Rules and Regulations. Proposed rule; extension of comment period

Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior
Action: Proposed rule; extension of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-19487 · RIN 1018-AX14 · Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2011-0098; 4500030113 · 50 CFR 17

Summary

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are extending the comment period on our proposed rule to, among other things, list 38 species on the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Maui as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, and designate critical habitat on Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Kahoolawe for 135 species. We made the proposed rule available for public comment on June 11, 2012.

Dates

The comment period end date is September 10, 2012. The deadline for submitting an electronic comment using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below) is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date. After September 10, 2012, you must submit information directly to the Division of Policy and Directives Management (see ADDRESSES section below). Please note that we might not be able to address or incorporate information that we receive after the above requested date.

Supplementary Information

Background On June 11, 2012 (77 FR 34464), we published in the Federal Register , for review and comment, a proposed rule to list 38 species (35 plants and 3 tree snails) on the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Maui as endangered species, and concurrent designation of 271,062 acres (ac) (109,695 hectares (ha)) as critical habitat. We are also proposing revision of critical habitat for 85 plants and designation of critical habitat for 11 listed plants and animals that do not have designated critical habitat on these islands. Approximately 47 percent of the area being proposed as critical habitat is already designated as critical habitat for the 85 plant species or for other species. We also propose to delist the plant Gahnia lanaiensis, due to new information that this species is synonymous with G. lacera, a widespread species from New Zealand. In addition, we propose name changes or corrections for 11 endangered plants and 2 endangered birds, and we propose to reaffirm the listings for 2 endangered plant species with taxonomic revisions. We are also considering excluding approximately 40,973 ac (16,581 ha) of privately owned lands on Maui and Molokai. We received a request to extend the public comment period beyond the August 10, 2012, due date on our June 11, 2012 (77 FR 34464), proposal. We are working with our partners and local landowners to inform them of the proposed listings and critical habitat designations. In order to ensure that the public has an adequate opportunity to review and comment on our proposed rule, we are extending the comment period for an additional 30 days. Request for Information We will accept written comments and information during this extended comment period. We will consider information and recommendations from all interested parties and intend that any final action resulting from this proposal will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we solicit comments or suggestions on this proposed rule from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or other interested parties. We particularly seek comments concerning: (1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning threats (or the lack thereof) to the 40 species proposed or being reevaluated for listing, and regulations that may be addressing those threats. (2) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and population sizes of each of the 40 species proposed or being reevaluated for listing, including the locations of any additional populations of these species. (3) Any information on the biological or ecological requirements of the 40 species proposed or being reevaluated for listing. (4) The reasons why we should or should not designate areas for any of the species in this proposal as “critical habitat” under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ), including whether there are threats to these species from human activity, the degree to which can be expected to increase due to the designation, and whether the benefit of designation would outweigh threats to these species caused by the designation, such that the designation of critical habitat is prudent. (5) Whether a revision of critical habitat is warranted for the 85 plant species that are already listed as endangered or threatened under the Act and that currently have designated critical habitat. (6) Specific information on: • The amount and distribution of critical habitat for the species included in this proposed rule; • What areas currently occupied, and that contain the necessary physical or biological features essential for the conservation of the species, we should include in the designation and why; • Whether special management considerations or protections may be required for the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species in this proposed rule; and • What areas not currently occupied are essential to the conservation of the species and why. (7) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the areas occupied by the species, and the possible impacts of critical habitat on these designations or activities. (8) Any foreseeable economic, national security, or other relevant impacts of designating any area as critical habitat. We are particularly interested in any impacts on small entities, and the benefits of including or excluding areas that may experience these impacts. (9) Whether the benefits of excluding any particular area from critical habitat outweigh the benefits of including that area as critical habitat under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, after considering the potential impacts and benefits of the proposed critical habitat designation. Under section 4(b)(2), the Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat if he determines that the benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of including that particular area as critical habitat, unless failure to designate that specific area as critical habitat will result in the extinction of the species. We request specific information on: • The benefits of including specific areas in the final designation and supporting rationale; • The benefits of excluding specific areas from the final designation and supporting rationale; and • Whether any specific exclusions may result in the extinction of the species and why. (10) Whether the proposed critical habitat on private lands and under consideration for exclusion under section 4(b)(2) of the Act should or should not be excluded and why. (11) Information concerning any habitat conservation or management plans, conservation plans or programs, or other such agreements for our consideration under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. (12) Information on the projected and reasonably likely impact of climate change on the species included in this proposed rule, and any special management needs or protections that may be needed in the critical habitat areas we are proposing. (13) Information on any special management needs or protections that may be needed in the critical habitat areas we are proposing. (14) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and comments. (15) Our proposal to revise taxonomic classifications with name changes or family changes for 11 plant species and 2 bird species identified in the proposed rule. (16) Specific information on ways to improve the clarity of this rule as it pertains to completion of consultations under section 7 of the Act. For more background on our proposed rule, see the June 11, 2012, Federal Register . The proposed rule is available at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES section above). If you previously submitted comments or information on the proposed rule, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the public record, and we will fully consider them in our final rulemaking. Our final determination concerning this proposed rulemaking will take into consideration all written comments and any additional information we receive. You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES . We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES . If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov as well. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing the proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2011-0098, or by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ). You may obtain copies of the proposed rule on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2011-0098, or by mail from the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ). Authors The primary authors of this notice are the staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). Dated: July 30, 2012. Rowan W. Gould, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2012-19487 Filed 8-8-12; 8:45 am]