MUIRNet-News - MUIRNet-News - for the Recreation Advocate

Sage Grouse Listing Warranted but Precluded

john@muirnet.net (USFWS Press Release) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:58:54 +0000

Interior Expands Common-Sense Efforts to Conserve Sage Grouse Habitat in the West Western Bird Found ‘Warranted but Precluded’ from Endangered Species Act Protection

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior will expand efforts with state, local and tribal partners to map lands that are vital to the survival of the greater sage-grouse, a ground-dwelling bird that inhabits much of the West, while guiding and managing new conventional and renewable energy projects to reduce impacts on the species, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.

Listing the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard as Threatened Reinstated

john@muirnet.net (Federal Register) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:24:40 +0000

Reinstatement of proposed rule, reopening of comment period, and notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), notify the public of the reinstatement of our November 29, 1993, proposed rule to list the flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcallii) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We also announce the reopening of a public comment period on the 1993 proposed rule and the scheduling of public hearings. This action will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to provide information and submit comments on the 1993 proposed rule.

USFWS Issues Revised List of Migratory Birds

john@muirnet.net (Federal Register) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:13:59 +0000

USFWS Issues Revised List of Migratory Birds

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, revise the List of Migratory Birds by both adding and removing numerous species. Reasons for the changes to the list include correcting previous mistakes including misspellings, adding species based on new evidence of occurrence in the United States or U.S. territories, removing species no longer known to occur within the United States, and changing names based on new taxonomy. The net increase of 175 species (186 added and 11 removed) brings the total number of species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) to 1007.

Coastal Cutthroat Trout Listing Not Warranted

john@muirnet.net (Federal Register) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:02:15 +0000

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Withdrawal of Proposed Rule To List the Southwestern Washington/Columbia River Distinct Population Segment of Coastal Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) as Threatened
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have determined that the proposed listing of the Southwestern Washington/Columbia River Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of coastal cutthroat trout as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), is not warranted.

Sonoran Desert Bald Eagle not ESA Eligible

john@muirnet.net (USFWS Press Release) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:50:37 +0000

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Sonoran Desert Population of the Bald Eagle as a Threatened or Endangered Distinct Population Segment
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the Sonoran Desert Area population of the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) as a distinct population segment (DPS). In the petition, we were asked that the DPS be recognized, listed as endangered, and that critical habitat be designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

Public Meetings on FS Planning Rule Set

john@muirnet.net (Federal Register) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:38:56 +0000

Public Meetings on the Development of the Forest Service Land Management Planning Rule

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is committed to developing a new Forest Service Land Management Planning Rule (planning rule) through a transparent and participatory process. To facilitate public participation, dialogue, and active collaboration, the Forest Service will host a national science forum, three national roundtables, and nine regional roundtables. Summaries of each session will be produced and posted on the planning rule Web site as part of the public record.

While public participation in the forum and roundtables will be a valuable source of information for the rule-writing process, this participation is not a substitute for the submission of written comments through the formal National Environmental Policy Act and Administrative Procedure Act (NEPA/APA) processes. Any comments you wish to be considered as part of the formal NEPA/APA process must be made by you in writing during the appropriate comment period.

DATES: The national science forum will take place March 29 and 30, 2010, in Washington, DC. The national roundtables are scheduled for April 1 and 2, April 20 and 21, and May 11 and 12, 2010, in Washington, DC.

The nine regional roundtables will take place in the following locations:

Listing of American Pika Not Warranted

john@muirnet.net (Federal Register) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:02:16 +0000

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-month Finding on a Petition to List the American Pika as Threatened or Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 12-month finding on a petition to list the American pika (Ochotona princeps) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. After review of all available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the American pika, at the species level or any of the five recognized subspecies (O. p. princeps, O. p. saxatilis, O. p. fenisex, O. p. schisticeps, and O. p. uinta), is not warranted at this time. However, we ask the public to submit to us any new information that becomes available concerning the threats to the American pika, the five subspecies, or its habitat at any time.

NPS Proposing New Cost Recovery Procedures

john@muirnet.net (Federal Register) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:49:55 +0000

Notice of Availability of Draft Director's Order Concerning National Park Service (NPS) Policies and Procedures for Recovering Costs Associated With Providing Utility Services to Non-NPS Users

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service is proposing to adopt a Director's Order setting forth the policies and procedures under which the NPS will recover expenses for providing utilities to non-NPS entities. These expenses include, but are not limited to, annual operating costs, cyclical repair and rehabilitation costs, and capital investment cost. 16 U.S.C. lb(4) provides authority for the NPS to furnish ``on a reimbursement of appropriation basis, all types of utility services to concessioners, contractors, permittees, or other users of such services, within the National Park System''. The Director's Order provides policies and procedures for consistent application of this guidance throughout the National Park Service.

Bingaman on DOI Budget

john@muirnet.net (Press Release) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:09:21 +0000

Senate Committee to hold hearing on proposed DOI Budget

(Feb 3, 2010) - President Obama’s proposed $12.2 billion budget for the Department of the Interior will boost funding for several programs which are priorities to Chairman Bingaman, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund, adaptation of public lands to climate change and renewable energy projects on Federal lands and waters. Royalty reforms and new fees on oil and gas companies are proposed to offset increased costs for the conventional energy programs and to ensure a favorable return to American U.S. taxpayers.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) strongly supports the increases proposed for Department of the Interior’s (DOI) programs in the President’s Budget Request for FY 2011, which are being proposed against a backdrop of overall budgetary stringency for Federal programs. Bingaman is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which has principal responsibility for the Interior Department.