Fish and Wildlife Service – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list 48 species on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also propose to designate critical habitat for 47 of these species totaling 27,674 acres (ac) (11,199 hectares (ha)). Critical habitat designation is not prudent for one species, Pritchardia hardyi, which is threatened by overcollection, vandalism, or other human activity. This proposed rule, if made final, would extend the Act's protections to these species.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). In the CCP, we describe how we will manage Lake Woodruff NWR for the next 15 years.

West Colton Rail Terminal, LLC (applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for a 3-year incidental take permit for one covered species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of the endangered Delhi Sands flower-loving fly (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis, ``DSF'') associated with construction of an ethanol unloading facility in the City of Rialto, San Bernardino County, California. A conservation program to mitigate for impacts of the project on the DSF would be implemented as described in the proposed West Colton Terminal Temporary Ethanol Transloading Facility Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). We are requesting comments on the permit application and on the preliminary determination that the proposed HCP qualifies as a ``Low- Effect'' Habitat Conservation Plan, eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The basis for this determination is discussed in the Environmental Action Statement (EAS) and the associated Low Effect Screening Form, which are also available for public review.

The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) seeks to sell advertising on its TakeMeFishing.org Web site to help generate revenue from non-Federal funds to expand its outreach program. RBFF has drafted advertising guidelines to determine who can advertise and how the advertising sales will be operated; we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on these guidelines.

This notice advises the public that RB & JH Properties, LLC (applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The proposed permit would authorize incidental take of the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) (DFS) that is likely to occur on the Pleasant Rifts Housing Development, a 29.6-acre property owned by the applicant near Secretary, in Dorchester County, Maryland. We also announce the availability for public comment of a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) prepared under the Act in support of the permit application and a draft environmental assessment (EA) for the action prepared in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Citygate Development, LLC and CG II, LLC (Applicants) request an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) for the take of the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and the Florida panther (Puma (=Felis) concolor coryi). The Applicants propose to develop 240 acres of occupied red-cockaded woodpecker and Florida panther habitat to construct a mixed-use, nonresidential, commercial/industrial office park complex (Project) in Collier County, Florida. The modification of this habitat is expected to result in incidental take, in the form of harm, of one group of red-cockaded woodpeckers and harassment of the Florida panther. The Applicants' Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the effects of the Project on the red-cockaded woodpecker and Florida panther. These measures are outlined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are designating final revised critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Approximately 7,779 acres (ac) (3,148 hectares (ha)) of habitat in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California, are being designated as critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat. This final revised designation constitutes a reduction of approximately 25,516 ac (10,326 ha) from the 2002 designation of critical habitat for the San Bernardino kangaroo rat.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with marine mammals.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species and marine mammals.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA) as amended, notice is hereby given that Letters of Authorization to take polar bears and Pacific walruses incidental to oil and gas industry exploration, development, and production activities in the Beaufort Sea and adjacent northern coast of Alaska have been issued.

This notice announces a public teleconference of the Sporting Conservation Council (Council).

The following applicants have applied for permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has incorporated public comments into a revision of the marine mammal stock assessment report for the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) stock in Washington State. The 2008 final stock assessment report is now complete and available to the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are announcing the location and time of a public hearing to receive public comments on the proposal to split the current listing under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, of the threatened flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) into two distinct species: frosted flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) and reticulated flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma bishopi), due to a change in taxonomy. We also propose to list reticulated flatwoods salamander as endangered and propose critical habitat for both species. We are extending the public comment period until November 3, 2008. If you submitted comments previously, then you do not need to resubmit them because we have already incorporated them into the public record and we will fully consider them in preparation of our final determination.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the receipt of an application for an Enhancement of Survival Permit that would be issued pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application was developed in accordance with the Template Safe Harbor Agreement (Template SHA) for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis). The permit applicant is the Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Issuance of a permit to WDNR would exempt incidental take of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, which would otherwise be prohibited by section 9 of the Act, that is above the baseline conditions of WDNR properties enrolled under the Template SHA and that may result from the permittee's otherwise lawful management activities. The Service requests comments from the public regarding the proposed issuance of a permit to WDNR. All comments received will become part of the public record. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying informationmay be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All comments received from organizations, businesses, or individuals representing organizations or businesses are available for public inspection in their entirety.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to issue itself an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for a programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement (Agreement). The proposed term of the Agreement is 15 years, and the proposed term of the permit is 25 years. In accordance with regulation, the Service is completing the application process for this proposed permit. The requested permit would authorize the Service to extend incidental take coverage with assurances to eligible landowners who are willing to carry out habitat management measures that would benefit the federally-listed endangered Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) and the threatened Kincaid's lupine (Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii) by enrolling them under the Agreement as Cooperators through issuance of Certificates of Inclusion. The covered area or geographic scope of this Agreement includes the known and potential range of the Fender's blue butterfly, which occurs on prairie habitat within Benton, Lane, Linn, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties of Oregon. We request comments from the public on the permit application, proposed Agreement and related documents, which are available for review (see ADDRESSES below).

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) initiate 5- year reviews of three wildlife species and eight plant species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (see Table 1 under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ). We request any new information on these species that may have a bearing on their classification as endangered or threatened. Based on the results of these 5-year reviews, we will make recommendations as to whether each of these species is properly classified under the Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received from CT 620 Partnership (Applicant) a request to amend an existing Incidental Take Permit (Permit), TE036095, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If we grant it, the amendment would update the methodology we used to calculate the mitigation fee for this permit to the methodology we presently use to calculate new fees for permits of this type. This amendment would not alter the level of authorized take.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare a revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for Selawik National Wildlife Refuge (Selawik Refuge, Refuge). We furnish this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the planning process. We will use local announcements, special mailings, newspaper articles, the Internet, and other media announcements to inform people of opportunities to provide input throughout the planning process. We will hold public meetings in communities within and near Selawik Refuge during preparation of the revised plan.

The public is invited to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species.

The following permits were issued.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce that our Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is available. This Draft CCP/EA describes how the Service intends to manage this Refuge for the next 15 years.

This rule prescribes special late-season migratory bird hunting regulations for certain tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands. This rule responds to tribal requests for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter Service or we) recognition of their authority to regulate hunting under established guidelines. This rule allows the establishment of season bag limits and, thus, harvest at levels compatible with populations and habitat conditions.

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) prescribes final late-season frameworks from which States may select season dates, limits, and other options for the 2008-09 migratory bird hunting seasons. These late seasons include most waterfowl seasons, the earliest of which commences on September 27, 2008. The effect of this final rule is to facilitate the States' selection of hunting seasons and to further the annual establishment of the late-season migratory bird hunting regulations.