82 FR 4404 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Status Review of the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment of the Fisher

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 9 (January 13, 2017)

Page Range		4404-4405
FR Document		2017-00656

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the opening of an information gathering period regarding the status of the fisher (Pekania pennanti) throughout the range of its northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment (DPS) in the United States. The status review will include analysis of whether the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher warrants listing as an endangered or a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We encourage all interested parties to provide us information regarding the status of, and any potential threats to, the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4404-4405]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00656]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2015-0104; 4500030113]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Status Review of 
the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment of the Fisher

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of status review.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
opening of an information gathering period regarding the status of the 
fisher (Pekania pennanti) throughout the range of its northern Rocky 
Mountain distinct population segment (DPS) in the United States. The 
status review will include analysis of whether the northern Rocky 
Mountain DPS of the fisher warrants listing as an endangered or a 
threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act). We encourage all interested parties to provide us information 
regarding the status of, and any potential threats to, the northern 
Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher.

DATES: We will accept comments from all interested parties until 
February 13, 2017. Please note that if you are using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below), the deadline for submitting 
an electronic comment is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In 
the Search box, enter the FWS-R6-ES-2015-0104, which is the docket 
number for this action. Then click on the Search button. You may enter 
a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!'' Please ensure that you have 
found the correct document before submitting your comment.
     U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2015-0104, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see Request for Information, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jodi Bush, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Montana Ecological Services Field Office, 585 
Shepard Way,

[[Page 4405]]

Helena, MT 59601; telephone 406-449-5225; or facsimile 406-449-5339. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Information

    This document solicits biological or other data or information on 
the status of, and potential threats to, the northern Rocky Mountain 
DPS of the fisher, a medium-sized mammal of the mustelid family. This 
information, along with other sources of data, will be used to 
determine if the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher warrants 
listing as an endangered or a threatened species under the Act (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We request any new information concerning the 
status of the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher. Information 
submitted since the 2011 status review (which culminated in our 12-
month finding published on June 30, 2011, at 76 FR 38504) and the 2016 
90-day petition finding (81 FR 1368; January 12, 2016) will be 
considered and need not be resubmitted. We will base our status review 
on the best scientific and commercial information available, including 
all information received as a result of this publication. We are 
soliciting information and supporting data on the northern Rocky 
Mountain DPS of the fisher; we specifically seek information on the 
following:
    (1) Information regarding the species' historical and current 
population status, distribution, abundance, and trends; biology and 
ecology; and habitat selection.
    (2) Information on the effects of potential threat factors that are 
the basis for a species' listing determination under section 4(a)(1) of 
the Act (16 U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)), which are:
    (a) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or 
curtailment of the species' habitat or range;
    (b) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes;
    (c) Disease or predation;
    (d) Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
    (e) Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued 
existence.
    (3) Scientific and commercial data to assist in development of any 
proposed critical habitat designation that we may make, including:
    (a) Whether the designation of critical habitat for the northern 
Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher would be beneficial to the 
conservation of the species or whether the identification of specific 
areas as critical habitat may increase threats to the species or its 
habitat;
    (b) Habitat selection and use, and any changes or trends in the 
amount and distribution of habitat for the northern Rocky Mountain DPS 
of the fisher;
    (c) Habitat requirements for feeding, breeding, and sheltering, 
including particular physical or biological features that are essential 
to the conservation of the species and where such physical or 
biological features are found;
    (d) Whether any of these features may require special management 
considerations or protection;
    (e) What areas that are currently occupied and contain the physical 
or biological features essential to the conservation of the species 
should be included in the critical habitat designation and why;
    (f) What areas not currently occupied at the time of listing are 
essential for the conservation of the species and why; and
    (g) The possible benefits and impacts (including probable economic 
impacts) of a possible critical habitat designation for the northern 
Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher.
    (4) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning 
any threats (or lack thereof) to this species and regulations that may 
be addressing those threats.
    (5) Any information on the biological or ecological requirements of 
the species and ongoing conservation measures for the species and its 
habitat.
    (6) Information on land use designations and current or planned 
activities in the areas occupied by the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of 
the fisher or areas that may be important for its conservation, and 
possible impacts of these activities on this species and these areas.
    (7) Information on the projected and reasonably likely impacts of 
climate change on the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher and its 
habitat.
    (8) Information on any foreseeable economic, national security, or 
other relevant impacts that may result if we designate any area as 
critical habitat. We are particularly interested in any potential 
impacts on small entities, and the benefits of including or excluding 
areas from any possible future proposed designation that are subject to 
these impacts.
    Please support submissions with documentation such as maps; 
bibliographic references; methods used to gather and analyze the data; 
or copies of pertinent publications, reports, or letters by 
knowledgeable sources. We request data from systematic surveys, 
studies, or analyses of data regarding population size or trends, 
biology or ecology of the species, effects of current land management 
on population distribution and abundance, current condition of habitat, 
and conservation measures that have been implemented to benefit the 
species. We also request information on the current distribution of 
populations and threats to the species in relation to the five listing 
factors (as defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act).
    Comments merely stating support for or opposition to a particular 
action without providing supporting data may not meet the standard of 
information required by section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act, which directs 
that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or a 
threatened species must be made ``solely on the basis of the best 
scientific and commercial data available.''
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning this 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 information via http://www.regulations.gov, your 
entire submission--including any personal identifying information--will 
be posted on the Web site. If your submission is made via a hardcopy 
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. We 
will post all hardcopy submissions on http://www.regulations.gov.

Authors

    The primary authors of this document are staff of the Montana 
Ecological Services Field Office.

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 5, 2017.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-00656 Filed 1-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 9 / Friday, January 13, 2017 / Notices 4405

Helena, MT 59601; telephone 406–449– areas as critical habitat may increase population size or trends, biology or
5225; or facsimile 406–449–5339. threats to the species or its habitat; ecology of the species, effects of current
Persons who use a telecommunications (b) Habitat selection and use, and any land management on population
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the changes or trends in the amount and distribution and abundance, current
Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. distribution of habitat for the northern condition of habitat, and conservation
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher; measures that have been implemented
(c) Habitat requirements for feeding, to benefit the species. We also request
Request for Information breeding, and sheltering, including information on the current distribution
This document solicits biological or particular physical or biological features of populations and threats to the species
other data or information on the status that are essential to the conservation of in relation to the five listing factors (as
of, and potential threats to, the northern the species and where such physical or defined in section 4(a)(1) of the Act).
Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher, a biological features are found; Comments merely stating support for
medium-sized mammal of the mustelid (d) Whether any of these features may or opposition to a particular action
family. This information, along with require special management without providing supporting data may
other sources of data, will be used to considerations or protection; not meet the standard of information
determine if the northern Rocky (e) What areas that are currently required by section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act,
Mountain DPS of the fisher warrants occupied and contain the physical or which directs that determinations as to
listing as an endangered or a threatened biological features essential to the whether any species is an endangered or
species under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et conservation of the species should be a threatened species must be made
seq.). We request any new information included in the critical habitat ‘‘solely on the basis of the best scientific
concerning the status of the northern designation and why; and commercial data available.’’
Rocky Mountain DPS of the fisher. (f) What areas not currently occupied You may submit your comments and
Information submitted since the 2011 at the time of listing are essential for the materials concerning this proposed rule
status review (which culminated in our conservation of the species and why; by one of the methods listed in
12-month finding published on June 30, and ADDRESSES. We request that you send
2011, at 76 FR 38504) and the 2016 90- (g) The possible benefits and impacts comments only by the methods
day petition finding (81 FR 1368; (including probable economic impacts) described in ADDRESSES.
January 12, 2016) will be considered of a possible critical habitat designation If you submit information via http://
and need not be resubmitted. We will for the northern Rocky Mountain DPS of www.regulations.gov, your entire
base our status review on the best the fisher. submission—including any personal
scientific and commercial information (4) Biological, commercial trade, or identifying information—will be posted
available, including all information other relevant data concerning any on the Web site. If your submission is
received as a result of this publication. threats (or lack thereof) to this species made via a hardcopy that includes
We are soliciting information and and regulations that may be addressing personal identifying information, you
supporting data on the northern Rocky those threats. may request at the top of your document
(5) Any information on the biological that we withhold this information from
Mountain DPS of the fisher; we
or ecological requirements of the species public review. However, we cannot
specifically seek information on the
and ongoing conservation measures for guarantee that we will be able to do so.
following:
(1) Information regarding the species’ the species and its habitat. We will post all hardcopy submissions
(6) Information on land use on http://www.regulations.gov.
historical and current population status,
designations and current or planned
distribution, abundance, and trends; Authors
activities in the areas occupied by the
biology and ecology; and habitat
northern Rocky Mountain DPS of the The primary authors of this document
selection.
(2) Information on the effects of fisher or areas that may be important for are staff of the Montana Ecological
potential threat factors that are the basis its conservation, and possible impacts of Services Field Office.
for a species’ listing determination these activities on this species and these
Authority: The authority for this action is
under section 4(a)(1) of the Act (16 areas. the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
(7) Information on the projected and amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
U.S.C. 1533(a)(1)), which are:
(a) The present or threatened reasonably likely impacts of climate
change on the northern Rocky Mountain Dated: January 5, 2017.
destruction, modification, or Stephen Guertin,
curtailment of the species’ habitat or DPS of the fisher and its habitat.
(8) Information on any foreseeable Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
range; Service.
(b) Overutilization for commercial, economic, national security, or other
recreational, scientific, or educational relevant impacts that may result if we [FR Doc. 2017–00656 Filed 1–12–17; 8:45 am]

purposes; designate any area as critical habitat. We BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

(c) Disease or predation; are particularly interested in any
(d) Inadequacy of existing regulatory potential impacts on small entities, and
mechanisms; and the benefits of including or excluding DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
(e) Other natural or manmade factors areas from any possible future proposed
designation that are subject to these Bureau of Indian Affairs
affecting its continued existence.
(3) Scientific and commercial data to impacts.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

[178A2100DD/AAKC001030/
assist in development of any proposed Please support submissions with A0A501010.999900 253G]
critical habitat designation that we may documentation such as maps;
make, including: bibliographic references; methods used Reservation Proclamations
(a) Whether the designation of critical to gather and analyze the data; or copies AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs,
habitat for the northern Rocky Mountain of pertinent publications, reports, or Interior.
DPS of the fisher would be beneficial to letters by knowledgeable sources. We
ACTION: Notice of availability of
the conservation of the species or request data from systematic surveys,
procedural guidance.
whether the identification of specific studies, or analyses of data regarding

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Document Created: 2017-01-13 02:44:32
Document Modified: 2017-01-13 02:44:32

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of initiation of status review.
Dates		We will accept comments from all interested parties until February 13, 2017. Please note that if you are using the Federal
Contact		Jodi Bush, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Ecological Services Field Office, 585 Shepard Way, Helena, MT 59601; telephone 406-449-5225; or facsimile 406-449-5339. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation		82 FR 4404

82 FR 4404 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Status Review of the Northern Rocky Mountain Distinct Population Segment of the Fisher

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 9 (January 13, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service