Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 189 / Thursday, September 28, 2000 / Notices 58283

the Director within 30 days of the date

of this publication.

Documents and other information

submitted with these applications are

available for review, subject to the

requirements of the Privacy Act and

Freedom of Information Act, by any

party who submits a written request for

a copy of such documents to the

following office within 30 days of the

date of publication of this notice. U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington,

Virginia 22203. Phone: (703/358–2104);

FAX: (703/358–2281).

Dated: September 22, 2000.

Charlie Chandler,

Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 00–24913 Filed 9–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Issuance of Permit for Marine

Mammals

On July 13, 2000, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

65, No. 135, Page 43380, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by James L. Scull,

Jr., for a permit (PRT–029977) to import

one polar bear (Ursus maritimus) trophy

taken from the Lancaster Sound

population, Canada for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on

September 12, 2000, as authorized by

the provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

Dated: September 22, 2000.

Charlie Chandler,

Chief, Branch of Permits, Division of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 00–24914 Filed 9–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a Draft

Recovery Plan for the Bog Turtle,

Northern Population, for Review and

Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service announces the availability for

public review of a draft Recovery Plan

for the allopatric northern population of

the bog turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii).

The bog turtle’s northern population

was listed as a threatened species on

November 4, 1997. Although this

population is currently known to occur

in a total of 360 sites in the states of

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland,

Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,

and Pennsylvania, it has experienced at

least a 50 percent reduction in range

and numbers over the past 20 years. The

greatest threats to the long-term survival

of the northern bog turtle population

include the loss, degradation, and

fragmentation of its habitat,

compounded by the increasing take of

long-lived adult animals from wild

populations for illegal wildlife trade.

The overall objective of the bog turtle

recovery program is to protect and

maintain the northern allopatric

population of this species and its habitat

by securing protection for at least 185

populations distributed across the

species’ range, and ensuring that these

populations are stable or increasing. The

Service solicits review and comment

from the public on this draft Plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft Recovery

Plan must be received by November 27,

2000 to receive consideration by the

Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the draft Recovery Plan can obtain a

copy from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Pennsylvania Field Office, 315

South Allen Street, Suite 322, State

College, Pennsylvania 16801. Comments

should be sent to this address, to the

attention of Carole Copeyon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carole Copeyon (see ADDRESSES),

telephone 814–234–4090.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or

threatened animal or plant to the point

where it is again a secure, selfsustaining member of its ecosystem is a

primary goal of the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service’s endangered species

program. To help guide the recovery

effort, the Service is working to prepare

Recovery Plans for most of the listed

species native to the United States.

Recovery Plans describe actions

considered necessary for conservation of

the species, establish criteria for the

recovery levels for downlisting or

delisting them, and estimate time and

cost for implementing the recovery

measures needed.

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.

Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in

1988, requires that public notice and an

opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during Recovery

Plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented

during a public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised

Recovery Plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will also take these

comments into account in the course of

implementing Recovery Plans.

The document submitted for review is

the Agency Draft Bog Turtle (Clemmys

muhlenbergii), Northern Population,

Recovery Plan. The northern population

of the bog turtle was listed as a

threatened species on November 4,

1997. This population is currently

known to occur in Connecticut (5 sites),

Delaware (4), Maryland (71),

Massachusetts (3), New Jersey (165),

New York (37), and Pennsylvania (75).

Bog turtles usually occur in small,

discrete populations, generally

occupying open-canopy, herbaceous

sedge meadows and fens bordered by

wooded areas. These wetlands are a

mosaic of micro-habitats that include

dry pockets, saturated areas, and areas

that are periodically flooded. Bog turtles

depend upon this diversity of microhabitats for foraging, nesting, basking,

hibernation and shelter. Unfragmented

riparian systems that are sufficiently

dynamic to allow the natural creation of

open habitat are needed to compensate

for ecological succession. Beaver, deer,

and cattle may be instrumental in

maintaining the open-canopy wetlands

essential for this species’ survival.

The bog turtle has experienced at least

a 50 percent reduction in range and

numbers over the past 20 years. The

greatest threats to its survival include

the loss, degradation, and fragmentation

of its habitat, compounded by the

increasing take of long-lived adult

animals from wild populations for

illegal wildlife trade.

The overall objective of the bog turtle

recovery program is to protect and

maintain the northern allopatric

population of this species and its

habitat. This will be accomplished by

(1) securing long-range protection for at

least 185 populations distributed among

five recovery units: 10 in the Prairie

Peninsula/Lake Plain Recovery Unit, 5

in the Outer Coastal Plain Recovery

Unit, 40 in the Hudson/Housatonic

Recovery Unit, 50 in the Susquehanna/

Potomac Recovery Unit, and 80 in the

58284 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 189 / Thursday, September 28, 2000 / Notices

Delaware Recovery Unit; (2)

determining that these 185 populations

are stable or increasing over a 25-year

period; (3) eliminating or significantly

curbing illicit collection and trade in

this species; and (4) gaining a sufficient

understanding of long-term habitat

dynamics.

The Actions needed to accomplish

recovery objectives will include a

combination of protecting known extant

populations and their habitat using

existing regulations; securing long-term

protection of bog turtle sites; conducting

surveys of known, historic, and

potential bog turtle habitat; investigating

the genetic variability of the bog turtle

throughout its range; reintroducing bog

turtles into areas from which they have

been extirpated or removed; managing

and maintaining bog turtle habitat to

ensure its continuing suitability for bog

turtles; managing bog turtle populations

at extant sites, where necessary; creating

an effective law enforcement program to

halt illicit take and commercialization

of bog turtles; and developing and

implementing an effective outreach and

education program about bog turtles.

The draft Recovery Plan is being

submitted for agency review. After

consideration of comments received

during the review period, the Plan will

be submitted for final approval.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments

on the Recovery Plan described. All

comments received by the date specified

above will be considered prior to

approval of the Plan.

Authority: The authority for this action is

Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act,

16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: September 21, 2000.

Mamie A. Parker,

Acting Regional Director, Hadley, MA.

[FR Doc. 00–24866 Filed 9–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

The Secretary of the Interior Adopts

National Framework for Survey of Boat

Access Needs

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior

has adopted the National Boating

Infrastructure Grant Program’s survey

approved by the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) under control

number 1018–0106 as the national

framework for boating access needs

required in 16 U.S.C. 777g–1 Sec.

7404(b).

ADDRESSES: For copies of the national

framework survey, contact Mr. Steve

Farrell, Boating Infrastructure Grants

Project Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Division of Federal Aid, 4401

North Fairfax Drive, Suite 140,

Arlington, Virginia, 22203, (703) 358–

2156 or Steve_Farrell@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Steve Farrell (703) 358–2156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public

Law 105–178, Transportation Equity Act

of the 21st Century (TEA–21), June 9,

1998, requires that the Secretary of the

Interior, in consultation with the States,

shall adopt a national framework for a

public boat access needs assessment

that may be used by the States to

determine the adequacy, number,

location, and quality of facilities

providing access to recreational waters

for all sizes of recreational boats. The

Secretary has delegated the

responsibility for developing the

national framework to the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service). The Service

has received OMB approval for a survey

that will serve as the national

framework. State officials may obtain

the survey by contacting the person

listed under ADDRESSES.

Each State that conducts a public boat

access needs survey shall report its

findings to the Secretary for use in the

development of a comprehensive

national assessment of recreational boat

access needs and currently available

facilities. This report is expected to be

presented to Congress at the end of

2003. States may fund the cost of

conducting this assessment out of Sport

Fish Restoration funds dedicated to

motorboat access to recreational waters

under 16 U.S.C. 777g–1 Sec. 7404,

subsection (b)(1).

States, using data gained through

these surveys, may develop plans for the

construction, renovation, and

maintenance of facilities for transient

nontrailerable recreational vessels, and

access to those facilities, to meet the

needs of nontrailerable recreational

vessels operating on navigable waters in

the State.

The comprehensive national

assessment of recreational boat access

needs and facilities presented to

Congress at the end of 2003 may be used

to help determine future legislative

action related to recreational boating

access needs.

Dated: September 15, 2000.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 00–24948 Filed 9–27–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Letters of Authorization To Take

Marine Mammals

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of a Letter of

Authorization to take marine mammals

incidental to oil and gas industry

activities.

SUMMARY: In accordance with section

101(a)(5)(A) of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended, and

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

implementing regulations [50 CFR

18.27(f)(3)], notice is hereby given that

a Letter of Authorization to take polar

bears incidental to oil and gas industry

development remediation activities has

been issued to the following company:

Company Activity Date issued

ExxonMobil Production .................................................................................................................... Development ......... August 18, 2000.

Exxon Company CONTACT: Mr. John

W. Bridges at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Marine Mammals Management

Office, 1011 East Tudor Road,

Anchorage, Alaska 99503, (800) 362–

5148 or (907) 786–3810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Letters of Authorization were issued in

accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Federal Rules and Regulations

‘‘Marine Mammals; Incidental Take

During Specified Activities (65 FR

16828; March 30, 2000).’’