Fish and Wildlife Service June 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Endangered Species; Issuance of Permits
Document Number: 2019-13791
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-28
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act.
Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits
Document Number: 2019-13790
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-28
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have issued the following permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. We issue these permits under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 29 Draft Recovery Plan Revisions for 43 Species in the Pacific, Southwest, and Southeast Regions of the United States
Document Number: 2019-13713
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability for public review and comment of 29 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery criteria for 43 endangered or threatened species located in 16 States (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas), two unincorporated territories (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the French West Indies, and Mexico. We are updating recovery criteria to better assist in determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that it may be reclassified as threatened, or that the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), are no longer necessary and the species may be removed from the Act's protections. We request review of these draft recovery plan revisions and invite comments from local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 29 Draft Recovery Plan Revisions for 42 Species Across the United States
Document Number: 2019-13708
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce for public review and comment the availability of 29 draft recovery plan revisions, which update recovery criteria for 42 endangered or threatened species located in 11 States (Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina) and 4 unincorporated territories (Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands). We are updating recovery criteria to better assist in determining when an endangered species has recovered to the point that it may be reclassified as threatened, or that the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), are no longer necessary and the species may be removed from the Act's protections. We request review of these draft recovery plan revisions and comments from local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.
2019-2020 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations
Document Number: 2019-11443
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2019-06-26
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to open seven National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that are currently closed to hunting and sport fishing. In addition, we propose to expand hunting and sport fishing at 67 other NWRs, and add pertinent station-specific regulations for other NWRs that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing for the 2019- 2020 season. We also propose to formally open 15 units of the National Fish Hatchery System (NFHs) to hunting and sport fishing. We also propose to add pertinent station-specific regulations that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing at these 15 NFHs for the 2019-2020 season. This proposed rule includes global administrative updates to every NWR entry in our refuge-specific regulations and the reorganization of general public use regulations. We propose to remove approximately 2,100 regulations that will have no impact on the administration of hunting and sport fishing within the National Wildlife Refuge System. We also propose to simplify over 2,900 refuge-specific regulations to comply with a Presidential mandate to adhere to plain language standards and to reduce the regulatory burden on the public. Lastly, we propose to amend certain provisions of the regulations specific to Alaska NWRs. The proposed amendments include the removal of the regulations concerning same-day airborne hunting.
Importation, Exportation, and Transportation of Wildlife, Shellfish, and Fishery Products; Importation and Exportation of Green Sea Urchins
Document Number: 2019-13492
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-06-25
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is amending our regulations regarding the importation and exportation of green sea urchins. We are issuing this final rule pursuant to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which includes a provision that directs the Director of the Service to revise our regulations pertaining to import/ export licenses to exempt the exportation of green sea urchins under certain circumstances.
Migratory Bird Permits; Regulations for Managing Resident Canada Goose Populations
Document Number: 2019-13485
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2019-06-25
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend the depredation order that allows take of resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities by authorized personnel between May 1 and August 31. This time period is too restrictive in portions of the Atlantic Flyway where specific crops are now being planted and depredated prior to May 1. Under this proposal, we would allow take of resident Canada geese at agricultural facilities in the Atlantic Flyway States of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia between April 1 and August 31.
Endangered Species; Recovery Permit Applications
Document Number: 2019-13435
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-25
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.
Joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report, Joint Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan; Placer County, California
Document Number: 2019-13390
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-21
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a joint draft environmental impact statement and draft environmental impact report (draft EIS/EIR) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as amended. We also announce receipt of applications for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and receipt of a draft habitat conservation plan and natural community conservation plan. The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are cooperating agencies on the draft EIS/EIR.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 53 Southeastern Species
Document Number: 2019-13155
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-20
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews of 53 species under the Endangered Species Act, as amended. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. We are requesting submission of information that has become available since the last reviews of these species.
Migratory Bird Permits; Regulations for Managing Resident Canada Goose Populations
Document Number: 2019-13097
Type: Rule
Date: 2019-06-20
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
In 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we'') published a final environmental impact statement on management of resident Canada geese (Branta canadensis) that documented resident Canada goose population levels ``that are increasingly coming into conflict with people and causing personal and public property damage.'' Subsequently, the Service implemented several actions intended to reduce, manage, and control resident Canada goose populations in the continental United States and to reduce related damages; those actions included depredation and control orders that allow destruction of Canada goose nests and eggs by authorized personnel between March 1 and June 30. However, some resident Canada geese currently initiate nests in February, particularly in the southern United States, and it seems likely that in the future nest initiation dates will begin earlier and hatching of eggs will perhaps end later than dates currently experienced. This final rule amends the depredation and control orders to allow destruction of resident Canada goose nests and eggs at any time of year.
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Coastal California Gnatcatcher; Categorical Exclusion for 93-129 Ltd, Orange County, California
Document Number: 2019-12953
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-19
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from 93-129 Ltd for a 10-year incidental take permit for the coastal California gnatcatcher pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. We are requesting comments on the permit application and on our preliminary determination that the applicant's accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan qualifies as low effect, eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. The basis for this determination is discussed in our environmental action statement and associated low-effect screening form, which are also available for public review.
Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications
Document Number: 2019-12798
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-18
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.
Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statements; Withdrawal
Document Number: 2019-12627
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-14
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are issuing this Federal Register notice to advise Federal, State, and local government agencies and the public that we are withdrawing 12 notices of intent to prepare draft environmental impact statements. These projects have been cancelled or no longer include Federal actions requiring analysis per the National Environmental Policy Act.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Alaska Subsistence Bird Harvest Survey
Document Number: 2019-12460
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-13
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an information collection with revisions.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 91 Species in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and American Samoa
Document Number: 2019-12244
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-11
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating 5-year status reviews for 91 species in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and American Samoa under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Three of these species also occur outside U.S. jurisdiction in Canada and the South Pacific. A 5-year review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any new information on these species that has become available since the last review.
Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council Meeting
Document Number: 2019-12060
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (SFBPC), in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The SFBPC's purpose is to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on aquatic conservation endeavors that benefit recreational resources and recreational boating and that encourage partnerships among industry, the public, and the government.
Announcement of Public Meeting: North American Wetlands Conservation Council
Document Number: 2019-12053
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The North American Wetlands Conservation Council will meet to select U.S. Standard grant proposals for reporting to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This meeting is open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii (Peirson's Milk-Vetch)
Document Number: 2019-11943
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Astragalus magdalenae var. peirsonii (Peirson's milk-vetch) for public review and comment. The draft recovery plan includes objective, measurable criteria, and site- specific management actions as may be necessary to ameliorate threats such that the species can be removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Document Number: 2019-11908
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2019-06-06
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recently published a proposal to remove the gray wolf from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, and we announced the opening of a 60-day public comment period on the proposed action, ending May 14, 2019. We then extended the comment period by 60 days, ending July, 15, 2019, to allow all interested parties additional time to comment on the proposed rule. We now announce a public information open house and public hearing on our proposed rule. We also notify the public of the availability of the final peer review report containing the individual peer reviews of our proposal and information on the peer review process.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Issuance of Enhancement of Survival and Incidental Take Permits for Safe Harbor Agreements, Candidate Conservation Agreements, and Habitat Conservation Plans, 2018; Issuance of Recovery Permits, July 1, 2017, Through December 31, 2018
Document Number: 2019-11806
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-06
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), provide a list to the public of permits issued under the ESA. With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits take of listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that authorizes or exempts the taking under the ESA. We provide this list to the public as a summary of our permit issuances for candidate conservation agreements with assurances, safe harbor agreements, and habitat conservation plans for calendar year 2018, and for recovery permits issued between July 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018.
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Habitat Conservation Plan for the Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project, Lewis and Thurston Counties, Washington; Correction
Document Number: 2019-11788
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-06
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
On May 31, 2019, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced via a Federal Register notice the availability of a final environmental impact statement (EIS) and a final habitat conservation plan addressing the Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project in Lewis and Thurston Counties, Washington. The Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project LLC is requesting an incidental take permit (ITP) covering the take of one threatened species listed under the Endangered Species Act, and two non-listed federally protected species. The final EIS has been prepared in response to the ITP application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Our Federal Register notice inadvertently did not give the correct docket number for the public to use to find the announced documents online. In this notice, we correct that error.
Foreign Endangered Species; Receipt of Permit Applications
Document Number: 2019-11674
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA with respect to any endangered species.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Recovery Permit Applications
Document Number: 2019-11664
Type: Notice
Date: 2019-06-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.
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