82_FR_2397 82 FR 2392 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Availability of Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan

82 FR 2392 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Availability of Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 5 (January 9, 2017)

Page Range2392-2393
FR Document2017-00127

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of our Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan (Polar Bear Plan). The polar bear is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), and is also considered ``depleted'' under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA). The Polar Bear Plan identifies objective, measurable ESA recovery criteria, site-specific recovery actions, as well as time and cost estimates. It also serves as an MMPA conservation plan.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2392-2393]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00127]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2014-0060; FF07CAMM00 FXES11130700000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Availability of Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of our Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan (Polar Bear 
Plan). The polar bear is listed as threatened under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), and is also considered 
``depleted'' under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended 
(MMPA). The Polar Bear Plan identifies objective, measurable ESA 
recovery criteria, site-specific recovery actions, as well as time and 
cost estimates. It also serves as an MMPA conservation plan.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the Polar Bear Plan is available for 
viewing at https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A0IJ 
or at www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2014-0060. Copies of 
the Polar Bear Plan are also available by request from the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor 
Road, MS-341, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone (907) 786-3800; facsimile 
(907) 786-3816. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-
8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hilary Cooley, Polar Bear Lead, Marine 
Mammals Management, by telephone at 907-786-3800; by U.S. mail at 
Marine Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East 
Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; or by email at [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of our Polar 
Bear Conservation Management Plan (Polar Bear Plan). The polar bear 
(Ursus maritimus) is listed throughout its range as threatened under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., 
ESA). Because of its threatened status under the ESA, the species is 
also considered ``depleted'' under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., MMPA). As required under the 
ESA section 4(f), the Polar Bear Plan identifies ``objective, 
measurable'' recovery criteria and site-specific recovery actions with 
estimations of the time and costs to carry out those actions. The Polar 
Bear Plan also serves as a conservation plan under section 115(b) of 
the MMPA with a goal of conserving and restoring polar bears to their 
optimum sustainable population level, and will contribute to our 
international polar bear conservation efforts under the 1973 Agreement 
on the Conservation of Polar Bears (T.I.A.S. No. 8409).

Background

    We listed the polar bear as threatened under the ESA on May 15, 
2008 (73 FR 28212). For a description of the taxonomy, distribution, 
status, breeding biology, and habitat, and a summary of factors 
affecting the species, please see Appendix A of the Polar Bear Plan. 
Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants is a primary 
goal of our endangered species program and the ESA. To help guide the 
recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most listed species 
native to the United States. Further, the ESA requires that we develop 
recovery plans for listed species, unless such a plan would not promote 
the conservation of a particular species, and that we provide public 
notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery 
plan development. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary 
for the conservation and survival of the species, establish criteria 
for delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for 
implementing needed recovery measures.
    MMPA Conservation Plans have the purpose of conserving and 
restoring a species or stock to its optimum sustainable population. The 
MMPA further provides that Conservation Plans shall be modeled on ESA 
recovery plans. Therefore, the Polar Bear Plan provides recommended 
management actions for the survival and recovery of the species and to 
conserve and restore the species to its optimum sustainable population.

[[Page 2393]]

    To invite public review and comment on the draft Polar Bear Plan, 
we published a notice of availability initiating a 45-day public 
comment period for the draft Polar Bear Plan on July 6, 2015 (80 FR 
38458); we extended that comment period an additional 30 days on August 
14, 2015 (80 FR 48908). The final Polar Bear Plan and the associated 
documents reflect the comments and recommendations the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service received on that draft.
    Polar bears evolved to utilize the Arctic sea ice niche. They are 
distributed throughout most ice-covered seas of the United States, 
Canada, the Russian Federation, Norway, and Greenland/Denmark 
(collectively the Range States), in the Northern Hemisphere and are 
managed in 19 subpopulations around the Arctic (see Figure 1 of the 
Polar Bear Plan). The current global polar bear population is estimated 
to be 22,000 to 31,000.
    Ongoing and projected loss of the polar bear's crucial sea ice 
habitat threatens the species throughout all of its range. The 
projected loss of sea ice will diminish productivity, abundance, and 
availability of ice seals, the polar bear's primary prey base, and 
increase energetic requirements of polar bears for movement and 
obtaining food. It will also affect access to traditional denning 
areas. In turn, these factors will cause declines in the condition of 
polar bears from nutritional stress and reduced productivity. The 
eventual effect of this loss of sea ice is that the polar bear 
population will decline. The rate and magnitude of decline will vary 
geographically, based on differences in the rate, timing, and magnitude 
of impacts. However, within the foreseeable future, the worldwide 
population will be affected, and the species is likely to become in 
danger of extinction throughout all of its range (73 FR 28292-28293, 
May 15, 2008). Global climate change resulting from greenhouse gas 
emissions is the root cause of the loss of Arctic sea ice.

The Plan

    The Polar Bear Plan addresses both the MMPA and the ESA, as they 
relate to polar bear conservation and recovery; it also reflects the 
input and values of stakeholders closely connected with polar bears and 
their habitat, including the State of Alaska, the North Slope Borough, 
Alaska Native peoples, the Polar Bear Range States, conservation 
groups, and the oil and gas industry, as well as the general public. 
All of these sources informed the Polar Bear Plan's fundamental goals, 
which focus on conservation of polar bears while recognizing values 
associated with subsistence take, human safety, and economic activity. 
The goals will be used to guide management, research, monitoring, and 
communication into the future. Although the fundamental goals target 
three geographic scales (rangewide, intermediate (ecoregion), and 
subpopulation (stock)), specific actions under the Polar Bear Plan 
pertain primarily to the polar bear subpopulations present in Alaska. 
The Polar Bear Plan also contains specific recovery criteria, expressed 
in fundamental, demographic, and threats-based terms, to determine when 
the polar bear should be considered for delisting under the ESA and 
fundamental and demographic criteria to guide conservation efforts 
associated with the MMPA.
    Conservation and recovery actions are specified in the Polar Bear 
Plan. The single most important action for the recovery of polar bears 
is global reduction of atmospheric greenhouse gases, which, if 
achieved, should result in reduced global climate change, including 
Arctic warming and sea ice loss. Along with communicating that fact, 
the Polar Bear Plan identifies a suite of high-profile actions designed 
to ensure that polar bears remain in sufficient number and diversity so 
that they are in a position to recover once climate change is 
addressed. Those actions include the following:
     Limit global atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases to 
levels appropriate for supporting polar bear recovery and conservation, 
primarily by reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
     Support international conservation efforts through the 
Range States relationships;
     Manage human-bear conflicts;
     Collaboratively manage subsistence harvest;
     Protect denning habitat;
     Minimize risks of contamination from spills;
     Conduct strategic monitoring and research.
    The full cost of implementing the Polar Bear Plan over the next 5 
years is approximately $66,720,000.

    Authority: We developed our Polar Bear Plan under the authority 
of ESA section 4(f), 16 U.S.C. 1533(f), as well as section 115(b) of 
the MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1383b(b). We publish this notice under ESA 
section 4(f) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: December 20, 2016.
Gregory Siekaniec,
Regional Director, Alaska Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00127 Filed 1-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

2392 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2017 / Notices Number of Frequency of Responses Burden hour Annual burden Hourly cost Information collection Cost respondents response per annum per response hours per response HUD Residents living with spouse (2-per- son household) ......... 690 3 1 1.5 1,035 37.97 39,298.95 HUD Residents in 3- person household ..... 330 3 1 1.5 495 42.71 21,141.45 HUD Residents in 4- person household ..... 330 3 1 1.5 495 47.45 23,487.75 Total ...................... 4,000 ........................ ........................ ........................ 6,000 ........................ 215,937.90 B. Solicitation of Public Comment availability of our Polar Bear recovery criteria and site-specific This notice is soliciting comments Conservation Management Plan (Polar recovery actions with estimations of the from members of the public and affected Bear Plan). The polar bear is listed as time and costs to carry out those parties concerning the collection of threatened under the Endangered actions. The Polar Bear Plan also serves information described in Section A on Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), as a conservation plan under section the following: and is also considered ‘‘depleted’’ under 115(b) of the MMPA with a goal of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of conserving and restoring polar bears to (1) Whether the proposed collection 1972, as amended (MMPA). The Polar their optimum sustainable population of information is necessary for the Bear Plan identifies objective, level, and will contribute to our proper performance of the functions of measurable ESA recovery criteria, site- international polar bear conservation the agency, including whether the specific recovery actions, as well as time efforts under the 1973 Agreement on the information will have practical utility; and cost estimates. It also serves as an Conservation of Polar Bears (T.I.A.S. No. (2) The accuracy of the agency’s MMPA conservation plan. 8409). estimate of the burden of the proposed ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the collection of information; Background (3) Ways to enhance the quality, Polar Bear Plan is available for viewing utility, and clarity of the information to at https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/ We listed the polar bear as threatened be collected; and speciesProfile?spcode=A0IJ or at under the ESA on May 15, 2008 (73 FR (4) Ways to minimize the burden of www.regulations.gov at Docket No. 28212). For a description of the the collection of information on those FWS–R7–ES–2014–0060. Copies of the taxonomy, distribution, status, breeding Polar Bear Plan are also available by who are to respond, including through biology, and habitat, and a summary of request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife the use of appropriate automated factors affecting the species, please see Service, Marine Mammals Management collection techniques or other forms of Appendix A of the Polar Bear Plan. Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS–341, information technology, e.g., permitting Recovery of endangered or threatened Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone (907) electronic submission of responses. animals and plants is a primary goal of 786–3800; facsimile (907) 786–3816. If HUD encourages interested parties to our endangered species program and the you use a telecommunications device submit comment in response to these ESA. To help guide the recovery effort, for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal questions. we prepare recovery plans for most Information Relay Service (FIRS) at Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork 800–877–8339. listed species native to the United Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: States. Further, the ESA requires that we Dated: December 23, 2016. Hilary Cooley, Polar Bear Lead, Marine develop recovery plans for listed Matthew Ammon, Mammals Management, by telephone at species, unless such a plan would not 907–786–3800; by U.S. mail at Marine promote the conservation of a particular General Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and species, and that we provide public Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, notice and an opportunity for public [FR Doc. 2017–00163 Filed 1–6–17; 8:45 am] Anchorage, AK 99503; or by email at review and comment during recovery BILLING CODE 4210–67–P Hilary_Cooley@fws.gov. Persons who plan development. Recovery plans use a telecommunications device for the describe actions considered necessary deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay for the conservation and survival of the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR species, establish criteria for delisting Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We listed species, and estimate time and Fish and Wildlife Service cost for implementing needed recovery announce the availability of our Polar [Docket No. FWS–R7–ES–2014–0060; Bear Conservation Management Plan measures. FF07CAMM00 FXES11130700000] (Polar Bear Plan). The polar bear (Ursus MMPA Conservation Plans have the maritimus) is listed throughout its range purpose of conserving and restoring a Endangered and Threatened Wildlife as threatened under the Endangered species or stock to its optimum and Plants; Notice of Availability of Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 sustainable population. The MMPA Polar Bear Conservation Management U.S.C. 1531 et seq., ESA). Because of its further provides that Conservation Plans sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Plan threatened status under the ESA, the shall be modeled on ESA recovery AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, species is also considered ‘‘depleted’’ plans. Therefore, the Polar Bear Plan Interior. under the Marine Mammal Protection provides recommended management ACTION: Notice of document availability. Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 actions for the survival and recovery of et seq., MMPA). As required under the the species and to conserve and restore SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and ESA section 4(f), the Polar Bear Plan the species to its optimum sustainable Wildlife Service, announce the identifies ‘‘objective, measurable’’ population. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:14 Jan 06, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM 09JAN1

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2017 / Notices 2393 To invite public review and comment recognizing values associated with INTERNATIONAL TRADE on the draft Polar Bear Plan, we subsistence take, human safety, and COMMISSION published a notice of availability economic activity. The goals will be [USITC SE–17–001] initiating a 45-day public comment used to guide management, research, period for the draft Polar Bear Plan on monitoring, and communication into Sunshine Act Meeting July 6, 2015 (80 FR 38458); we extended the future. Although the fundamental that comment period an additional 30 goals target three geographic scales AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United days on August 14, 2015 (80 FR 48908). (rangewide, intermediate (ecoregion), States International Trade Commission. The final Polar Bear Plan and the and subpopulation (stock)), specific TIME AND DATE: January 18, 2017 at 9:30 associated documents reflect the actions under the Polar Bear Plan a.m. comments and recommendations the pertain primarily to the polar bear U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW., subpopulations present in Alaska. The on that draft. Polar Bear Plan also contains specific Washington, DC 20436, Telephone: Polar bears evolved to utilize the recovery criteria, expressed in (202) 205–2000. Arctic sea ice niche. They are fundamental, demographic, and threats- STATUS: Open to the public. distributed throughout most ice-covered based terms, to determine when the MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: seas of the United States, Canada, the polar bear should be considered for 1. Agendas for future meetings: None Russian Federation, Norway, and delisting under the ESA and 2. Minutes Greenland/Denmark (collectively the fundamental and demographic criteria 3. Ratification List Range States), in the Northern to guide conservation efforts associated 4. Vote in Inv. No. 731–TA–718 (Fourth Hemisphere and are managed in 19 with the MMPA. Review)(Glycine from China). The subpopulations around the Arctic (see Conservation and recovery actions are Commission is currently scheduled Figure 1 of the Polar Bear Plan). The specified in the Polar Bear Plan. The to complete and file its current global polar bear population is single most important action for the determinations and views of the estimated to be 22,000 to 31,000. recovery of polar bears is global Commission by January 31, 2017. Ongoing and projected loss of the reduction of atmospheric greenhouse 5. Vote in Inv. Nos. 731–TA–825 and polar bear’s crucial sea ice habitat gases, which, if achieved, should result 826 (Third Review)(Polyester Staple threatens the species throughout all of in reduced global climate change, Fiber from Korea and Taiwan). The its range. The projected loss of sea ice including Arctic warming and sea ice Commission is currently scheduled will diminish productivity, abundance, loss. Along with communicating that to complete and file its and availability of ice seals, the polar fact, the Polar Bear Plan identifies a determinations and views of the bear’s primary prey base, and increase suite of high-profile actions designed to Commission by January 31, 2017. energetic requirements of polar bears for ensure that polar bears remain in 6. Outstanding action jackets: None. movement and obtaining food. It will sufficient number and diversity so that also affect access to traditional denning In accordance with Commission they are in a position to recover once policy, subject matter listed above, not areas. In turn, these factors will cause climate change is addressed. Those disposed of at the scheduled meeting, declines in the condition of polar bears actions include the following: may be carried over to the agenda of the from nutritional stress and reduced • Limit global atmospheric levels of productivity. The eventual effect of this following meeting. greenhouse gases to levels appropriate loss of sea ice is that the polar bear By order of the Commission. for supporting polar bear recovery and Issued: January 4, 2017. population will decline. The rate and conservation, primarily by reducing magnitude of decline will vary William R. Bishop, greenhouse gas emissions; geographically, based on differences in Supervisory Hearings and Information • Support international conservation the rate, timing, and magnitude of Officer. efforts through the Range States impacts. However, within the [FR Doc. 2017–00279 Filed 1–5–17; 4:15 pm] relationships; foreseeable future, the worldwide • Manage human–bear conflicts; BILLING CODE 7020–02–P population will be affected, and the • Collaboratively manage subsistence species is likely to become in danger of harvest; extinction throughout all of its range (73 INTERNATIONAL TRADE • Protect denning habitat; FR 28292–28293, May 15, 2008). Global • Minimize risks of contamination COMMISSION climate change resulting from from spills; [Investigation Nos. 701–TA–565 and 731– greenhouse gas emissions is the root • Conduct strategic monitoring and TA–1341 (Preliminary)] cause of the loss of Arctic sea ice. research. The Plan The full cost of implementing the Hardwood Plywood From China The Polar Bear Plan addresses both Polar Bear Plan over the next 5 years is Determinations the MMPA and the ESA, as they relate approximately $66,720,000. Authority: We developed our Polar Bear On the basis of the record 1 developed to polar bear conservation and recovery; Plan under the authority of ESA section 4(f), in the subject investigations, the United it also reflects the input and values of 16 U.S.C. 1533(f), as well as section 115(b) States International Trade Commission stakeholders closely connected with of the MMPA, 16 U.S.C. 1383b(b). We (‘‘Commission’’) determines, pursuant polar bears and their habitat, including publish this notice under ESA section 4(f) (16 to the Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the Act’’), the State of Alaska, the North Slope sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). that there is a reasonable indication that Borough, Alaska Native peoples, the Dated: December 20, 2016. an industry in the United States is Polar Bear Range States, conservation Gregory Siekaniec, materially injured by reason of imports groups, and the oil and gas industry, as of hardwood plywood from China, well as the general public. All of these Regional Director, Alaska Region, U.S. Fish sources informed the Polar Bear Plan’s and Wildlife Service. 1 The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the fundamental goals, which focus on [FR Doc. 2017–00127 Filed 1–6–17; 8:45 am] Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 conservation of polar bears while BILLING CODE 4333–15–P CFR 207.2(f)). VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:14 Jan 06, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM 09JAN1


Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:08:46
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:08:46
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of document availability.
ContactHilary Cooley, Polar Bear Lead, Marine Mammals Management, by telephone at 907-786-3800; by U.S. mail at Marine Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; or by email at [email protected] Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation82 FR 2392 
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