81 FR 29295 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Workshop To Review the Habitat-Based Recovery Criteria for the Grizzly Bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 91 (May 11, 2016)

The Fish and Wildlife Service hereby gives notice that a public workshop will be held to review the habitat-based recovery criteria for the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE). The workshop will allow scientists and other interested parties the opportunity to submit oral or written comments.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29295-29296]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11057]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2016-N060]; [FXES11130900000C6-123-FF09E30000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Workshop To Review 
the Habitat-Based Recovery Criteria for the Grizzly Bear in the 
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service hereby gives notice that a 
public workshop will be held to review the habitat-based recovery 
criteria for the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide 
Ecosystem (NCDE). The workshop will allow scientists and other 
interested parties the opportunity to submit oral or written comments.

DATES: The public workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 
p.m. to 8 p.m. on July 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The public workshop will be held at the Double Tree Hotel, 
100 Madison Street, Missoula, Montana 59812. Comment and materials 
concerning the workshop should be sent to the Grizzly Bear Recovery 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Hall, Room 309, 
Missoula, MT 59812. Comments and materials received will be available 
for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Office address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  The Grizzly Bear Recovery Office (see 
ADDRESSES), at 406-243-4903 (phone) or 406-329-3212 (fax).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fish and Wildlife Service hereby gives 
notice that a public workshop will be held to review the habitat-based 
recovery criteria for the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) in the 
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE). The workshop will allow 
scientists and other interested parties the opportunity to submit oral 
or written comments.

Background

    The grizzly bear is listed as a threatened species in the 48 
contiguous States. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires the development of recovery plans for 
listed species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of 
a particular species. A revised Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan was approved 
by the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) on September 10, 1993. The 
1993 Recovery Plan identifies distinct Recovery Zones and unique 
recovery criteria for six different grizzly bear populations, including 
the NCDE, with the intent that these individual populations would be 
delisted as they each achieve recovery (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
1993, pp. ii, 33-34). One important component of recovery plans is the 
inclusion of objective, measurable recovery criteria. The habitat-based 
recovery criteria will be developed in part by taking into account the 
oral and written comments received at the habitat-based recovery 
criteria workshop and written comments received. The final habitat-
based recovery criteria will be appended to the 1993 Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Plan for the NCDE and incorporated into the NCDE Grizzly Bear 
Conservation Strategy. The Recovery Plan sets out guidance for the 
Service, States, and other partners on methods to minimize threats to 
grizzly bears and criteria that may be used to measure if recovery has 
been achieved while the Conservation Strategy is the guide to post-
delisting management.
    The Service will hold a public workshop seeking input and ideas on 
objective, measurable habitat-based recovery criteria in the Draft NCDE 
Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
2013, available online at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/grizzlyBear.php), and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
NCDE National Forests (USDA Forest Service 2016, available online at 
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/home/?cid=stelprdb5422786&width=full). We

[[Page 29296]]

seek ideas and information about characteristics of habitat necessary 
to support a recovered population of grizzly bears and habitat 
parameters that can be measured and directly related to grizzly bear 
population health. At the workshop, the Service also wants to obtain 
information and comments on methods for monitoring the habitat-based 
recovery criteria. Emphasis of this workshop will be on the habitat 
needs of the NCDE grizzly bear population.
    The Service seeks the input of scientists, the public, and 
interested organizations at the workshop. The workshop will be held in 
Missoula, Montana, on July 7, 2016 (see ADDRESSES). The workshop will 
be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with one break (see DATES). Participants 
are invited to present information in oral and written form. All 
comments presented orally should also be submitted in writing to 
facilitate review of these comments. Those wishing to present 
information or comments orally at the workshop are asked to contact the 
Grizzly Bear Recovery Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) so 
that scheduling of oral presentations can be arranged in advance. 
Anyone wishing to provide information or comments, but unable to attend 
the workshop, should send the information or comments to the Grizzly 
Bear Recovery Office (see ADDRESSES) within 15 calendar days of the 
workshop. All information and comments previously or subsequently 
received within the applicable submission period will be considered 
during the development of the habitat-based recovery criteria.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: April 6, 2016.
Matt Hogan,
Deputy Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2016-11057 Filed 5-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P