Fish and Wildlife Service October 30, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) will meet to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). This meeting is open to the public. The Advisory Group for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grants program (Advisory Group) also will meet. This meeting is also open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in coordination with the State of Wyoming and other partners, will reestablish additional populations of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a federally listed endangered mammal, into prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) occupied habitat in Wyoming and classify any reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This final rule establishes the NEP area and provides for allowable legal incidental taking of the black-footed ferret within the defined NEP area. The best available data indicate the reintroduction of black-footed ferrets to Wyoming is biologically feasible and will promote conservation and recovery of the species. This NEP area and two previously designated NEPs in Wyoming collectively cover the entire State of Wyoming and provide consistent management flexibility Statewide. We are also amending the historical range column for the species within the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) to include Mexico; the historical range information in the List is informational, not regulatory.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to amend its regulations to add to the list of injurious fish the following freshwater fish species: Crucian carp (Carassius carassius), Eurasian minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus), stone moroko (Pseudorasbora parva), Nile perch (Lates niloticus), Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii), European perch (Perca fluviatilis), zander (Sander lucioperca), and wels catfish (Silurus glanis). In addition, the Service also proposes to amend its regulations to add the freshwater crayfish species common yabby (Cherax destructor) to the list of injurious crustaceans. These listings would prohibit the importation of any live animal, gamete, viable egg, or hybrid of these 10 fish and 1 crayfish into the United States, except as specifically authorized. These listings would also prohibit the interstate transportation of any live animal, gamete, viable egg, or hybrid of these 10 fish and 1 crayfish between the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States, except as specifically authorized. As proposed, these species are injurious to human beings, to the interests of agriculture, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States, and the listing will prevent the purposeful or accidental introduction and subsequent establishment of these 10 fish and 1 crayfish into ecosystems of the United States. We are also making available for public review and comment the associated draft environmental assessment and draft economic analysis for this action.