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

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a record of decision (ROD) for the proposed issuance of an Endangered Species Act incidental take permit (ITP) addressing the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) 1997 State Trust Lands Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), as amended to include a Long- Term Conservation Strategy for the federally threatened marbled murrelet. The ROD documents the Service's decision to select Alternative H, the Proposed Action (described below), which includes approval of the amended HCP, and issuance of an amended ITP authorizing incidental take of the marbled murrelet that is reasonably certain to occur with implementation of the amended HCP.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the June sucker (Chasmistes liorus) from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), due to substantial improvements in the species' overall status since its original listing as endangered in 1986. This proposed action is based on a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, which indicates that the June sucker no longer meets the definition of endangered under the Act. If this proposal is finalized, the June sucker would remain protected as a threatened species under the Act. We also propose a rule under section 4(d) of the Act that provides for the conservation of the June sucker. This document also constitutes our 5-year status review for this species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove Bradshaw's lomatium (Bradshaw's lomatium, also known as Bradshaw's desert parsley), a plant found in western Oregon and southwestern Washington, from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants due to recovery. Our review of the best available scientific and commercial data indicates that the threats to Bradshaw's lomatium have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request information and comments from the public regarding this proposed rule and the draft post-delisting monitoring plan for Bradshaw's lomatium.

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.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the meltwater lednian stonefly (Lednia tumana) and the western glacier stonefly (Zapada glacier), both aquatic species from alpine streams and springs. Meltwater lednian stoneflies are found in Montana and Canada, and western glacier stoneflies are found in Montana and Wyoming. The effect of this regulation will be to add these species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. We also finalize a rule under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of these species. We have also determined that designation of critical habitat for these species is not prudent.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (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) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit for the federally endangered Smith's blue butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. DBO Development #30, LLC, submitted an application for a permit, which, if issued, would authorize take incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the South of Tioga Project draft habitat conservation plan. We invite public comments.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application for a permit to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on this application. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Vulcan Industries, Florida Rock Division, doing business as Florida Rock Industries, Inc. (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink, blue-tailed mole skink, and eastern indigo snake and also the gopher tortoise, which is a candidate for Federal listing, incidental to land clearing and excavation of sand in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), are proposing to renew an information collection.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce a public meeting of the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (Council), in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Council's purpose is to provide recommendations to the Federal Government, through the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, regarding policies and endeavors that benefit wildlife resources; encourage partnership among the public; sporting conservation organizations; and Federal, State, tribal, and territorial governments; and benefit recreational hunting and recreational shooting sports. The meeting is open to the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an incidental take permit application under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would authorize take of the federally threatened California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, and western snowy plover, and the federally endangered Smith's blue butterfly, incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with commercial, residential and recreational development, recreational use, and habitat management within portions of the former Fort Ord Army base in the draft habitat conservation plan (HCP). We invite public comment on the applicant's draft HCP and the draft environmental impact statement, which the Service prepared in response to the application for an incidental take permit.