Designation of Critical Habitat for Agave Eggersiana
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Proposed Rules 62529 such portions will not warrant further contraction for ashy storm-petrel, and, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR consideration. therefore, we find that lost historical If we identify portions that warrant range does not constitute a significant Fish and Wildlife Service further consideration, we then portion of the range for this species. determine whether the species is 50 CFR Part 17 threatened or endangered in these Our review of the best available portions of its range. Depending on the scientific and commercial information [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2013–0040; biology of the species, its range, and the indicates that the ashy storm-petrel is 4500030114] not in danger of extinction (endangered) threats it faces, the Service may address RIN 1018–AZ79 either the significance question or the nor likely to become endangered within status question first. Thus, if the Service the foreseeable future (threatened), Endangered and Threatened Wildlife considers significance first and throughout all or a significant portion of and Plants; Designation of Critical determines that a portion of the range is its range. Therefore, we find that listing Habitat for Agave eggersiana, not significant, the Service need not this species as an endangered or Gonocalyx concolor, and Varronia determine whether the species is threatened species under the Act is not rupicola threatened or endangered there. warranted at this time. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Likewise, if the Service considers status We request that you submit any new Interior. first and determines that the species is information concerning the status of, or not threatened or endangered in a threats to, the ashy storm-petrel to our ACTION: Proposed rule. portion of its range, the Service need not Bay–Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (see determine if that portion is significant. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and However, if the Service determines that ADDRESSES section) whenever it Wildlife Service (Service), propose to both a portion of the range of a species becomes available. New information designate critical habitat for three is significant and the species is will help us monitor this species and Caribbean plants, Agave eggersiana, threatened or endangered there, the encourage its conservation. If an Gonocalyx concolor, and Varronia Service will specify that portion of the emergency situation develops for this rupicola, under the Endangered Species range as threatened or endangered species, we will act to provide Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The under section 4(c)(1) of the ESA. immediate protection. effect of this rule, if it is made final, We evaluated the current range of the would be to conserve habitat for these References Cited ashy storm-petrel to determine if there three Caribbean plants under the Act. is any apparent geographic A complete list of references cited in DATES: We will accept comments concentration of potential threats for the this finding is available on the Internet received or postmarked on or before species. We examined potential threats at http://www.regulations.gov and upon December 23, 2013. Comments from climate change (ocean request from the Bay–Delta Fish and submitted electronically using the acidification, ocean warming, and sea Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER Federal eRulemaking Portal (see level rise); invasive species; human INFORMATION CONTACT). ADDRESSES section, below) must be activities; military activities; received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on overutilization for commercial, Authors the closing date. We must receive recreational, scientific, or educational requests for public hearings, in writing, The primary authors of this finding purposes; burrowing owl, western gull, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER house mouse, skunk, barn owl, and are the staff members of the Pacific INFORMATION CONTACT by December 6, common raven predation; artificial light Southwest Regional Office and the Bay– 2013. pollution; oil pollution; organochlorine Delta Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR contaminants; and ingestion of plastics. FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). ADDRESSES: You may submit comments While some threats are affecting the by one of the following methods: species in only a portion of its range (for Authority (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal Rulemaking Portal: http:// example, gull predation at SE Farallon The authority for this section is Island or sea level rise affecting sea cave www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, section 4 of the Endangered Species Act nesting sites at the Channel Islands), enter FWS–R4–ES–2013–0040, which is of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et these threats are not having substantial the docket number for this rulemaking. impacts to the populations of ashy seq.). Then, in the Search panel on the left storm-petrels at those sites and are not Dated: September 25, 2013. side of the screen, under the Document resulting in a decline of the species. Signed: Type heading, click on the Proposed Therefore, we found no concentration of Rowan Gould, Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on threats that suggests that the ashy storm- Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife petrel may be in danger of extinction in Service. ‘‘Comment Now!’’ (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail a portion of its range. In addition, the [FR Doc. 2013–24170 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am] 32 known breeding sites of the ashy or hand-delivery to: Public Comments storm-petrel stretch from Mendocino BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Processing, Attn: FWS–R4–ES–2013– County, California, to Ensenada, 0040; Division of Policy and Directives Mexico, and these breeding sites Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife provide for representation, redundancy, Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS and resiliency for the ashy storm-petrel. 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. Therefore, we find that no portion of the We request that you send comments range of ashy storm-petrel warrants only by the methods described above. further consideration of possible We will post all comments on http:// endangered or threatened status under www.regulations.gov. This generally the Act. No available information means that we will post any personal indicates that there has been a range information you provide us (see the VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:53 Oct 21, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\22OCP1.SGM 22OCP1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 62530 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Proposed Rules Information Requested section below for national security impact, and any other (d) What areas not occupied at the more information). relevant impact of specifying any time of listing are essential for the The coordinates or plot points or both particular area as critical habitat. The conservation of the species and why. from which the critical habitat maps are Secretary may exclude an area from (3) Land use designations and current generated are included in the critical habitat if he determines that the or planned activities in the areas administrative record for this benefits of such exclusion outweigh the occupied by the species or proposed to rulemaking and are available at http:// benefits of specifying such area as part be designated as critical habitat, and www.fws.gov/caribbean/es, at http:// of the critical habitat, unless she possible impacts of these activities on www.regulations.gov at Docket No. determines, based on the best scientific this species and proposed critical FWS–R4–ES–2013–0040, and at the data available, that the failure to habitat. Caribbean Ecological Services Field designate such area as critical habitat (4) Information on the projected and Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION will result in the extinction of the reasonably likely impacts of climate CONTACT). Any additional tools or species. change on the three Caribbean plants supporting information that we may We will seek peer review. We are and proposed critical habitat. develop for this rulemaking will also be seeking comments from knowledgeable (5) Any foreseeable economic, available at the Fish and Wildlife individuals with scientific expertise to national security, or other relevant Service Web site and Field Office set out review our analysis of the best available impacts that may result from above, and may also be included at science and application of that science designating any area that may be http://www.regulations.gov. and to provide any additional scientific included in the final designation. We are particularly interested in any FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: information to improve this proposed impacts on small entities, and the rule. Because we will consider all Marelisa Rivera, Deputy Field benefits of including or excluding areas comments and information we receive Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife from the proposed designation that are during the comment period, our final Service, Caribbean Ecological Services subject to these impacts. designations may differ from this Field Office, P.O. Box 491, Road 301 (6) Whether any specific areas we are proposal. Km. 5.1, Boquero´n, PR 00622; by proposing for critical habitat telephone (787) 851–7297; or by Information Requested designation should be considered for facsimile (787) 851–7440. Persons who exclusion under section 4(b)(2) of the We intend that any final action use a telecommunications device for the Act, and whether the benefits of resulting from this proposed rule will be deaf (TDD) may call the Federal potentially excluding any specific area based on the best scientific and Information Relay Service (FIRS) at outweigh the benefits of including that commercial data available and be as 800–877–8339. area under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: accurate and as effective as possible. (7) Whether we could improve or Therefore, we request comments or Executive Summary modify our approach to designating information from the public, other critical habitat in any way to provide for Why we need to publish a rule.