Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices 30477

requirements of the Privacy Act and

Freedom of Information Act, by any

party who submits a written request for

a copy of such documents to the

following office within 30 days of the

date of publication of this notice: U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington,

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

Fax: (703/358–2281).

Dated: May 25, 2001.

Monica Farris,

Senior Biologist, Branch of Permits, Office

of Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 01–14188 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of the Draft

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Recovery Plan for Review and

Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Document

Availability.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service announces the availability for

public review of a draft Recovery Plan

for the southwestern willow flycatcher

(Empidonax traillii extimus). The

breeding range of this bird includes

southern California, southern Nevada,

southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico,

western Texas, southwestern Colorado,

and possibly extreme northern portions

of the Mexican states of Baja, California

del Norte, Sonora, and Chihuahua.

Within this region, the species breeds in

dense riparian tree and shrub

communities associated with rivers,

swamps, and other wetlands including

lakes (e.g., reservoirs). Most of these

habitats are classified as forested

wetlands or scrub-shrub wetlands. The

Service solicits review and comment

from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft Recovery

Plan must be received on or before

October 4, 2001 to receive consideration

by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the draft Recovery Plan may obtain a

copy by contacting Greg Beatty, Arizona

Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 West

Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix,

Arizona, 85021–4951 (602/242–0210).

Written comments and materials

regarding the plan should be addressed

to the Field Supervisor at this same

address. Comments and materials

received are available on request for

public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg

Beatty (see ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or

threatened animal or plant species to

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

primary goal of the Service’s

endangered species program. To help

guide the recovery effort, the Service is

working to prepare recovery plans for

most of the listed species native to the

United States. Recovery plans describe

actions considered necessary for

conservation of species, establish

criteria for the recovery levels for

downlisting or delisting them, and

estimate time and cost for implementing

the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

(Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.), requires the development of

recovery plans for listed species unless

such a plan would not promote the

conservation of a particular species.

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

1988, requires that public notice and an

opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery

plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented

during a public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised

recovery plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will also take these

comments into account in the course of

implementing approved recovery plans.

The Draft Southwestern Willow

Flycatcher Recovery Plan describes the

status, current management, recovery

objectives and criteria, and specific

actions needed to reclassify the

southwestern willow flycatcher from

endangered to threatened, and to

ultimately delist it. The draft Plan was

developed by: Deborah M. Finch, U.S.

Forest Service, Rocky Mountain

Research Station, Albuquerque, New

Mexico (Team Leader); Stephen I.

Rothstein, University of California,

Santa Barbara, California (Vice Team

Leader); Jon C. Boren, New Mexico State

University, Las Cruces, New Mexico;

Jerry L. Holechek, New Mexico State

University, Las Cruces, New Mexico;

Barbara E. Kus, U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) Western Ecological Research

Center, San Diego State University, San

Diego, California; Robert M. Marshall,

The Nature Conservancy, Tucson,

Arizona; Susan J. Sferra, U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation, Phoenix, Arizona; Mark K.

Sogge, USGS Forest and Rangeland

Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado

Plateau Field Station, Flagstaff, Arizona;

Julie C. Stromberg, Arizona State

University, Tempe, Arizona; Bradley A.

Valentine, California Department of Fish

and Game, Santa Rosa, California; Mary

J. Whitfield, Southern Sierra Research

Center, Weldon, California; Sartor O.

Williams III, New Mexico Department of

Game and Fish, Santa Fe, New Mexico;

and geographically-based teams of

stakeholders (Implementation

Subgroups), which include

representatives of Native American

Tribes, State and local governments,

ranchers, private land owners and

managers, agency representatives, and

others.

The southwestern willow flycatcher is

known to currently breed in dense

riparian vegetation in southern

California, southern Nevada, southern

Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and

southwestern Colorado. Although

extreme northwestern Mexico and

western Texas are considered part of its

breeding range, no nesting birds are

presently known to occur in these areas.

The dense riparian vegetation that is

needed for breeding was historically

rare and sparsely distributed, and is

now more rare. Destruction and

modification of riparian habitats have

been caused mainly by: reduction or

elimination of surface and subsurface

water due to diversion and groundwater

pumping; changes in flood and fire

regimes due to dams and stream

channelization; clearing and controlling

vegetation, livestock grazing; changes in

water and soil chemistry due to

disruption of natural hydrologic cycles;

and establishment of non-native plants.

Concurrent with habitat loss have been

increases in brood parasitism by the

brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)

and the presence of nest predation

which inhibits reproductive success and

further reduces population levels.

Actions needed to recover the

southwestern willow flycatcher are

those that would increase and improve

breeding habitat by restoring and/or recreating natural physical and biotic

processes that influence riparian

ecosystems, and reducing other stresses

on the flycatcher. Specific actions

include: changing management of

surface and groundwater, including

fundamental changes in dam operations,

and restoring flood cycles; reducing

impacts of domestic livestock, wild

burros, and native ungulates; improving

metapopulation stability; securing longterm protection of breeding habitat;

managing exotic plant species; reducing

brood parasitism by brown-headed

30478 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2001 / Notices

cowbirds; conducting research to refine

management practices and knowledge of

ecology. The draft Plan will be revised

and finalized based on comments

received during meetings with the

Implementation Subgroups, as well as

comments received from the public.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments

on the Draft Southwestern Willow

Flycatcher Recovery Plan. All comments

received by the date specified above

will be considered prior to approval of

the plan.

Authority

The authority for this action is

Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species

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

Dated: May 17, 2001.

Geoffrey L. Haskett,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 01–14183 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish And Wildlife Service

Environmental Statements;

Availability, Etc: Incidental Take

Permits—Houston Toad; Notice of

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan

and Receipt of an Application for a

Permit for the Incidental Take of the

Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis)

During Construction of One Singlefamily Residence on Approximately 0.5

Acres of the 15.704-acre Property on

Gotier Trace Road, Bastrop County,

Texas (Adams)

Summary: Leslie Adams (Applicant)

has applied to the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service) for an

incidental take permit pursuant to

Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species

Act (Act). The Applicants have been

assigned permit number TE–041787–0.

The requested permit, which is for a

period of 5 years, would authorize the

incidental take of the endangered

Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis). The

proposed take would occur as a result

of the construction and occupation of

one single-family residence on

approximately 0.5 acres of the 15.704-

acre property on Gotier Trace Road,

Bastrop County, Texas. The Service has

prepared the Environmental

Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan

(EA/HCP) for the incidental take

application. A determination of

jeopardy to the species or a Finding of

No Significant Impact (FONSI) will not

be made until at least 30 days from the

date of publication of this notice. This

notice is provided pursuant to Section

10(c) of the Act and National

Environmental Policy Act regulations

(40 CFR 1506.6).

Dates: Written comments on the

application should be received on or

before July 6, 2001.

Addresses: Persons wishing to review

the application may obtain a copy by

writing to the Regional Director, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box

1306, Room 4102, Albuquerque, New

Mexico, 87103. Persons wishing to

review the EA/HCP may obtain a copy

by contacting Clayton Napier, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet

Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78758

(512/490–0057). Documents will be

available for public inspection by

written request, by appointment only,

during normal business hours (8:00 to

4:30) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Austin, Texas. Written data or

comments concerning the application

and EA/HCP should be submitted to the

Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Austin, Texas, at the above

address. Please refer to permit number

TE–041787–0 when submitting

comments.

For Further Information Contact:

Clayton Napier at the above U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, Austin Office.

Supplementary Information: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the Houston

toad. However, the Service, under

limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take endangered wildlife

species incidental to, and not the

purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.

Regulations governing permits for

endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.

Applicant: Leslie Adams plans to

construct a single-family residence on

approximately 0.5 acres of the 15.704-

acre property on Gotier Trace Road,

Bastrop County, Texas. This action will

eliminate 0.5 acres or less of Houston

toad habitat and result in indirect

impacts within the property. The

Applicant proposes to compensate for

this incidental take of the Houston toad

by providing $2,000.00 to the National

Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the

specific purpose of land acquisition and

management within Houston toad

habitat, as identified by the Service.

Geoffrey L. Haskett,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2,

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 01–14184 Filed 6–5–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of an

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan and Receipt of an

Application for a Permit for the

Incidental Take of the Houston toad

(Bufo houstonensis) During

Construction of One Single-family

Residence on Approximately 0.5 Acres

of the 19.023-acre Property on Turkey

Run Road, Bastrop County, Texas

(Holcomb)

Summary: Will Holcomb (Applicant)

has applied to the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service) for an

incidental take permit pursuant to

Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species

Act (Act). The Applicant has been

assigned permit number TE–041785–0.

The requested permit, which is for a

period of 5 years, would authorize the

incidental take of the endangered

Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis). The

proposed take would occur as a result

of the construction and occupation of

one single-family residence on

approximately 0.5 acres of the 19.023-

acre property on Turkey Run Road,

Bastrop County, Texas.

The Service has prepared the

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the

incidental take application. A

determination of jeopardy to the species

or a Finding of No Significant Impact

(FONSI) will not be made until at least

30 days from the date of publication of

this notice. This notice is provided

pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Act and

National Environmental Policy Act

regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Dates: Written comments on the

application should be received by July

6, 2001.

Addresses: Persons wishing to review

the application may obtain a copy by

writing to the Regional Director, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box

1306, Room 4102, Albuquerque, New

Mexico, 87103. Persons wishing to

review the EA/HCP may obtain a copy

by contacting Clayton Napier, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet

Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, 78758

(512/490–0057). Documents will be

available for public inspection by

written request, by appointment only,

during normal business hours (8:00 to

4:30) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Austin, Texas. Written data or

comments concerning the application

and EA/HCP should be submitted to the

Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Austin, Texas, at the above

address. Please refer to permit number