Fish and Wildlife Service October 12, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activities. The Act and the National Environmental Policy Act also require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the coqu[iacute] llanero (Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi), an endemic Puerto Rican tree frog, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) and to designate critical habitat. After review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the coqu[iacute] llanero as an endangered species under the Act is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the coqu[iacute] llanero as an endangered species throughout its range and designate critical habitat for the species pursuant to the Act. In total, we propose approximately 615 acres (249 hectares) of a freshwater wetland for designation as critical habitat. The proposed critical habitat is located in Sabana Seca Ward, Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. This proposed rule, if made final, would extend the Act's protections to this species. The Service seeks data and comments from the public on this proposed listing rule and the designation of critical habitat for the species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose critical habitat for the Cumberland darter (Etheostoma susanae), rush darter (Etheostoma phytophilum), yellowcheek darter (Etheostoma moorei), chucky madtom (Noturus crypticus), and laurel dace (Chrosomus saylori) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Approximately 85 river kilometers (rkm) (53 river miles (rmi)) are being proposed for designation of critical habitat for the Cumberland darter in McCreary and Whitley Counties, Kentucky, and Campbell and Scott Counties, Tennessee; 42 rkm (27 rmi) and 19 hectares (ha) (22 acres (ac)) are being proposed for designation of critical habitat for the rush darter in Etowah, Jefferson, and Winston Counties, Alabama; 157 rkm (98 rmi) are being proposed for designation of critical habitat for the yellowcheek darter in Cleburne, Searcy, Stone, and Van Buren Counties, Arkansas; 32 rkm (20 rmi) are being proposed for designation of critical habitat for the chucky madtom in Greene County, Tennessee; and 42 rkm (26 rmi) are being proposed for designation of critical habitat for the laurel dace in Bledsoe, Rhea, and Sequatchie Counties, Tennessee.