31760 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018–AH96

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants; Proposed Designation of

Critical Habitat for the Northern Great

Plains Breeding Population of the

Piping Plover

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service), propose to

designate critical habitat for the

northern Great Plains breeding

population of the piping plover

(Charadrius melodus), pursuant to the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (Act). The proposed

designation includes 16 critical habitat

units comprised of 11 areas of prairie

alkali wetlands, inland and reservoir

lakes, totaling approximately 196,576.5

acres [79,553.1 hectares] and 5 areas

found along portions of 4 rivers in the

States of Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska,

North Dakota, and South Dakota totaling

approximately 1,338 river miles (2,153

kilometers).

Critical habitat would include prairie

alkali wetlands and surrounding

shoreline, including 200 feet (61 meters)

of uplands above the high water mark;

river channels and associated sandbars,

and islands; reservoirs and their

sparsely vegetated shorelines,

peninsulas, and islands; and inland

lakes and their sparsely vegetated

shorelines and peninsulas. Section 7 of

the Act requires Federal agencies to

ensure that actions they authorize, fund,

or carry out are not likely to destroy or

adversely modify critical habitat.

Section 4 of the Act requires that we

consider economic and other relevant

impacts prior to making a final decision

on what areas to designate as critical

habitat; we may exclude areas from the

final critical habitat determination if we

determine that the benefits of excluding

these areas outweigh the benefits of

including them in the final designation.

As a result, the final designation may

differ from this proposal.

DATES: Comments—We will accept

comments until the close of business on

August 13, 2001. Public Meetings—We

have scheduled five public meetings for

this proposal. These informal meetings

will start at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. See

‘‘Public Meetings’’ section for meeting

dates and addresses.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written

comments and information to Piping

Plover Comments, South Dakota

Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 420 South

Garfield Avenue, Suite 400, Pierre,

South Dakota 57501 or by facsimile to

605–224–9974. You may hand-deliver

written comments to our South Dakota

Field Office at the address given above.

You may send comments by electronic

mail (e-mail) to

FW6_PipingPlover@fws.gov. See the

‘‘Public Comments Solicited’’ section

below for file format and other

information on electronic filing. You

may view comments and materials

received, as well as supporting

documentation used in the preparation

of this proposed rule, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nell

McPhillips, at the above address or

telephone 605–224–8693, extension 32.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Description

The piping plover (Charadrius

melodus) is a small [(approximately 6.7

to 7.1 inches long) (17 to 18 centimeters)

and 1.5 to 2.2 ounces (43 to 63 grams)

in weight (Haig 1992)], migratory

member of the shorebird family

(Charadriidae). It is one of six species of

belted plovers in North America. During

the breeding season adults have single

black bands across both the forehead

and breast, orange legs and bill, and

pale tan upper parts and are white

below. The adults lose the black bands

and their bill becomes grayish-black

during the winter. The plumage of

juveniles is similar to that of wintering

adults.

Geographic Range

The breeding range of the piping

plover extends throughout the northern

Great Plains, the Great Lakes, and the

Atlantic Coast in the United States and

Canada. Three breeding populations of

piping plovers have been described—

the northern Great Plains population,

the Great Lakes population, and the

Atlantic Coast population.

Great Lakes piping plovers formerly

nested throughout much of the Great

Lakes region in the north-central United

States and south-central Canada, but

currently nest only in northern

Michigan and at one site in northern

Wisconsin. On the Atlantic Coast,

piping plovers nest from

Newfoundland, southeastern Quebec,

and New Brunswick to North Carolina.

Sixty-eight percent of all Atlantic

nesting pairs breed in Massachusetts,

New York, New Jersey, and Virginia

(Service 1999).

The northern Great Plains

population’s breeding range includes

southern Alberta, southern

Saskatchewan, and southern Manitoba,

south to eastern Montana, North Dakota,

South Dakota, southeastern Colorado,

Iowa, Nebraska, and east to Lake of the

Woods in north-central Minnesota. The

majority of the United States’ pairs are

in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Montana

(Service 1994). Fewer birds nest in

Minnesota, Iowa, and Colorado, with

occasional nesting in Oklahoma and

Kansas.

Historic data on the distribution of

northern Great Plains piping plovers are

somewhat scarce, with regular

surveying efforts beginning after 1980.

Some breeding records do exist for a

majority of North Dakota counties

(Service and North Dakota Game and

Fish Department 1997); Lake of the

Woods County, in Minnesota (Service

2000b); counties along the Missouri

River, as well as Codington, Day, and

Miner Counties in South Dakota (South

Dakota Ornithologists’ Union 1991); and

counties along the Missouri, Loup,

Niobrara, Elkhorn, and Platte River in

Nebraska (Dinan et al. 1993, Nebraska

Game and Parks Commission 1995).

Plovers were first reported in Montana

in 1967 in Phillips County and also

were observed in Sheridan and Valley

Counties during the 1970s (Carlson and

Skaar 1976). Nesting was first observed

in Colorado in 1949 and a few reports

of non-nesting birds occurred during the

1950s and 1960s (Bailey and Niedrich

1965), but there are no reports of nesting

between 1949 and 1989 (Colorado

Department of Natural Resources 1994).

In Iowa, nesting plovers were observed

in Pottawattamie and Harrison Counties

during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s

(Stiles 1940, Brown 1971). Incidental

records exist for Wyoming, as well as

Eddy County, New Mexico, in 1964

(Bailey and Niedrich 1965).

The current breeding range of the

northern Great Plains population is

similar to the previous records, with the

following exceptions—piping plovers

have not been reported in Wyoming or

New Mexico since their initial records,

and since 1996, Kansas has reported

nesting activity along the Kansas River

due to newly available habitat after

scouring flows in 1993 (Busby et al.

1997). Additionally, in 1987 and 1988

piping plovers nested at Optima

Reservoir, Oklahoma (these are the only

known nesting records for Oklahoma)

(Boyd 1991). In North Dakota, plovers

nest at various prairie alkali wetlands in

Benson, Burke, Burleigh, Divide, Eddy,

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31761

Emmons, Kidder, Logan, McHenry,

McIntosh, McLean, Mountrail, Pierce,

Renville, Sheridan, Stutsman, Ward,

and Williams Counties, as well as

sandbars and reservoir shorelines along

the Missouri River (K. Kreil, Service,

pers. comm.). South Dakota nesting has

generally been limited to the Missouri

River, primarily below the Gavins Point

and Fort Randall Dams and on Lake

Oahe (C.D. Kruse, U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, pers. comm.). Occasionally

plovers have nested on Lake Sharpe

(Missouri River), and have additionally

been sighted on Lake Francis Case

(Missouri River) during the nesting

season but nesting has not been

documented. In Colorado, nesting has

been observed on various reservoirs of

the Arkansas River during the 1990s

(Plissner and Haig 1997, Nelson un

publ. report). In Montana, plovers

currently nest along the Missouri River,

on Duck Creek Bay, Bear Creek Bay,

Skunk Coulee, and the Big Dry Creek

Arm of Fort Peck Reservoir, and alkali

wetlands and reservoirs in Phillips and

Sheridan Counties (G. Pavelka, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, pers. comm.,

H. Pac, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and

Parks, pers. comm.). In Nebraska, piping

plovers can still be found on sandbars

along the Niobrara, Loup, and Platte

Rivers, but habitat has been reduced on

the Platte River. After upstream dams

were built, reduced flows allowed the

establishment of woody vegetation on

most islands, due to the lack of

scouring, high spring flows (Ziewitz et

al. 1992). Along the central reach of the

Platte, this loss of habitat has forced

most plovers to nest on sand and gravel

mining spoil piles (Sidle and Kirsch

1993). Most nesting on the Platte River

currently occurs on the lower Platte,

where encroachment is least advanced

(Ziewitz et al. 1992). Lake McConaughy

in Nebraska also supports nesting

plovers on its sandy beaches (Peyton

and Matson 1999). In Iowa, Missouri

River habitat has been lost due to

channelization below Sioux City,

leaving piping plovers to nest on

industrial fly ash ponds in Woodbury

and Pottawattamie Counties (D. Howell,

Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, pers.

comm.). Plovers continue to nest in low

numbers at Lake of the Woods,

Minnesota (Minnesota Department of

Natural Resources, 1999).

Population Status

Historical piping plover population

trend data are generally nonexistent.

However, Audubon and Wilson

described plovers as a common resident

of the Atlantic coast during the 1800s

(Bent 1929). On September 21, 1804, the

Lewis and Clark expedition was present

in the area of present day Lake Sharpe

on the Missouri River, where William

Clark wrote, ‘‘* * * we observed an

immense number of plover of Different

kind Collecting and taking their flight

southerly * * *’’ (Moulton 1987). By

1900, the piping plover had been greatly

reduced by over-harvesting. With the

Federal protection of the Migratory Bird

Treaty Act, the plover recovered by the

1920s and was reported as common

(Bent 1929). Since that time, plover

populations again declined throughout

most of their range and have been

extirpated from many states. Breeding

surveys in the early 1980s reported

2,137 to 2,684 adult plovers in the

northern Great Plains/Prairie region, 28

adults in the Great Lakes region, and

1,370 to 1,435 adults along the Atlantic

Coast (Haig and Oring 1985). In 1991 the

first International Piping Plover Census

was carried out, with 2,032 adult piping

plovers observed in the United States’

portion of the northern Great Plains

(Haig and Plissner 1993). In 1996,

during the second International Census,

1,597 adult piping plovers were

observed in the same area (Plissner and

Haig 1997); a reduction of almost 22

percent from 1991. Part of this reduction

was likely an artifact of increased

numbers of piping plovers nesting in

Canada in 1996, due to high water levels

in the United States (Plissner and Haig

1997).

Current estimates of piping plover

survival rates are limited. Root et al.

(1992) estimated a mean annual survival

rate of 0.664 for adults in the northern

Great Plains population from 1984 to

1990 using recapture and re-sighting

data from plovers in North Dakota.

Larson et al. (2000) reevaluated survival

from this study, including some

additional years of banding and resights.

The new mean local annual survival

rate was 0.737 for adults (Larson et al.

2000). Most plover mortality was

thought to occur during migration or on

wintering grounds (Root et al. 1992);

however, a recent study on Padre Island,

Texas, indicated over-wintering survival

can be very high (Drake 1999).

Ryan et al. (1993) developed a

stochastic population growth model

using empirical, demographic data,

which indicated the northern Great

Plains plover population was declining

7 percent annually. They also used the

simulation model to predict

reproductive and survival rates

necessary to stabilize and increase the

population. Ryan et al. (1993) stated

that if adult (0.66) and immature (0.60)

survival rates were held constant, a 31

percent increase, from 0.86 to 1.13

chicks fledged per pair, was needed to

stabilize the population. Annual

population increases of 1 and 2 percent

required 1.16 and 1.19 chicks per pair,

respectively. Such growth would result

in the northern Great Plains population

reaching the level needed for recovery

and delisting from the Act in 53 and 30

years respectively. One- and 5-year

delays in the initiation of 1 percent

population growth caused 13- and 67-

year delays respectively in reaching

recovery. Model (Ryan et al. 1993)

results indicated that the northern Great

Plains population is declining

substantially. However, using more

recent survival estimates (Larson et al.

(2000)) in the stochastic population

growth model have shown that the

feasibility of recovering the northern

Great Plains population is more likely

than previously determined (Ryan et al.

1993, Plissner and Haig 2000).

A population viability model,

developed by Plissner and Haig (2000),

used the metapopulation viability

analysis package, VORTEX. Plissner and

Haig (2000) found in the northern Great

Plains and Great Lakes populations, if

the adult and immature survival rates

were held constant, it would require a

36 percent higher mean fecundity, or an

increase from 1.25 to 1.7 chicks fledged

per pair, to reach a significant

probability of persisting for the next 100

years.

Ecology

Piping plover breeding habitat

consists of open, sparsely vegetated

areas with alkali or unconsolidated

substrates. Piping plovers primarily

breed in four habitat types in the

northern Great Plains—alkali lakes and

wetlands, inland lakes (Lake of the

Woods), reservoirs, and rivers. Based on

the International Piping Plover Census,

most breeding occurs along alkali lakes

and wetlands, and other small water

bodies, with 59.6 percent and 78

percent observed on those sites in 1991

(Haig and Plissner 1993) and 1996

(Plissner and Haig 1997), respectively.

For these areas, nesting sites are

generally wide, gravelly, salt-encrusted

beaches with minimal vegetation

(Prindiville Gaines and Ryan 1988).

Piping plovers use barren to sparsely

vegetated islands, beaches, and

peninsulas at inland lake habitats

(Nordstrom and Ryan 1996), such as

Lake of the Woods, Minnesota. Sandbars

and reservoir shorelines with similar

features are the preferred nesting

habitats of piping plovers along riverine

systems (Schwalbach 1988, Kruse 1993).

In 1991, approximately 38 percent of the

population was observed on reservoirs,

river shores, and sandbars. In 1996, 15.1

percent was observed at those areas; this

was a high-water year and much of the

31762 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

habitat along rivers was inundated,

likely forcing birds to nest elsewhere.

These data suggest that habitat use by

piping plovers is dynamic and that the

habitat necessary to support the

northern Great Plains population is

diverse.

Although the preference of piping

plovers for open areas has been

repeatedly noted in the literature,

quantitative data on habitat

characteristics, evidence of habitat

selection, and information on the

relative quality of inland habitats

remain scarce. A survey of the research

literature suggests that this lack of

quantitative and qualitative data is a

result of the dynamic nature of the

habitat, climate, and hydrologic cycles

of the northern Great Plains. Several

studies have suggested that beach width

may affect habitat use by piping plovers

breeding on inland lakes. Whyte (1985)

recorded minimum nest-to-water

distances of 131.2 feet (40 meters) in

Saskatchewan and suggested that

beaches less than 65.6 to 98.4 feet wide

(20 to 30 meters wide) were not likely

to be used by piping plovers. However,

in Alberta, Weseloh and Weseloh (1983)

calculated a mean beach width of only

38.4 feet (11.7 meters) at nest sites. But

they noted that these seemed to be the

widest beaches available. Prindiville,

Gaines, and Ryan (1988) reported mean

beach width to be larger in occupied

territories [x ̄ = 108.3 feet (33 meters)]

than in unoccupied sites [x ̄ = 44.6 feet

(13.6 meters)] in North Dakota. The

amount and distribution of beach

vegetation affect piping plover habitat

selection and reproductive success.

Prindiville, Gaines, and Ryan (1988)

found no difference in vegetative cover

between territories (x ̄ = 3.4 percent) and

unoccupied sites (x ̄ = 3.8 percent).

However, vegetation was more clumped

in territories than in unoccupied sites.

Furthermore, territories in which nests

were successful had either less

vegetation or more clumped vegetation

than territories with unsuccessful nests

(Prindiville 1986).

Substrate composition also may affect

habitat selection by piping plovers and

influence nest success. Cairns (1977)

found 31 of 38 nests in Nova Scotia on

mixed sand and gravel and stated that

those nests were less conspicuous than

those on sand alone. Whyte (1985)

reported that piping plovers were more

likely to establish nests on gravel than

was expected by chance alone. In North

Dakota, gravel was generally more

evenly distributed and in greater

concentration on piping plover

territories than at unoccupied sites

(Prindiville 1986).

Piping plovers nesting on the

Missouri, Platte, Niobrara, Loup and

other rivers, use reservoir shorelines

and large dry, barren sandbars in wide,

open channel beds. Along these rivers,

plovers often nest in the vicinity of

endangered interior least terns (Sterna

antillarum). Vegetative cover on nesting

islands is usually less than 25 percent

(Ziewitz et al. 1992). Twenty-eight

Platte River sandbars, occupied by

nesting piping plovers, averaged 938

feet (286 meters) in length and 180 feet

(55 meters) in width (Faanes 1983).

Vegetative cover on those sandbars

averaged 25.4 percent. Armbruster

(1986) estimated the optimum range for

vegetative cover on nesting habitat from

0–10 percent, and Schwalbach (1988)

found that 89 percent of the plovers

nested in areas of less than 5 percent

vegetative cover. On the Missouri River,

Schwalbach (1988) found that the

average vegetation height ranged from 2

to 11 inches (6 to 29 centimeters) and

the majority of the plovers (63 percent)

nested in areas where vegetation was

less than 4 inches (10 centimeters).

Average elevation of nests (least terns

and piping plovers) above river level

ranges from 7.4 inches (19 centimeters)

below Gavins Point Dam to 12 inches

(30 centimeters) below Garrison Dam

(Schwalbach 1988, Dirks 1990).

Schwalbach (1988) and Ziewitz et al.

(1992) suggested that birds select a

higher nest site, away from the water’s

edge, when available. For nesting,

piping plovers evidently seek habitats

with wide horizontal visibility,

protection from terrestrial predators,

isolation from human disturbance, low

likelihood of inundation, and nearby

feeding habitat.

Open, wet, sandy areas provide

feeding habitat for plovers on river

systems and throughout most of the

species’ nesting range. Piping plovers

feed primarily on exposed substrates by

pecking for invertebrates at or just

below the surface (Cairns 1977, Whyte

1985). In Saskatchewan, Whyte (1985)

noted that adults concentrated foraging

efforts within 16.4 feet (5 meters) of the

water’s edge. He found broods also fed

most often near the shore, but their use

of upland beach habitats was greater

than that of adults. Cairns (1977)

reported that chicks tended to feed on

firmer sand at greater distances from the

shoreline than adults. At Lake of the

Woods, Minnesota, and on Long IslandChequamegon Point, Wisconsin, adult

piping plovers seemed to prefer

shoreline or beach pool edges (wet sand)

over open beach (dry sand) as feeding

sites (Wiens 1986, S. Matteson,

Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources, pers. comm.). Studies

suggest that forage areas include the

nesting island itself, as well as adjacent

sandbar flats (Cairns 1977, Whyte 1985,

Corn and Armbruster 1993). Spring/fen

areas on the peripheries of some alkali

lakes also are important feeding sites for

plover chicks (Rabenberg et al. 1993).

Upland areas surrounding wetlands,

such as the spring/fen areas, have also

been noted in the scientific literature to

be important to maximizing the effective

period of time wetlands can provide

critical functions (i.e., water quality,

flood control, groundwater recharge,

nutrient recycling, primary

productivity, and wildlife habitat)

within the agricultural landscape

(Gleason and Eulis 1998). This is

particularly important when

considering wetlands within the

agricultural landscape in the northern

Great Plains. In addition appropriate

upland widths are based on several

variables, including—existing wetland

functions, values, and sensitivity to

disturbance; land-use impacts; and

desired upland functions (Castelle et al.

1992). Critical functions to consider for

piping plovers nesting on wetlands in

the northern Great Plains include water

quality, invertebrate abundance, and the

lifespan of the wetland. To maintain

water quality and maximize the

effective period of time the wetland

maintains critical functions, available

research suggests upland buffers of 100

to 300 feet (30.5 to 91.4 meters) (Castelle

et al. 1992, Lee et al. 1997, Gleason and

Eulis 1998, NRCS 2000).

Conditions for nesting are highly

variable in the Great Plains. Therefore,

local population estimates may not

always give an accurate description of

the population as a whole, and success

may depend on the availability of

alternative habitat types (Plissner and

Haig 1997). In addition to primary

nesting habitat types, piping plovers

also may use sand pits and ash ponds,

which often mimic natural habitats

(Service 1988, Corn and Ambruster

1993, Lackey 1994). These areas are

only suitable for a limited period of time

after their initial creation, as vegetation

encroachment generally reduces habitat

quality after a few years (Sidle and

Kirsch 1993).

Breeding site fidelity (rate at which

adults return to the same breeding sites

in subsequent years) for piping plovers

ranged from 4.5 percent in two studies

combined in South Dakota (Schwalbach

1988, Dirks 1990) to 87.5 percent in

Lake of the Woods, Minnesota (Haig and

Oring 1987). Wiens (1986) found return

patterns to specific breeding sites did

not seem to be influenced by previous

reproductive success. In Manitoba, Haig

and Oring (1988) observed two patterns

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31763

of return by adults—(1) those that

hatched chicks the year before returned

to the same breeding site but changed

territories, and (2) adults that

experienced nest failure the year before

generally changed sites. Adults have

been known to use breeding sites as far

as 339.1 miles (546 kilometers) apart in

consecutive years (Haig 1987). The

varying rates of site fidelity reported in

these studies suggest that piping plovers

need a variety of available nest sites.

Sites used in 1 year may not be used in

subsequent years; conversely, sites

unoccupied by piping plovers may be

used in the future.

Similar observations of chick returns

further demonstrate the need for

numerous nest sites in the Great Plains.

The percentage of observed chicks

returning to natal sites has ranged from

4.7 percent in New York (Wilcox 1959)

to 1.3 to 50 percent in South Dakota

(Schwalbach et al. 1993, Niver 2000)

and 70 percent at Lake of the Woods,

Minnesota (Haig and Oring 1987). Chick

dispersal (movement from natal site to

first breeding site) is difficult to

characterize and few banding studies

have been carried out in the Great

Plains. But, long-range dispersal

distances (3.1 to 169.5 miles (5 to 273

kilometers)) have been documented in

piping plovers (Haig and Oring 1988)

and similar distances were observed in

two plovers on the Missouri River (R.

Niver, Service, and C.D. Kruse, U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, pers. comm.).

The nesting season typically begins in

late March to early April when plovers

arrive on the breeding grounds.

Breeding activities, including courtship

flights, nest bowl scraping, territorial

interactions, egg laying, incubating, and

chick rearing, can be observed

throughout the summer. Nests are

shallow scrapes and are often lined with

shell fragments, pebbles, or small sticks.

Typical clutch size is 3 to 4 eggs and

incubation lasts 27 to 31 days. Chicks

can feed themselves after hatching (i.e.,

are precocial), and fledge at 18 to 25

days of age (Service 1988b). Fledging

success varies by site and year. For

example, between 1986 and 1999 along

the Missouri River, there were 0.06 to

1.61 fledged chicks/pair (USACE

unpubl. data). Between 1982 and 1987

Haig and Oring (1987) reported fledge

ratios between 0.3 to 2.1 or 0.4 to 3.0

fledged chicks/pair, depending on 1987

data, for Lake of the Woods, Minnesota.

In the United States Alkali Lake Core

region, which includes parts of

northwest North Dakota and northeast

Montana, annual fledge ratios varied

between 0.60 to 1.49 fledged chicks/pair

from 1994 to 2000 (J. Knetter, University

of Wisconsin-Madison, pers. comm.).

Nest and chick predation, weather,

human disturbance, and hydrologic

cycles influence fledging success. If nest

loss occurs early in the season, piping

plovers will often renest. After later nest

loss, chick loss, or fledging chicks,

plovers begin their southerly migration

from mid-July through early September.

Piping plovers that breed in the Great

Plains generally winter along the Gulf

Coast from Mexico to Florida, but some

occasionally winter along the southern

Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to

Florida (Haig and Plissner 1993).

Previous Federal Actions

On December 30, 1982, we published

a notice of review in the Federal

Register (47 FR 58454) identifying

native vertebrate taxa being considered

for addition to the List of Endangered

and Threatened Wildlife. We included

the piping plover in that review list as

a category two species, indicating that

we believed the species might warrant

listing as threatened or endangered, but

that we had insufficient data to support

a proposal to list at that time.

Subsequent review of additional data

indicated that the piping plover

warranted listing, and in November

1984 we published a proposal in the

Federal Register (49 FR 44712) to list

the piping plover as endangered in the

Great Lakes watershed and as

threatened along the Atlantic Coast, the

northern Great Plains, and elsewhere in

their ranges. The proposed listing was

based on the decline of the species and

existing threats, including habitat

destruction, disturbance by humans and

pets, high levels of predation, and

contaminants.

After a review of the best scientific

data available and all comments

received in response to the proposed

rule, we published the final rule (50 FR

50726) on December 11, 1985,

designating the Great Lakes population

(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,

northeastern Minnesota, New York,

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and

Ontario) as endangered; and listing

piping plovers along the Atlantic coast

(Quebec, New Foundland, Maritime

Provinces, and States from Maine to

Florida), and in the northern Great

Plains (Iowa, northwestern Minnesota,

Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota,

South Dakota, Alberta, Manitoba, and

Saskatchewan) as threatened. All piping

plovers on migratory routes outside of

the Great Lakes watershed or on their

wintering grounds are considered

threatened. The Service did not

designate critical habitat for the species

at that time.

After 1986, we formed two recovery

teams, the Great Lakes/Northern Great

Plains Piping Plover Recovery Team and

the Atlantic Coast Piping Plover

Recovery Team. In 1988 the Great Lakes

and northern Great Plains (Service

1988b) and Atlantic Coast (Service

1988a) Recovery Plans were published.

In 1994 the Great Lakes/Northern Great

Plains Recovery Team began to revise

the Recovery plan for the Great Lakes/

Northern Great Plains populations

(Service 1994). The 1994 draft included

updated information on the species and

was distributed for public comment.

Subsequently, we decided that the

recovery of these two inland

populations would benefit from separate

recovery plans. Separate recovery plans

for the Great Lakes and northern Great

Plains populations are presently under

development.

The final listing rule for the piping

plover indicated that designation of

critical habitat was not determinable.

Thus, designation was deferred. No

further action was taken to designate

critical habitat for piping plovers. On

December 4, 1996, Defenders of Wildlife

(Defenders) filed a suit (Defenders of

Wildlife and Piping Plover v. Babbitt,

Case No. 96CV02965) against the

Department of the Interior and the

Service over the lack of designation of

critical habitat for the Great Lakes

population of the piping plover.

Defenders filed a similar suit (Defenders

of Wildlife and Piping Plover v. Babbitt,

Case No. 97CV000777) for the northern

Great Plains piping plover population in

1997. During November and December

1999 and January 2000, we began

negotiating with Defenders on a

schedule for piping plover critical

habitat designation. On February 7,

2000, before the settlement negotiations

were concluded, the United States

District Court for the District of

Columbia issued an order directing us to

publish a proposed critical habitat

designation for nesting and wintering

areas of the Great Lakes breeding

population of the piping plover by June

30, 2000, and for nesting and wintering

areas of the northern Great Plains

population of the piping plover by May

31, 2001. A subsequent order, after we

requested the court to reconsider its

original order relating to final critical

habitat designation, directed us to

finalize the critical habitat designations

for the Great Lakes population by April

30, 2001, and for the northern Great

Plains population by March 15, 2002.

For biological and practical reasons, we

chose to propose critical habitat for the

Great Lakes breeding birds and for all

wintering birds in two separate

documents; the Great Lakes breeding

birds final critical habitat was published

31764 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

on May 7, 2001 (66 FR 22983), and we

intend to publish the wintering birds

final critical habitat by June 29, 2001.

Critical Habitat

Critical habitat is defined in section 3

of the Act as (i) the specific areas within

the geographic area occupied by a

species, at the time it is listed in

accordance with the Act, on which are

found those physical or biological

features (I) essential to conserve the

species and (II) that may require special

management considerations or

protection; and (ii) specific areas

outside the geographic area occupied by

a species at the time it is listed, upon

determination that such areas are

essential to conserve the species.

‘‘Conservation’’ means the use of all

methods and procedures that are

necessary to bring an endangered or

threatened species to the point at which

listing under the Act is no longer

necessary. Critical habitat receives

protection under section 7 of the Act

through the prohibition against

destruction or adverse modification of

critical habitat with regard to actions

carried out, funded, or authorized by a

Federal agency. Section 7 also requires

conferences with the Service on Federal

actions that are likely to result in the

destruction or adverse modification of

proposed critical habitat. In our

regulations at 50 CFR 402.02, we define

destruction or adverse modification as

‘‘* * * a direct or indirect alteration

that appreciably diminishes the value of

critical habitat for both the survival and

recovery of a listed species. Such

alterations include, but are not limited

to, alterations adversely modifying any

of those physical or biological features

that were the basis for determining the

habitat to be critical.’’ Aside from the

added protection that may be provided

under section 7, the Act does not

provide other forms of protection to

lands designated as critical habitat.

Because consultation under section 7 of

the Act does not apply to activities on

private or other non-Federal lands that

do not involve a Federal nexus, critical

habitat designation would not afford

any additional protections under the

Act against such activities.

To be included in a critical habitat

designation, the habitat must first be

‘‘essential to the conservation of the

species.’’ Critical habitat designations

identify, to the extent known using the

best scientific and commercial data

available, habitat areas that provide

essential life cycle needs of the species

(i.e., areas on which are found the

primary constituent elements, as

defined at 50 CFR 424.12(b)).

Section 4 requires that we designate

critical habitat at the time of listing and

based on what we know at the time of

designation. When we designate critical

habitat at the time of listing or under

short court-ordered deadlines, we will

often not have sufficient information to

identify all areas of critical habitat. We

are required, nevertheless, to make a

decision and thus must base our

designations on what, at the time of

designation, we know to be critical

habitat.

Within the geographic area occupied

by the species (or, in this case, a

breeding population), we designate only

areas currently known to be essential.

Essential areas should already have the

features and habitat characteristics that

are necessary to conserve the species.

We will not speculate about what areas

might be found to be essential if better

information became available, or what

areas may become essential over time. If

the information available at the time of

designation does not show that an area

provides essential life cycle needs of the

species, then the area should not be

included in the critical habitat

designation. Within the geographic area

occupied by the species, we will not

designate areas that do not now have the

primary constituent elements, as

defined at 50 CFR 424.12(b), that

provide essential life cycle needs of the

species.

Our regulations state, ‘‘The Secretary

shall designate as critical habitat areas

outside the geographical area presently

occupied by a species only when a

designation limited to its present range

would be inadequate to ensure the

conservation of the species,’’

(50CFR424.12(e)). Accordingly, we do

not designate critical habitat in areas

outside the geographic area occupied by

the species unless the best scientific and

commercial data demonstrate that the

unoccupied areas are essential for the

conservation needs of the species.

Our Policy on Information Standards

Under the Endangered Species Act,

published in the Federal Register on

July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34271), provides

criteria, procedures, and guidance to

ensure decisions made by the Service

represent the best scientific and

commercial data available. It requires

Service biologists, to the extent

consistent with the Act and with the use

of the best scientific and commercial

data available, to use primary and

original sources of information as the

basis for recommendations to designate

critical habitat. When determining

which areas are critical habitat, a

primary source of information should be

the listing package for the species.

Additional information may be obtained

from a recovery plan, articles in peerreviewed journals, conservation plans

developed by States, Tribes, and

counties, scientific status surveys and

studies, and biological assessments or

other unpublished materials, and expert

opinion or personal knowledge.

Habitat is often dynamic, and species

may move from one area to another over

time. Furthermore, we recognize

designation of critical habitat may not

include all habitat eventually

determined as necessary to recover the

species. For these reasons, all should

understand that critical habitat

designations do not signal that habitat

outside the designation is unimportant

or may not be required for recovery.

Areas outside the critical habitat

designation will continue to be subject

to conservation actions that may be

implemented under section 7(a)(1), and

the regulatory protections afforded by

the section 7 (a)(2) jeopardy standard

and the section 9 take prohibition, as

determined on the basis of the best

available information at the time of the

action. Federally funded or assisted

projects affecting listed species outside

their designated critical habitat areas

may still result in likely-to-jeopardize

findings in some cases. Similarly,

critical habitat designations made on the

basis of the best available information at

the time of designation will not control

the direction and substance of future

recovery plans, habitat conservation

plans, or other species conservation

planning efforts if new information

available to these planning efforts calls

for a different outcome.

Methods

In determining areas essential to

conserve the northern Great Plains

breeding population of piping plovers,

we used the best scientific and

commercial data available. We have

reviewed the overall approach to the

conservation of the northern Great

Plains breeding population of piping

plovers undertaken by the local, State,

Tribal, and Federal agencies operating

within the species’ range since its listing

in 1986, and the identified steps

necessary for recovery outlined in the

Great Lakes and Northern Great Plains

Piping Plover Recovery Plan (Service

1988b).

We also have reviewed available

information that pertains to the habitat

requirements of this species, including

material received since completion of

the recovery plan. The material

included data in reports submitted

during section 7 consultations and by

biologists holding section 10(a)(1)(A)

recovery permits; the 1994 Technical/

Agency Review Draft Revised Recovery

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31765

Plan for Piping Plovers Breeding on the

Great Lakes and Northern Great Plains

(Service 1994); research published in

peer-reviewed articles and presented in

academic theses and agency reports;

annual survey reports; regional

Geographic Information System (GIS)

coverages; and personal

communications with knowledgeable

biologists.

Primary Constituent Elements

In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i)

of the Act and regulations at 50 CFR

424.12, in determining which areas to

propose as critical habitat, we are

required to base critical habitat

determinations on the best scientific

and commercial data available and to

consider physical and biological

features (primary constituent elements)

that are essential to conservation of the

species, and that may require special

management considerations and

protection. These include, but are not

limited to—(1) space for individual and

population growth, and for normal

behavior; (2) food, water, air, light,

minerals, or other nutritional or

physiological requirements; (3) cover or

shelter; (4) sites for breeding,

reproduction, rearing (or development)

of offspring; and (5) habitats protected

from disturbance or that are

representative of the historic

geographical and ecological

distributions of a species.

Primary constituent elements for the

northern Great Plains population of

piping plovers are those habitat

components essential for the biological

needs of courtship, nesting, sheltering,

brood-rearing, foraging, roosting,

intraspecific communication, and

migration. Proposed critical habitat for

the northern Great Plains breeding

population of piping plovers includes

areas that—(1) are currently or recently

used for breeding, or (2) were

documented to have been occupied

historically and still have most or all of

the primary constituent elements, (3) are

not specifically documented to have

been occupied, but are deemed potential

breeding habitat since these areas are

part of a riverine system with

documented nesting, and are within the

historic geographic range and have

recently developed primary constituent

elements, or (4) include habitat

complexes, including wetland and

adjacent upland areas, essential to the

conservation of this species (50 CFR

424.13(d)). Critical habitat is effective

year-round. Therefore, an area that

contains one or more of the primary

constituent elements is considered to be

critical habitat even if these elements

are temporarily obscured by snow, ice,

or other temporary features.

Primary constituent elements are

categorized by breeding habitat types

found in the northern Great Plains,

including mixosaline to hypersaline

wetlands (Cowardin et al. 1979), rivers,

reservoirs, and inland lakes. The habitat

types and primary constituent elements

necessary to sustain the northern Great

Plains breeding population of piping

plovers are described as follows:

On prairie alkali lakes and wetlands,

the primary constituent elements

include—(1) shallow, seasonally to

permanently flooded, mixosaline to

hypersaline wetlands with sandy to

gravelly, sparsely vegetated beaches,

salt-encrusted mud flats, and/or gravelly

salt flats; (2) springs and fens along

edges of alkali lakes and wetlands; and

(3) adjacent uplands 200 feet (61 meters)

above the high water mark of the alkali

lake or wetland.

On rivers the primary constituent

elements include—sparsely vegetated

channel sandbars, sand and gravel

beaches on islands, temporary pools on

sandbars and islands, and the interface

with the river.

On reservoirs the primary constituent

elements include—sparsely vegetated

shoreline beaches, peninsulas, islands

composed of sand, gravel, or shale, and

their interface with the water bodies.

On inland lakes (Lake of the Woods)

the primary constituent elements

include—sparsely vegetated and

windswept sandy to gravelly islands,

beaches, and peninsulas, and their

interface with the water body.

The dynamic ecological processes that

create and maintain piping plover

habitat also are important primary

constituent elements. These processes

develop a mosaic of habitats on the

landscape that provide the essential

combination of prey, forage, nesting,

brooding and chick-rearing areas. The

annual, seasonal, daily, and even hourly

availability of the habitat patches is

dependent on local weather,

hydrological conditions and cycles, and

geological processes.

For example, periodic disturbance of

alkali lakes and wetlands and adjacent

upland vegetation is important to

minimize vegetation encroachment on

beaches and are ecological processes

with which the piping plover evolved.

Historically, bison (Bison bison) grazed

vegetation and fire burned off vegetation

and plant litter on and around alkali

lake beaches. Today both fire and

livestock grazing are used to manage for

periodic disturbance. Lack of such

disturbances degrades the attractiveness

of beaches to piping plovers and,

potentially, the security of these habitats

for breeding adults and chicks.

Furthermore, suitability of beaches,

sandbars, shoreline, and flats on the

above-mentioned habitat types also is

based on a dynamic hydrological system

of wet-to-dry cycles. Habitat area,

abundance and availability of insect

foods, brood and nesting cover, and

prevalence of vegetation are linked to

these water cycles. On rivers, one site

becomes flooded and erodes away as

another is created. This dynamic nature

of rivers, as well as flow-management of

rivers like the Missouri River, is

important to habitat creation and

maintenance for piping plovers. On

alkali lakes, the complex of different

wetland types is especially important

for providing areas for plovers in all

years, as site availability cannot be

predicted or selected at a given time,

due to varying water cycles. Although

not well documented by specific

scientific research, biologists have noted

a relationship appears to exist between

availability of breeding habitat and wetto-dry cycles. During droughts, lack of

water reduces habitat for breeding pairs

on alkali lakes and wetlands, while

reduced river flows tend to produce

more available habitat on rivers and

associated reservoirs. Additionally, if

smaller tributaries or wetlands are

flooded during the early part of the

breeding season, piping plovers often

move to larger rivers to renest.

Because piping plovers evolved in

this dynamic and complex system, and

because they are dependent on it for

their continued survival and eventual

recovery, our proposed critical habitat

boundaries incorporate natural

processes inherent in the system and

include sites that might not exhibit all

appropriate habitat components in all

years but have a documented history of

such components. For example, in dry

years, nesting areas lacking water may

be unsuitable for piping plovers;

conversely, in wet years, there may be

a lack of exposed shoreline habitat for

nesting plovers.

Criteria Used To Identify Critical

Habitat

The Recovery Plan for the Great Lakes

and Northern Great Plains Piping Plover

(Service 1988) and the Technical/

Agency Review Draft Revised Recovery

Plan for Piping Plovers Breeding on the

Great Lakes and Northern Great Plains

(1994) identified the specific recovery

needs of the northern Great Plains

breeding population of the piping

plover, and serve as starting points for

identifying areas essential to its

conservation.

31766 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

Piping plovers are found in a variety

of ecologically and geographically

distinct areas within the northern Great

Plains. In order to preserve this

diversity, all of these areas are

represented in either of the recovery

plans. To recover the northern Great

Plains breeding population of the piping

plover to the point where it can be

delisted, it is essential to preserve the

population’s genetic diversity as well as

the habitat on which it persists. The

areas identified in the recovery plans as

necessary to achieve recovery of the

population are generally reflected in

this proposal.

However, the recovery plans did not

include the most recent comprehensive

breeding survey data for the northern

Great Plains and did not identify all

possible areas essential to the survival

and recovery of the species. Thus, we

identified additional areas in this

proposal from surveys conducted in

North Dakota from 1987 to 2000, in

Montana from 1986 to 2000, in

Minnesota from 1982 to 2000, on the

Missouri River from 1986 to 2000, in

Nebraska from 1986 to 2000, in Kansas

from 1996 to 2000, in Colorado from

1990 to 2000, and in Iowa from 1986 to

2000; and data from the 1991 and 1996

International Piping Plover Censuses.

We also removed some of the sites

included in the 1994 draft recovery plan

due to existing protection from current

management practices or plans. Based

on the primary constituent elements, we

divided the habitat types used by the

northern Great Plains breeding

population of piping plovers into alkali

lakes and wetlands, rivers, reservoirs,

and inland lakes. We discuss our

inclusions and exclusions of habitat

below.

Alkali Lakes and Wetlands—We only

mapped alkali lakes and wetlands that

were observed with breeding pairs in at

least 2 out of 10 survey years. The 10-

year survey period encompassed both

wet and dry cycles; therefore, the

dynamic nature of prairie alkali lakes

and wetlands, and the resulting shift in

use by piping plovers of different

habitat types, is reflected in the

mapping. All alkali lakes and wetlands

mapped exhibit one or more of the

primary constituent elements. We did

not include many areas that exhibited

all of the primary constituent elements

and periodically contained piping

plovers because they did not meet the

minimum 2 out of 10-year requirement.

Our legal descriptions include all

sections in which alkali lakes and

wetlands and associated 200-foot (61-

meter) upland habitat are found.

Missouri River and Reservoirs—We

mapped the Missouri River from Fort

Peck Reservoir, Montana, to Ponca State

Park, Nebraska. We identified two

riverine reaches (a portion of Fort Peck

riverine reach and the reach from Ponca

State Park, Nebraska, to Plattsmouth,

Nebraska), one reservoir reach (Lake

Sharpe), and a portion of another

reservoir (Fort Peck) on the Missouri

River that we are not proposing as

critical habitat, because they did not

meet the definition of critical habitat.

See discussion to follow.

The Fort Peck riverine reach of the

Missouri River from the Fort Peck Dam

to the confluence of the Milk River (RM

1712) is highly degraded and contains

few sandbars due to sediments trapped

behind the Fort Peck Dam. Sandbar

formation begins further downstream

due to sediments transported from the

Milk River. The upstream section that

we have not proposed does not contain,

and is not likely to develop, the primary

constituent elements needed for piping

plover survival and recovery in the near

future.

Although piping plovers have been

documented as far south as Plattsmouth,

Nebraska, on the Missouri River, very

limited habitat currently exists for

piping plovers below Ponca State Park,

Nebraska. The Missouri River has little

sandbar habitat in this reach due to the

channelization of the river and bank

stabilization projects which were

created to support navigation. We are

aware of efforts to restore some

backwater areas along this reach which

will likely create suitable habitat for the

piping plover. We will continue to

monitor these areas and may consider

proposing them as critical habitat if they

obtain the primary constituent elements

needed for the piping plover in the

future. Along the Iowa reach of the

Missouri River, plovers exist on fly ash

sites adjacent to the river, but these

temporary habitats support few birds

and, therefore, are not considered

essential and do not meet the definition

of critical habitat.

Lake Sharpe was not proposed

because this reservoir reach has only

supported a few pairs of birds on one

beach since listing and, therefore, are

not considered essential and do not

meet the definition of critical habitat.

In Montana, piping plovers have been

found on the Dry Arm, Duck Creek Bay,

Bear Creek Bay, and Skunk Coulee of

Fort Peck Reservoir. We are not

proposing the entire Fort Peck Reservoir

as plovers have never been reported on

the western arm.

Including portions of the Missouri

River that may not be occupied at this

time is necessary because of the

dynamic nature of the river. Sandbar/

island habitats migrate up and down the

riverine sections of the river resulting in

shifts in the location of primary

constituent elements. Mainstem

reservoir areas also change depending

on water level management. Piping

plovers opportunistically respond to

these shifts from year to year. The entire

length of mainstem reservoirs was

included even though small areas of

reservoirs may never contain the

primary constituent elements due to

high banks and steep slopes. We did not

exclude these areas because it would

require a minimum of 2 years to collect

data necessary to map at that detail.

However, Federal actions limited to

these areas that do not contain the

primary constituent elements would not

trigger a section 7 consultation, unless

they affect the species and/or the

primary constituent elements in or

adjacent to critical habitat.

In South Dakota, a 107.5-mile (172.9-

kilometer) stretch from Big Bend Dam to

Fort Randall (Lake Francis Case) was

included despite the fact that nesting

piping plovers have not been

documented in this reach in recent

times, as nesting surveys have not been

conducted in this river since this habitat

formed. We are including this area as

proposed habitat because of the large

delta forming at the confluence of the

White River. This delta area recently

(1999–2000) developed piping plover

nesting habitat characteristics (C.D.

Kruse, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

pers. comm.) and primary constituent

elements necessary for breeding piping

plovers. In addition, this river reach, in

combination with other Missouri River

reaches, was identified as essential

habitat to meet conservation and

recovery goals for the northern Great

Plains piping plover (Service 2000a).

Inland Lakes (Lake of the Woods)—In

Minnesota, piping plovers appear to key

in on sandy points or spits in large

lakes. Although many sandy beach/large

lakes exist, piping plovers are attracted

to the rare combination of windswept

islands or peninsulas with a lack of

adjacent tree cover. Incidental

observations have never yielded nesting

observations on large lakes such as

Upper and Lower Red Lakes or Lake

Winnibigoshish. Therefore, we have

limited our critical habitat proposal in

Minnesota to three known sites on Lake

of the Woods where the species has

been observed nesting in more than 1

year. Zippel Bay on Lake of the Woods

and Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge

were not included because breeding

pairs were only observed 1 year at these

sites.

Nebraska Rivers—Portions of the

Platte, Niobrara, and Loup Rivers were

proposed where piping plover nesting

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31767

has been consistently documented since

listing.

Similar to the Missouri River,

portions of the Platte River that are

included in the proposed critical habitat

designation may not be occupied in a

given year, but designation is necessary

because of the dynamic nature of the

river. Sandbar habitats migrate up and

down the rivers resulting in shifts in the

location of primary constituent

elements.

The Elkhorn River was considered for

this proposal but was not included at

this time because there is limited

documented nesting on this river. We

do not consider the Elkhorn River to be

essential at this time to the conservation

and recovery of the northern Great

Plains breeding population of the piping

plover.

The shoreline along Lake

McConaughy, Nebraska, has not been

proposed for critical habitat due to the

existence of two, draft conservation

management plans developed by the

Central Nebraska Public Power and

Irrigation District to satisfy a Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

relicensing requirement for Project No.

1417. The ‘‘Land and Shoreline

Management Plan’’ and the

‘‘Management Plan for Least Terns and

Piping Plovers Nesting on the Shore of

Lake McConaughy’’ were developed in

coordination and in agreement with the

Service and the Nebraska Game and

Parks Commission. Both plans are being

implemented on an interim basis while

awaiting FERC approval. We believe

that implementation of these

conservation management plans is

consistent with piping plover recovery.

Therefore this area is not in need of

special management and does not meet

the definition of critical habitat. If

conservation management plans are in

place and meet the following three

criteria, then we may exclude these

areas from critical habitat. These

conservation plans must—(1) provide a

benefit to the species; (2) include

implementation assurances; and (3)

include features, such as an adaptive

management plan, that will assure

effectiveness. Therefore, despite the

presence of nesting piping plovers at

this site, it is eligible for exclusion from

critical habitat on the basis of having

conservation management plans that

specifically address the conservation

and recovery of the piping plover.

However, if FERC should ultimately

decide not to approve either or both of

the aforementioned plans as currently

drafted, we will need to reconsider

whether the site should be excluded

from the final rule for critical habitat

designation.

Colorado and Kansas Nesting Sites—

Nesting areas on the Kansas River in

Kansas were considered for possible

inclusion as critical habitat but were not

included because at the present time

these sites are not considered essential

and, therefore, do not meet the

requirements of critical habitat. The

Kansas River nesting occurred for the

first time in 1996 and is suspected to

have occurred because of habitat created

by historical flood events (1993 and

1995). We believe that a return to more

normal flows will eliminate nesting

habitat on this river. In 4 years of

documented nesting on the Kansas

River there was one pair of plovers the

first year and never more than four

pairs. Additionally, productivity has

been very limited. However, the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and

the Service will be monitoring the

Kansas River for piping plovers during

the nesting season (Service 2000a). If

nesting birds persist on the Kansas

River, then we may reevaluate this

river’s contribution to conservation and

recovery of the northern Great Plains

breeding population of piping plovers

and the need to designate critical habitat

in the future.

Six different reservoirs (Neenoshe,

Neegrande, Neeskah, John Martin,

Adobe Creek, and Verhoeff) in Bent,

Otero, and Kiowa Counties, Colorado,

have been monitored for 10 years (1990–

2000) and have not been able to sustain

a stable population. There was a high of

nine pairs in 1994 and 1995 and only

four pairs in 2000. Predation and water

level fluctuations appear to be limiting

factors affecting reproductive success.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is

likely to continue monitoring the

nesting plovers on the reservoir sites. In

addition, the Colorado Department of

Natural Resources approved a recovery

plan for both the piping plover and

interior least tern in 1994. Therefore, we

are not proposing to include these areas

in the critical habitat designation

because at the present time we do not

consider them to be essential and,

therefore, do not meet the requirements

of critical habitat.

To identify and map areas essential to

the conservation of the species, we used

the characteristics of essential habitat

described above, data on known piping

plover locations, and criteria in the

recovery plans for reclassification of the

species. We then evaluated areas based

on survey and research data and the

primary constituent elements, including

hydrology, influences of ecological

processes, and topographic features.

To map areas of critical habitat, we

used the Service’s National Wetland

Inventory (NWI) digitized data and U.S.

Geological Survey public land surveys

to develop regional GIS coverages;

Environmental Systems Research

Institute wetland data (where NWI data

was unavailable); 1984 digital ortho

quarter quads for all Nebraska River

reaches, and Statewide and county

maps for Nebraska; Central Public

Power and Irrigation District Species

Protection Zone maps of Lake

McConaughy; and data from known

piping plover breeding locations. We

also solicited information from

knowledgeable biologists and reviewed

the available information pertaining to

habitat requirements of the species.

We could not depend solely on

federally owned lands from critical

habitat designation as these lands are

limited in geographic location, size, and

habitat quality within the current range

of the northern Great Plains breeding

population of the piping plover. In

addition to the federally owned lands,

we are proposing critical habitat on nonFederal public lands and privately

owned lands, including land owned by

the States of Minnesota, Montana,

Nebraska, North Dakota, and South

Dakota.

We also are including a portion of the

Assiniboine and Sioux of Fort Peck

Tribe’s Reservation because it contains

areas of habitat within the Missouri

River that are essential to the recovery

of the piping plover. We also

coordinated with 11 other Tribes with

lands adjacent to the proposed critical

habitat. We initiated coordination with

these Tribes on this designation under

the guidance of the President’s

memorandum of April 29, 1994,

‘‘Government-to-Government Relations

with Native American Tribal

Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), Executive

Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, which

requires us to coordinate with federally

recognized Tribes on a Government-toGovernment basis. However, due to the

short amount of time allowed under the

court order for preparation of this

proposed rule, our contact with the

Tribes has been limited to a meeting

with the Tribal Chair from the

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort

Peck, through written correspondence

which resulted in no comments and

informational presentations before the

Great Plains Inter-Tribal Fish and

Wildlife Commission. We plan

continued consultation with the affected

Tribes, before making a final critical

habitat decision.

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires us

to consider the economic and other

relevant impacts of designating areas as

critical habitat. We may exclude areas

from critical habitat upon a

determination that the benefits of such

31768 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

exclusions outweigh the benefits of

designating these areas as critical

habitat. We cannot exclude areas from

critical habitat when the exclusion will

result in the extinction of the species.

We will make available for public

review an economic analysis of this

proposal; this economic analysis will

serve as the basis of our 4(b)(2) analysis

and any exclusions. However, this

economic analysis is not yet completed;

as a result, we are not able to identify

proposed exclusions under section

4(b)(2) in this proposed rule. We will

complete our economic analysis and

review public comments before making

a final determination of critical habitat.

This review, combined with our

assessment of the benefits of designating

areas as critical habitat, may identify

certain proposed areas should be

excluded from the final critical habitat

designation, provided these exclusions

will not result in the extinction of the

species. As a result, the final critical

habitat determination may differ from

this proposal.

All non-Federal lands designated as

critical habitat meet the definition of

critical habitat under section 3 of the

Act in that they are within the

geographical area occupied by the

species, are essential to the conservation

of the species, and may require special

management considerations or

protection.

We described critical habitat as

Township, Range, and Sections (TRS)

for the legal descriptions because these

are used and recognized locally. The

maps depict the alkali lakes and

wetlands and associated uplands, but

they do not show the TRS boundaries.

Due to time constraints and the use of

TRS as our minimum mapping unit, in

defining critical habitat boundaries, we

were unable to exclude developed areas

such as mainstem dam structures,

buildings, marinas, boat ramps, bank

stabilization and breakwater structures,

row cropped or plowed agricultural

areas, mines, roads and other lands (e.g.,

high bank bluffs along Missouri River

reservoirs) unlikely to contain primary

constituent elements essential for

northern Great Plains piping plover

conservation. In addition we included

the entire length of mainstem reservoirs

even though small areas of reservoirs

may never contain the primary

constituent elements due to high banks

and steep slopes. We did not exclude

these areas because it would require a

minimum of 2 years to collect data

necessary to map at that detail. These

features will not themselves contain one

or more of the primary constituent

elements. Federal actions limited to

those features, therefore, would not

trigger a section 7 consultation, unless

they affect species and/or primary

constituent elements in adjacent critical

habitat.

Proposed Critical Habitat Designation

The proposed critical habitat

contained within units discussed below

constitutes our best evaluation of areas

needed to conserve the northern Great

Plains population of piping plovers.

Proposed critical habitat may be revised

should new information become

available prior to the final rule, or may

be revised through rule-making if new

information becomes available after the

final rule.

Table 1 provides a summary of land

ownership and approximate acreage or

river miles of proposed critical habitat

for each State. Critical habitat for the

northern Great Plains breeding

population of the piping plover includes

approximately 196,476.5 acres (79,553.1

hectares) of habitat in Minnesota,

Montana, and North Dakota, and

approximately 1,338 miles (2,152.9

kilometers) of river in Montana, North

Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Table 2 provides land ownership and

approximate acreage or river miles of

proposed critical habitat for each critical

habitat unit. Lands proposed as critical

habitat are under private, Federal,

Tribal, and State ownership. Estimates

reflect the total area or river miles

within critical habitat unit boundaries,

without regard to the presence of

primary constituent elements.

Therefore, the area proposed for

designation is less than indicated in

Tables 1 and 2.

Lands proposed as critical habitat are

divided into 16 critical habitat units

containing one or more of the primary

constituent elements for the northern

Great Plains population of piping

plovers. A brief description of each

piping plover critical habitat unit is

provided below and in Table 2.

Minnesota

Unit MN–1, Rocky Point, Pine and

Curry Island, and Morris Point—This

unit includes approximately 235.2 acres

(95.1 hectares) of unique habitat,

including sparsely vegetated windswept islands, peninsulas, and sandy

points or spits that interface with Lake

of the Woods in Lake of the Woods

County. Although this unit is small in

size, there have been up to 50 plovers

found during the breeding season.

Numbers have declined since the mid1980s and there is a continued need for

habitat and predator management. This

unit represents the most eastern portion

of the northern Great Plains population

of breeding piping plovers and may be

an important link between the Great

Lakes and northern Great Plains

breeding populations. It is the only

remaining breeding site for piping

plovers in Minnesota. Approximately

100.4 acres (40.6 hectares) are

designated within the 697-acre (282.3-

hectare) Rocky Point Wildlife

Management Area, which is in public

ownership, managed by the Minnesota

Department of Natural Resources. Rocky

Point is located just east of Arneson on

Lake of the Woods. Unit 1 also includes

approximately 134.8 acres (54.5

hectares) within the Pine and Curry

Island Scientific and Natural Area

which is in public ownership, managed

by the Minnesota Department of Natural

Resources. Pine and Curry Island

Scientific and Natural Area includes

approximately 112.6 acres (45.6

hectares) of a sandy barrier island (Pine

and Curry Island) and 22.2 acres (8.9

hectares) of an adjacent peninsula

(Morris Point) located at the mouth of

the Rainy River on Lake of the Woods.

Montana

Unit MT–1, Sheridan County—This

unit includes approximately 19,445.7

acres (7,869.5 hectares) of 21 alkali lakes

and wetlands in Sheridan County,

located in the extreme northeast corner

of Montana. These alkali lakes and

wetlands are characterized as follows:

shallow, seasonally to permanently

flooded; mixosaline to hypersaline

chemistry; sandy to gravelly, sparsely

vegetated beaches, salt-encrusted mud

flats, and/or gravelly salt flats; 200 feet

(61 meters) of uplands above the

wetlands’ high water mark including

springs and fens, which provide

foraging and protective habitat for

piping plovers. Sites included in this

unit are occupied by piping plovers.

This unit requires special management

including increasing reproductive

success through predator exclusion

devices, such as nest cages and electric

fences, and reducing vegetation

encroachment on nesting beaches

through prescribed burning or grazing.

Essential breeding habitat is dispersed

throughout this unit which represents

the largest portion (approximately 66

percent) of the plovers surveyed in

Montana. This unit also links similar

habitat in Canada and North Dakota.

Approximately 5,793.7 acres (2,344.7

hectares) are in private ownership and

13,651.9 acres (5,524.8 hectares) are in

public ownership. Of the lands in

public ownership, 13,356.8 acres

(5,405.4 hectares) are in Federal

ownership and 295.1 acres (119.4

hectares) are in State ownership.

Federal lands designated include piping

plover populations on Medicine Lake

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31769

National Wildlife Refuge and several

Waterfowl Production Areas, both

owned and managed by the Service.

State lands designated include land

owned and managed by the Montana

Department of Natural Resources and

Conservation.

Unit MT–4, Nelson Reservoir and

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge—

This unit encompasses approximately

3,341.7 acres (1,352.4 hectares) on

Nelson Reservoir and 3,294.5 acres

(1,333.3 hectares) on Bowdoin National

Wildlife Refuge with sparsely vegetated

shoreline beaches, peninsulas, and

islands composed of sand gravel, or

shale that interface with these water

bodies. Both sites are located in eastcentral Phillips County, approximately

170.8 miles (275 kilometers) west of the

North Dakota border and 37.3 miles (60

kilometers) south of Canada. This unit

represents the western edge of the

northern Great Plains breeding

population of the piping plover and

requires special management including

water level and predator management.

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is in

public ownership (Federal) and

managed by the Service. Nelson

Reservoir, a Bureau of Reclamation

project, is an 4,559-acre (1,845-hectare)

irrigation reservoir approximately 2.5

miles (4 kilometers) northeast of

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge. Lake

Bowdoin and Nelson Reservoir are off

stream facilities receiving water from

the Milk River.

Nebraska

Unit NE–1, Platte, Loup, and Niobrara

Rivers—This unit encompasses

approximately 463 miles (745

kilometers) of river. The river habitat

includes sparsely vegetated channel

sandbars, sand and gravel beaches on

islands for nesting, temporary pools on

sandbars and islands, and the interface

of sand and river where plovers forage.

All three of these rivers are occupied by

and provide essential habitat for the

piping plover.

Niobrara River—The Niobrara River is

a tributary of the Missouri River,

originating in Wyoming and flowing

through the northern part of the

Nebraska Sandhills region. The portion

of the Niobrara included in the

proposed Critical Habitat starts a short

distance east of the Cherry-Brown

County line, and extends downstream

approximately 129 miles (207.6

kilometers) to its confluence with the

Missouri River. The Niobrara River is

one of the most undeveloped rivers in

the northern Great Plains and represents

one of the last rivers with largely

untouched piping plover habitat. The

source of water for this river is largely

groundwater discharge which helps to

provide a year-round base flow with few

flood events which is essential to

successful plover nesting. Essential

nesting habitat is dispersed throughout

this unit and this unit represents about

36 percent of Nebraska’s plover

population.

In 1991, the National Park Service

designated 76 miles (122.3 kilometers)

of the Niobrara River as a ‘‘National

Scenic River,’’ 50 miles (80.5

kilometers) of which are included in the

proposed Critical Habitat designation.

The National Scenic River reach ends

where Highway 137 crosses the river.

The Nature Conservancy owns and

manages 9.5 miles (15.3 kilometers)

along the Niobrara River which falls

within both the National Scenic River

reach and the proposed piping plover

Critical Habitat. Other ownership and

interests are principally private. The

primary land use along the Niobrara

River is farming (east along the river)

and ranching (west along the river).

Loup River—The Loup River flows 68

miles (109.4 kilometers) to its

confluence with the Platte River near

Columbus. Ownership interests within

this reach of proposed Critical Habitat

are primarily private. Habitat on the

Loup River proposed designation is part

of the larger Platte River watershed and

provides productive habitat for piping

plovers. The Loup River is one of the

Platte River’s principal tributaries.

Platte River—The North and South

Platte Rivers each originate in the Rocky

Mountains of Colorado with snow melt,

and flow east into Nebraska where they

join forming the Platte River near the

town of North Platte. The reach

included in the proposed piping plover

Critical Habitat begins near the town of

Cozad and extends to the Platte’s

confluence with the Missouri River 266

miles (428 kilometers) downstream.

About one-fourth of this part of the

Platte is already designated as critical

habitat for the whooping crane (Grus

americana), including a 3-mile wide

(4.8-kilometer) north-south buffer

starting at a western boundary south of

Lexington east to south of Shelton.

Ownership is primarily private,

including 28.5 miles (45.9 kilometers)

which is managed as conservation land

by The Nature Conservancy, Platte River

Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance

Trust, Central Nebraska Public Power

and Irrigation District, Nebraska Public

Power District, and the National

Audubon Society’s Lillian Annette

Rowe Sanctuary. The State of Nebraska

owns 8 miles (12.9 kilometers) along the

Platte River, which is primarily under

the jurisdiction of the Nebraska Game

and Parks Commission. Essential

nesting habitat is dispersed throughout

this unit.

North Dakota

Units 1–7 in North Dakota (described

below) include prairie alkali lakes and

wetlands. These alkali lakes and

wetlands are characterized as follows—

shallow; seasonally to permanently

flooded; mixosaline to hypersaline

chemistry; sandy to gravelly, sparsely

vegetated beaches, salt-encrusted

mudflats, and/or gravelly salt flats; 200

feet (61 meters) of uplands above the

wetlands’ high water mark, including

springs and fens which provide foraging

and protective habitat for piping

plovers. Sites included in this unit are

occupied (determined to have nesting

piping plovers 2 out of 10 years) by

piping plovers. This unit requires

special management including

increasing reproductive success through

predator exclusion devices, such as nest

cages and electric fences, and reducing

vegetation encroachment on nesting

beaches through prescribed burning or

grazing.

These essential breeding habitats in

North Dakota can support more than 50

percent of the current known

population of the northern Great Plains

Piping Plover. The proximity of Units

1–7 to the Missouri River provides an

important ecological link that may allow

birds extra protection from a severe

drought that results in dry wetlands

basins. As birds experience drought in

these units biologists believe birds move

to the river. Conversely, birds may move

to these units when Missouri River

flows are high.

Unit ND–1—This unit encompasses

approximately 7,480.3 acres (3,027.2

hectares) of 13 alkali lakes and wetlands

in Divide and Williams Counties,

located in the extreme northwestern

corner of North Dakota. Approximately

1,765.4 acres (714.4 hectares) are in

public ownership and 5,715 acres

(2,312.8 hectares) are in private

ownership. Of the lands in public

ownership 1,338 acres (541.5 hectares)

are in Federal ownership (Waterfowl

Production Areas managed by the

Service) and 427.3 acres (172.9 hectares)

are in State ownership. State lands

designated include 3.1 acres (1.3

hectares) of Wildlife Management Areas

owned and managed by the North

Dakota Game and Fish Department and

424.2 acres (171.7 hectares) of school

lands owned and managed by the North

Dakota Land Department.

Unit ND–2—This unit encompasses

approximately 23,147.1 acres (9,367.5

hectares) of 24 alkali lakes and wetlands

in Burke, Renville, Mountrail, and Ward

Counties, located in northwestern North

31770 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

Dakota. Approximately 14,541.2 acres

(5,884.7 hectares) are in public

ownership and 8,605.9 acres (3,482.8

hectares) are in private ownership. Of

the lands in public ownership, 13,806.3

acres (5,587.3 hectares) are in Federal

ownership and 734.9 acres (297.4

hectares) are in State ownership.

Federal lands designated include

Lostwood and Upper Souris National

Wildlife Refuges and Waterfowl

Productions Areas, both owned and

managed by the Service. State lands

designated include 320.4 acres (129.7

hectares) of Wildlife Management Areas

owned and managed by the North

Dakota Game and Fish Department and

414.5 acres (167.7 hectares) of school

lands owned and managed by the North

Dakota Land Department.

Unit ND–3—This unit encompasses

approximately 5,519.6 acres (2,233.8

hectares) of nine alkali lakes and

wetlands in McLean County located in

north-central North Dakota.

Approximately 1,339.3 acres (542.1

hectares) are in public ownership and

4,180.3 acres (1,691.7 hectares) are in

private ownership. Of the lands in

public ownership, 798.8 acres (323.3

hectares) are in Federal ownership

(Waterfowl Production Areas managed

by the Service) and 540.5 acres (218.8

hectares) are in State ownership. State

lands designated include 435.6 acres

(176.3 hectares) of Wildlife Management

Areas owned and managed by the North

Dakota Game and Fish Department and

105 acres (42.5 hectares) of school lands

owned and managed by the North

Dakota Land Department. The John E.

Williams Preserve, owned and managed

by The Nature Conservancy (private),

also is included in this unit.

Unit ND–4—This unit encompasses

approximately 12,084.4 acres (4,890.4

hectares) of 24 alkali lakes and wetlands

in McHenry, Pierce, Benson, and

Sheridan Counties, located in northcentral North Dakota. Approximately

1,563.1 acres (632.6 hectares) are in

public ownership and 10,521.3 acres

(4,257.8 hectares) are in private

ownership. Of the lands in public

ownership, 1,098.6 acres (444.6

hectares) are in Federal ownership

(Waterfowl Production Areas managed

by the Service) and 464.5 acres (188

hectares) are in State ownership. State

lands designated include 370.4 acres

(149.9 hectares) of Wildlife Management

Area owned and managed by the North

Dakota Game and Fish Department and

94.1 acres (38.1 hectares) of school

lands owned and managed by the North

Dakota Land Department.

Unit ND–5—This unit encompasses

approximately 1,351.4 acres (546.9

hectares) of one alkali lake in Eddy

County, located in northeastern North

Dakota. Approximately 202.8 acres (85.1

hectares) are in public ownership and

1,148.6 acres (461.8 hectares) are in

private ownership. Of the lands in

public ownership, 196.3 acres (82.5

hectares) are in Federal ownership.

Camp Grafton, a North Dakota National

Guard training facility, comprises 189.4

acres (79.7 hectares) of the habitat in

Federal ownership and 6.9 acres (2.8

hectares) are Waterfowl Production

Areas managed by the Service. The

remaining 6.5 acres (2.6 hectares) of

Public lands are in State ownership

(Wildlife Management Area owned and

managed by the North Dakota Game and

Fish Department).

Unit ND–6—This unit encompasses

approximately 40,221.1 acres (16,277.2

hectares) of 24 alkali lakes and wetlands

in Sheridan, Burleigh, Kidder, and

Stutsman Counties, located in southcentral North Dakota. Approximately

24,231.4 acres (9,806.3 hectares) are in

public ownership and 15,989.7 acres

(6,470.9 hectares) are in private

ownership. Of the lands in public

ownership, 22,269.2 acres (9,012.2

hectares) are in Federal ownership and

1,962.2 acres (794.1 hectares) are in

State ownership. Federal lands

designated include Long Lake, Chase

Lake, and Arrowwood National Wildlife

Refuges and Waterfowl Production

Areas, all owned and managed by the

Service. State lands designated include

1,297.8 acres (525.2 hectares) of Wildlife

Management Areas owned and managed

by the North Dakota Game and Fish

Department and 664.4 acres (268.9

hectares) of school lands owned and

managed by the North Dakota Land

Department.

Unit ND–7—This unit encompasses

approximately 3,085.5 acres (1,248.7

hectares) of nine alkali lakes and

wetlands in Emmons, Logan, and

McIntosh Counties, located in southcentral North Dakota. Approximately

786.5 acres (318.3 hectares) are in

public ownership and 2,299 acres (930.4

hectares) are in private ownership. Of

the lands in public ownership, 536.6

acres (217.2 hectares) are in Federal

ownership (Waterfowl Production Areas

managed by the Service) and 249.9 acres

(101.1 hectares) are in State ownership.

State lands designated include 234.8

acres (95 hectares) of Wildlife

Management Areas owned and managed

by the North Dakota Game and Fish

Department and 15.2 acres (6.1 hectares)

of school lands owned and managed by

the North Dakota Land Department.

Missouri River Units—Missouri River

units consist of riverine and reservoir

(Fort Peck Lake, Lake Sakakawea and

Lake Audubon, Lake Oahe, Lake Francis

Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake)

reaches. All reservoirs except Lake

Audubon are mainstem impoundments,

constructed by dams, and regulated by

the Corps. Lake Audubon is a subimpoundment of Lake Sakakawea and is

regulated by the Bureau of Reclamation

through operation of the Snake Creek

Pumping Plant. Overall the Missouri

River has accounted for up to 31 percent

of the northern Great Plains population

of piping plovers. All of the units are

occupied except Lake Francis Case.

However, Lake Francis Case does

contain the primary constituent

elements.

Piping plover habitat within reservoir

reaches is composed of shorelines,

peninsulas, and islands, below the top

of the maximum operating pool and is

owned by the Federal government.

These reservoir habitats include

sparsely vegetated shoreline beaches,

peninsulas, islands composed of sand,

grave, or shale, and their interface with

the water. These reservoir reaches

provide habitat for about 42 percent of

the piping plovers on the Missouri

River.

Piping plover habitat within riverine

reaches consists of inter-channel islands

and sandbars including their temporary

pools and interface with the river. These

habitats are sparsely vegetated and

consist of sand and gravel substrates.

Riverine reaches provide habitat for

about 58 percent of the piping plovers

on the Missouri River. Ownership of

these sites varies by State. In Montana,

islands and sandbars are recognized as

owned by the State except along the

reservation boundaries of the

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort

Peck. The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

of Fort Peck own land to the midchannel of the Missouri River adjacent

to the Reservation boundary.

In North Dakota and South Dakota,

islands and sandbars are recognized as

owned by the State. However, the Fort

Laramie Treaty of 1868 recognizes the

Missouri River’s east bank as the

boundary of the Great Sioux

Reservation. The issues regarding

treaties and litigation of property rights

are beyond the scope of critical habitat

designation but we recognize as their

special importance to American Indian

populations in the northern Great

Plains.

In Nebraska, islands and sandbars are

owned by the adjacent landowner. Fort

Laramie Treaty issues also apply to

tribes in Nebraska that were a part of the

Great Sioux Nation.

Montana

Unit MT–2, Fort Peck Reservoir—This

unit encompasses approximately 77,370

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31771

acres (31,311 hectares) of Fort Peck

Reservoir, located entirely within the

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife

Refuge which is in Federal ownership,

managed by the Service.

Unit MT–3—This unit encompasses

approximately 125.4 miles (201.8

kilometers) of the Missouri River from

just west of Wolf Point to the Montana/

North Dakota border. The Missouri

River in this unit flows through

reservation lands of the Assiniboine and

Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck (81.7 miles

(131.5 kilometers)), State, and privately

owned land.

North Dakota

Unit ND–8—This unit encompasses

approximately 354.6 miles (570.6

kilometers) from the Montana/North

Dakota border to the North Dakota/

South Dakota border. Lake Sakakawea,

Lake Audubon, and Lake Oahe are

included in this unit, along with a freeflowing stretch of the Missouri River

from RM 1389 to 1302 (Garrison Reach).

The North Dakota Game and Fish

Department manages the north half of

Audubon Reservoir and the Service

manages the south half of Audubon

Reservoir. The Missouri River and

associated reservoirs in this unit are

adjacent to reservation lands of the

Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold

and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, State,

and privately owned land.

South Dakota

Unit SD–1—This unit encompasses

approximately 159.7 miles (257

kilometers) from the North Dakota/

South Dakota border to RM 1072.3, just

north of Oahe Dam (Oahe Reservoir).

The Missouri River and associated

reservoirs in this unit are adjacent to

reservation lands of the Standing Rock

Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes,

State, and privately owned land.

Unit SD–2—This unit encompasses

approximately 235.3 miles (378.5

kilometers) from RM 987.5, just south of

Big Bend Dam to RM 752.2 near Ponca,

Nebraska. Two mainstem Missouri River

reservoirs, Lake Francis Case and Lewis

and Clark Lake, and two riverine

reaches (Fort Randall and Gavins Point)

are included in this unit. Approximately

120 miles (193.1 kilometers) of river

border Nebraska; of that approximately

87 miles (140 kilometers) have shared

ownership of sandbars and islands with

adjacent private landowners in

Nebraska (the other 33 miles (53.1

kilometers) are Lewis and Clark Lake).

The Missouri River and associated

reservoirs in this unit are adjacent to

reservation lands of Lower Brule Sioux

Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Oglala

Sioux Tribe, Santee Sioux Tribe, Crow

Creek Sioux Tribe, and Yankton Sioux

Tribe and privately owned land.

TABLE 1.—PROPOSED CRITICAL HABITAT UNITS FOR THE PIPING PLOVER IN UNITED STATES GREAT PLAINS STATES

SUMMARIZED BY FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, PRIVATE, AND OTHER OWNERSHIP

Ownership—linear river miles and acres (percentage within each State)

Federal State Tribal Private Total

Minnesota ................... 0 ................................ 235.2 .........................

(95.2 ha) (100%) ac ..

0 ................................ 0 ................................ 235.2 ac

(95.2 ha)

(95.2 ha)

Montana ..................... 97,363.1 ac ...............

(39,402 ha) (94.1%) ..

295.1 ac ....................

(119.4 ha) (0.3%) ......

0 ................................ 5793.7 ac ..................

(2,344.7 ha) (5.6%) ...

103,451.9 ac

(41,866.1 ha)

—Ft Peck Reservoir (Missouri

River).

77,370 ac ..................

(31,311 ha).

—All other habitat 19,993.1 ac ...............

(8,091 ha).

North Dakota .............. 40,043.8 ac ...............

(16,208.5 ha) (43.1%)

4,385.8 ac .................

(1,774.9 ha) (4.7%) ...

0 ................................ 48,459.8 ac ...............

(19,608.4 ha) (52.2%)

92,889.4 ac

(37,591.8 ha)

Missouri 1 .................... 567.7 .........................

(913.4 km) (64.9%)

mi.

307.3 mi ....................

(494.5 km) (35.1%) ...

81.7 mi ......................

131.5 km) (0.09%) 2 ..

0 ................................ 875 mi

(1407.9 km)

Nebraska .................... 0 ................................ 13 mi .........................

(20.9 km) (2.8%) .......

0 ................................ 450 mi .......................

(724.1 km) (97.2%) ...

463 mi

(745 km)

1The Missouri River includes portions of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Ownership of these sites varies by State. The

Federal government owns the reservoir shorelines below the maximum operating pool. In Montana, islands and sandbars are recognized as

owned by the State except along the reservation boundaries of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck. The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes

of Fort Peck own land to the mid-channel of the Missouri River adjacent to the Reservation boundary. In North Dakota and South Dakota, islands

and sandbars are recognized as owned by the State. However, the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 recognizes the Missouri River’s east bank as the

boundary of the Great Sioux Reservation. The issues regarding treaties and litigation of property rights are beyond the scope of critical habitat

designation, but are recognized as important to American Indian populations in the northern Great Plains. In Nebraska, islands and sandbars are

owned by the adjacent landowner. Fort Laramie Treaty issues also apply to tribes in Nebraska that were a part of the Great Sioux Nation. 2 81.7 mi (131.5 km) of the Missouri River are shared with the State of Montana. Therefore, the percentages do not total 100 and the overall

miles of river (875) is correct.

TABLE 2.—LOCATION, OWNERSHIP, AND ESTIMATED LENGTH (OR AREA) OF PIPING PLOVER CRITICAL HABITAT AREAS

MAPPED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GREAT PLAINS

Unit Location County Land Ownership Est Length (mi) or area (ac)

MN–1 .............. Rocky Point ............................. Lake of the Woods ................. State ........................................ 112.6 ac (45.6 ha)

Morris Point ............................. Lake of the Woods ................. State ........................................ 22.2 ac (9 ha)

Pine & Curry Island ................ Lake of the Woods ................. State ........................................ 100.4 ac (40.6 ha)

MT–1 ............... Sheridan 1 .............................. Sheridan .................................. State, Private .......................... 734 ac (297 ha)

31772 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

TABLE 2.—LOCATION, OWNERSHIP, AND ESTIMATED LENGTH (OR AREA) OF PIPING PLOVER CRITICAL HABITAT AREAS

MAPPED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GREAT PLAINS—Continued

Unit Location County Land Ownership Est Length (mi) or area (ac)

Sheridan 2 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 270.9 ac (109.6 ha)

Sheridan 3 .............................. ................................................. State, Private .......................... 280.9 ac (113.7 ha)

Sheridan 4 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 452.9 ac (183.3 ha)

Sheridan 5 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 107.1 ac (43.4 ha)

Sheridan 6 .............................. ................................................. State, Private .......................... 507.1 ac (205.2 ha)

Sheridan 7 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 100.1 ac (40.5 ha)

Sheridan 8 .............................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 500.2 ac (202.4 ha)

Sheridan 9 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 88.1 ac (35.7 ha)

Sheridan 10 ............................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 562.1 ac (227.5 ha)

Sheridan 11 ............................ Sheridan .................................. Private ..................................... 222.7 ac (90.1 ha)

Sheridan 12 ............................ ................................................. Private ..................................... 431.4 ac (174.6 ha)

Sheridan 13 ............................ ................................................. State, Private .......................... 375.8 ac (152.1 ha)

Sheridan 14 ............................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 1327.2 ac (537.1 ha)

Sheridan 15 ............................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 482.7 ac (195.4 ha)

Sheridan 16 ............................ ................................................. Private ..................................... 362.7 ac (146.8 ha)

Sheridan 17 ............................ ................................................. Federal .................................... 112.1 ac (45.4 ha)

Sheridan 18 ............................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 565.7 ac (228.9 ha)

Sheridan 19 ............................ ................................................. State, Federal ......................... 388.9 ac (157.4 ha)

Sheridan 20 ............................ ................................................. Federal .................................... 151.9 ac (61.5 ha)

Sheridan 21 ............................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 11,421 ac (4,622 ha)

MT–2 ............... Missouri River ......................... McCone, Richland, Roosevelt State, Tribal ............................ 125.4 mi (201.8 km)

MT–3 ............... Fort Peck Reservoir ................ Garfield, McCone, Valley ........ Federal .................................... 77,370 ac (31,311 ha)

MT–4 ............... Nelson Reservoir .................... Phillips ..................................... Federal .................................... 3341.7 ac (1,352.4 ha)

Bowdoin NWR ........................ Phillips ..................................... Federal .................................... 3294.5 ac (1,333.3 ha)

ND–1 ............... Divide ...................................... Divide ...................................... Private ..................................... 429.1 ac (174 ha)

Divide 2 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 355 ac (144 ha)

Divide 3 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 485.6 ac (197 ha)

Divide 4 ................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 526.7 ac (213 ha)

Divide 5 ................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 421.9 ac (171 ha)

Divide 6 ................................... Divide ...................................... Private ..................................... 1278 ac (517 ha)

Divide 7 ................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 543.1 ac (220 ha)

Divide 8 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 130.1 ac (23 ha)

Divide 9 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 1028.8 ac (416 ha)

Divide 10 ................................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 865.5 ac (350 ha)

Williams 1 ............................... Williams ................................... Private ..................................... 162 ac (66 ha)

Williams 2 ............................... ................................................. State, Private .......................... 586.1 ac (237 ha)

Williams 3 ............................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 668.4 ac (271 ha)

ND–2 ............... Burke 1 ................................... Burke ....................................... Private, Federal ...................... 505.6 ac (205 ha)

Burke 2 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 1017.5 ac (412 ha)

Mountrail 1 .............................. Mountrail ................................. Private, Federal ...................... 726.2 ac (294 ha)

Mountrail 2 .............................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 1633.9 ac (661 ha)

Mountrail 3 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 2829 ac (1145 ha)

Mountrail 4 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 227.1 ac (92 ha)

Mountrail 5 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 475.4 ac (192 ha)

Mountrail 6 .............................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 1122.9 ac (454 ha)

Mountrail 7 .............................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 457.5 ac (185 ha)

Mountrail 8 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 362.8 ac (147 ha)

Mountrail 9 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 503 ac (204 ha)

Mountrail 10 ............................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 289.2 ac (117 ha)

Mountrail 11 ............................ Mountrail ................................. Private, Federal ...................... 436.5 ac (177 ha)

Renville ................................... Renville ................................... Federal .................................... 10,472.4 ac (4238 ha)

Ward 1 .................................... Ward ....................................... Private ..................................... 270.6 ac (110 ha)

Ward 2 .................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 287.1 ac (116 ha)

Ward 3 .................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 69.7 ac (28 ha)

Ward 4 .................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 138.2 ac (56 ha)

Ward 5 .................................... ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 135.5 ac (55 ha)

Ward 6 .................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 446 ac (180 ha)

Ward 7 .................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 56.9 ac (23 ha)

Ward 8 .................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 235.1 ac (95 ha)

Ward 9 .................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 134.7 ac (5 ha)

Ward 10 .................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 314.2 (127 ha)

ND–3 ............... McLean 1 ................................ McClean .................................. Private, Federal ...................... 368. ac (149 ha)

McLean 2 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 310.9 ac (126 ha)

McLean 3 ................................ ................................................. Private ..................................... 245.2 ac (99.2 ha)

McLean 4 ................................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 542.5 ac (219.5 ha)

McLean 5 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 476.7 ac (192.9 ha)

McLean 6 ................................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 2.705.2 ac (1,094.8 ha)

McLean 7 ................................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 620 ac (250.9 ha)

McLean 8 ................................ ................................................. State, Private .......................... 62.1 ac (25.1 ha)

McLean 9 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 188.3 ac (76.2 ha)

ND–4 ............... Benson 1 ................................. Benson .................................... State, Private, Federal ............ 500.4 ac (202.5 ha)

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31773

TABLE 2.—LOCATION, OWNERSHIP, AND ESTIMATED LENGTH (OR AREA) OF PIPING PLOVER CRITICAL HABITAT AREAS

MAPPED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GREAT PLAINS—Continued

Unit Location County Land Ownership Est Length (mi) or area (ac)

Benson 2 ................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 172 ac (69.6 ha)

Benson 3 ................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 282.9 ac (114.5 ha)

Benson 4 ................................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 474.5 ac (192 ha)

Benson 5 ................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 92.9 ac (37.6 ha)

Benson 6 ................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 254.5 ac (103 ha)

Benson 7 ................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 1,899.6 ac (768.7 ha)

McHenry 1 .............................. McHenry .................................. Private ..................................... 1,152.3 ac (466.3 ha)

McHenry 2 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 690.9 ac (279.6 ha)

McHenry 3 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 400 ac (161.9 ha)

McHenry 4 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 149.5 ac (60.5 ha)

McHenry 5 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 238.8 ac (96.6 ha)

Pierce 1 ................................... Pierce ...................................... State, Private, Federal ............ 566.6 ac (229.3 ha)

Pierce 2 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 173.1 ac (70 ha)

Pierce 3 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 323.9 ac (131.1 ha)

Pierce 4 ................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 546.5 ac (221.2 ha)

Pierce 5 ................................... ................................................. Private ..................................... 443.2 ac (179.4 ha)

Pierce 6 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 1,084.9 ac (439.1 ha)

Sheridan 1 .............................. Sheridan .................................. Private ..................................... 488.2 ac (197.6 ha)

Sheridan 2 .............................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 466.6 ac (188.8 ha)

Sheridan 3 .............................. ................................................. State ........................................ 1,119.3 ac (453 ha)

Sheridan 4 .............................. ................................................. State, ....................................... 231.5 ac (93.7 ha)

Sheridan 5 .............................. Sheridan .................................. Private ..................................... 214.3 ac (86.7 ha)

Sheridan 6 .............................. ................................................. State ........................................ 118.1 ac (47.8 ha)

ND–5 ............... Eddy 1 ..................................... Eddy ........................................ State, Private, Federal ............ 1351.4 ac (546.9 ha)

ND–6 ............... Burleigh 1 ................................ Burleigh ................................... Private ..................................... 144.8 ac (58.6 ha)

Burleigh 2 ................................ ................................................. Private ..................................... 848.2 ac (343.3 ha)

Burleigh 3 ................................ ................................................. Private ..................................... 39.9 ac (16.2 ha)

Burleigh 4 ................................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 1,061 ac (429.4 ha)

Burleigh 5 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 285.4 ac (115.5 ha)

Burleigh 6 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 293.9 ac (118.9 ha)

Burleigh 7 ................................ ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 2,162.1 ac (875 ha)

Burleigh 8 ................................ ................................................. Private ..................................... 1,136.4 ac (459.9 ha)

Burleigh 9 ................................ ................................................. State, Private State ................. 10,558.7 ac (4273.1 ha)

Kidder 1 .................................. Kidder ...................................... State, Private .......................... 5,375.1 ac (2,175.3 ha)

Kidder 2 .................................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 629,2 ac (254.6 ha)

Kidder 3 .................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 1,251 ac (506.3 ha)

Kidder 4 .................................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 265.7 ac (107.5 ha)

Kidder 5 .................................. ................................................. Private, .................................... 2,36.2 ac (95.6 ha)

Kidder 6 .................................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 7,658.9 ac (3099.5 ha)

Kidder 7 .................................. ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 2,542.9 ac (1029.1 ha)

Kidder 8 .................................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 1164.7 ac (471.3 ha)

Kidder 9 .................................. Kidder ...................................... Private ..................................... 181.2 ac (73.4 ha)

Kidder 10 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 2.5 ac (1 ha)

Kidder 11 ................................ ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 133.2 ac (53.9 ha)

Sheridan 7 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 193.1 ac (78.1 ha)

Stutsman 1 .............................. Sheridan .................................. Federal .................................... 1,117.6 ac (452.3 ha)

Stutsman 2 .............................. Stutsman ................................. Federal .................................... 2,370.2 ac (959.2 ha)

Stutsman 3 .............................. ................................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 569 ac (230.3 ha)

ND–7 ............... Emmons 1 ............................... Emmons .................................. State, Private, Federal ............ 427.5 ac (173 ha)

Logan 1 ................................... Logan ...................................... Private ..................................... 295.1 ac (119.4 ha)

Logan 2 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 998.6 ac (404.1 ha)

Logan 3 ................................... ................................................. Private, Federal ...................... 254.4 ac (103 ha)

Logan 4 ................................... ................................................. State, Private .......................... 250.8 ac (101.5 ha)

McIntosh 1 .............................. McIntosh ................................. Private, Federal ...................... 501.9 ac (203.1 ha)

McIntosh 2 .............................. ................................................. Private ..................................... 357.2 ac (144.5 ha)

ND–8 ............... Missouri River.

—Fort Peck Reach .............. McKenzie, Williams ................. State ........................................ 18.6 mi (29.9 km)

—Lake Sakakawea & Lake

Audubon.

Dunn, McKenzie, McLean ...... Federal .................................... 179 mi (288 km)

—Garrison Reach ............... Mercer, Mountrial .................... State ........................................ 87 mi (140 km)

—Lake Oahe ....................... Williams Burleigh, Mercer,

Morton, Oliver Emmons,

Morton, Sioux.

Federal .................................... 70 mi (112.6 km)

NE–1 ............... Platte River ............................. Buffalo, Butler, Cass, Colfax,

Dawson, Dodge, Douglas,

Gosper, Hall, Hamilton,

Kearney.

State, Private .......................... 266 mi (428 km)

Loup River .............................. Merrick, Phelps, Platte ............ State, Private .......................... 68 mi (109.4 km)

31774 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

TABLE 2.—LOCATION, OWNERSHIP, AND ESTIMATED LENGTH (OR AREA) OF PIPING PLOVER CRITICAL HABITAT AREAS

MAPPED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES GREAT PLAINS—Continued

Unit Location County Land Ownership Est Length (mi) or area (ac)

Niobrara River ......................... Polk, Sarpy, Saunders Howard, Nance, Platte Boyd,

Brown, Holt, Keya Paha,

Knox, Rock.

State, Private .......................... 129 mi (207.6 km)

SD–1 ............... Missouri River.

—Lake Oahe ....................... Campbell, Corson, Dewey,

Hughes, Potter, Stanley,

Sully, Walworth.

Federal .................................... 159.7 mi (257 km)

SD–2 1 ............. Missouri River.

—Lake Francis Case .......... Brule, Buffalo, Lyman, Charles

Mix, Gregory.

Federal .................................... 107.5 mi (172.9 km)

—Fort Randall Reach ......... Bon Homme, Charles Mix ...... State ........................................ 36 mi (57.9 km)

—Lewis and Clark Lake ...... Gregory ................................... Federal .................................... 32.9 mi (52.9 km)

—Gavins Point Reach ......... Bon Homme, Yankton Clay,

Yankton.

State ........................................ 58.9 mi (94.8 km)

1Approximately 120 mi (193.1 km) of river border Nebraska; of that approximately 87 mi (140 km) have shared ownership of sandbars and islands with adjacent private landowners in Nebraska (the other 33 mi (53.1 km) are Lewis and Clark Lake).

Effect of Critical Habitat Designation

Designating critical habitat does not,

in itself, lead to the recovery of a listed

species. The designation does not

establish a reserve, create a management

plan, establish numerical population

goals, prescribe specific management

practices (inside or outside of critical

habitat), or directly affect areas not

designated as critical habitat. Specific

management recommendations for areas

designated as critical habitat are most

appropriately addressed in recovery and

management plans, and through section

7 consultation and section 10 permits.

However, designation of critical

habitat can help focus conservation

activities for listed species by

identifying areas essential to conserve

the species. Designation of critical

habitat also alerts the public, as well as

land-managing agencies, to the

importance of these areas. As a result of

critical habitat designation, Federal

agencies may be able to prioritize

landowner incentive programs such as

Conservation Reserve Program

enrollment, grassland easements, and

private landowner agreements that

benefit piping plovers. Critical habitat

designation also may assist States and

Tribes in prioritizing their conservation

and land-management programs.

Section 7 Consultation

Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires

Federal agencies, including the Service,

to ensure that actions they fund,

authorize, or carry out are not likely to

jeopardize the continued existence of a

threatened or endangered species, or

result in the destruction or adverse

modification of critical habitat to the

extent that the action appreciably

diminishes the value of the critical

habitat for the survival and recovery of

the species. Individuals, organizations,

States, Tribes, local governments, and

other non-Federal entities are affected

by the designation of critical habitat

only if their actions occur on Federal

lands, require a Federal permit, license,

or other authorization, or involve

Federal funding.

Section 7(a) of the Act requires

Federal agencies, including the Service,

to evaluate their actions with respect to

any species that is proposed or listed as

endangered or threatened and with

respect to its critical habitat, if any is

designated or proposed. Regulations

implementing this interagency

cooperation provision of the Act are

codified at 50 CFR part 402. Section

7(a)(4) requires Federal agencies to

confer with us on any action that is

likely to jeopardize the continued

existence of a proposed species or result

in destruction or adverse modification

of proposed critical habitat. Conference

reports provide conservation

recommendations to assist the agency in

eliminating conflicts that may be caused

by the proposed action. The

conservation recommendations in a

conference report are advisory. We may

issue a formal conference report, if

requested by the Federal action agency.

Formal conference reports include an

opinion that is prepared according to 50

CFR 402.14, as if the species was listed

or critical habitat designated. We may

adopt the formal conference report as

the biological opinion when the species

is listed or critical habitat designated, if

no substantial new information or

changes in the action alter the content

of the opinion (see 50 CFR 402.10(d)).

If a species is listed or critical habitat is

designated, section 7(a)(2) requires

Federal agencies to ensure that actions

they authorize, fund, or carry out are not

likely to jeopardize the continued

existence of such a species or to destroy

or adversely modify its critical habitat.

If a Federal action may affect a listed

species or its critical habitat, the

responsible Federal agency (action

agency) must enter into consultation

with us. Through this consultation, we

would ensure that the permitted actions

do not destroy or adversely modify

critical habitat

When we issue a biological opinion

concluding that a project is likely to

result in the destruction or adverse

modification of critical habitat, we also

provide reasonable and prudent

alternatives to the project, if any are

identifiable. ‘‘Reasonable and prudent

alternatives’’ are defined at 50 CFR

402.02 as alternative actions identified

during consultation that can be

implemented in a manner consistent

with the intended purpose of the action,

which are consistent with the scope of

the Federal agency’s legal authority and

jurisdiction, that are economically and

technologically feasible, and that the

Director believes would avoid resulting

in the destruction or adverse

modification of critical habitat.

Reasonable and prudent alternatives can

vary from slight project modifications to

extensive redesign or relocation of the

project. Costs associated with

implementing a reasonable and prudent

alternative are similarly variable.

Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require

Federal agencies to reinitiate

consultation on previously reviewed

actions in instances where critical

habitat is subsequently designated and

the Federal agency has retained

discretionary involvement or control

over the action or such discretionary

involvement or control is authorized by

law. Consequently, some Federal

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31775

agencies may request reinitiation of

consultation or conference with us on

actions for which formal consultation

has been completed, if those actions

may affect designated critical habitat, or

adversely modify or destroy proposed

critical habitat.

Activities on Federal lands that may

affect the northern Great Plains breeding

population of piping plovers or its

critical habitat will require section 7

consultation. Activities that, when

carried out, funded, or authorized by a

Federal agency, may destroy or

adversely modify critical habitat

include, but are not limited to:

(1) Any activity that results in

changes in the hydrology of the unit,

including activities associated with

drainage activities, flowage control (e.g.,

changes in releases) and operations,

flooding, hydropower, irrigation,

sediment transfer changes or removal,

construction or maintenance of dams,

construction of bridges and marinas,

dredging, and bank stabilization;

(2) Any activity that results in

development or alteration of the

landscape within or immediately

adjacent to a hydrologic component of

the unit including activities associated

with construction for urban and

industrial development, roads, marinas,

bridges, or bank stabilization;

agricultural activities (e.g., plowing

adjacent to prairie wetland); off-road

vehicle activity; mining; sale, exchange,

or lease of Federal land that contains

suitable habitat that is likely to result in

the habitat being destroyed or

appreciably degraded;

(3) Any activity that results in

introducing significant amounts of

emergent vegetation into the unit;

(4) Any activity that significantly and

detrimentally alters water quality in the

unit;

(5) Any activity that significantly and

detrimentally alters the inputs of

sediment and nutrients necessary for the

maintenance of geomorphic and

biologic processes that insure

appropriately configured and

productive systems; and

(6) Any activity that may reduce the

value of a site by significantly and

detrimentally disturbing plovers from

such activities as foraging, brooding,

and nesting.

Federal actions not affecting listed

species or critical habitat and actions on

non-Federal lands that are not federally

funded or permitted do not require

section 7 consultation.

We may issue a formal conference

report on proposed critical habitat if

requested by a Federal agency. Formal

conference reports on proposed critical

habitat contain an opinion that is

prepared according to 50 CFR 402.14, as

if the proposed critical habitat were

designated. We may adopt the formal

conference report as the biological

opinion when the critical habitat is

designated, if no significant new

information or changes in the Federal

action alter the content of the opinion

(see 50 CFR 402.10(d)).

Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us

to briefly evaluate and describe in any

proposed or final regulation that

designates critical habitat those

activities involving a Federal action that

may adversely modify such habitat, or

that may be affected by such

designation. Activities that may destroy

or adversely modify critical habitat

include those that appreciably reduce

the value of critical habitat for both the

survival and recovery of the northern

Great Plains piping plover. Within

critical habitat, this pertains only to

those areas containing primary

constituent elements. We note that such

activities also may jeopardize the

continued existence of the species.

To properly portray the effects of

critical habitat designation, we must

first compare the section 7 requirements

for actions that may affect critical

habitat with the requirements for

actions that may affect a listed species.

Section 7 prohibits actions funded,

authorized, or carried out by Federal

agencies from likely jeopardizing the

continued existence of a listed species

or destroying or adversely modifying the

listed species’ critical habitat. Actions

likely to ‘‘jeopardize the continued

existence’’ of a species are those that

would appreciably reduce the

likelihood of the species’ recovery.

Actions likely to ‘‘destroy or adversely

modify’’ critical habitat are those that

would appreciably reduce the value of

critical habitat for the survival and

recovery of the listed species.

Given the similarity of these

definitions, actions likely to destroy or

adversely modify critical habitat would

almost always result in jeopardy to the

species concerned, particularly when

the area of the proposed action is

occupied by the species concerned. In

those cases, critical habitat provides

little additional protection to a species,

and the ramifications of its designation

are few or none. Designation of critical

habitat in areas occupied by the

northern Great Plains piping plover is

not likely to result in a regulatory

burden above that already in place due

to the presence of the listed species. In

addition, the Corps requires review of

most or all projects requiring permits in

hydrological systems, whether or not

northern Great Plains piping plovers are

known to be present.

Federal agencies already consult with

us on activities in areas currently

occupied by the species to ensure that

their actions are not likely to jeopardize

the continued existence of the species.

These actions include, but are not

limited to:

(1) Regulations of activities affecting

waters of the United States by the Corps

under section 404 of the Clean Water

Act, and Section 10 of the Rivers and

Harbors Act;

(2) Road and bridge construction and

maintenance, right of way designation,

and regulation of agricultural activities;

(3) Activities on Federal lands

including but not limited to the Corps,

Bureau of Reclamation, National Park

Service, and Bureau of Land

Management;

(4) Licensing of construction of

communication sites by the Federal

Communications Commission;

(5) Operations and maintenance of

dams by the Corps and Bureau of

Reclamation;

(6) Licensing/Relicensing of dams by

the Federal Energy and Regulatory

Commission;

(7) Funding of activities by the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Natural Resource Conservation Service,

or any other Federal agency; and

(8) Water development projects by

Federal agencies including the Bureau

of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian

Affairs, and other Federal agencies.

All lands designated as critical habitat

are within the geographic range of the

species. In addition, all but one site

(Lake Francis Case) are considered

occupied by the species and are likely

to be used by the piping plover whether

for foraging, breeding, chick rearing,

dispersal, migration, genetic exchange,

and sheltering. Federal agencies already

consult with us on activities currently

occupied by the species, as well as on

Lake Francis Case, to ensure that their

actions do not jeopardize the continued

existence of the species. Thus, we do

not anticipate additional regulatory

protection will result from critical

habitat designation.

If you have any questions regarding

whether specific activities will likely

constitute destruction or adverse

modification of critical habitat, contact

Pete Gober, Field Supervisor, South

Dakota Field Office (see ADDRESSES).

Requests for copies of regulations on

listed wildlife and inquiries about

prohibitions and permits may be

addressed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Ecological Services, P.O. Box

25486, DFC, Denver, Colorado 80225–

0486 (telephone 303–236–7400;

facsimile 303–236–0027.

31776 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

Relationship to Habitat Conservation

Plans

Section 10(a) of the Act authorizes us

to issue permits for private actions

which result in the taking of listed

species incidental to otherwise lawful

activities. Incidental take permit

applications must be supported by a

Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that

identifies conservation measures that

the permittee agrees to implement for

the species to minimize and mitigate the

impacts of the requested incidental take.

Currently, no approved HCPs cover the

northern Great Plains piping plover or

its habitat. In the event that HCPs

covering the northern Great Plains

piping plover are developed in the

future within the proposed critical

habitat, we will work with applicants to

ensure the HCPs provide for protection

and management of habitat areas

essential for the conservation of the

piping plover, while directing

development and habitat modification

to nonessential areas of lower habitat

value. The HCP development process

provides an opportunity for more

intensive data collection and analysis

regarding the use of particular habitat

areas by the piping plover. The process

also enables us to conduct detailed

evaluations of the importance of such

lands to the long-term survival of the

species.

Economic Analysis

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires us

to designate critical habitat on the basis

of the best scientific and commercial

information available, and to consider

the economic and other relevant

impacts of designating these areas as

critical habitat. We may exclude areas

from critical habitat upon a

determination that the benefits of such

exclusions outweigh the benefits of

designating these areas as critical

habitat. We cannot exclude areas from

critical habitat when the exclusion will

result in the extinction of the species.

We will conduct an analysis of the

economic impacts of designating these

areas as critical habitat prior to a final

determination. When completed, we

will announce the availability of the

draft economic analysis with a notice in

the Federal Register, and, if necessary,

reopen the comment period at the time

to accept comments on the economic

analysis or further comments on the

proposed rule. The economic analysis

will be available at http://mountainprairie.fws.gov/pipingplover/ch . This

economic analysis will serve as the

basis of our analysis under section

4(b)(2), and of any exclusions. As this

economic analysis is not yet completed,

we are not yet able to identify proposed

exclusions under section 4(b)(2) in this

proposed rule. We will review this

analysis, public comments on the

analysis and this proposed rule, and the

benefits of designating areas as critical

habitat; we may identify certain

proposed areas that should be excluded

from the final critical habitat

designation, provided these exclusions

will not result in the extinction of the

species. As a result, the final critical

habitat determination may differ from

this proposal.

Public Comments Solicited

We intend that any final action

resulting from this proposal to be as

accurate and as effective as possible.

Therefore, we solicit comments or

suggestions from the public, other

concerned governmental agencies, the

scientific community, industry, or any

other interested party concerning this

proposed rule. We particularly seek

comments concerning:

(1) Reasons why any habitat should or

should not be determined to be critical

habitat as provided by section 4 of the

Act, including whether the benefits of

designation will outweigh any threats to

the species due to designation;

(2) Specific information on the

amount and distribution of piping

plover (northern Great Plains region)

habitat, and what habitat is essential to

the conservation of the species and why;

(3) Land use practices and current or

planned activities in the subject areas

and their possible impacts on proposed

critical habitat;

(4) Any foreseeable economic or other

impacts resulting from the proposed

designation of critical habitat, in

particular, any impacts on small entities

or families; and,

(5) Economic and other values

associated with designating critical

habitat for piping plover in the northern

Great Plains region, such as those

derived from non-consumptive uses

(e.g., hiking, camping, birdwatching,

enhanced watershed protection,

improved air quality, increased soil

retention, ‘‘existence values,’’ and

reductions in administrative costs).

(6) Whether our approach to critical

habitat designation could be improved

or modified in any way to provide for

greater public participation and

understanding, or to assist us in

accommodating public concern and

comments.

If you wish to comment, you may

submit your comments and materials

concerning this proposal by any one of

several methods (see ADDRESSES). If you

would like to submit comments by

electronic format, please submit them in

ASCII file format and avoid the use of

special characters and encryption.

Please include your name and return email address in your e-mail message.

Please note that the e-mail address will

be closed out at the termination of the

public comment period. If you do not

receive confirmation from the system

that we have received your message,

contact us directly by calling our South

Dakota Field Office at (605) 224–8693.

Our practice is to make comments,

including names and home addresses of

respondents, available for public review

during regular business hours.

Individual respondents may request that

we withhold their home address, which

we will honor to the extent allowable by

law. If you wish us to withhold your

name and/or address, you must state

this request prominently at the

beginning of your comments. To the

extent consistent with applicable law,

we will make all submissions from

organizations or businesses, and from

individuals identifying themselves as

representatives or officials of

organizations or businesses, available

for public inspection in their entirety.

Comments and materials received will

be available for public inspection, by

appointment, during normal business

hours at the above address.

Peer Review

In accordance with our policy

published on July 1, 1994 (59 FR

34270), we will seek the expert opinions

of at least three appropriate and

independent specialists regarding this

proposed rule. The purpose of such

review is to ensure decisions are based

on scientifically sound data,

assumptions, and analyses. We will

send these peer reviewers copies of this

proposed rule immediately following

publication in the Federal Register. We

will invite these peer reviewers to

comment, during the public comment

period, on the specific assumptions and

conclusions regarding the proposed

designation of critical habitat.

We will consider all comments and

data received during the 60-day

comment period on this proposed rule

during preparation of a final rule

making. Accordingly, the final decision

may differ from this proposal.

Clarity of the Rule

Executive Order 12866 requires each

agency to write regulations/notices that

are easy to understand. We invite your

comments on how to make this

proposed rule easier to understand

including answers to questions such as

the following—(1) Are the requirements

in the proposed rule clearly stated? (2)

Does the proposed rule contain

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31777

technical language or jargon that

interferes with the clarity? (3) Does the

format of the proposed rule (grouping

and order of sections, use of headings,

paragraphing, etc.) aid or reduce its

clarity? (4) Is the description of the

proposed rule in the SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section of the preamble

helpful in understanding the proposal?

What else could we do to make the

proposed rule easier to understand?

Send a copy of any comments that

concern how we could make this

proposed rule easier to understand to

Pete Gober, Field Supervisor, South

Dakota Ecological Services Field Office,

420 S. Garfield, Suite 400, Pierre, South

Dakota 57501.

Public Meetings

We have scheduled five informal

public meetings at the following

addresses on the dates indicated. Public

meetings will run from 6–9 p.m., except

for Yankton which will run from 5:30–

8:30 p.m.

1. Cottonwood Inn Convention

Center, U.S. Highway 2E, Glasgow,

Montana, July 10, 2001.

2. Doublewood Inn, I–94 and Exit 159,

Bismarck, North Dakota, July 12, 2001.

3. Pierre Chamber of Commerce,

Community Room, 800 W. Dakota

Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota, July 16,

2001.

4. Summit Activities Center, 1801

Summit Street, Yankton, South Dakota,

July 17, 2001.

5. Central Community College, Main

Building, Room 210, 3134 W. Highway

34, Grand Island, Nebraska, July 18,

2001.

Required Determinations

Regulatory Planning and Review

In accordance with Executive Order

12866, this document is a significant

rule and has been reviewed by the

Office of Management and Budget

(OMB), under Executive Order 12866.

We are preparing a draft analysis of this

proposed action, which will be available

for public comment, to determine the

economic consequences of designating

the specific areas as critical habitat. The

availability of the draft economic

analysis will be announced in the

Federal Register and in local

newspapers so that it is available for

public review and comments.

(a) This rule is not expected to have

an annual economic effect of $100

million or more or adversely affect an

economic sector, productivity, jobs, the

environment, or other units of

government.

The northern Great Plains breeding

population of piping plover was listed

as a threatened species in 1986. In

Fiscal Years 1992 through 2000, we

conducted 90 formal section 7

consultations with other Federal

agencies (88 of these included minor

water depletion work done in Nebraska,

Colorado, and Wyoming which involved

the Platte River) to ensure that their

actions are not likely to jeopardize the

continued existence of the piping

plover. Approximately 107.5 miles

(172.9 kilometers) (Lake Francis Case) of

the areas encompassing proposed

critical habitat for the northern Great

Plains breeding population of piping

plovers are presently unoccupied by

nesting piping plovers. The remaining

1,230.5 miles (1,980 kilometers) and

196,576.5 acres (79,553.1 hectares) of

the total designated critical habitat area

are currently occupied by piping

plovers.

Under the Act, critical habitat may

not be adversely modified or destroyed

by a Federal agency action; the Act does

not impose any restrictions through

critical habitat designations on nonFederal persons unless they are

conducting activities funded or

otherwise sponsored or permitted by a

Federal agency (see Table 3 below).

Section 7 requires Federal agencies to

ensure that they are not likely to

jeopardize the continued existence of

the species. Based upon our experience

with the northern Great Plains breeding

population of the piping plover, we

concluded that any Federal action or

authorized action that could potentially

cause adverse modification of the

proposed critical habitat would almost

always be considered as ‘‘jeopardy’’

under the Act (see Table 2).

TABLE 3.—ACTIVITIES POTENTIALLY IMPACTED BY PIPING PLOVER LISTING AND CRITICAL HABITAT DESIGNATION

Categories of activities Activities potentially affected by species listing only 1

Additional activities potentially affected by critical

habitat designation 2

Federal Activities Potentially

Affected. 3

Direct take and activities such as removing or destroying piping plover breeding

habitat, whether by mechanical, chemical, or other means (e.g., construction,

wetland drainage (subsurface or surface) road building, boat launch, and marina

construction or maintenance, dam construction and management, bank stabilization); regulation of water flows, damming, diversion, and channelization; recreational activities that significantly deter the use of suitable habitat areas by piping plovers or alter habitat through associated maintenance activities (e.g, recreational vehicle access, walking paths); any activity that results in changing the

hydrology of habitat areas (e.g., dam construction, changes in releases and dam

operations, dredging, draining); sale, exchange, or lease of Federal land that

contains suitable habitat that may result in the habitat being destroyed or appreciably degraded (e.g., shoreline development, building of recreational facilities,

road building); activities that may result in increased human activity and disturbance).

None in occupied habitat.

In unoccupied habitat, no

additional types of activities will be affected but

consultation will be required on these activities

in additional areas.

Private and other non-Federal Activities Potentially

Affected. 4

Direct take and activities such as removing or destroying piping plover habitat,

whether by mechanical, chemical or other means (e.g., construction, wetland

drainage (subsurface and surface) road building, boat launch and marina construction or maintenance, dam construction and management, bank stabilization);

any activity that results in changing the hydrology of habitat areas (e.g., dam

construction, changes in releases and dam operations, dredging, draining) regulation of water flows, damming, diversion, and channelization; recreational activities that significantly deter the use of suitable habitat areas by piping plovers and

appreciably decreasing habitat value or quality (e.g. increased predation, invasion of exotic species, increased human presence or disturbance) that require a

Federal action (permit, authorization, or funding).

None in occupied habitat.

In unoccupied habitat, no

additional types of activities will be affected but

consultation will be required on these activities

in additional areas.

1This column represents impacts of the final rule listing the piping plover (December 11, 1985) (50 FR 50726) under the Endangered Species

Act.

31778 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

2This column represents impact of the critical habitat designation above and beyond those impacts resulting from listing the species. 3Activities initiated by a Federal agency.

4Activities initiated by a private entity that may need Federal authorization or funding.

Accordingly, the designation of

currently occupied areas as critical

habitat are not anticipated to have any

incremental impacts on what actions

may or may not be conducted by

Federal agencies or non-Federal persons

that receive Federal authorization or

funding. Non-Federal persons who do

not have a Federal connection to their

actions are not restricted by the

designation of critical habitat; however,

they continue to be bound by the

provisions of the Act concerning ‘‘take’’

of the species. Designation of

unoccupied areas as critical habitat may

have impacts on what actions may or

may not be conducted by Federal

agencies or non-Federal persons that

receive Federal authorization or

funding, but we expect little additional

impact from designating these areas as

critical habitat. The unoccupied areas

exist on the Missouri River (Lake

Francis Case) and all Federal activities

on the Missouri River within the range

of the northern Great Plains population

of piping plovers are evaluated for

potential impacts to the piping plovers.

We will evaluate any potential impact

through our economic analysis (see

Economic Analysis section of this rule).

(b) This rule is not expected to create

inconsistencies with other agencies’

actions. As discussed above, Federal

agencies have been required to ensure

that their actions are not likely to

jeopardize the continued existence of

piping plovers since the listing in 1985.

The prohibition against adverse

modification of critical habitat is not

expected to impose any restriction in

addition to those that currently exist in

occupied areas of proposed critical

habitat. Additional restrictions may be

imposed in unoccupied areas proposed

as critical habitat. However the

unoccupied areas exist on the Missouri

River and all Federal activities on the

Missouri River within the range of the

northern Great Plains population of the

piping plover are evaluated for potential

impacts to the piping plovers. We will

evaluate any possibility of additional

restrictions through our economic

analysis. Because of the potential for

impacts on other Federal agency

activities, we will continue to review

this proposed action for any

inconsistencies with other Federal

agency actions.

(c) This rule is not expected to

materially affect entitlements, grants,

user fees, loan programs, or the rights

and obligations of their recipients.

Federal agencies are currently required

to ensure that their activities are not

likely to jeopardize the continued

existence of the species, and, as

discussed above, we do not anticipate

that the adverse modification

prohibition (resulting from critical

habitat designation) will have any

additional effects in areas of occupied

habitat. The critical habitat designation

may have some additional effects in the

unoccupied areas of proposed critical

habitat. We will review the effects of

this proposed action on Federal

agencies or non-Federal persons that

receive Federal authorization or funding

in the area of critical habitat with

unknown occupancy.

(d) OMB has determined that this rule

may raise novel legal or policy issues

and, as a result, this rule has undergone

OMB review.

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601

et seq.)

In the economic analysis, we will

determine whether designation of

critical habitat will have a significant

effect on a substantial number of small

entities. As discussed under Regulatory

Planning and Review above, this rule is

expected to result in few, if any,

restrictions in addition to those

currently in existence. As indicated on

Table 1 (see ‘‘Critical Habitat

Designation’’), we designated property

owned by Federal, State, and Tribal

governments, and private entities.

Within these areas, the types of

Federal actions or authorized activities

that we have identified as potential

concerns are:

(1) Regulation of activities affecting

waters of the United States by Corps

under section 404 of the Clean Water

Act, and Section 10 of the Rivers and

Harbors Act;

(2) Regulation of water flows, water

delivery, and diversion by Federal

agencies;

(3) Sale, exchange, or lease of lands

owned by a Federal agency;

(4) Road construction and

maintenance and right-of-way

designation;

(5) Funding of low-interest loans to

facilitate the construction of low-income

housing by the Department of Housing

and Urban Development;

(6) Hazard mitigation and postdisaster repairs funded by the Federal

Emergency Management Agency;

(7) Promulgation of air and water

quality standards under the Clean Air

Act and the Clean Water Act and the

cleanup of toxic waste and superfund

sites under the Resource Conservation

and Recovery Act and the

Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation, and Liability

Act by the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency;

(8) Issuance of Endangered Species

Act section 10(a)(1)(B) permits by the

Fish and Wildlife Service; and

(9) Activities funded, carried out, or

authorized by any Federal agency.

Many of these activities sponsored by

Federal agencies within the proposed

critical habitat areas are carried out by

small entities (as defined by the

Regulatory Flexibility Act) through

contract, grant, permit, or other Federal

authorization. As discussed above, these

actions are currently required to comply

with the listing protections of the Act,

and the designation of critical habitat is

not anticipated to have any additional

effects on these activities in areas of

critical habitat occupied by the species.

We expect little additional effect for the

unoccupied areas of proposed critical

habitat. In the economic analysis, we

will evaluate whether designation of

critical habitat in the unoccupied areas

will have an effect on activities carried

out by small entities.

For actions on non-Federal property

that do not have a Federal connection

(such as funding or authorization), the

current restrictions concerning take of

the species remain in effect, and this

rule will have no additional restrictions.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement

Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 804(2))

In the economic analysis, we will

determine whether designation of

critical habitat will cause—(a) any effect

on the economy of $100 million or

more, (b) any increases in costs or prices

for consumers, individual industries,

Federal, State, Tribal, or local

government agencies, or geographic

regions, or (c) any significant adverse

effects on competition, employment,

investment, productivity, innovation, or

the ability of United States-based

enterprises to compete with foreignbased enterprises.

Executive Order 13211

On May 18, 2001, the President issued

an Executive Order (EO 13211) on

regulations that significantly affect

energy supply, distribution, and use.

Executive Order 13211 requires agencies

to prepare Statements of Energy Effects

when undertaking certain actions. As

this proposed rule is not expected to

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31779

significantly affect energy supplies,

distribution, or use, this action is not a

significant energy action and no

Statement of Energy Effects is required.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2

U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

In accordance with the Unfunded

Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et

seq.):

(a) This rule, as proposed, will not

‘‘significantly or uniquely’’ affect small

governments. A Small Government

Agency Plan is not required. Small

governments will be affected only to the

extent that any of their actions involving

Federal funding or authorization must

not destroy or adversely modify the

critical habitat. However, as discussed

above, these actions are currently

subject to equivalent restrictions

through the listing protections of the

species, and no further restrictions are

anticipated.

(b) This rule, as proposed, will not

produce a Federal mandate of $100

million or greater in any year, that is, it

is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’

under the Unfunded Mandates Reform

Act. The designation of critical habitat

for the piping plover imposes no

obligations on State or local

governments.

Takings

In accordance with Executive Order

12630, this rule does not have

significant takings implications, and a

takings implication assessment is not

required. This determination will not

‘‘take’’ private property and will not

alter the long-term value of private

property. As discussed above, the

designation of critical habitat affects

only Federal agency actions. The rule

will not increase or decrease the current

restrictions on private property

concerning take of piping plovers as

defined in section 9 of the Act and its

implementing regulations (50 FR 17.31).

Due to current public knowledge of the

species’ protection, the prohibition

against take of piping plovers both

within and outside of the proposed

areas, and the fact that critical habitat

provides no incremental restrictions, we

do not anticipate that property values

will be affected by the critical habitat

designation. While real estate market

values may temporarily decline

following designation, due to the

perception that critical habitat

designation may impose additional

regulatory burdens on land use, we

expect any such impacts to be short

term. Additionally, critical habitat

designation does not preclude

development of habitat conservation

plans and issuance of incidental take

permits. Landowners in areas that are

included in the designated critical

habitat will continue to utilize their

property in ways consistent with the

conservation of the piping plover.

Federalism

In accordance with Executive Order

13132, the rule does not have significant

Federalism effects. A Federalism

assessment is not required. In keeping

with Department of the Interior and

Department of Commerce policy, the

Service requested information from and

coordinated development of this critical

habitat proposal with appropriate State

resource agencies in Minnesota,

Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Colorado

as well as during the listing process. We

will continue to coordinate any future

designation of critical habitat for the

northern Great Plains piping plover

with the appropriate State agencies. The

designation of critical habitat for the

piping plover imposes few additional

restrictions to those currently in place

and, therefore, has little incremental

impact on State and local governments

and their activities. The designation

may have some benefit to these

governments in that the areas essential

to the conservation of the species are

more clearly defined and the primary

constituent elements of the habitat

necessary to the conservation of the

species are specifically identified. While

making this definition and

identification does not alter where and

what federally sponsored activities may

occur, doing so may assist these local

governments in long-range planning

(rather than waiting for case-by-case

section 7 consultations to occur).

Civil Justice Reform

In accordance with Executive Order

12988, the Office of the Solicitor has

determined that the rule does not

unduly burden the judicial system and

meets the requirements of sections 3(a)

and 3(b)(2) of the Order. We are

proposing to designate critical habitat in

accordance with the provisions of the

Act and plan public meetings on the

proposed designation during the

comment period. The rule uses standard

property descriptions and identifies the

primary constituent elements within the

designated areas to assist the public in

understanding the habitat needs of the

northern Great Plains breeding

population of piping plover.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

This rule does not contain any

information collection requirements for

which Office of Management and

Budget approval under the Paperwork

Reduction Act is required. An agency

may not conduct or sponsor, and a

person is not required to respond to a

collection of information unless it

displays a valid OMB control number.

National Environmental Policy Act

Our position is that, outside the Tenth

Circuit, we do not need to prepare

environmental analyses as defined by

the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) in connection with designating

critical habitat under the Endangered

Species Act of 1973, as amended. We

published a notice outlining our reasons

for this determination in the Federal

Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR

49244). This assertion was upheld in the

courts of the Ninth Circuit (Douglas

County v. Babbitt, 48 F .3d 1495 (9th

Cir. Ore. 1995), cert. denied 116 S. Ct.

698 (1996)). However, when the range of

the species includes States within the

Tenth Circuit, pursuant to the Tenth

Circuit ruling in Catron County Board of

Commissioners v. U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 75 F .3d 1429 (10th

Cir. 1996), we will complete a NEPA

analysis with an Environmental

Assessment. The range of the northern

Great Plains breeding population of the

piping plover includes States within the

Tenth Circuit, therefore, we are

completing an Environmental

Assessment and will announce its

availability in the Federal Register.

Government-to-Government

Relationship With Tribes

In accordance with the President’s

memorandum of April 29, 1994,

‘‘Government-to-Government Relations

with Native American Tribal

Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), Executive

Order 13175, and 512 DM 2, we readily

acknowledge our responsibility to

communicate meaningfully with

recognized Federal Tribes on a

government-to-government basis. We

are required to assess the effects of

critical habitat designation on tribal

lands and tribal trust resources. We

believe certain Tribal trust resources

may be essential for the conservation of

the piping plover. In Montana, plovers

have nested on alkali wetlands within

the Blackfeet Reservation. However,

nesting on the Blackfeet Reservation is

rare and none of this habitat was

proposed for critical habitat.

Many Native American people live

adjacent to the Missouri River and are

dependent on the natural resources of

the Missouri River Basin. However,

proposed critical habitat on the

Missouri River includes reservoir

beaches below the top of the maximum

operating pool and on sandbars and

31780 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

islands in river reaches below dams.

Land below the top of the maximum

operating pool on the Missouri River

reservoirs is in federal ownership and

managed by the Corps. Therefore, no

Tribal lands have been proposed as

critical habitat on Missouri River

reservoirs.

On the riverine reaches of the

Missouri River, sandbars and islands in

the river below the dams are claimed by

the states of Montana, North Dakota,

South Dakota and private landowners in

Nebraska. However, the state of

Montana recognizes that the

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Ft.

Peck have ownership of sandbars and

islands of the Missouri River from the

north shoreline of the Missouri River to

the mid-channel of the river where their

Reservation borders the river. The

Reservation borders the Missouri River

for 81.7 miles (131.5 kilometers) in

Missouri River Unit MT–3. Piping

plovers nest on sandbars and islands of

the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Ft.

Peck. We believe that these Tribal lands

are essential for the conservation of the

piping plover and we have proposed

designating critical habitat for the

piping plover on these lands of the

Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Ft.

Peck. Therefore, the only Tribe with

lands within the proposed critical

habitat designation for the northern

Great Plains piping plover population

are the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of

Ft. Peck in Montana.

Other tribes recognizing the Ft.

Laramie Treaty of 1868 or presently

living adjacent to the Missouri River

and proposed critical habitat

designation include the Assiniboine and

Sioux Tribes of Ft. Peck in Montana; the

Three Affiliated Tribes and the Standing

Rock Tribe in North Dakota, the

Standing Rock Tribe, Cheyenne River

Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe,

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge

Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and

Yankton Sioux Tribe in South Dakota

and the Santee Sioux Tribe in Nebraska.

The Tribes in the Missouri River Basin

are involved with natural resource

management and several are already

involved with the management of

federally listed species. Tribes have

participated in both the Missouri River

Basin Association and the Missouri

River Natural Resource Committee and

many are actively involved with the

Mni Sose Coalition.

Additionally, in 1999, the ‘‘Cheyenne

River Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule Sioux

Tribe, State of South Dakota Terrestrial

Wildlife Habitat Restoration’’ was

passed into law under Title VI of the

Water Resources Development Act. This

Act will transfer much of the Federal

land and recreation areas in South

Dakota managed by the Corps to the

State and the Bureau of Indian Affairs

(for the Cheyenne River and Lower

Brule Sioux Tribes). Although land to be

transferred in fee title is above the top

of the maximum operating pool on

Missouri River reservoirs, and not likely

to have the primary constituent

elements for piping plover critical

habitat, under this legislation the

Bureau of Indian Affairs will obtain, via

easement, the management authority to

the water’s edge, an area which is likely

to contain the primary constituent

elements. This transfer of lands is

proposed to occur by 2002. Only a small

portion of land adjacent to the Lower

Brule Sioux Tribe Reservation is

proposed for critical habitat designation.

This includes approximately a stretch of

the Missouri River on Lake Francis Case

from Big Bend Dam to about 10 miles

downstream. Land adjacent to the

Cheyenne River Sioux and Lower Brule

Sioux Tribes above the top of the

maximum operating pool will be

transferred to the Bureau of Indian

Affairs.

We may exclude areas from critical

habitat upon a determination that the

benefits of such exclusions outweigh the

benefits of specifying such areas as

critical habitat according to section

4(b)(2) of the Act. However, we cannot

exclude such areas from critical habitat

if doing so will result in the extinction

of the species. Due to the short amount

of time allowed under the court order

for preparation of this proposed rule,

our contact with the Tribes has only

been through written correspondence

which resulted in no comments and

informational presentations before the

Great Plains Inter-Tribal Fish and

Wildlife Commission. We plan

continued consultation with the affected

Tribes, before making a final critical

habitat decision.

Relationship to Canada

In the 1988 Recovery Plan, one of our

criteria for recovery and delisting of the

piping plover is that the Canadian

Recovery Objective must be met for the

prairie region. Because of this, we have

some joint conservation projects

ongoing with Canada. However,

according to CFR 402.12(h), ‘‘Critical

habitat shall not be designated with

foreign countries or in other areas

outside of the United States

jurisdiction.’’ Since the areas of joint

conservation do not fall within the

United States jurisdiction, they are not

included in this critical habitat

proposal.

References Cited

A complete list of all references cited

in this final rule is available upon

request from the South Dakota Fish and

Wildlife Service Field Office (see

‘‘ADDRESSES’’).

Authors

The primary author of this proposed

rule is Nell McPhillips, Biologist, of the

South Dakota Fish and Wildlife Service

Field Office (see ‘‘ADDRESSES’’).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and threatened species,

Exports, Imports, Reporting and record

keeping requirements, Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

Accordingly, we propose to amend

part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title

50 of the Code of Federal Regulations as

set forth below:

PART 17—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 17

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 16 U.S.C.

1531–1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201–4245; Pub. L. 99–

625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

2. In § 17.11(h), revise the entry for

‘‘piping plover’’ under ‘‘BIRDS’’ to read

as follows:

§ 17.11 Endangered and threatened

wildlife.

* * * * *

(h) * * *

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Species

Historic range

Vertebrate population where endangered or threatened

Status When listed Critical

habitat

Special

rules Common name Scientific name

*******

BIRDS

*******

Plover, piping ........... Charadrius melodus U.S.A. (Great Lakes,

northern Great

Plains, Atlantic

and Gulf Coasts,

PR, VI) Canada,

Mexico, Bahamas,

West Indies.

Great Lakes, watershed in States of

IL, IN, MI, MN,

NY, OH, PA, and

WI and Canada

(Ont.).

E 211 17.95(b) NA

Plover, piping ........... Charadrius melodus U.S.A. (Great Lakes,

northern Great

Plains, Atlantic

and Gulf Coasts,

PR, VI) Canada,

Mexico, Bahamas,

West Indies.

Northern Great

Plains in States of

MN, MT, ND, NE,

and SD.

T 211 17.95(b) NA

Do ...................... Charadrius melodus ......do ...................... Entire, except those

areas where listed

as endangered

above..

T 211 NA NA

*******

3. Amend § 17.95(b) by adding critical

habitat for the northern Great Plains

piping plover (Charadrius melodus) in

the same alphabetical order as the

species occurs in § 17.11(h) to read as

follows:

§ 17.95 Critical habitat—fish and wildlife.

* * * * *

(b) Birds.

* * * * *

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)—

Northern Great Plains Breeding

Population

1. Critical habitat units are depicted

for Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska,

North Dakota, and South Dakota. Maps

and description follow.

2. The primary constituent elements

required to sustain the northern Great

Plains breeding population of piping

plovers are categorized by breeding

habitat types found in the northern

Great Plains. The habitat types and

primary constituent elements necessary

to sustain the northern Great Plains

breeding population of piping plovers

are described as follows:

i. On prairie alkali lakes and

wetlands, the primary constituent

elements include—(1) shallow,

seasonally to permanently flooded,

mixosaline to hypersaline wetlands

with sandy to gravelly, sparsely

vegetated beaches, salt-encrusted mud

flats, and/or gravelly salt flats; and (2)

springs and fens along edges of alkali

lakes and wetlands; and (3) adjacent

uplands within 200 feet (61 meters) of

the high water mark of the alkali lake or

wetland.

ii. On rivers, the primary constituent

elements include—sparsely vegetated

channel sandbars, sand and gravel

beaches on islands, temporary pools on

sandbars and islands, and the interface

with the river.

iii. On reservoirs, the primary

constituent elements include—sparsely

vegetated shoreline beaches, peninsulas,

islands composed of sand, gravel, or

shale, and their interface with the water

bodies.

iv. On inland lakes (Lake of the

Woods), the primary constituent

elements include—sparsely vegetated

and windswept sandy to gravelly

islands, beaches, and peninsulas, and

their interface with the water body.

v. The dynamic ecological processes

that create and maintain piping plover

habitat also are important primary

constituent elements. Because piping

plovers evolved in this dynamic and

complex system, these processes

develop a mosaic of habitats on the

landscape that provide the essential

combination of prey, forage, nesting,

brooding and chick-rearing areas for

their continued survival and eventual

recovery. The annual, seasonal, daily,

and hourly availability of the habitat

patches is dependent on local weather,

hydrological conditions and cycles, and

geological processes.

3. Critical habitat does not include

existing developed areas such as

mainstem dam structures, buildings,

marinas, boat ramps, bank stabilization

and breakwater structures, row cropped

or plowed agricultural areas, roads and

other lands (e.g., high bank bluffs along

Missouri River) unlikely to contain

primary constituent elements essential

for northern Great Plains piping plover

conservation.

Minnesota

Projection: UTM Zone 15, NAD83, GRS

1980

Unit MN–1: Rocky Point, Morris Point,

and Pine and Curry Island

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Pine and Curry Islands: T. 162 N., R.

31 W., Sec. 1, T.162 N., R.32 W., Sec.

6, T.162 N., R.32 W., Sec. 10–12; Morris

Point: T. 162 N., R. 32 W., Sec. 15–16;

Rocky Point: T. 163 N., R. 34 W., Sec.

4–5,T.163 N., R.34 W., Sec. 9.

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Montana

Projection: UTM Zone 13, NAD27,

Clarke 1866

Unit MT–1: Sheridan 1–21

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 31 N., R. 56 E., Sec. 1–2, T. 31 N.,

R. 56 E., Sec. 4–6, T. 31 N., R. 56 E., Sec.

8–15.

T. 31 N., R. 56 E., Sec. 23–24, T. 31

N., R. 56 E., Sec. 30, T. 31 N., R. 57 E.,

Sec. 4–8.

T. 31 N., R. 57 E., Sec. 18, T. 32 N.,

R. 55 E., Sec. 36, T. 32 N., R. 56 E., Sec.

25, T. 32 N., R. 56 E., Sec. 31–36, T. 32

N., R. 57 E., Sec. 28–34, T. 32 N., R. 58

E., Sec. 4, T. 32 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 8–10,

T. 32 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 16–18, T. 32 N.,

R. 58 E., Sec. 30, T. 33 N., R. 58 E., Sec.

4–5, T. 33 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 22, T. 33

N., R. 58 E., Sec. 24–27, T. 33, N., R. 58

E., Sec. 34–35, T. 34 N., R. 58 E., Sec.

2, T. 34 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 11, T. 34 N.,

R. 58 E., Sec. 30, T. 34 N., R. 58 E., Sec.

32–33, T. 35 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 1–2, T.

35 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 11–14, T. 35 N., R.

58 E., Sec. 35, T. 36 N., R. 57 E., Sec.

10, T. 36 N., R. 57 E., Sec. 15, T. 36 N.,

R. 57 E., Sec. 22, T. 36 N., R. 58 E., Sec.

1–2, T. 36 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 12–13, T.

36 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 22–27, T. 36 N., R.

58 E., Sec. 30, T. 36 N., R. 58 E., Sec.

36, T. 37 N., R. 56 E., Sec. 1–3, T. 37

N., R. 56 E., Sec. 12, T. 37 N., R. 57 E.,

Sec. 7–8, T. 37 N., R. 57 E., Sec. 17–18,

T. 37 N., R. 57 E., Sec. 23, T. 37 N., R.

57 E., Sec. 25–27, T. 37 N., R. 57 E., Sec.

35, T. 37 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 15–16, T. 37

N., R. 58 E., Sec. 20–22, T. 37 N., R. 58

E., Sec. 27–34.

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Unit MT–2: Missouri River

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 26 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 1–6, T. 26 N.,

R. 59 E., Sec. 3–6, T. 26 N., R. 59 E., Sec.

9–10, T. 26 N., R. 59 E., Sec. 13–16, T.

26 N., R. 59 E., Sec. 22–24, T. 27 N., R.

47 E., Sec. 21–24, T. 27 N., R. 47 E., Sec.

27–28, T. 27 N., R. 47 E., Sec. 33–34, T.

27 N., R. 48 E., Sec. 13–16, T. 27 N., R.

48 E., Sec. 19–22, T. 27 N., R. 48 E., Sec.

28–29, T. 27 N., R. 49 E., Sec. 13–18, T.

27 N., R. 49 E., Sec. 24, T. 27 N., R. 50

E., Sec. 14–21, T. 27 N., R. 50 E., Sec.

23–26, T. 27 N., R. 51 E., Sec. 7–8, T.

27 N., R. 51 E., Sec. 17–27, T. 27 N., R.

51 E., Sec. 30, T. 27 N., R. 52 E., Sec.

10–16, T. 27 N., R. 52 E., Sec. 19, T. 27

N., R. 52 E., Sec. 21–23, T. 27 N., R. 52

E., Sec. 27–32, T. 27 N., R. 53 E., Sec.

1–3, T. 27 N., R. 53 E., Sec. 6–7, T. 27

N., R. 53 E., Sec. 18, T. 27 N., R. 54 E.,

Sec. 1–6, T. 27 N., R. 54 E., Sec. 9–12,

T. 27 N., R. 55 E., Sec. 1–5, T. 27 N.,

R. 55 E., Sec. 7–11, T. 27 N., R. 56 E.,

Sec. 2–6, T. 27 N., R. 56 E., Sec. 8–9,

T. 27 N., R. 56 E., Sec. 11, T. 27 N., R.

56 E., Sec. 13–14, T. 27 N., R. 56 E., Sec.

24, T. 27 N., R. 57 E., Sec. 18–21, T. 27

N., R. 57 E., Sec. 27–28, T. 27 N., R. 57

E., Sec. 33–36, T. 27 N., R. 58 E., Sec.

23, T. 27 N., R. 58 E., Sec. 25–27, T. 27

N., R. 58 E., Sec. 31–32, T. 27 N., R. 58

E., Sec. 34–36, T. 27 N., R. 59 E., Sec.

29–32, T. 28 N., R. 53 E., Sec. 27–31, T.

28 N., R. 53 E., Sec. 33–34, T. 28 N., R.

54 E., Sec. 31–33, T. 28 N., R. 55 E., Sec.

33–35.

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Unit MT–3: Fort Peck Reservoir

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 22 N., R.42E., Sec. 1–3, T. 22 N.,

R. 42 E., Sec. 10–15, T. 22 N., R. 42 E.,

Sec. 24, T. 22 N., R. 43 E., Sec. 6–8, T.

22 N., R. 43 E., Sec. 18–20, T. 23 N., R.

42 E., Sec. 15, T. 23 N., R. 42 E., Sec.

10–15, T. 23 N., R. 42 E., Sec. 22–27, T.

23 N., R. 42 E., Sec. 34–36, T. 23 N., R.

43 E., Sec. 18–19, T. 23 N., R. 43 E., Sec.

30–31, T. 24 N., R. 41 E., Sec. 1–3, T.

24 N., R. 41 E., Sec. 10–13, T. 24 N., R.

41 E., Sec. 24, T. 24 N., R. 42 E., Sec.

5–8, T. 24 N., R. 42 E., Sec. 16–21, T.

24 N., R. 42 E., Sec. 25–36, T. 25 N., R.

39 E., Sec. 1–2, T. 25 N., R. 39 E., Sec.

11–12, T. 25 N., R. 40 E., Sec. 1–17, T.

25 N., R. 40 E., Sec. 20–24, T. 25 N., R.

41 E., Sec. 1–36, T. 25 N., R. 42 E., Sec.

5–6, T. 26 N., R. 39 E., Sec. 35–36, T.

26 N., R. 40 E., Sec. 31–36, T. 26 N., R.

41 E., Sec. 13–17, T. 26 N., R. 41 E., Sec.

19–36, T. 26 N., R. 41 E., Sec. 20–36, T.

26 N., R. 42 E., Sec. 17–19, T. 26 N., R.

42 E., Sec. 29–32.

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Unit MT–4: Nelson Reservoir and

Bowdoin NWR

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Bowdoin NWR: T. 30 N., R. 31 E., Sec.

1–2, T. 30 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 4, T. 30 N.,

R. 31 E., Sec. 9–11, T. 31 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 21–22, T. 31 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 25–

28, T. 31 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 33–36; Nelson

Reservoir: T. 31 N., R. 32 E. Sec. 3–5,

T. 32 N., R. 32 E., Sec. 14–15, T. 32 N.,

R. 32 E., Sec. 22–24, T. 32 N., R. 32 E.,

Sec. 26–27, T. 32 N., R. 32 E., Sec. 32–

35.

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Nebraska

Projection: UTM Zone 14, NAD83

Unit NE–1: Platte, Loup, and Niobrara

Rivers

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T.08 N., R.13 W., Sec. 04; T.08 N.,

R.13 W., Sec. 05; T.08 N., R.13 W., Sec.

06; T.08 N., R.13 W., Sec. 07; T.08 N.,

R.14 W., Sec. 09; T.08 N., R.14 W., Sec.

10; T.08 N., R.14 W., Sec. 11; T.08 N.,

R.14 W., Sec. 12; T.08 N., R.14 W., Sec.

15; T.08 N., R.14 W., Sec. 16; T.08 N.,

R.14 W., Sec. 17; T.08 N., R.14 W., Sec.

18; T.08 N., R.15 W., Sec. 13; T.08 N.,

R.15 W., Sec. 14; T.08 N., R.15 W., Sec.

15; T.08 N., R.15 W., Sec. 16; T.08 N.,

R.15 W., Sec. 17; T.08 N., R.15 W., Sec.

18; T.08 N., R.15 W., Sec. 19; T.08 N.,

R.15 W., Sec. 20; T.08 N., R.15 W., Sec.

21; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec. 07; T.08 N.,

R.16 W., Sec. 08; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec.

13; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec. 14; T.08 N.,

R.16 W., Sec. 15; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec.

16; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec. 17; T.08 N.,

R.16 W., Sec. 18; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec.

23; T.08 N., R.16 W., Sec. 24; T.08 N.,

R.17 W., Sec. 07; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec.

08; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec. 10; T.08 N.,

R.17 W., Sec. 11; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec.

12; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec. 13; T.08 N.,

R.17 W., Sec. 14; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec.

15; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec. 16; T.08 N.,

R.17 W., Sec. 17; T.08 N., R.17 W., Sec.

18; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec. 02; T.08 N.,

R.18 W., Sec. 03; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec.

04; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec. 05; T.08 N.,

R.18 W., Sec. 06; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec.

07; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec. 08; T.08 N.,

R.18 W., Sec. 09; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec.

10; T.08 N., R.18 W., Sec. 11; T.08 N.,

R.18 W., Sec. 12; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec.

01; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec. 02; T.08 N.,

R.19 W., Sec. 03; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec.

04; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec. 05; T.08 N.,

R.19 W., Sec. 06; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec.

07; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec. 08; T.08 N.,

R.19 W., Sec. 09; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec.

10; T.08 N., R.19 W., Sec. 11; T.08 N.,

R.19 W., Sec. 12; T.08 N., R.20 W.,

Sec.01; T.08 N., R.20 W., Sec. 02; T.08

N., R.20 W., Sec. 03; T.08 N., R.20 W.,

Sec. 04; T.08 N., R.20 W., Sec. 05; T.08

N., R.20 W., Sec. 06; T.08 N., R.20 W.,

Sec. 07; T.08 N., R.20 W., Sec. 08; T.08

N., R.20 W., Sec. 09; T.08 N., R.20 W.,

Sec. 10; T.08 N., R.20 W., Sec. 11; T.08

N., R.20 W., Sec. 12; T.08 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 01; T.08 N., R.21 W., Sec. 02; T.08

N., R.21 W., Sec. 12; T.09 N., R.10 W.,

Sec. 03; T.09 N., R.10 W., Sec. 04; T.09

N., R.10 W., Sec. 05; T.09 N., R.10 W.,

Sec. 06; T.09 N., R.10 W., Sec. 07; T.09

N., R.11 W., Sec. 01; T.09 N., R.11 W.,

Sec. 11; T.09 N., R.11 W., Sec. 12; T.09

N., R.11 W., Sec. 14; T.09 N., R.11 W.,

Sec. 15; T.09 N., R.11 W., Sec. 16; T.09

N., R.11 W., Sec. 17; T.09 N., R.11 W.,

Sec. 18; T.09 N., R.11 W., Sec. 19; T.09

N., R.12 W., Sec. 13; T.09 N., R.12 W.,

Sec. 22; T.09 N., R.12 W., Sec. 23; T.09

N., R.12 W., Sec. 24; T.09 N., R.12 W.,

Sec. 26; T.09 N., R.12 W., Sec. 27; T.09

N., R.12 W., Sec. 28; T.09 N., R.12 W.,

Sec. 29; T.09 N., R.12 W., Sec. 30; T.09

N., R.12 W., Sec. 31; T.09 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 25; T.09 N., R.13 W., Sec. 26; T.09

N., R.13 W., Sec. 27; T.09 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 33; T.09 N., R.13 W., Sec. 34; T.09

N., R.13 W., Sec. 35; T.09 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 36; T.09 N., R.20 W., Sec. 31; T.09

N., R.21 W., Sec. 19; T.09 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 20; T.09 N., R.21 W., Sec. 21; T.09

N., R.21 W., Sec. 27; T.09 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 28; T.09 N., R.21 W., Sec. 29; T.09

N., R.21 W., Sec. 34; T.09 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 35; T.09 N., R.21 W., Sec. 36; T.09

N., R.22 W., Sec. 04; T.09 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 05; T.09 N., R.22 W., Sec. 06; T.09

N., R.22 W., Sec. 08; T.09 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 09; T.09 N., R.22 W., Sec. 10; T.09

N., R.22 W., Sec. 14; T.09 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 15; T.09 N., R.22 W., Sec. 23; T.09

N., R.22 W., Sec. 24; T.10 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 06; T.10 N., R.09 W., Sec. 01; T.10

N., R.09 W., Sec. 11; T.10 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 12; T.10 N., R.09 W., Sec. 14; T.10

N., R.09 W., Sec. 15; T.10 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 21; T.10 N., R.09 W., Sec. 22; T.10

N., R.09 W., Sec. 28; T.10 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 29; T.10 N., R.10 W., Sec. 25; T.10

N., R.10 W., Sec. 33; T.10 N., R.10 W.,

Sec. 34; T.10 N., R.10 W., Sec. 35; T.10

N., R.10 W., Sec. 36; T.10 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 31; T.10 N., R.23 W., Sec. 20; T.10

N., R.23 W., Sec. 21; T.10 N., R.23 W.,

Sec. 22; T.10 N., R.23 W., Sec. 25; T.10

N., R.23 W., Sec. 26; T.10 N., R.23 W.,

Sec. 27; T.10 N., R.23 W., Sec. 28; T.10

N., R.23 W., Sec. 36; T.11 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 06; T.11 N., R.08 W., Sec. 01; T.11

N., R.08 W., Sec. 02; T.11 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 10; T.11 N., R.08 W., Sec. 11; T.11

N., R.08 W., Sec. 15; T.11 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 16; T.11 N., R.08 W., Sec. 20; T.11

N., R.08 W., Sec. 21; T.11 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 29; T.11 N., R.08 W., Sec. 30; T.11

N., R.08 W., Sec. 31; T.11 N., R.09 W.,

Sec.36; T.12 N., R.06 W., Sec. 06; T.12

N., R.07 W., Sec. 01; T.12 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 02; T.12 N., R.07 W., Sec. 10; T.12

N., R.07 W., Sec. 11; T.12 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 12; T.12 N., R.07 W., Sec. 14; T.12

N., R.07 W., Sec. 15; T.12 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 16; T.12 N., R.07 W., Sec. 20; T.12

N., R.07 W., Sec. 21; T.12 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 22; T.12 N., R.07 W., Sec. 29; T.12

N., R.07 W., Sec. 30; T.12 N., R.07 W.,

sec. 31; T.12 N., R.08 W., Sec. 36; T.13

N., R.05 W., Sec. 05; T.13 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 06; T.13 N., R.05 W., Sec. 07; T.13

N., R.06 W., Sec. 12; T.13 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 13; T.13 N., R.06 W., Sec. 14; T.13

N., R.06 W., Sec. 15; T.13 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 21; T.13 N., R.06 W., Sec. 22; T.13

N., R.06 W., Sec. 23; T.13 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 28; T.13 N., R.06 W., Sec. 29; T.13

N., R.06 W., Sec. 31; T.13 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 32; T.14 N., R.04 W., Sec. 04; T.14

N., R.04 W., Sec. 05; T.14 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 07; T.14 N., R.04 W., Sec. 08; T.14

N., R.04 W., Sec. 09; T.14 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 18; T.14 N., R.05 W., Sec. 13; T.14

N., R.05 W., Sec. 14; T.14 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 22; T.14 N., R.05 W., Sec. 23; T.14

N., R.05 W., Sec. 24; T.14 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 27; T.14 N., R.05 W., Sec. 28; T.14

N., R.05 W., Sec. 32; T.14 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 33; T.14 N., R.39 W., Sec. 02; T.14

N., R.39 W., Sec. 03; T.14 N., R.39 W.,

Sec. 04; T.14 N., R.39 W., Sec. 05; T.14

N., R.39 W., Sec. 11; T.15 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 03; T.15 N., R.03 W., Sec. 04; T.15

N., R.03 W., Sec. 05; T.15 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 07; T.15 N., R.03 W., Sec. 08; T.15

N., R.03 W., Sec. 09; T.15 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 17; T.15 N., R.03 W., Sec. 18; T.15

N., R.03 W., Sec. 19; T.15 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 12; T.15 N., R.04 W., Sec. 13; T.15

N., R.04 W., Sec. 14; T.15 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 23; T.15 N., R.04 W., Sec. 24; T.15

N., R.04 W., Sec. 26; T.15 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 27; T.15 N., R.04 W., Sec. 33; T.15

N., R.04 W., Sec. 34; T.15 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 06; T.15 N., R.07 W., Sec. 01; T.15

N., R.07 W., Sec. 02; T.15 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 03; T.15 N., R.07 W., Sec. 04; T.15

N., R.07 W., Sec. 05; T.15 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 07; T.15 N., R.07 W., Sec. 08; T.15

N., R.07 W., Sec. 09; T.15 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 10; T.15 N., R.08 W., Sec. 07; T.15

N., R.08 W., Sec. 08; T.15 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 12; T.15 N., R.08 W., Sec. 13; T.15

N., R.08 W., Sec. 14; T.15 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 15; T.15 N., R.08 W., Sec. 16; T.15

N., R.08 W., Sec. 17; T.15 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 18; T.15 N., R.09 W., Sec. 07; T.15

N., R.09 W., Sec. 08; T.15 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 09; T.15 N., R.09 W., Sec. 10; T.15

N., R.09 W., Sec. 11; T.15 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 12; T.15 N., R.09 W., Sec. 13; T.15

N., R.09 W., Sec. 14; T.15 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 15; T.15 N., R.09 W., Sec. 16; T.15

N., R.09 W., Sec. 17; T.15 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 18; T.15 N., R.38 W., Sec. 19; T.15

N., R.38 W., Sec. 20; T.15 N., R.38 W.,

Sec. 21; T.15 N., R.38 W., Sec. 28; T.15

N., R.38 W., Sec. 29; T.15 N., R.38 W.,

Sec. 30; T.15 N., R.38 W., Sec. 33; T.15

N., R.39 W., Sec. 24; T.15 N., R.39 W.,

Sec. 25; T.15 N., R.39 W., Sec. 30; T.15

N., R.39 W., Sec. 31; T.15 N., R.39 W.,

Sec. 32; T.15 N., R.39 W., Sec. 33; T.15

N., R.39 W., Sec. 34; T.15 N., R.40 W.,

Sec. 10; T.15 N., R.40 W., Sec. 23; T.15

N., R.40 W., Sec. 24; T.15 N., R.40 W.,

Sec. 25; T.15 N., R.40 W., Sec. 26; T.15

N., R.40 W., Sec. 36; T.16 N., R.01 W.,

Sec. 01; T.16 N., R.01 W., Sec. 02; T.16

N., R.01 W., Sec. 03; T.16 N., R.01 W.,

Sec. 04; T.16 N., R.01 W., Sec. 07; T.16

N., R.01 W., Sec. 08; T.16 N., R.01 W.,

Sec. 09; T.16 N., R.01 W., Sec. 10; T.16

N., R.01 W., Sec. 17; T.16 N., R.01 W.,

31792 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

Sec. 18; T.16 N., R.02 W., Sec. 10; T.16

N., R.02 W., Sec. 11; T.16 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 12; T.16 N., R.02 W., Sec. 13; T.16

N., R.02 W., Sec. 14; T.16 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 15; T.16 N., R.02 W., Sec. 16; T.16

N., R.02 W., Sec. 19; T.16 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 20; T.16 N., R.02 W., Sec. 21; T.16

N., R.02 W., Sec. 29; T.16 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 30; T.16 N., R.03 W., Sec. 25; T.16

N., R.03 W., Sec. 26; T.16 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 33; T.16 N., R.03 W., Sec. 34; T.16

N., R.03 W., Sec. 35; T.16 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 36; T.16 N., R.04 W., Sec. 05; T.16

N., R.04 W., Sec. 06; T.16 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 01; T.16 N., R.05 W., Sec. 02; T.16

N., R.05 W., Sec. 03; T.16 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 04; T.16 N., R.05 W., Sec. 05; T.16

N., R.05 W., Sec. 07; T.16 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 08; T.16 N., R.05 W., Sec. 09; T.16

N., R.05 W., Sec. 10; T.16 N., R.05 W.,

Sec. 18; T.16 N., R.06 W., Sec. 13; T.16

N., R.06 W., Sec. 14; T.16 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 22; T.16 N., R.06 W., Sec. 23; T.16

N., R.06 W., Sec. 24; T.16 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 27; T.16 N., R.06 W., Sec. 28; T.16

N., R.06 W., Sec. 29; T.16 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 31; T.16 N., R.06 W., Sec. 32; T.16

N., R.07 W., Sec. 36; T.17 N., R.01 W.,

Sec. 16; T.17 N., R.01 W., Sec. 17; T.17

N., R.01 W., Sec. 18; T.17 N., R.01 W.,

Sec. 21; T.17 N., R.01 W., Sec. 22; T.17

N., R.01 W., Sec. 23; T.17 N., R.01 W.,

Sec. 25; T.17 N., R.01 W., Sec. 26; T.17

N., R.01 W., Sec. 36; T.17 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 03; T.17 N., R.02 W., Sec. 04; T.17

N., R.02 W., Sec. 07; T.17 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 08; T.17 N., R.02 W., Sec. 09; T.17

N., R.02 W., Sec. 10; T.17 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 13; T.17 N., R.02 W., Sec. 14; T.17

N., R.02 W., Sec. 15; T.17 N., R.02 W.,

Sec. 22; T.17 N., R.02 W., Sec. 23; T.17

N., R.02 W., Sec. 24; T.17 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 10; T.17 N., R.03 W., Sec. 11; T.17

N., R.03 W., Sec. 12; T.17 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 13; T.17 N., R.03 W., Sec. 14; T.17

N., R.03 W., Sec. 15; T.17 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 16; T.17 N., R.03 W., Sec. 17; T.17

N., R.03 W., Sec. 18; T.17 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 19; T.17 N., R.03 W., Sec. 20; T.17

N., R.03 W., Sec. 21; T.17 N., R.03 W.,

Sec. 30; T.17 N., R.04 W., Sec. 24; T.17

N., R.04 W., Sec. 25; T.17 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 26; T.17 N., R.04 W., Sec. 27; T.17

N., R.04 W., Sec. 28; T.17 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 32; T.17 N., R.04 W., Sec. 33; T.17

N., R.04 W., Sec. 34; T.17 N., R.04 W.,

Sec. 35; T.17 N., R.05 W., Sec. 35; T.17

N., R.05 W., Sec. 36; T.31 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 06; T.31 N., R.07 W., Sec. 01; T.31

N., R.07 W., Sec. 02; T.31 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 03; T.31 N., R.07 W., Sec. 04; T.32

N., R.06 W., Sec. 17; T.32 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 18; T.32 N., R.06 W., Sec. 19; T.32

N., R.06 W., Sec. 20; T.32 N., R.06 W.,

Sec. 29; T.32 N., R.06 W., Sec. 30; T.32

N., R.06 W., Sec. 31; T.32 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 29; T.32 N., R.07 W., Sec. 30; T.32

N., R.07 W., Sec. 31; T.32 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 32; T.32 N., R.07 W., Sec. 33; T.32

N., R.07 W., Sec. 34; T.32 N., R.07 W.,

Sec. 36; T.32 N., R.08 W., Sec. 07; T.32

N., R.08 W., Sec. 08; T.32 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 15; T.32 N., R.08 W., Sec. 16; T.32

N., R.08 W., Sec. 17; T.32 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 22; T.32 N., R.08 W., Sec. 23; T.32

N., R.08 W., Sec. 24; T.32 N., R.08 W.,

Sec. 25; T.32 N., R.09 W., Sec. 02; T.32

N., R.09 W., Sec. 03; T.32 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 04; T.32 N., R.09 W., Sec. 05; T.32

N., R.09 W., Sec. 06; T.32 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 08; T.32 N., R.09 W., Sec. 09; T.32

N., R.09 W., Sec. 10; T.32 N., R.09 W.,

Sec. 11; T.32 N., R.09 W., Sec. 12; T.32

N., R.10 W., Sec. 01; T.32 N., R.10 W.,

Sec. 02; T.32 N., R.10 W., Sec. 03; T.32

N., R.10 W., Sec. 04; T.32 N., R.10 W.,

Sec. 05; T.32 N., R.10 W., Sec. 06; T.32

N., R.10 W., Sec. 09; T.32 N., R.10 W.,

Sec. 10; T.32 N., R.10 W., Sec. 11; T.32

N., R.10 W., Sec. 12; T.32 N., R.11 W.,

Sec. 01; T.32 N., R.11 W., Sec. 02; T.32

N., R.11 W., Sec. 03; T.32 N., R.17 W.,

Sec. 05; T.32 N., R.17 W., Sec. 06; T.32

N., R.18 W., Sec. 01; T.32 N., R.18 W.,

Sec. 02; T.32 N., R.18 W., Sec. 03; T.32

N., R.18 W., Sec. 04; T.32 N., R.18 W.,

Sec. 08; T.32 N., R.18 W., Sec. 09; T.32

N., R.18 W., Sec. 10; T.32 N., R.18 W.,

Sec. 16; T.32 N., R.18 W., Sec. 17; T.32

N., R.18 W., Sec. 18; T.32 N., R.18 W.,

Sec. 19; T.32 N., R.19 W., Sec. 19; T.32

N., R.19 W., Sec. 20; T.32 N., R.19 W.,

Sec. 22; T.32 N., R.19 W., Sec. 23; T.32

N., R.19 W., Sec. 24; T.32 N., R.19 W.,

Sec. 26; T.32 N., R.19 W., Sec. 27; T.32

N., R.19 W., Sec. 28; T.32 N., R.19 W.,

Sec. 29; T.32 N., R.19 W., Sec. 30; T.32

N., R.20 W., Sec. 19; T.32 N., R.20 W.,

Sec. 20; T.32 N., R.20 W., Sec. 21; T.32

N., R.20 W., Sec. 22; T.32 N., R.20 W.,

Sec. 23; T.32 N., R.20 W., Sec. 24; T.32

N., R.20 W., Sec. 25; T.32 N., R.20 W.,

Sec. 26; T.32 N., R.21 W., Sec. 07; T.32

N., R.21 W., Sec. 16; T.32 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 17; T.32 N., R.21 W., Sec. 18; T.32

N., R.21 W., Sec. 20; T.32 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 21; T.32 N., R.21 W., Sec.22; T.32

N., R.21 W., Sec. 23; T.32 N., R.21 W.,

Sec. 24; T.32 N., R.22 W., Sec. 02; T.32

N., R.22 W., Sec. 03; T.32 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 04; T.32 N., R.22 W., Sec. 05; T.32

N., R.22 W., Sec. 06;T.32 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 08; T.32 N., R.22 W., Sec. 09; T.32

N., R.22 W., Sec. 10; T.32 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 11; T.32 N., R.22 W., Sec. 12; T.32

N., R.22 W., Sec. 13; T.32 N., R.22 W.,

Sec. 14; T.32 N., R.23 W., Sec. 01; T.32

N., R.23 W., Sec. 02; T.33 N., R.11 W.,

Sec. 29; T.33 N., R.11 W., Sec. 30;T.33

N., R.11 W., Sec. 32; T.33 N., R.11 W.,

Sec. 33; T.33 N., R.11 W., Sec. 34; T.33

N., R.12 W., Sec. 17; T.33 N., R.12 W.,

Sec. 18; T.33 N., R.12 W., Sec. 19; T.33

N., R.12 W., Sec. 20; T.33 N., R.12 W.,

Sec. 21; T.33 N., R.12 W., Sec. 25; T.33

N., R.12 W., Sec. 26; T.33 N., R.12 W.,

Sec. 27; T.33 N., R.12 W., Sec. 28; T.33

N., R.12 W., Sec. 36; T.33 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 07; T.33 N., R.13 W., Sec. 08; T.33

N., R.13 W., Sec. 09; T.33 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 10; T.33 N., R.13 W., Sec. 14; T.33

N., R.13 W., Sec. 15; T.33 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 16; T.33 N., R.13 W., Sec. 17; T.33

N., R.13 W., Sec. 18; T.33 N., R.13 W.,

Sec. 23; T.33 N., R.13 W., Sec. 24; T.33

N., R.14 W., Sec. 01; T.33 N., R.14 W.,

Sec. 02; T.33 N., R.14 W., Sec. 12; T.33

N., R.15 W., Sec. 02; T.33 N., R.15 W.,

Sec. 03; T.33 N., R.15 W., Sec. 04; T.33

N., R.15 W., Sec. 05; T.33 N., R.15 W.,

Sec. 07; T.33 N., R.15 W., Sec. 08; T.33

N., R.15 W., Sec. 09; T.33 N., R.15 W.,

Sec. 18; T.33 N., R.16 W., Sec. 11; T.33

N., R.16 W., Sec. 12; T.33 N., R.16 W.,

Sec. 13; T.33 N., R.16 W., Sec. 14; T.33

N., R.16 W., Sec. 15; T.33 N., R.16 W.,

Sec. 16; T.33 N., R.16 W., Sec. 19; T.33

N., R.16 W., Sec. 20; T.33 N., R.16 W.,

Sec. 21; T.33 N., R.16 W., Sec. 22; T.33

N., R.16 W., Sec. 29; T.33 N., R.16 W.,

Sec. 30; T.33 N., R.17 W., Sec. 25; T.33

N., R.17 W., Sec. 26; T.33 N., R.17 W.,

Sec. 27; T.33 N., R.17 W., Sec. 31; T.33

N., R.17 W., Sec. 33; T.33 N., R.17 W.,

Sec. 34; T.33 N., R.17 W., Sec. 35; T.33

N., R.17 W., Sec. 36; T.33 N., R.18 W.,

Sec. 36; T.33 N., R.23 W., Sec. 31; T.33

N., R.23 W., Sec. 32; T.33 N., R.23 W.,

Sec. 33; T.33 N., R.23 W., Sec. 34; T.33

N., R.23 W., Sec. 35; T.33 N., R.24 W.,

Sec. 16; T.33 N., R.24 W., Sec. 17; T.33

N., R.24 W., Sec. 21; T.33 N., R.24 W.,

Sec. 22; T.33 N., R.24 W., Sec. 25; T.33

N., R.24 W., Sec. 26; T.33 N., R.24 W.,

Sec. 27; T.33 N., R.24 W., Sec. 36; T.34

N., R.14 W., Sec. 26; T.34 N., R.14 W.,

Sec. 27; T.34 N., R.14 W., Sec. 28; T.34

N., R.14 W., Sec. 29; T.34 N., R.14 W.,

Sec. 30; T.34 N., R.14 W., Sec. 31; T.34

N., R.14 W., Sec. 34; T.34 N., R.14 W.,

Sec. 35; T.34 N., R.15 W., Sec. 25; T.34

N., R.15 W., Sec. 35; T.34 N., R.15 W.,

Sec. 36; T.12 N., R.10 E., Sec. 03; T.12

N., R.10 E., Sec. 04; T.12 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 05; T.12 N., R.10 E., Sec. 09; T.12

N., R.10 E., Sec. 10; T.12 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 11; T.12 N., R.10 E., Sec. 12; T.12

N., R.10 E., Sec. 13; T.12 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 24; T.12 N., R.11 E., Sec. 01; T.12

N., R.11 E., Sec. 11; T.12 N., R.11 E.,

Sec. 12; T.12 N., R.11 E., Sec. 14; T.12

N., R.11 E., Sec. 15; T.12 N., R.11 E.,

Sec. 16; T.12 N., R.11 E., Sec. 18; T.12

N., R.11 E., Sec. 19; T.12 N., R.11 E.,

Sec. 20; T.12 N., R.11 E., Sec. 21; T.12

N., R.12 E., Sec. 06; T.13 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 04; T.13 N., R.10 E., Sec. 05; T.13

N., R.10 E., Sec. 07; T.13 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 08; T.13 N., R.10 E., Sec. 09; T.13

N., R.10 E., Sec. 17; T.13 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 18; T.13 N., R.10 E., Sec. 19; T.13

N., R.10 E., Sec. 29; T.13 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 30; T.13 N., R.10 E., Sec. 32; T.13

N., R.10 E., Sec. 33; T.13 N., R.12 E.,

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31793

Sec. 25; T.13 N., R.12 E., Sec. 26; T.13

N., R.12 E., Sec. 27; T.13 N., R.12 E.,

Sec. 28; T.13 N., R.12 E., Sec. 31; T.13

N., R.12 E., Sec. 32; T.13 N., R.12 E.,

Sec. 33; T.13 N., R.12 E., Sec. 34; T.13

N., R.12 E., Sec. 36; T.13 N., R.13 E.,

Sec. 25; T.13 N., R.13 E., Sec. 26; T.13

N., R.13 E., Sec. 30; T.13 N., R.13 E.,

Sec. 31; T.13 N., R.13 E., Sec. 32; T.13

N., R.13 E., Sec. 33; T.13 N., R.13 E.,

Sec. 34; T.13 N., R.13 E., Sec. 35; T.13

N., R.13 E., Sec. 36; T.14 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 01; T.14 N., R.09 E., Sec. 12; T.14

N., R.10 E., Sec. 06; T.14 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 07; T.14 N., R.10 E., Sec. 08; T.14

N., R.10 E., Sec. 17; T.14 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 18; T.14 N., R.10 E., Sec. 20; T.14

N., R.10 E., Sec. 29; T.14 N., R.10 E.,

Sec. 32; T.15 N., R.09 E., Sec. 01; T.15

N., R.09 E., Sec. 02; T.15 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 03; T.15 N., R.09 E., Sec. 11; T.15

N., R.09 E., Sec. 12; T.15 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 13; T.15 N., R.09 E., Sec. 24; T.15

N., R.09 E., Sec. 25; T.15 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 36; T.15 N., R.10 E., Sec. 19; T.16

N., R.01 E., Sec. 01; T.16 N., R.01 E.,

Sec. 02; T.16 N., R.01 E., Sec. 04; T.16

N., R.01 E., Sec. 05; T.16 N., R.01 E.,

Sec. 06; T.16 N., R.01 E., Sec. 12; T.16

N., R.02 E., Sec. 01; T.16 N., R.02 E.,

Sec. 02; T.16 N., R.02 E., Sec. 03; T.16

N., R.02 E., Sec. 04; T.16 N., R.02 E.,

Sec. 05; T.16 N., R.02 E., Sec. 06; T.16

N., R.02 E., Sec. 07; T.16 N., R.02 E.,

Sec. 08; T.16 N., R.02 E., Sec. 09; T.16

N., R.02 E., Sec. 10; T.16 N., R.02 E.,

Sec. 11; T.16 N., R.02 E., Sec. 12; T.16

N., R.03 E., Sec. 04; T.16 N., R.03 E.,

Sec. 05; T.16 N., R.03 E., Sec. 06; T.16

N., R.08 E., Sec. 01; T.16 N., R.08 E.,

Sec. 02; T.16 N., R.08 E., Sec. 12; T.16

N., R.09 E., Sec. 06; T.16 N., R.09 E.,

Sec.07; T.16 N., R.09 E., Sec. 08; T.16

N., R.09 E., Sec. 09; T.16 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 16; T.16 N., R.09 E., Sec. 17; T.16

N., R.09 E., Sec. 21; T.16 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 22; T.16 N., R.09 E., Sec. 27; T.16

N., R.09 E., Sec. 28; T.16 N., R.09 E.,

Sec. 33; T.16 N., R.09 E., Sec. 34; T.17

N., R.01 E., Sec. 29; T.17 N., R.01 E.,

Sec. 30; T.17 N., R.01 E., Sec. 31; T.17

N., R.01 E., Sec. 32; T.17 N., R.01 E.,

Sec. 33; T.17 N., R.01 E., Sec. 34; T.17

N., R.01 E., Sec. 35; T.17 N., R.01 E.,

Sec. 36; T.17 N., R.03 E., Sec. 25; T.17

N., R.03 E., Sec. 26; T.17 N., R.03 E.,

Sec. 27; T.17 N., R.03 E., Sec. 31; T.17

N., R.03 E., Sec. 32; T.17 N., R.03 E.,

Sec. 33; T.17 N., R.03 E., Sec. 34; T.17

N., R.04 E., Sec. 09; T.17 N., R.04 E.,

Sec. 10; T.17 N., R.04 E., Sec. 11; T.17

N., R.04 E., Sec. 12; T.17 N., R.04 E.,

Sec. 14; T.17 N., R.04 E., Sec. 15; T.17

N., R.04 E., Sec. 16; T.17 N., R.04 E.,

Sec. 17; T.17 N., R.04 E., Sec. 20; T.17

N., R.04 E., Sec. 21; T.17 N., R.04 E.,

Sec. 29; T.17 N., R.04 E., Sec. 30; T.17

N., R.05 E., Sec. 07; T.17 N., R.05 E.,

Sec. 08; T.17 N., R.05 E., Sec. 09; T.17

N., R.05 E., Sec. 10; T.17 N., R.05 E.,

Sec. 13; T.17 N., R.05 E., Sec. 14; T.17

N., R.05 E., Sec. 15; T.17 N., R.06 E.,

Sec. 07; T.17 N., R.06 E., Sec. 08; T.17

N., R.06 E., Sec. 09; T.17 N., R.06 E.,

Sec. 14; T.17 N., R.06 E., Sec. 15; T.17

N., R.06 E., Sec. 16; T.17 N., R.06 E.,

Sec. 17; T.17 N., R.06 E., Sec. 18; T.17

N., R.06 E., Sec. 22; T.17 N., R.06 E.,

Sec. 23; T.17 N., R.06 E., Sec. 24; T.17

N., R.07 E., Sec. 13; T.17 N., R.07 E.,

Sec. 14; T.17 N., R.07 E., Sec. 15; T.17

N., R.07 E., Sec. 16; T.17 N., R.07 E.,

Sec. 17; T.17 N., R.07 E., Sec. 18; T.17

N., R.07 E., Sec. 19; T.17 N., R.07 E.,

Sec. 20; T.17 N., R.07 E., Sec. 21; T.17

N., R.07 E., Sec. 22; T.17 N., R.07 E.,

Sec. 23; T.17 N., R.07 E., Sec. 24; T.17

N., R.08 E., Sec. 20; T.17 N., R.08 E.,

Sec. 21; T.17 N., R.08 E., Sec. 27; T.17

N., R.08 E., Sec. 28; T.17 N., R.08 E.,

Sec. 29; T.17 N., R.08 E., Sec. 34; T.17

N., R.08 E., Sec. 35; T.17 N., R.08 E.,

Sec. 36.

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

31794 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

BILLING CODE 4310–55–C

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31795

North Dakota

Projection: UTM Zone 14, NAD27,

Clarke 1866

Unit ND–1: Divide 1–10, Williams 1–3

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Divide 1 T. 163 N., R. 103 W., Sec. 11,

13, 14, 23, 24; Divide 2 T. 163 N., R. 101

W., Sec. 19, T. 163 N., R. 102 W., Sec.

13, 14, 23, 24; Divide 3 T. 162 N., R. 103

W., Sec. 2, 3, 10, T. 163 N., R. 103 W.,

Sec. 34, 35; Divide 4 T. 162 N., R. 102

W., Sec. 5, 7, 8, 17; Divide 5 T. 162 N.,

R. 103 W., Sec. 11, 13–15, 22–24; Divide

6 T. 162 N., R. 102 W., Sec. 19–21, 28–

30; Divide 7 T. 161 N., R. 103 W., Sec.

13, 14, 23–26; Divide 8 T. 161 N., R. 103

W., Sec. 22, 27; Divide 9 T. 160 N., R.

103 W., Sec. 10, 15–17, 20, 21, 28;

Divide 10 T. 160 N., R. 103 W., Sec. 28,

29, 32–34; Williams 1 T. 159 N., R. 103

W., Sec. 4; Williams 2 T. 159 N., R. 103

W., Sec. 8, 9, 16, 17; Williams 3 T. 159

N., R. 100 W., Sec. 14, 15, 21–23, 27.

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

31796 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

BILLING CODE 4310–55–C

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31797

Unit ND–2: Burke 1–2, Mountrail 1–10,

Renville 1, Ward 1–10

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Burke 1 T. 160 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 23,

25–27, 34, 35; Burke 2 T. 159 N., R. 91

W., Sec. 16, 21, 27, 28, 33, 34; Mountrail

1 T. 158 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 4, 5, 8, 17,

T. 159 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 33; Mountrail

2 T. 157 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 5–9, 16, 17;

Mountrail 3 T. 156 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 5,

6, T. 157 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 19, 20, 27–

35, T. 157 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 25;

Mountrail 4 T. 156 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 13;

Mountrail 5 T. 156 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 4,

8–10, 16, 17; Mountrail 6 T. 157 N., R.

89 W., Sec. 8, 9, 16, 17, 20, 21, 28, 29,

32, 33; Mountrail 7 T. 157 N., R. 89 W.,

Sec. 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 28; Mountrail 8

T. 156 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 19–21, 29;

Mountrail 9 T. 156 N., R. 89 W., Sec. 6,

7, 18, T. 156 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 1, 12,

13; Mountrail 10 T. 156 N., R. 89 W.,

Sec. 4, 5, 8, 9; Mountrail 11 T. 155 N.,

R. 87 W., Sec. 19, 30, T. 155 N., R. 88

W., Sec. 24–26, 35, 36; Renville 1 T. 157

N., R. 84 W., Sec. 6, T. 157 N., R. 85 W.,

Sec. 1, T. 158 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 5–9, 16,

17, 20, 21, 28–32, T. 158 N., R. 85 W.,

Sec. 1, 36, T. 159 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 30,

31, T. 159 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 2–4, 10, 11,

14, 15, 24–26, 36, T. 160 N., R. 85 W.,

Sec. 18–20, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, T. 160 N.,

R. 86 W., Sec. 1, 2, 11–13, 24, T. 161 N.,

R. 85 W., Sec. 31, 32; Ward 1 T. 153 N.,

R. 86 W., Sec. 6, 7; Ward 2 T. 153 N.,

R. 86 W., Sec. 4, 5, T. 154 N., R. 86 W.,

Sec. 33; Ward 3 T. 153 N., R. 86 W., Sec.

3; Ward 4 T. 153 N., R. 87 W., Sec. 22;

Ward 5 T. 153 N., R. 87 W., Sec. 26, 27,

35; Ward 6 T. 152 N., R. 86 W., Sec. 5,

6, T. 152 N., R. 87 W., Sec. 1, T. 153 N.,

R. 86 W., Sec. 34; Ward 7 T. 152 N., R.

86 W., Sec. 5, 8; Ward 8 T. 152 N., R.

87 W., Sec. 4, 5, 8, 9; Ward 9 T. 151 N.,

R. 84 W., Sec. 17–20; Ward 10 T. 151

N., R. 84 W., Sec. 15, 21, 22.

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Unit ND–3: McLean 1–9

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

McLean 1 T. 150 N., R. 86 W., Sec. 21,

22, 27; McLean 2 T. 150 N., R. 84 W.,

Sec. 26, 27, 34; McLean 3 T. 149 N., R.

84 W., Sec. 12, 13; McLean 4 T. 148 N.,

R. 81 W., Sec. 20, 21, 28, 29; McLean

5 T. 147 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 23–26, 36;

McLean 6 T. 147 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 19–

21, 28–30, 32, 33, T. 147 N., R. 80 W.,

Sec. 22–27, 34, 36; McLean 7 T. 147 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 16, 17, 20, 21; McLean

8 T. 146 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 1, 2, 35, 36;

McLean 9 T. 145 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 1,

12.

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Unit ND–4: Benson 1–7, McHenry 1–5,

Pierce 1–6, Sheridan 1–6

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Benson 1 T. 156 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 16,

17, 20, 21; Benson 2 T. 156 N., R. 71 W.,

Sec. 20, 29; Benson 3 T. 155 N., R. 71

W., Sec. 5,T. 156 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 32;

Benson 4 T. 155 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 4, 9,

10, 15, 16; Benson 5 T. 155 N., R. 70 W.,

Sec. 17, 18; Benson 6 T. 154 N., R. 71

W., Sec. 9, 10, 15, 16; Benson 7 T. 154

N., R. 71 W., Sec. 14, 15, 21–23, 26–28,

34; McHenry 1 T. 154 N., R. 75 W., Sec.

11–14; McHenry 2 T. 153 N., R. 75 W.,

Sec. 7, 8, 17, 18, 20; McHenry 3 T. 153

N., R. 75 W., Sec. 20, 21, 28; McHenry

4 T. 153 N., R. 75 W., Sec. 31, T. 153

N., R. 76 W., Sec. 36; McHenry 5 T. 151

N., R. 78 W., Sec. 13, 14, 23, 24; Pierce

1 T. 156 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 24–26, 35,

36; Pierce 2 T. 154 N., R. 74 W., Sec. 7,

18; Pierce 3 T. 153 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 3,

4, T. 154 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 33, 34; Pierce

4 T. 153 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 7, 8; Pierce

5 T. 152 N., R. 74 W., Sec. 5–9; Pierce

6 T. 151 N., R. 73 W., Sec. 5, 6, T. 152

N., R. 73 W., Sec. 31–33; Sheridan 1 T.

150 N., R. 76 W., Sec. 7, 18, T. 150 N.,

R. 77 W., Sec. 12–14; Sheridan 2 T. 150

N., R. 77 W., Sec. 17–21, 28; Sheridan

3 T. 149 N., R. 77 W., Sec. 2, 3, 11, T.

150 N., R. 77 W., Sec. 26, 27, 34, 35;

Sheridan 4 T. 149 N., R. 76 W., Sec. 1;

Sheridan 5 T. 149 N., R. 76 W., Sec. 7,

8; Sheridan 6 T. 149 N., R. 75 W., Sec.

7.

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Unit ND–5: Eddy 1

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 149 N., R. 63 W., Sec. 21, T. 149

N., R. 63 W., Sec. 22–23, T. 149 N., R.

63 W., Sec. 25–28, T. 149 N., R. 63 W.,

Sec. 35–36.

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Unit ND–6: Burleigh 1–8, Kidder 1–11,

Sheridan 7, Stutsman 1–3

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Burleigh 1 T. 144 N., R. 79 W., Sec.

3, 10; Burleigh 2 T. 144 N., R. 76 W.,

Sec. 2, 3, 10–12; Burleigh 3 T. 144 N.,

R. 76 W., Sec. 11, 14; Burleigh 4 T. 143

N., R. 75 W., Sec. 16, 21, 22, 27–29, 33;

Burleigh 5 T. 142 N., R. 75 W., Sec. 3,

4, T. 143 N., R. 75 W., Sec. 33, 34,

Burleigh 6 T. 142 N., R. 75 W., Sec. 2,

3, T. 143 N., R. 75 W., Sec. 35, Burleigh

7 T. 142 N., R. 75 W., Sec. 11–15, 22–

24, 26, 27, Burleigh 8 T. 139 N., R. 75

W., Sec. 1–3, 10–12, T. 140 N., R. 75 W.,

Sec. 34–36; Burleigh 9 T. 137 N., R. 75

W., Sec. 1–12, 17–20, 30, 31, T. 138 N.,

R. 75 W., Sec. 25–27, 33–36, T. 137 N.,

R. 76 W., Sec. 9, 10, 13, 15–17, 21–27,

35, 36; Kidder 1 T. 141 N., R. 72 W.,

Sec. 2–4, 9–11, 14–16, 21–24, 26–28, T.

142 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 33, 34; Kidder 2

T. 140 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 5–7, T. 141 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 33; Kidder 3 T. 140 N.,

R. 72 W., Sec. 1, 2, 10–12, 14, 15; Kidder

4 T. 140 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 25, 35, 36;

Kidder 5 T. 139 N., R. 74 W., Sec. 6, 7;

Kidder 6 T. 137 N., R. 74 W., Sec. 5, 6,

T. 138 N., R. 73 W., Sec. 16–20, T. 138

N., R. 74 W., Sec. 13–15, 21–24, 26–35;

Kidder 7 T. 138 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 7, 18,

T. 138 N., R. 73 W., Sec. 11–15, 23, 24;

Kidder 8 T. 138 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 21–

23, 26–28, 34, 35; Kidder 9 T. 137 N.,

R. 74 W., Sec. 27, 28; Kidder 10 T. 137

N., R. 73 W., Sec. 31; Kidder 11 T. 137

N., R. 70 W., Sec. 33; Sheridan 7 T. 145

N., R. 75 W., Sec. 31, 32; Stutsman 1 T.

143 N., R. 64 W., Sec. 18–20, 28–30, 33,

34, T. 143 N., R. 65 W., Sec. 24;

Stutsman 2 T. 141 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 16,

17, 19–21, 28–30, 32, 33; Stutsman 3 T.

139 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 5–8.

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Unit ND–7: Emmons 1, Logan 1–5,

McIntosh 1–2

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

Emmons 1 T. 136 N., R. 74 W., Sec.

1, 2; Logan 1 T. 136 N., R. 73 W., Sec.

2; Logan 2 T. 136 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 5,

6; Logan 3 T. 135 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 28,

29, 32, 33; Logan 4 T. 134 N., R. 69 W.,

Sec. 2, 3, 10, 11, 14, 15; Logan 5 T. 134

N., R. 70 W., Sec. 23, 26, 27; Logan 6

T. 134 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 34, 35;

McIntosh 1 T. 130 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 2,

3, T. 131 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 34, 35;

McIntosh 2 T. 130 N., R. 68 W., Sec. 13,

14, 23, 24.

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Unit ND–8: Missouri River

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 129 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 19, T. 129

N., R. 78 W., Sec. 29–32 , T. 129 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 3–6, T. 129 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 8–11, T. 129 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 13–

16, T. 129 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 21–27, T.

129 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 129 N.,

R. 80 W., Sec. 1, T. 130 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 3–9, T. 130 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 17–

21, T. 130 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 27–34, T.

130 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 130 N.,

R. 80 W., Sec. 10–14, T. 130 N., R. 80

W., Sec. 23–26, T. 130 N., R. 80 W., Sec.

36, T. 131 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 4–9, T. 131

N., R. 79 W., Sec. 17–20, T. 131 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 29–32, T. 131 N., R. 80 W.,

Sec. 1, T. 131 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 11–15,

T. 131 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 22–26, T. 131

N., R. 80 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 132 N., R.

78 W., Sec. 15–22, T. 132 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 3–5, T. 132 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 8–

10, T. 132 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 13–16, T.

132 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 21–24, T. 132 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 26–29, T. 132 N., R. 79

W., Sec. 32–36, T. 133 N., R. 78 W., Sec.

5–8, T. 133 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 18–19, T.

133 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 30, T. 133 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 133 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 11–13, T. 133 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 23–

28, T. 133 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 34–36, T.

134 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 31, T. 134 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 2–3, T. 134 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 10–16, T. 134 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 22–

26, T. 134 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 35–36, T.

135 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 6–7, T. 135 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 135 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 11–15, T. 135 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 22–

24, T. 135 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 26–27, T.

135 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 34–35, T. 136 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 18–19, T. 136 N., R. 78

W., Sec. 30–31, T. 136 N., R. 79 W., Sec.

1–3, T. 136 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 5–6, T.

136 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 8–16, T. 136 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 22–27, T. 136 N., R. 79

W., Sec. 35–36, T. 137 N., R. 79 W., Sec.

8, T. 137 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 14–23, T.

137 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 26–36, T. 137 N.,

R. 80 W., Sec. 3–5, T. 137 N., R. 80 W.,

Sec. 8–11, T. 137 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 13–

17, T. 137 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 22–26, T.

137 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 36, T. 138 N., R.

80 W., Sec. 5–7, T. 138 N., R. 80 W.,

Sec. 18–19, T. 138 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 28–

34, T. 138 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 13, T. 138

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 24–25, T. 139 N., R.

80 W., Sec. 30–31, T. 139 N., R. 81 W.,

Sec. 3–4, T. 139 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 10–

11, T. 139 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 14, T. 139

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 23–26, T. 140 N., R.

81 W., Sec. 5, T. 140 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

8–9, T. 140 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 16, T. 140

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 21, T. 140 N., R. 81

W., Sec. 27–28, T. 140 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

33, T. 141 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 7, T. 141

N., R. 80 W., Sec. 18, T. 141 N., R. 81

W., Sec. 1–3, T. 141 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

11–13, T. 141 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 24–27,

T. 141 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 33–35, T. 142

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 4–5, T. 142 N., R. 81

W., Sec. 9–10, T. 142 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

15–16, T. 142 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 21–22,

T. 142 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 27–28, T. 142

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 34–35, T. 143 N., R.

81 W., Sec. 5–8, T. 143 N., R. 81 W.,

Sec. 18–19, T. 143 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 29–

33, T. 144 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 30–32, T.

144 N., R. 82 W., Sec. 14–18, T. 144 N.,

R. 82 W., Sec. 23–25, T. 144 N., R. 83

W., Sec. 13–14, T. 144 N., R. 83 W., Sec.

21–24, T. 144 N., R. 83 W., Sec. 27–34,

T. 144 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 5–9, T. 144 N.,

R. 84 W., Sec. 14–17, T. 144 N., R. 84

W., Sec. 22–25, T. 145 N., R. 84 W., Sec.

5, T. 145 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 8–9, T. 145

N., R. 84 W., Sec. 15–16, T. 145 N., R.

84 W., Sec. 21–22, T. 145 N., R. 84 W.,

Sec. 27, T. 145 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 34–

35, T. 146 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 4–7, T. 146

N., R. 84 W., Sec. 18–20, T. 146 N., R.

84 W., Sec. 29–30, T. 146 N., R. 84 W.,

Sec. 32, T. 146 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 12–

13, T. 146 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 24, T. 146

N., R. 86 W., Sec. 3, T. 146 N., R. 86 W.,

Sec. 6–7, T. 146 N., R. 87 W., Sec. 1–

10, T. 146 N., R. 87 W., Sec. 18, T. 146

N., R. 88 W., Sec. 1–14, T. 146 N., R. 88

W., Sec. 16–18, T. 146 N., R. 88 W., Sec.

20–21, T. 146 N., R. 88 W., Sec. 24, T.

146 N., R. 89 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 146 N.,

R. 89 W., Sec. 10–12, T. 147 N., R. 82

W., Sec. 2–6, T. 147 N., R. 82 W., Sec.

8–11, T. 147 N., R. 82 W., Sec. 15–18,

T. 147 N., R. 83 W., Sec. 1–9, T. 147 N.,

R. 83 W., Sec. 16–20, T. 147, N., R. 84

W., Sec. 1–24, T. 147 N., R. 85 W., Sec.

26–35, T. 147 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 1–27,

T. 147 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 29–31, T. 147

N., R. 85 W., Sec. 34–36, T. 147 N., R.

86 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 147 N., R. 86 W.,

Sec. 7, T. 147 N., R. 86 W., Sec. 9–36,

T. 147 N., R. 87 W., Sec. 7–36, T. 147

N., R. 88 W., Sec. 6–11, T. 147 N., R. 88

W., Sec. 13–36, T. 147 N., R. 89 W., Sec.

1–29, T. 147 N., R. 89 W., Sec. 34–36,

T. 147 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 1–18, T. 147

N., R. 90 W., Sec. 20, T. 147 N., R. 90

W., Sec. 23–27, T. 147 N., R. 91W., Sec.

1–7, T. 147 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 11–12, T.

147 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 1–9, T. 147 N.,

R. 92 W., Sec. 12–13, T. 147 N., R. 92

W., Sec. 16–20, T. 147 N., R. 92 W., Sec.

29–30, T. 147 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 32, T.

147 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 147 N.,

R. 93 W., Sec. 12–13, T. 148 N., R. 82

W., Sec. 7–8, T. 148 N., R. 82 W., Sec.

17–20, T. 148 N., R. 82 W., Sec. 28–34,

T. 148 N., R. 83 W., Sec. 11–15, T. 148

N., R. 83 W., Sec. 19–36, T. 148 N., R.

84 W., Sec. 18–19, T. 148 N., R. 84 W.,

Sec. 22–27, T. 148 N., R. 84 W., Sec. 29–

36, T. 148 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 19–20, T.

148 N., R. 85 W., Sec. 24–25, T. 148 N.,

R. 85 W., Sec. 27, T. 148 N., R. 85 W.,

Sec. 29–36, T. 148 N., R. 86 W., Sec. 23–

28, T. 148 N., R. 86 W., Sec. 33–36, T.

148 N., R. 89 W., Sec. 30–32, T. 148 N.,

R. 90 W., Sec. 6, T. 148 N., R. 90 W.,

Sec. 19–21, T. 148 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 25–

36, T. 148 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 1–12, T.

148 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 14–17, T. 148 N.,

R. 91 W., Sec. 19–36, T. 148 N., R. 92

W., Sec. 13, T. 148 N., R. 92 W., Sec.

20–22, T. 148 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 24–36,

T. 148 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 24–25, T. 148

N., R. 93 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 149 N., R.

89 W., Sec. 7, T. 149 N., R. 89 W., Sec.

18, T. 149 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 3–24, T.

149 N., R. 90 W., Sec. 27–33, T. 149 N.,

R. 91 W., Sec. 1–4, T. 149 N., R. 91 W.,

Sec. 6, T. 149 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 9–15,

T. 149 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 23–26, T. 149

N., R. 91 W., Sec. 34–36, T. 149 N., R.

92 W., Sec. 1–6, T. 149 N., R. 92 W.,

Sec. 10–12, T. 149 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 14–

16, T. 149 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 150

N., R. 90 W., Sec. 18–19, T. 150 N., R.

90 W., Sec. 29–31, T. 150 N., R. 91 W.,

Sec. 1–36, T. 150 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 13–

14, T. 150 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 19–20, T.

150 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 23–36, T. 150 N.,

R. 93 W., Sec. 6–9, T. 150 N., R. 93 W.,

Sec. 13–36, T. 150 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 1–

2, T. 150 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 12–15, T.

150 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 22, T. 150 N., R.

94 W., Sec. 24, T. 151 N., R. 91 W., Sec.

1–11, T. 151 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 14–23,

T. 151 N., R. 91 W., Sec. 26–35, T. 151

N., R. 92 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 151 N., R. 92

W., Sec. 10–14, T. 151 N., R. 92 W., Sec.

23–26, T. 151 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 36, T.

151 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 5–8, T. 151 N.,

R. 93 W., Sec. 16–21, T. 151 N., R. 93

W., Sec. 30–31, T. 151 N., R. 94 W., Sec.

1–3, T. 151 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 10–15, T.

151 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 24–26, T. 151 N.,

R. 94 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 152 N., R. 91W.,

Sec. 19, T. 152 N., R. 91W., Sec. 22–28,

T. 152 N., R. 91W., Sec. 30–35, T. 152

N., R. 92 W., Sec. 18–19, T. 152 N., R.

92 W., Sec. 21–28, T. 152 N., R. 92 W.,

Sec. 34–36, T. 152 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 1–

16, T. 152 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 20–23, T.

152 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 27–34, T. 152 N.,

R. 94 W., Sec. 1, T. 152 N., R. 94 W.,

Sec. 36, T. 152 N., R. 99 W., Sec. 2–6,

T. 152 N., R. 100 W., Sec. 1–12, T. 152

N., R. 100 W., Sec. 14–18, T. 152 N., R.

100 W., Sec. 20, T. 152 N., R. 100 W.,

Sec. 22, T. 152 N., R. 101 W., Sec. 1–

2, T. 152 N., R. 101 W., Sec. 12–13, T.

152 N., R. 102 W., Sec. 6–7, T. 152 N.,

R. 103 W., Sec. 3–4, T. 152 N., R. 103

W., Sec. 9–16, T. 152 N., R. 103 W., Sec.

20–23, T. 152 N., R. 103 W., Sec. 28–

30, T. 152 N., R. 104 W., Sec. 7–8, T.

152 N., R. 104 W., Sec. 13–15, T. 152

N., R. 104 W., Sec. 17–18, T. 152 N., R.

104 W., Sec. 20–25, T. 152 N., R. 104

W., Sec. 28–29, T. 152 N., R. 104 W.,

Sec. 32–33, T. 153 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 31–

33, T. 153 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 5–9, T. 153

N., R. 93 W., Sec. 15–23, T. 153 N., R.

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93 W., Sec. 26–30, T. 153 N., R. 93 W.,

Sec. 32–36, T. 153 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 1–

14, T. 153 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 16, T. 153

N., R. 94 W., Sec. 24, T. 153 N., R. 95

W., Sec. 5–6, T. 153 N., R. 96 W., Sec.

1, T. 153 N., R. 96 W., Sec. 4–5, T. 153

N., R. 97 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 153 N., R. 97

W., Sec. 4–7, T. 153 N., R. 97 W., Sec.

11, T. 153 N., R. 98 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 153

N., R. 98 W., Sec. 11–15, T. 153 N., R.

98 W., Sec. 19–35, T. 153 N., R. 99 W.,

Sec. 22–29, T. 153 N., R. 99 W., Sec. 31–

36, T. 153 N., R. 100 W., Sec. 4–9, T.

153 N., R. 100 W., Sec. 16–21, T. 153

N., R. 100 W., Sec. 27–30, T. 153 N., R.

100 W., Sec. 32–35, T. 153 N., R. 101

W., Sec. 1–11, T. 153 N., R. 101 W., Sec.

15–20, T. 153 N., R. 101 W., Sec. 30, T.

153 N., R. 102 W., Sec. 1, T. 153 N., R.

102 W., Sec. 12–13, T. 153 N., R. 102

W., Sec. 21–28, T. 153 N., R. 102 W.,

Sec. 33–36, T. 154 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 31,

T. 154 N., R. 94 W., Sec. 15, T. 154 N.,

R. 94 W., Sec. 19–23, T. 154 N., R. 94

W., Sec. 25–36, T. 154 N., R. 95 W., Sec.

11, T. 154 N., R. 95 W., Sec. 13–14, T.

154 N., R. 95 W., Sec. 17–36, T. 154 N.,

R. 96 W., Sec. 2–3, T. 154 N., R. 96 W.,

Sec. 10–11, T. 154 N., R. 96 W., Sec. 13–

16, T. 154 N., R. 96 W., Sec. 18–36, T.

154 N., R. 97 W., Sec. 13–16, T. 154 N.,

R. 97 W., Sec. 19–36, T. 154 N., R. 98

W., Sec. 25, T. 154 N., R. 98 W., Sec.

35–36, T. 154 N., R. 100 W., Sec. 19, T.

154 N., R. 100 W., Sec. 29–33, T. 154

N., R. 101 W., Sec. 22–29, T. 154 N., R.

101 W., Sec. 31–36.

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South Dakota

Projection: UTM Zone 14, NAD 27,

Clarke 1866

Unit SD–1: Missouri River

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 6 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 1–6, T. 6 N., R.

29 E., Sec. 8–11, T. 6 N., R. 29 E., Sec.

14–16,T. 6 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 21–23, T.

6 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 25–27,T. 6 N., R. 29

E., Sec. 35–36, T. 6 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 22–

34,T. 6 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 19, T. 7 N., R.

28 E., Sec. 1,T. 7 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 12–

13, T. 7 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 36,T. 7 N., R.

29 E., Sec. 5–9, T. 7 N., R. 29 E., Sec.

15–17,T. 7 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 20–28, T.

7 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 31–32, T. 7 N., R.

29 E., Sec. 34–36, T. 7 N., R. 29 E., Sec.

**,T. 7 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 19–20, T. 7 N.,

R. 30 E., Sec. 29–32,T. 8 N., R. 23 E.,

Sec. 1, T. 8 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 4–6,T. 8

N., R. 26 E., Sec. 4, T. 8 N., R. 28 E.,

Sec. 1,T. 8 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 11–14, T.

8 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 23–25,T. 8 N., R. 29

E., Sec. 4–9, T. 8 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 16–

20,T. 8 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 29–31, T. 9 N.,

R. 23 E., Sec. 36,T. 9 N., R. 24 E., Sec.

12–15, T. 9 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 22–28,T.

9 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 31–34, T. 9 N., R.

25 E., Sec. 1–2,T. 9 N., R. 25 E., Sec. 7–

18, T. 9 N., R. 25 E., Sec. 20–25,T. 9 N.,

R. 25 E., Sec. 27, T. 9 N., R. 26 E., Sec.

1–9,T. 9 N., R. 26 E., Sec. 10–23, T. 9

N., R. 26 E., Sec. 26,T. 9 N., R. 26 E.,

Sec. 28–30, T. 9 N., R. 26 E., Sec. 32–

33,T. 9 N., R. 27 E., Sec. 1–12, T. 9 N.,

R. 28 E., Sec. 3–9,T. 9 N., R. 28 E., Sec.

13–20, T. 9 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 22–26,T.

9 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 35–36, T. 9 N., R.

29 E., Sec. 1–4,T. 9 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 18–

20, T. 9 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 29–32,T. 9 N.,

R. 30 E., Sec. 6, T. 10 N., R. 26 E., Sec.

10,T. 10 N., R. 26 E., Sec. 13, T. 10 N.,

R. 26 E., Sec. 15–16,T. 10 N., R. 26 E.,

Sec. 19–20, T. 10 N., R. 26 E., Sec. 22–

29,T. 10 N., R. 26 E., Sec. 32–36, T. 10

N., R. 27 E., Sec. 9,T. 10 N., R. 27 E.,

Sec. 15–16, T. 10 N., R. 27 E., Sec. 21–

36,T. 10 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 1–6, T. 10 N.,

R. 28 E., Sec. 8–17,T. 10 N., R. 28 E.,

Sec. 19–21, T. 10 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 24,T.

10 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 29–33, T. 10 N., R.

29 E., Sec. 1,T. 10 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 4–

9, T. 10 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 12–13,T. 10

N., R. 29 E., Sec. 16–22, T. 10 N., R. 29

E., Sec. 24–25,T. 10 N., R. 29 E., Sec.

27–30, T. 10 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 32–36,T.

10 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 1–12, T. 10 N., R.

30 E., Sec. 14–19,T. 10 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

20, T. 10 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 29,T. 10 N.,

R. 30 E., Sec. 30–31, T. 10 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 6,T. 11 N., R. 27 E., Sec. 36, T. 11

N., R. 28 E., Sec. 25,T. 11 N., R. 28 E.,

Sec. 27–36, T. 11 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 24–

26,T. 11 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 31, T. 11 N.,

R. 29 E., Sec. 36,T. 11 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

1–2, T. 11 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 11–14, T.

11 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 23–26, T. 11 N., R.

30 E., Sec. 31–33,T. 11 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

35–36, T. 11 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 30–31,T.

12 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 1–4, T. 12 N., R.

30 E., Sec. 10–14,T. 12 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

22–28, T. 12 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 34–36,T.

12 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 1–7, T. 12 N., R.

31 E., Sec. 10–12,T. 13 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

1, T. 13 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 31–34,T. 13

N., R. 30 E., Sec. 36, T. 13 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 3–10,T. 13 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 16–17,

T. 13 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 20–21,T. 13 N.,

R. 31 E., Sec. 27–28, T. 13 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 30–35,T. 14 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 36,

T. 14 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 1–5, T. 14 N.,

R. 31 E., Sec. 9–11, T. 14 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 14–15,T. 14 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 22–

23, T. 14 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 26–28,T. 14

N., R. 31 E., Sec. 31–35, T. 15 N., R. 30

E., Sec. 1, T. 15 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 4–6,

T. 15 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 10–11,T. 15 N.,

R. 31 E., Sec. 13–15, T. 15 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 23–27,T. 15 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 32–

33, T. 15 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 35–36, T. 16

N., R. 28 E., Sec. 13–14, T. 16 N., R. 28

E., Sec. 21–24, T. 16 N., R. 28 E., Sec.

26–28, T. 16 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 1–3,T. 16

N., R. 29 E., Sec. 7–22, T. 16 N., R. 29

E., Sec. 24, T. 16 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 29–

30, T. 16 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 1–13,T. 16

N., R. 30 E., Sec. 16–18, T. 16 N., R. 30

E., Sec. 36, T. 16 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 1–

2, T. 16 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 6–8, T. 16 N.,

R. 31 E., Sec. 10–11, T. 16 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 14–19, T. 16 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 20–

22, T. 16 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 27–34,T. 17

N., R. 29 E., Sec. 36, T. 17 N., R. 30 E.,

Sec. 1, T. 17 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 28, T. 17

N., R. 30 E., Sec. 31,T. 17 N., R. 30 E.,

Sec. 33–34, T. 17 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 6–

8, T. 17 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 16–18, T. 17

N., R. 31 E., Sec. 20–21, T. 17 N., R. 31

E., Sec. 27–28, T. 17 N., R. 31 E., Sec.

33–34, T. 18 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 1–2, T.

18 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 12–13, T. 18 N., R.

30 E., Sec. 18–27, T. 18 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

35–36, T. 18 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 31, T. 19

N., R. 28 E., Sec. 2–6,T. 19 N., R. 29 E.,

Sec. 1–18, T. 19 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 20–

26, T. 19 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 34–36, T. 19

N., R. 30 E., Sec. 4, T. 19 N., R. 30 E.,

Sec. 7–9, T. 19 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 16–21,

T. 19 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 28–32, T. 20 N.,

R. 27 E., Sec. 25, T. 20 N., R. 27 E., Sec.

36, T. 20 N., R. 28 E., Sec. 24–27, T. 20

N., R. 28 E., Sec. 30–36, T. 20 N., R. 29

E., Sec. 19, T. 20 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 29–

32, T. 20 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 34, T. 20 N.,

R. 30 E., Sec. 22, T. 20 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

24–27, T. 20 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 32–34, T.

20 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 36, T. 20 N., R. 31

E., Sec. 4–6, T. 20 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 8–

9, T. 20 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 16, T. 20 N.,

R. 31 E., Sec. 19–21, T. 20 N., R. 31 E.,

Sec. 28–32, T. 21 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 2–

4,T. 21 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 10–11, T. 21

N., R. 30 E., Sec. 14, T. 21 N., R. 30 E.,

Sec. 23–26, T. 21 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 36,

T. 21 N., R. 31 E., Sec. 31, T. 22 N., R.

29 E., Sec. 1–2, T. 22 N., R. 29 E., Sec.

11–12, T. 22 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 5–8, T.

22 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 14–17, T. 22 N., R.

30 E., Sec. 21–23, T. 22 N., R. 30 E., Sec.

27–28, T. 22 N., R. 30 E., Sec. 33–34, T.

22 N., R. 30 E., Sec. **, T. 23 N., R. 29

E., Sec. 20–22,T. 23 N., R. 29 E., Sec.

27–28, T. 23 N., R. 29 E., Sec. 33–36, T.

23 N., R. 29 E., Sec. **, T. 23 N., R. 30

E., Sec. 29–32, T. 107 N., R. 71 W., Sec.

30–32, T. 111 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 1–3, T.

111 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 6, T. 111 N., R.

81 W., Sec. 1–4, T. 112 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 31, T. 112 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 4–9,

T. 112 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 17–18, T. 112

N., R. 80 W., Sec. 23,T. 112 N., R. 80 W.,

Sec. 25–36, T. 112 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 1,

T. 112 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 12–15, T. 112

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 22–28, T. 112 N., R.

81 W., Sec. 33–36, T. 113 N., R. 80 W.,

Sec. 3–4,T. 113 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 9–10,

T. 113 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 16–21, T. 113

N., R. 80 W., Sec. 28–34, T. 113 N., R.

80 W., Sec. 4, T. 113 N., R. 80 W., Sec.

9, T. 113 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 5–8, T. 113

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 13, T. 113 N., R. 81

W., Sec. 15–17, T. 113 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

20–29, T. 113 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 34–36,

T. 114 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 33–34, T. 114

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 4–5, T. 114 N., R. 81

W., Sec. 9–10, T. 114 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

16–17, T. 114 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 20–21,

T. 114 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 27–29, T. 114

N., R. 81 W., Sec. 31–33, T. 115 N., R.

80 W., Sec. 2–5,T. 115 N., R. 80 W., Sec.

7–10, T. 115 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 16–20,

T. 115 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 6–7, T. 115 N.,

R. 81 W., Sec. 16–21, T. 115 N., R. 81

W., Sec. 25–30, T. 115 N., R. 81 W., Sec.

32–33, T. 115 N., R. 81 W., Sec. 35–36,

T. 115 N., R. 82 W., Sec. 1–4, T. 115 N.,

R. 82 W., Sec. 9–16, T. 115 N., R. 82 W.,

Sec. 22–25,T. 116 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 4–

9, T. 116 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 17–20, T.

116 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 24–27, T. 116 N.,

R. 80 W., Sec. 33–35, T. 116 N., R. 82

W., Sec. 33–36, T. 117 N., R. 79 W., Sec.

5–8,T. 117 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 17–18, T.

117 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 20, T. 117 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 29, T. 117 N., R. 79 W., Sec.

32–33, T. 117 N., R. 79 W., Sec. **, T.

118 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 3–10, T. 118 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 16–18, T. 118 N., R. 78

W., Sec. 20–21, T. 118 N., R. 78 W., Sec.

29–30, T. 118 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 1, T.

118 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 12, T. 118 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 20–32, T. 119 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 3–5, T. 119 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 7–

9, T. 119 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 17–20, T.

119 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 30–31, T. 119 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 24–25, T. 119 N., R. 79

W., Sec. 36, T. 120 N., R. 78 W., Sec.

2–4, T. 120 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 9–11, T.

120 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 15–17, T. 120 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 20–22, T. 120 N., R. 78

W., Sec. 27–29, T. 120 N., R. 78 W., Sec.

32–34, T. 120 N., R. 78 W., Sec. **, T.

121 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 3–11, T. 121 N.,

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R. 78 W., Sec. 15–18, T. 121 N., R. 78

W., Sec. 20–22, T. 121 N., R. 78 W., Sec.

26–28, T. 121 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 34–35,

T. 122 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 3–5, T. 122 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 9, T. 122 N., R. 78 W.,

Sec. 15–16, T. 122 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 21–

22, T. 122 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 27–28, T.

122 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 32–34, T. 123 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 6–8, T. 123 N., R. 78 W.,

Sec. 18–20, T. 123 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 29–

33, T. 123 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 123

N., R. 79 W., Sec. 11–13, T. 123 N., R.

79 W., Sec. 24–25, T. 124 N., R. 78 W.,

Sec. 31, T. 124 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 5–7,

T. 124 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 18, T. 124 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 29–34, T. 124 N., R. 80

W., Sec. 12–14, T. 124 N., R. 80 W., Sec.

23–26, T. 124 N., R. 80 W., Sec. 35–36,

T. 125 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 4–5, T. 125 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 7–8, T. 125 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 9–17, T. 125 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 20–

22, T. 125 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 27–29, T.

125 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 32–33, T. 125 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. **, T. 126 N., R. 78 W.,

Sec. 5–8, T. 126 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 17–

18, T. 126 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 20–21, T.

126 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 27–29, T. 126 N.,

R. 78 W., Sec. 32–33, T. 126 N., R. 79

W., Sec. 1, T. 126 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 12,

T. 127 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 31, T. 127 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 127 N., R. 79 W.,

Sec. 11, T. 127 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 14, T.

127 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 23–26, T. 127 N.,

R. 79 W., Sec. 36, T. 128 N., R. 78 W.,

Sec. 16–19, T. 128 N., R. 78 W., Sec. 29–

31, T. 128 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 5–9, T. 128

N., R. 79 W., Sec. 13, T. 128 N., R. 79

W., Sec. 16–17, T. 128 N., R. 79 W., Sec.

20–22, T. 128 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 24–29,

T. 128 N., R. 79 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 128

N., R. 80 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 128 N., R. 80

W., Sec. 10–12.

** Undefined. These are ‘‘lands’’ which

were not surveyed during the original

Government Land Office survey of South

Dakota. They are now inundated and appear

to fall in what was the described river

channel at that time.

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31814 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules

Unit SD–2: Missouri River

This unit consists of the following

Township, Range, and Sections:

T. 90 N., R. 49 W., Sec. 6, T. 90 N.,

R. 50 W., Sec. 1, T. 90 N., R. 50 W., Sec.

11–14, T. 90 N., R. 50 W., Sec. 23–25,

T. 91 N., R. 49 W., Sec. 31, T. 91 N., R.

50 W., Sec. 7, T. 91 N., R. 50 W., Sec.

18–19, T. 91 N., R. 50 W., Sec. 25–26,

T. 91 N., R. 50 W., Sec. 28–30, T. 91 N.,

R. 50 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 91 N., R. 50 W.,

Sec. **, T. 91 N., R. 51 W., Sec. 3–6, T.

91 N., R. 51 W., Sec. 10–13, T. 91 N.,

R. 52 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 91 N., R. 52 W.,

Sec. 10–12, T. 92 N., R. 51 W., Sec. 31–

32, T. 92 N., R. 52 W., Sec. 19–21, T.

92 N., R. 52 W., Sec. 26–30, T. 92 N.,

R. 52 W., Sec. 34–36, T. 92 N., R. 53 W.,

Sec. 7–8, T. 92 N., R. 53 W., Sec. 17–

18, T. 92 N., R. 53 W., Sec. 20–24, T.

92 N., R. 54 W., Sec. 3, T. 92 N., R. 54

W., Sec. 10–12, T. 92 N., R. 60 W., Sec.

1–2, T. 92 N., R. 60 W., Sec. 10–11, T.

92 N., R. 60 W., Sec. 15–17, T. 92 N.,

R. 60 W., Sec. 19–21, T. 92 N., R. 61 W.,

Sec. 6–8, T. 92 N., R. 61 W., Sec. 15–

17, T. 92 N., R. 61 W., Sec. 21–24, T.

92 N., R. 62 W., Sec. 1–2, T. 93 N., R.

54 W., Sec. 18–21, T. 93 N., R. 54 W.,

Sec. 27–28, T. 93 N., R. 54 W., Sec. 34,

T. 93 N., R. 55 W., Sec. 13–14, T. 93 N.,

R. 55 W., Sec. 17–19, T. 93 N., R. 55 W.,

Sec. 23–24, T. 93 N., R. 56 W., Sec. 13–

14, T. 93 N., R. 56 W., Sec. 17–21, T.

93 N., R. 56 W., Sec. 23–24, T. 93 N.,

R. 56 W., Sec. 26–28, T. 93 N., R. 57 W.,

Sec. 16–24, T. 93 N., R. 57 W., Sec. 28–

29, T. 93 N., R. 58 W., Sec. 17–28, T.

93 N., R. 58 W., Sec. 30, T. 93 N., R. 58

W., Sec. 34–35, T. 93 N., R. 59 W., Sec.

10–11, T. 93 N., R. 59 W., Sec. 13–19,

T. 93 N., R. 59 W., Sec. 21–27, T. 93 N.,

R. 60 W., Sec. 24–26, T. 93 N., R. 60 W.,

Sec. 35–36, T. 93 N., R. 62 W., Sec. 19–

20, T. 93 N., R. 62 W., Sec. 26–30, T.

93 N., R. 62 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 93 N.,

R. 63 W., Sec. 6–10, T. 93 N., R. 63 W.,

Sec. 15, T. 93 N., R. 64 W., Sec. 1, T.

94 N., R. 64 W., Sec. 19–20, T. 94 N.,

R. 64 W., Sec. 27–30, T. 94 N., R. 64 W.,

Sec. 34–36, T. 94 N., R. 65 W., Sec. 2,

T. 94 N., R. 65 W., Sec. 11–13, T. 94 N.,

R. 65 W., Sec. 24, T. 95 N., R. 65 W.,

Sec. 15–18, T. 95 N., R. 65 W., Sec. 4–

9, T. 95 N., R. 65 W., Sec. 21–23, T. 95

N., R. 65 W., Sec. 26–27, T. 95 N., R. 65

W., Sec. 34–35, T. 95 N., R. 66 W., Sec.

1–13, T. 95 N., R. 67 W., Sec. 1–2, T.

95 N., R. 67 W., Sec. 12–13, T. 96 N.,

R. 65 W., Sec. 29–31, T. 96 N., R. 66 W.,

Sec. 26–27, T. 96 N., R. 66 W., Sec. 31–

36, T. 96 N., R. 67 W., Sec. 1–11, T. 96

N., R. 67 W., Sec. 13–18, T. 96 N., R. 67

W., Sec. 21–28, T. 96 N., R. 67 W., Sec.

33–36, T. 96 N., R. 68 W., Sec. 1–4, T.

96 N., R. 68 W., Sec. 10–15, T. 97 N.,

R. 67 W., Sec. 32, T. 97 N., R. 68 W.,

Sec. 3–11, T. 97 N., R. 68 W., Sec. 14–

16, T. 97 N., R. 68 W., Sec. 21–23, T.

97 N., R. 68 W., Sec. 26–35, T. 97 N.,

R. 69 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 97 N., R. 69 W.,

Sec. 12, T. 97 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 25, T.

97 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 36, T. 98 N., R. 68

W., Sec. 31–33, T. 98 N., R. 69 W., Sec.

6–7, T. 98 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 9–10, T.

98 N., R. 69 W., Sec. 15–22, T. 98 N.,

R. 69 W., Sec. 27–29, T. 98 N., R. 69 W.,

Sec. 33–36, T. 98 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 1–

2, T. 98 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 11–13, T. 98

N., R. 70 W., Sec. 24, T. 99 N., R. 70 W.,

Sec. 4–10, T. 99 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 15–

17, T. 99 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 20–23, T.

99 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 25–28, T. 99 N.,

R. 70 W., Sec. 34–36, T. 99 N., R. 71 W.,

Sec. 1, T. 100 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 30–32,

T. 100 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 7, T. 100 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 18–20, T. 100 N., R. 71

W., Sec. 25–36, T. 100 N., R. 72 W., Sec.

12–14, T. 100 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 23–26,

T. 101 N., R. 70 W., Sec. 19, T. 101 N.,

R. 70 W., Sec. 30, T. 101 N., R. 71 W.,

Sec. 3–5, T. 101 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 8–

9, T. 101 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 10–11, T.

101 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 13–16, T. 101 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 22–26, T. 101 N., R. 71

W., Sec. 34–36, T. 102 N., R. 71 W., Sec.

5–9, T. 102 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 16–18, T.

102 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 20–22, T. 102 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 28–29, T. 102 N., R. 71

W., Sec. 32–34, T. 102 N., R. 72 W., Sec.

1–5, T. 102 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 8–12, T.

102 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 15, T. 103 N., R.

71 W., Sec. 18–19, T. 103 N., R. 72 W.,

Sec. 1–3, T. 103 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 6–

9, T. 103 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 11–18, T.

103 N., R. 72 W., Sec. 21–29, T. 103 N.,

R. 72 W., Sec. 30–34, T. 103 N., R. 73

W., Sec. 1, T. 103 N., R. 73 W., Sec. 12,

T. 103 N., R. 73 W., Sec. 36, T. 104 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 2–4, T. 104 N., R. 71 W.,

Sec. 8–10, T. 104 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 15–

17, T. 104 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 19–21, T.

104 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 29–30, T. 104 N.,

R. 72W., Sec. 14, T. 104 N., R. 72W.,

Sec. 23–27, T. 104 N., R. 72W., Sec. 31–

32, T. 104 N., R. 72W., Sec. 34–36, T.

104 N., R. 73 W., Sec. 36, T. 105 N., R.

71 W., Sec. 4–5, T. 105 N., R. 71 W.,

Sec. 8–9, T. 105 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 14–

17, T. 105 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 21–26, T.

105 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 34–36, T. 106 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 3–6, T. 106 N., R. 71 W.,

Sec. 8–10, T. 106 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 14–

16, T. 106 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 21–23, T.

106 N., R. 71 W., Sec. 27–28, T. 106 N.,

R. 71 W., Sec. 32–34, T. 107 N., R. 71

W., Sec. 31–33, T. 107 N., R. 72 W., Sec.

22–26, T. 107, R. 72 W., Sec. 30, T. 107

N., R. 72 W., Sec. 35–36, T. 30 N., R. 6

E., Sec. 3, T. 30 N., R. 6 E., Sec. 10–11,

T. 31 N., R. 5 E., Sec. 2, T. 31 N., R. 5

E., Sec. 11–18, T. 31 N., R. 6 E., Sec. 22–

23, T. 31 N., R. 6 E., Sec. 26–27, T. 31

N., R. 6 E., Sec. 34, T. 32 N., R. 2 E.,

Sec. 1, T. 32 N., R. 2 E., Sec. 12, T. 32

N., R. 3 E., Sec. 6–13, T. 32 N., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 7–9, T. 32 N., R. 4 E., Sec. 16, T.

32 N., R. 4 W., Sec. 17, T. 32 N., R. 4

E., Sec. 18, T. 32 N., R. 4 E., Sec. 21,

T. 32 N., R. 4 E., Sec. 23–28, T. 32 N.,

R. 5 W., Sec. 4–6, T. 32 N., R. 5 E., Sec.

19, T. 32 N., R. 5 E., Sec. 28–30, T. 32

N., R. 5 E., Sec. 33–35, T. 32 N., R. 6

W., Sec. 1, T. 32 N., R. 6 W., Sec. 6, T.

32 N., R. 6 W., Sec. 8–12, T. 32 N., R.

7 W., Sec. 1, T. 32 N., R. 7 W., Sec. 7,

T. 33 N., R. 1 W., Sec. 1–3, T. 33 N., R.

1 E., Sec. 3–12, T. 33 N., R. 1 W., Sec.

7–10, T. 33 N., R. 1 W., Sec. 12, T. 33

N., R. 1 W., Sec. 16–17, T. 33 N., R. 2

E., Sec. 7–8, T. 33 N., R. 2 W., Sec. 7–

18, T. 33 N., R. 2 E., Sec. 17–18, T. 33

N., R. 2 E., Sec. 20, T. 33 N., R. 2 E.,

Sec. 26–29, T. 33 N., R. 2 E., Sec. 34–

36, T. 33 N., R. 3 W., Sec. 7–8, T. 33 N.,

R. 3 W., Sec. 10–13, T. 33 N., R. 3 W.,

Sec. 16, T. 33 N., R. 3 W., Sec. 19–20,

T. 33 N., R. 3 W., Sec. 22, T. 33 N., R.

4 W., Sec. 5–9, T. 33 N., R. 4 W., Sec.

11–18, T. 33 N., R. 4 W., Sec. 21, T. 33

N., R. 4 W., Sec. 23–24, T. 33 N., R. 5

W., Sec. 1–2, T. 33 N., R. 5 W., Sec. 7,

T. 33 N., R. 5 W., Sec. 11–15, T. 33 N.,

R. 5 W., Sec. 22–23, T. 33 N., R. 5 W.,

Sec. 27–28, T. 33 N., R. 5 W., Sec. 32–

33, T. 33 N., R. 7 W., Sec. 16–17, T. 33

N., R. 7 W., Sec. 22–23, T. 33 N., R. 7

W., Sec. 26–27, T. 33 N., R. 7 W., Sec.

34–36, T. 33 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 3–5, T.

33 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 10–13, T. 33 N., R.

8 W., Sec. 18, T. 34 N., R. 8 W., Sec. 31–

33, T. 34 N., R. 9 W., Sec. 7, T. 34 N.,

R. 9 W., Sec. 16–18, T. 34 N., R. 9 W.,

Sec. 21–23, T. 34 N., R. 9 W., Sec. 25–

26, T. 34 N., R. 9 W., Sec. 36, T. 34 N.,

R. 10 W., Sec. 2–3, T. 34 N., R. 10 W.,

Sec. 10–14, T. 35 N., R. 10 W., Sec. 20,

T. 35 N., R. 10 W., Sec. 22, T. 35 N., R.

10 W., Sec. 28, T. 35 N., R. 10 W., Sec.

33–34.

**Undefined. These are ‘‘lands’’ which

were not surveyed during the original

Government Land Office survey of South

Dakota. They are now inundated and appear

to fall in what was the described river

channel at that time.

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 113 / Tuesday, June 12, 2001 / Proposed Rules 31815

* * * * * Dated: May 30, 2001.

Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and

Wildlife and Parks.

[FR Doc. 01–14169 Filed 6–11–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–C