Fish and Wildlife Service November 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice of a virtual meeting of the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council (Council), in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to revise the critical habitat designation for the contiguous U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In total, approximately 19,112 square miles (49,500 square kilometers) in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming fall within the boundaries of the proposed revisions to the critical habitat designation. We also announce the availability of an economic analysis of the proposed revised designation of critical habitat for the Canada lynx DPS.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are extending the comment period on our September 24, 2024, proposed rule to revise critical habitat for Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and to designate critical habitat for Antillean manatee (T. m. manatus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. We are extending the proposed rule's comment period for 60 days to give all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our 12-month finding on a petition to list the giraffe (including its subspecies) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act or ESA). After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that the following listing actions are warranted: We propose to list all three subspecies of the northern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)the West African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta), the Kordofan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum), and the Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis)as endangered species under Act. We also propose to list the reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) and the Masai giraffe (Giraffa tippelskirchi), both from east Africa, as threatened species with protective regulations issued under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). After a thorough review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that, based on the Act's section 4(a)(1) factors, it is not warranted at this time to list either subspecies of the southern giraffe (Giraffa giraffa)the Angolan giraffe (Giraffa giraffa angolensis) and the South African giraffe (Giraffa giraffa giraffa)but we are proposing, under the authority of section 4(e) of the Act, to treat both of these subspecies as threatened species based on their similarity of appearance to the West African giraffe, Kordofan giraffe, Nubian giraffe, reticulated giraffe, and Masai giraffe. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add all giraffes to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, under the authority of either section 4(a)(1) or 4(e) of the Act, and extend the Act's protections to these taxa.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980, as amended, along with other laws as applicable, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (draft supplemental EIS) to consider the effects of a potential land exchange of certain lands owned by the King Cove Corporation with certain lands owned by the U.S. Government and located within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Izembek Wilderness Area. If a land exchange is approved, King Cove Corporation would use the acquired land for a road corridor for noncommercial use. We invite comment on the draft supplemental EIS from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies. We will separately be announcing public meetings.

The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture are correcting an amendatory instruction in the final rule that published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2024. That rule revises the regulations concerning the composition of the Federal Subsistence Board, which has authority to administer the subsistence taking and uses of fish and wildlife on public lands in Alaska.

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), as co-lead agencies, announce the availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to further consider the effects of granting a right-of-way (ROW) to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) for the Northern Corridor Project (a proposed highway) as well as a potential amendment to the Incidental Take Permit (ITP) issued to Washington County, Utah, under the ESA.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), open or expand hunting opportunities on 12 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). We also close hunting on 111 acres at Crab Orchard NWR so that the area can be repurposed for other recreational uses, including camping. We also make changes to existing station-specific regulations in order to reduce the regulatory burden on the public, increase access for hunters and anglers on Service lands and waters, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain-language standards. Finally, the best available science, analyzed as part of this rulemaking, indicates that lead ammunition and tackle have negative impacts on both wildlife and human health. With this final rule, Canaan Valley NWR in West Virginia will require lead-free ammunition for all hunting on the new Big Cove Unit. Additionally, Des Lacs, J. Clark Salyer, Lostwood, and Upper Souris NWRs in North Dakota will require lead-free ammunition for newly opened elk hunting. While the Service continues to evaluate the future of lead use in hunting and fishing on Service lands and waters, this rulemaking does not include any opportunities that increase or authorize the new use of lead.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Sunterra Communities, LLC (applicant) for renewal of an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. If granted, the renewed ITP would authorize take of the federally listed as threatened sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) incidental to the construction of a residential and commercial development in Lake County, Florida. The applicant requests the renewal of the ITP to extend the expiration date for 5 additional years. There is no request for additional take or increases in development levels. The proposed renewal maintains the existing levels of take and renews the permit through June 14, 2029. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's original unchanged habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the Service's determination that the proposed renewal remains eligible for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations, and the DOI Departmental Manual. To make this preliminary determination, we used our existing environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. We invite comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.