Fish and Wildlife Service March 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Monongahela River Basin population of Catostomus catostomus (longnose sucker) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing C. catostomus may be warranted. This finding is based on our determination that there is insufficient evidence to indicate that the Monongahela River Basin population of C. catostomus represents a distinct population segment (DPS) and, therefore, it cannot be considered a listable entity under section 3(15) of the Act. Accordingly, we will not initiate a status review in response to this petition. However, the public may at any time submit to us information concerning whether the Monongahela River Basin population of Catostomus catostomus meets the DPS criteria for this otherwise widespread species.

Lee Combs (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (TE-140983-0) pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The requested permit, which is for a period of five years, would authorize incidental take of the Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis). The proposed take would occur as a result of the construction and occupation of commercial development on Lot 1, a 0.75- acre property located on Highway 71 in the Tahitian Village Subdivision, Bastrop County, Texas. We invite public comment.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we), extended the public comment period on the proposed rule to remove the Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus), more commonly known as the West Virginia northern flying squirrel (WVNFS), on February 21, 2007 (72 FR 7852). However, we inadvertently left out the e-mail address to which the public could send comments. This document corrects that error.

Lee Combs (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (TE-141969-0) pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The requested permit, which is for a period of five years, would authorize incidental take of the Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis). The proposed take would occur as a result of the construction and occupation of commercial development on Lot 3, a 1.15- acre property located on Highway 71 in the Tahitian Village Subdivision, Bastrop County, Texas. We invite public comment.

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

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an incidental take permit (ITP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Joseph Pansulla (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 0.79 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 residence and supporting infrastructure in Sarasota County, Florida (Project). The destruction of 0.79 acre of foraging and sheltering 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 Projects to the Florida scrub-jay.