Fish and Wildlife Service May 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Revised Recovery Plan for Houston Toad
Document Number: 2021-11382
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-28
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of our draft revised recovery plan for the Houston toad, listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The Houston toad is a semi-aquatic species endemic to pine and oak forests within Austin, Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Milam, and Robinson Counties, Texas. We provide this notice to seek comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.
Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program II, Phase I (TETRP II Phase I)
Document Number: 2021-11251
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-27
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, along with the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Border Field State Park, propose to act in partnership to prepare a joint draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report to evaluate the impacts on the human environment related to restoring coastal wetlands within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve at the southwestern corner of San Diego County, California. We are providing this notice to open a public scoping period and announce our intent to conduct public scoping meetings in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, and its implementing regulations.
Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; Call for Nominations
Document Number: 2021-11015
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-25
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) seeks nominations for individuals to be considered for membership on the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council).
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Applications
Document Number: 2021-11014
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-25
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 for a permit to conduct activities intended to recover and enhance endangered species survival. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), prohibits certain activities that may impact endangered species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The ESA also requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Issuance of Enhancement of Survival and Incidental Take Permits for Safe Harbor Agreements, Candidate Conservation Agreements, Habitat Conservation Plans, and Recovery Activities, January 1, 2020, Through December 31, 2020
Document Number: 2021-10839
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-24
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, habitat conservation plans, and recovery activities for calendar year 2020.
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument; Monument Management Plan; Extension of Public Comment Period
Document Number: 2021-10814
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-24
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The FWS and NOAA are extending by 60 days the comment period for a draft monument management plan (MMP) for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Monument). The draft MMP describes proposed goals, objectives, and strategies for managing the Monument over a 15- year period.
Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Recovery Permit Applications
Document Number: 2021-10773
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-21
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.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of 76 Species in California and Nevada
Document Number: 2021-10667
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-20
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews of 76 species in California and Nevada under the Endangered Species Act. 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.
Agency Information Collection Activities; Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (PECE)
Document Number: 2021-10609
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-20
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to renew an information collection.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Five Species From American Samoa
Document Number: 2021-10324
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-17
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Five Species from American Samoa. The draft recovery plan includes specific goals, objectives, and criteria necessary to remove these species from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. We request review of this draft recovery plan and invite comments from local, Territorial, and Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the public.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for the Rufa Red Knot
Document Number: 2021-10064
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-12
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 rufa red knot, a bird subspecies listed as threatened under the Endangered Species 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 Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Categorical Exclusion for the Santa Barbara County Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander; Orcutt Hill Resource and Solar Project, Pacific Coast Energy Company, Santa Barbara County, California
Document Number: 2021-10045
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-12
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) and draft categorical exclusion (CatEx) for activities described in an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The ITP would authorize take of the Santa Barbara County distinct population segment of the California tiger salamander incidental to activities associated with oil production facilities and a solar photovoltaic system near the city of Orcutt in Santa Barbara County, California. The applicant developed the draft HCP as part of their application for an ITP. The Service prepared a draft CatEx in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the applicant. We invite public comment on these documents.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Two Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species
Document Number: 2021-09748
Type: Rule
Date: 2021-05-11
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that two species are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to list Hall's bulrush (Schoenoplectiella hallii) or triangle pigtoe (formerly Fusconaia lananensis). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the species mentioned above or their habitats.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings for Three Species
Document Number: 2021-09707
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2021-05-11
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on three petitions to add species to the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we plan to initiate status reviews of the Aztec gilia (Aliciella formosa), Clover's cactus (Sclerocactus cloverae), and Suckley's cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus suckleyi) to determine whether the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the species and factors that may affect their status. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month petition findings, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Kuenzler Hedgehog Cactus
Document Number: 2021-09810
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-10
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of our draft recovery plan for Kuenzler hedgehog cactus, a small cactus found in New Mexico. Kuenzler hedgehog cactus is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. We provide this notice to seek comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Mount Charleston Blue Butterfly
Document Number: 2021-09763
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-10
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 the Mount Charleston Blue Butterfly (Icaricia [Plebejus] shasta charlestonensis), an endangered butterfly species, for public review and comment. We request review and comment on this draft recovery plan from local, State, and Federal agencies; nongovernmental organizations; and the public.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Recovery Plan for Guadalupe Fescue
Document Number: 2021-09709
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of our draft recovery plan for Guadalupe fescue, a plant endemic to high mountains in the Chihuahuan desert, in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas and in Coahuila, Mexico, and listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. We provide this notice to seek comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.
Regulations Governing Take of Migratory Birds; Proposed Rule
Document Number: 2021-09700
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2021-05-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
On January 7, 2021, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, the Service, or USFWS), published a final rule defining the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) as it applies to conduct resulting in the injury or death of migratory birds protected by the MBTA. We are now proposing to revoke that rule for the reasons set forth below. The effect of this proposed rule would be to return to implementing the MBTA as prohibiting incidental take and applying enforcement discretion, consistent with judicial precedent.
Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake County, FL; Categorical Exclusion
Document Number: 2021-09683
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from TSG Development, 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 incidental to construction in Lake 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.
Incidental Take Permit Application; Habitat Conservation Plan and Categorical Exclusion for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse; Gunnison County, Colorado
Document Number: 2021-09651
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-07
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of documents related to an application for an incidental take permit (permit) under the Endangered Species Act. The City of Gunnison, Colorado, has applied for a permit, which, if granted, would authorize take of the federally threatened Gunnison sage-grouse that is likely to occur incidental to proposed residential and commercial development. The documents available for review and comment are the applicant's habitat conservation plan, which is part of the permit application, and our draft environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, which support a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We invite comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Three Salamander Species Not Warranted for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species
Document Number: 2021-09489
Type: Rule
Date: 2021-05-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce findings that three salamander species, the Samwel salamander (Hydromantes samweli), Shasta salamander, (H. shastae), and Wintu salamander (H. wintu), are not warranted for listing as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of any of the three species or their habitats.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of 23 Species in the Southwest
Document Number: 2021-09379
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are conducting 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 23 animal and plant species. A 5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the last review for the species.
Updated Collision Risk Model Priors for Estimating Eagle Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities
Document Number: 2021-09362
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
This notice announces our adoption of updated species-specific eagle exposure and collision probabilities used to generate fatality estimates for consideration in issuing eagle incidental take permits to wind-energy facilities under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. This action will improve our ability to carry out our statutory responsibility to ensure conservation of bald eagles and golden eagles when issuing those permits.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing Five Species From San Clemente Island From the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants
Document Number: 2021-08581
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2021-05-05
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), propose to remove the San Clemente Bell's sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli clementeae) (formerly known as the San Clemente sage sparrow, Amphispiza belli clementeae), San Clemente Island bush-mallow (Malacothamnus clementinus), San Clemente Island paintbrush (Castilleja grisea), San Clemente Island lotus (Acmispon dendroideus var. traskiae), and San Clemente Island larkspur (Delphinium variegatum ssp. kinkiense) from the Federal Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (Lists). The bird species and four plant species occur only on San Clemente Island, one of the Channel Islands off the southern coast of California. The proposed delistings are based on our evaluation of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the species' statuses have improved and threats to the species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species have recovered and no longer meet the definitions of either endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If this proposal is finalized, these species will be removed from the Lists.
Migratory Bird Hunting; Proposed Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations on Certain Federal Indian Reservations and Ceded Lands for the 2021-22 Season
Document Number: 2021-09057
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2021-05-04
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter, Service or we) proposes special migratory bird hunting regulations for certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off-reservation trust lands, and ceded lands for the 2021-22 migratory bird hunting season. In issuing this proposed rule, we followed guidelines for a regulatory process that recognizes the reserved hunting rights and management authority of Indian Tribes while also ensuring that the migratory game bird resource receives necessary protection.
2021-2022 Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations
Document Number: 2021-08013
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2021-05-04
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to open, for the first time, seven National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) that are currently closed to hunting and sport fishing. In addition, we propose to open or expand hunting and sport fishing at 83 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 2021-2022 season. We also propose to open hunting or sport fishing on one unit of the National Fish Hatchery System (NFH). We propose to add pertinent station-specific regulations that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing at this NFH for the 2021-2022 season. Finally, we propose to make regulatory 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.
List of Bird Species to Which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Does Not Apply; Correction
Document Number: 2021-09250
Type: Notice
Date: 2021-05-03
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are correcting our April 16, 2020, notice that published an amended list of the nonnative bird species that have been introduced by humans into the United States or U.S. territories and to which the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) does not apply. That list erroneously included one bird species, European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), that is covered by the MBTA.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.