[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 43788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12421]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Draft Safe Harbor Agreement and Application for an Enhancement of
Survival Permit for the Chiricahua Leopard Frog in Arizona (State-Wide)
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of application.
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SUMMARY: The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) (Applicant) has
applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an
enhancement of survival permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act (Act), as amended. The requested permit, which
is for a period of 50 years, would authorize incidental take of the
threatened Chiricahua leopard frog (Rana chiricahuensis) as a result of
conservation actions, on-going livestock operations, recreation, land
treatments, and other existing land-use activities. The Applicant would
issue certificates of inclusion under a Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) to
private landowners who would voluntarily agree to implement appropriate
conservation measures for the species. We invite the public to review
and comment on the permit application and the associated draft SHA.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or
before September 1, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application, draft SHA, or
other related documents may obtain a copy by written or telephone
request to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Arizona Ecological Services Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite
103, Phoenix, Arizona 85021-4951 (602/242-0210). Electronic copies of
these documents will also be available for review on the Arizona
Ecological Services Office Web site, http://www.fws.gov/arizonaes/. The
application and related documents will be available for public
inspection, by appointment only, during normal business hours (8 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.) at the Service's Phoenix office. Comments concerning the
application, draft SHA, or other related documents should be submitted
in writing to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Arizona Ecological Services Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite
103, Phoenix, Arizona 85021-4951. Please refer to permit number TE-
123062-0 when submitting comments. All comments received, including
names and addresses, will become a part of the official administrative
record and may be made available to the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Tuegel at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service Tucson office, 201 N. Bonita Avenue, Suite 141,
Tucson, Arizona 85745 (520/670-6150) ext. 232, or by e-mail at Marty--
Tuegel@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant plans to implement a
programmatic SHA that will enhance and maintain existing Chiricahua
leopard frog habitat, create additional habitats, and reestablish
populations of the species on the privately held lands of willing
landowners within the historical range of Chiricahua leopard frog in
Arizona (approximately 9,050 mi2 [23,440 km2] in
portions of Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Navajo,
Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yavapai counties). Additionally, under
this SHA, refugium and breeding facilities may be established on non-
Federal lands in appropriate locations within Arizona. Chiricahua
leopard frogs are native to the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, and the
Sky Island regions of southeastern and south-central Arizona. The SHA
is expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the Chiricahua
leopard frog.
The draft SHA and permit application are not eligible for
categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, based upon completion of a preliminary NEPA screening form. Due
to the results of this preliminary analysis of potential effects, a
draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared to further analyze the
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the SHA on the quality of
the human environment or other natural resources.
Section 9 of the Act prohibits the ``taking'' of threatened or
endangered species. However, the Service, under limited circumstances,
may issue permits to take threatened and endangered wildlife species
incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.
We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22), and the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. E6-12421 Filed 8-1-06; 8:45 am]
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