Fish and Wildlife Service January 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Northern Long-Eared Bat With a Rule Under Section 4(d) of the Act; Correction
Document Number: 2015-01804
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-01-30
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on January 16, 2015, to set forth a species-specific rule under the authority of section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), should we determine this species warrants listing as a threatened species under the Act. In that proposal, we provided the wrong address for the submission of hard-copy comments. With this document, we correct our error.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf; Correction
Document Number: 2015-01687
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-01-29
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, published a final rule in the Federal Register on January 16, 2015, that revises the regulations for the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). In that rule, we made an error in our description of Phase 2 by stating that dispersal and occupancy of Mexican wolves west of Interstate 17 will be limited to the area west of Highway 89 in Arizona. We intended to state that dispersal and occupancy of Mexican wolves west of Interstate 17 will be limited to the area east of Highway 89. With this document, we correct our error.
Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Applications; Correction
Document Number: 2015-01662
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-28
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, correct a typographical error in a recently published notice that announced our receipt of applications. Due to the inadvertent typographical error, the prior notice mischaracterized the area of translocation for a species for which the applicant seeks a permit. The error is not in the application materials, but only in one section of our previous Federal Register notice. If you requested documents for review, you need not request them again.
Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska; Rural Determination Process
Document Number: 2015-01621
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-01-28
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The Secretaries propose to revise the regulations governing the rural determination process for the Federal Subsistence Program in Alaska. Under current regulations, the Federal Subsistence Board (Board) defines which community or area of Alaska is rural using guidelines and characteristics defined by the Secretaries. This new process will enable the Board to be more flexible in making decisions and take into account the regional differences found throughout the State.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska; Revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement
Document Number: 2015-01514
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a revised comprehensive conservation plan (plan/CCP) and final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (refuge, NWR) for a 30-day public review. In this revised plan and final EIS, we describe how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.
Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Migratory Birds and Wetlands Conservation Grant Programs
Document Number: 2015-01341
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2015. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Adding Five Species of Sawfish to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Document Number: 2015-01348
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-01-26
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), are amending the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) by adding five species of sawfish: Narrow sawfish (Anoxypristis cuspidata), dwarf sawfish (Pristis clavata), largetooth sawfish (collectively Pristis pristis; formerly Pristis pristis, Pristis microdon, and Pristis perotteti), green sawfish (Pristis zijsron), and the non-U.S. distinct population segment (DPS) of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). These amendments are based on previously published determinations by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce, which has jurisdiction for these species.
Receipt of an Incidental Take Permit Application for Participation in the Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma
Document Number: 2015-01284
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-26
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Under the Endangered Species Act, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on an incidental take permit application for take of the federally listed American burying beetle resulting from activities associated with the geophysical exploration (seismic) and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of oil and gas well field infrastructure within Oklahoma. If approved, the permit would be issued under the approved Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan Associated with Issuance of Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permits for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma (ICP).
Draft Environmental Assessment and Proposed Wright Solar Park Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan, Merced County, California; Correction
Document Number: 2015-01212
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-23
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, correct a typographical error in a recently published notice that announced the availability of the draft environmental assessment (DEA) and the draft Proposed Wright Solar Park Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Due to the inadvertent typographical error, the prior notice mischaracterized the species for which the applicant seeks a permit. The error was not in the DEA or the HCP, but only in one section of our previous Federal Register notice. If you requested documents for review, you need not request them again. If you submitted comments, you need not resubmit them.
Endangered Species; Receipt of Applications for Permit
Document Number: 2015-00916
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-22
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Consolea corallicola (Florida Semaphore Cactus) and Harrisia aboriginum (Aboriginal Prickly-Apple)
Document Number: 2015-00344
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-01-22
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, propose to designate critical habitat for Consolea corallicola (Florida semaphore cactus) and Harrisia aboriginum (aboriginal prickly-apple) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, approximately 4,411 acres (1,785 hectares) for Consolea corallicola in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida; and 3,444 acres (1,394 hectares) for Harrisia aboriginum in Manatee, Charlotte, Sarasota, and Lee Counties, Florida, fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical habitat designations. We also announce the availability of a draft economic analysis of the proposed designation for these species.
Receipt of Applications for Endangered Species Permits
Document Number: 2015-00855
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-21
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless a Federal permit is issued that allows such activities. The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.
Meeting Announcement: Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Advisory Group
Document Number: 2015-00851
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-21
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The Advisory Group for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grants program (Advisory Group) will meet via telephone to follow up on agenda items from the December 10, 2014, meeting and to discuss strategic direction of the NMBCA program and Advisory Group. This teleconference is open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.
Meeting Announcement: North American Wetlands Conservation Council
Document Number: 2015-00849
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-21
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Council) will meet via telephone to select North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) U.S. small grant proposals for recommendation to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (Commission). This teleconference is open to the public, and interested persons may present oral or written statements.
Receipt of an Incidental Take Permit Application for Participation in the Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma
Document Number: 2015-00725
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-20
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Under the Endangered Species Act, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on an incidental take permit application for take of the federally listed American burying beetle resulting from activities associated with the geophysical exploration (seismic) and construction, maintenance, operation, repair, and decommissioning of oil and gas well field infrastructure within Oklahoma. If approved, the permit would be issued under the approved Oil and Gas Industry Conservation Plan Associated with Issuance of Endangered Species Act Section 10(a)(1)(B) Permits for the American Burying Beetle in Oklahoma (ICP).
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Northern Long-Eared Bat With a Rule Under Section 4(d) of the Act
Document Number: 2015-00644
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-01-16
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to create a species-specific rule under authority of section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), should we determine this species warrants listing as a threatened species under the Act. In addition, we announce the reopening of the public comment period on the October 2, 2013, proposed rule to list the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species under the Act.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for the Mexican Wolf
Document Number: 2015-00441
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-01-16
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). The effect of this regulation will be to revise the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife by making a separate entry for the Mexican wolf. We are separating our determination on the listing of the Mexican wolf as endangered from the determination on our proposal regarding the delisting of the gray wolf in the United States and Mexico. This rule finalizes our determination for the Mexican wolf.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision to the Regulations for the Nonessential Experimental Population of the Mexican Wolf
Document Number: 2015-00436
Type: Rule
Date: 2015-01-16
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), revise the regulations for the nonessential experimental population of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This action is being taken in coordination with our final rule in this Federal Register to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered subspecies. The regulatory revisions in this rule will improve the project to reintroduce a nonessential experimental population, thereby increasing potential for recovery of this species.
Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Applications
Document Number: 2015-00551
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-15
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activities. Both the Act and the National Environmental Policy Act require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.
Final Strategic Growth Policy for the National Wildlife Refuge System
Document Number: 2015-00381
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-15
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has finalized a policy to implement a strategic approach to the growth of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System, System). The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, requires that we ``plan and direct the continued growth of the System in a manner that is best designed to accomplish the mission of the System.'' This policy directs Refuge System employees to focus their protection measures on priority conservation features to ensure that our limited resources are used to make the greatest contribution to the conservation of species in a cost-effective and transparent manner. It ensures that the growth of the System reflects our vision toward managing functional landscapes, enhancing our scientific rigor, improving our effectiveness, and involving our partners and the American people. The Strategic Growth policy is found in ``Refuge Planning,'' chapter 5, part 602 in the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.
Subsistence Management Regulations for Public Lands in Alaska-2016-17 and 2017-18 Subsistence Taking of Wildlife Regulations
Document Number: 2015-00425
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-01-14
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
This proposed rule would establish regulations for hunting and trapping seasons, harvest limits, and methods and means related to taking of wildlife for subsistence uses during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even-numbered years and subsistence taking of fish and shellfish regulations in odd-numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking will replace the existing subsistence wildlife taking regulations. This rule would also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Recovery Plan for the Laurel Dace
Document Number: 2015-00414
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-14
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the technical/agency draft recovery plan for the endangered laurel dace, a small fish native to the Tennessee River Basin in Tennessee. The draft recovery plan includes specific recovery objectives and criteria to be met in order for us to downlist the species to threatened status or delist it under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Baker's Larkspur (Delphinium bakeri
Document Number: 2015-00392
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-13
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 Baker's Larkspur (Delphinium bakeri) for public review and comment. The recovery plan includes downlisting objectives and criteria, and specific actions necessary to reclassify the species from endangered to threatened on the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.
Draft Environmental Assessment and Proposed Wright Solar Park Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan, Merced County, California
Document Number: 2015-00390
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-13
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
This notice advises the public that we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), in response to an application from Wright Solar Park, LLC (the applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The applicant has prepared the draft Wright Solar Park Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) to describe and implement a conservation plan that will minimize and mitigate environmental effects associated with the construction, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of an up-to-200-megawatt photovoltaic power generating facility and implementation of conservation actions associated with the Habitat Conservation Plan in Merced County, California. We also announce a 60-day public comment period on the permit application, including the draft EA and the proposed HCP. We request data, comments, new information, or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered Status for 21 Species and Proposed Threatened Status for 2 Species in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Document Number: 2015-00259
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2015-01-12
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), recently published a proposed listing for 21 plant and animal species from the Mariana Islands (U.S. Territory of Guam and the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) as endangered species and 2 plant species from the Mariana Islands as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and announced a 60-day public comment period on the proposed actions, ending December 1, 2014. We now reopen the public comment period for an additional 30 days, and announce two public hearings and four public information meetings on our proposed rule. We are taking these actions to allow all interested parties additional time and opportunity to comment on the proposed rule.
Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Applications
Document Number: 2014-30833
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered or threatened species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activities. Both the Act and the National Environmental Policy Act require that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.
Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Issuance of Permits
Document Number: 2014-30805
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (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 (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Endangered Species; Receipt of Applications for Permit
Document Number: 2014-30804
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities.
Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Klickitat County, WA; Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment
Document Number: 2014-30406
Type: Notice
Date: 2015-01-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of our comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment (EA) for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The CCP will guide Refuge management for the next 15 years.
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