualifies as a ``low-effect'' plan, eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. We explain the basis for this possible determination in a draft Environmental Action Statement and associated Low Effect Screening Form, which are also available for public review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the endangered Piperia yadonii (Yadon's piperia) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 2,306 acres (ac) (930 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in Monterey County, California.

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

The following permits were issued.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'' or ``Service'') announces the availability of the results from 2003 monitoring data collected as part of the post-delisting monitoring plan for the American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are revising critical habitat for the Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) and Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys) and designating critical habitat for the St. Andrew beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 6,193 acres (ac) (2,506 hectares (ha)) are being designated as critical habitat for the three subspecies. This action adds approximately 135 ac (44 ha) to the amount of currently designated critical habitat for the Perdido Key beach mouse and 1,629 ac (659 ha) to the area designated for the Choctawhatchee beach mouse. The critical habitat is located in Baldwin County, Alabama; and Escambia, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, and Gulf Counties, Florida.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our revised 12-month finding for a petition to list the Beaver Cave beetle (Pseudanophthalmus major) under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we conclude that this species is not likely to become an endangered or threatened species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Therefore, we find that proposing a rule to list the species is not warranted, and we no longer consider it to be a candidate species for listing. However, the Service will continue to seek new information on the taxonomy, biology, and ecology of this species, as well as potential threats to its continued existence.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for the threatened guaj[oacute]n (Eleutherodactylus cooki), a frog endemic to Puerto Rico, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 217.2 acres (ac) (88 hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in the municipalities of Humacao, Las Piedras, Maunabo, Patillas, and Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the revised technical agency draft revised recovery plan for the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata vittata). The Puerto Rican parrot, largely green with a red forehead and blue flight feathers, is one of nine extant Amazona parrots occurring in the West Indies. Measuring about 29 centimeters (11 inches) in length and weighing about 270 grams (10 ounces), this species is one of the smallest in its genus, although it is similar in size to other Amazona in the Greater Antilles. The current revision of the recovery plan incorporates new information, describes actions considered necessary for the conservation of this species, establishes criteria (important milestones) for recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting from endangered to threatened, and estimates the time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed. Partnerships are a key element of this revised recovery plan. The Service solicits review and comment on this draft revised recovery plan.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to designate critical habitat for Ceanothus ophiochilus (Vail Lake ceanothus) and Fremontodendron mexicanum (Mexican flannelbush) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 644 acres (ac) (262 hectares (ha)) are proposed for the designation of critical habitat for these two species. Approximately 283 ac (115 ha) of land in Riverside County, California, are being proposed as critical habitat for C. ophiochilus, and approximately 361 ac (147 ha) of land in San Diego County, California, are being proposed as critical habitat for F. mexicanum.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating critical habitat for the Alameda whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 154,834 acres (ac) (62,659 hectares (ha)) critical habitat are being designated for the taxon. The critical habitat is located in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and San Joaquin Counties, California.