45236 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 150 / Monday, August 4, 2008 / Notices 

January through June and July through 

December of each year. Section 221(g)(4) 

is implemented in the HUD regulations 

at 24 CFR 221.255 and 24 CFR 221.790. 

The Secretary of the Treasury has 

determined that the interest rate to be 

borne by debentures issued pursuant to 

section 221(g)(4) during the 6-month 

period beginning July 1, 2008, is 37⁄8

percent. 

The subject matter of this notice falls 

within the categorical exemption from 

HUD’s environmental clearance 

procedures set forth in 24 CFR 

50.19(c)(6). For that reason, no 

environmental finding has been 

prepared for this notice. 

Authority: Sections 211, 221, 224, National 

Housing Act, 12 U.S.C. 1715b, 1715l, 1715o; 

Section 7(d), Department of HUD Act, 42 

U.S.C. 3535(d). 

Dated: July 25, 2008. 

Brian D. Montgomery, 

Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal 

Housing Commissioner. 

[FR Doc. E8–17742 Filed 8–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 

Office of the Secretary 

Blackstone River Valley National 

Heritage Corridor Commission 

Notice of Meeting 

Notice is hereby given in accordance 

with Section 552b of Title 5, United 

States Code, that a meeting of the John 

H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley 

National Heritage Corridor Commission 

will be held on Thursday, September 

18, 2008. 

The Commission was established 

pursuant to Pub. L. 99–647. The 

purpose of the Commission is to assist 

federal, state and local authorities in the 

development and implementation of an 

integrated resource management plan 

for those lands and waters within the 

Corridor. 

The meeting will convene on 

September 18, 2008 at 9 a.m. at 

Banneker Industries, located at 582 

Great Road, North Smithfield, RI for the 

following reasons: 

1. Approval of Minutes 

2. Chairman’s Report 

3. Executive Director’s Report 

4. Financial Budget 

5. Public Input 

It is anticipated that about thirty 

people will be able to attend the session 

in addition to the Commission 

members. 

Interested persons may make oral or 

written presentations to the Commission 

or file written statements. Such requests 

should be made prior to the meeting to: 

Jan H. Reitsma, Executive Director, John 

H. Chafee, Blackstone River Valley 

National Heritage Corridor Commission, 

One Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI 

02895, Tel.: (401) 762–0250. 

Further information concerning this 

meeting may be obtained from Jan H. 

Reitsma, Executive Director of the 

Commission at the aforementioned 

address. 

Jan H. Reitsma, 

Executive Director, BRVNHCC. 

[FR Doc. E8–17789 Filed 8–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–RK–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of the Secretary 

Reestablishment of the Lake 

Champlain Sea Lamprey Control 

Alternatives Workgroup 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Reestablishment. 

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior 

(Secretary), after consultation with the 

General Services Administration, has 

reestablished the Lake Champlain Sea 

Lamprey Control Alternatives 

Workgroup (Workgroup) for 2 years. The 

Workgroup provides an opportunity for 

stakeholders to give policy and 

technical input on efforts to develop 

and implement sea lamprey control 

techniques alternative to lampricides in 

Lake Champlain. 

DATES: The Council’s charter will be 

filed under the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act August 19, 2008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dave Tilton, Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife 

Resources Complex, 11 Lincoln Street, 

Essex Junction, VT 05452, 802–872–

0629, extension 12. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Workgroup conducts its operations in 

accordance with the provisions of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

U.S.C. Appendix). It reports to the 

Secretary through the Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service) and Lake Champlain 

Fish and Wildlife Management 

Cooperative (Cooperative) and functions 

solely as an advisory body. The 

Workgroup provides recommendations 

and advice to the Cooperative. Specific 

responsibilities of the Workgroup are to 

provide recommendations on: (1) 

Feasible and appropriate sea lamprey 

management methods alternative to 

lampricides; (2) funding priorities for 

research and/or demonstration projects; 

(3) facilitating coordinated research 

between Lake Champlain and the Great 

Lakes; and (4) development of requests 

for proposals, project proposals, and 

research efforts affecting the Lake 

Champlain Basin. 

The Workgroup consists of up to 20 

members representing Federal and State 

agencies and stakeholders. In addition, 

up to five of the members may be 

special Government employees, selected 

for their scientific expertise. All 

members are knowledgeable about Lake 

Champlain fishery management issues, 

including sea lamprey control. 

The Certification for reestablishment 

is published below. 

Certification 

I hereby certify that the Lake 

Champlain Sea Lamprey Control 

Alternatives Workgroup (Workgroup) is 

necessary and is in the public interest 

in connection with the performance of 

duties imposed on the Department of 

the Interior through the Supplemental 

Environmental Impact Statement for a 

Long-term Program of Sea Lamprey 

Control in Lake Champlain as published 

in 2001 (66 FR 46651, September 6, 

2001). 

Dated: July 24, 2008. 

Dirk Kempthorne, 

Secretary of the Interior. 

[FR Doc. E8–17737 Filed 8–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R8–ES–2008–N0114; 80221–1113–

0000–C2] 

Draft Revised Recovery Plan for 

Mojave Population of the Desert 

Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of document availability 

for review and comment. 

SUMMARY: We, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service), announce the 

availability of a draft revised recovery 

plan for the Mojave population of the 

desert tortoise for public review and 

comment. 

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on the draft recovery plan on or before 

November 3, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: The draft recovery plan and 

reference materials are available for 

inspection, by appointment, during 

normal business hours at the following 

location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 150 / Monday, August 4, 2008 / Notices 45237 

Financial Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, 

NV 89502 (telephone: 775–861–6300). 

Submitted comments regarding the draft 

revised recovery plan will also be 

available for public inspection, by 

appointment, during normal business 

hours following the public review and 

comment period. Requests for copies of 

the draft revised recovery plan and 

submission of written comments or 

materials regarding the plan should be 

addressed to the Field Supervisor at the 

above address. You may also submit 

electronic comments on the recovery 

plan to: DTrecovery@fws.gov. An 

electronic copy of the draft recovery 

plan is available at: http:// 

endangered.fws.gov/recovery/ 

index.html#plans. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy 

Averill-Murray, Desert Tortoise 

Recovery Coordinator, at the above 

address or telephone number. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Recovery of endangered or threatened 

animals and plants is a primary goal of 

the Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ) and our endangered 

species program. Recovery means 

improvement of the status of listed 

species to the point at which listing is 

no longer required under the criteria set 

out in section 4(a)(1) of the Act. 

Recovery plans describe actions 

considered necessary for the 

conservation of the species, establish 

criteria for downlisting or delisting 

listed species, and estimate time and 

cost for implementing the measures 

needed for recovery. The Recovery Plan 

for the Mojave Population of the Desert 

Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) was first 

published in 1994 wherein the status of 

the species, threats, recovery actions 

and recovery criteria were presented. 

Since that time a great deal of effort has 

been dedicated to recovery and 

conservation activities, and additional 

information has been obtained through 

research and observation that allows us 

to better focus our recovery strategy. 

The revised recovery plan for the 

Mojave Population of the desert tortoise 

is the focus of this notice. 

Section 4(f) of the Act directs the 

Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to 

develop and implement recovery plans 

for species listed as endangered or 

threatened, unless such plans will not 

promote the conservation of the species. 

We and the National Marine Fisheries 

Service, as appropriate, have been 

delegated responsibility for 

administering the Act. Section 4(f) of 

the Act requires that public notice, and 

an opportunity for public review and 

comment, be provided during 

development of recovery plans. We will 

consider all information presented 

during the public comment period on 

each new or revised recovery plan. 

Substantive comments may or may not 

result in changes to a recovery plan. 

However, any substantive comments 

regarding recovery plan implementation 

will be forwarded to appropriate Federal 

agencies or other interested entities so 

that they can take these comments into 

account during the implementation of 

their respective management programs. 

Individual responses to submitted 

comments will not be provided. 

The desert tortoise is a large, 

herbivorous reptile that can reach 20 to 

38 centimeters (cm) (8 to 15 inches (in)) 

in carapace length and 10 to 15 cm (4 

to 6 in) in shell height. Hatchlings 

emerge from eggs at about 5 cm (2 in) 

in length. Adults have a domed 

carapace and relatively flat, unhinged 

plastrons (lower shells). Their shells are 

high-domed and greenish-tan to dark 

brown in color with tan scute (horny 

plate on the shell) centers. Adult desert 

tortoises weigh 3.6 to 6.8 kilograms (8 

to 15 pounds). The forelimbs have 

heavy, claw-like scales and are flattened 

for digging. Hind limbs are more 

elephantine. 

Throughout most of the Mojave 

Desert, the desert tortoise occupies a 

variety of habitats: From flats and slopes 

dominated by creosote bush (Larrea 

tridentata) scrub at lower elevations, to 

rocky slopes in the blackbrush 

(Coleogyne ramosissima) scrub, and 

juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodland 

interface at higher elevations. Records of 

desert tortoises range from below sea 

level to an elevation of 2,225 meters (m) 

(7,300 feet (ft)), with the most favorable 

habitat at elevations between 305 and 

914 m (1,000 and 3,000 ft). Desert 

tortoises most commonly occur on 

gently sloping terrain with sandy-gravel 

soils that are friable for burrowing and 

where there is sparse cover of lowgrowing shrubs and a high diversity of 

both perennial and annual plants. 

The desert tortoise occurs in the 

Mojave and Sonoran deserts in southern 

California, southern Nevada, Arizona, 

and the southwestern tip of Utah in the 

United States, as well as in Sonora and 

northern Sinaloa in Mexico. The listed 

Mojave population of the desert tortoise 

includes those animals living north and 

west of the Colorado River in the 

Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, 

Arizona, and southwestern Utah, and in 

the Sonoran (Colorado) Desert in 

California. A recovery plan was 

published in 1994 and critical habitat 

was also designated in all four States 

supporting the species. 

Three other tortoise species in the 

genus Gopherus occur in the United 

States, and another occurs in Mexico; 

however, all are geographically 

separated from the Mojave population. 

The Sonoran population of the desert 

tortoise is significantly different both 

genetically and ecologically, but could 

be confused visually with tortoises of 

the Mojave population; therefore, we 

determined the Sonoran population also 

warranted protection as a threatened 

species under section 4(e) of the 

Endangered Species Act (similarity of 

appearance) when located outside of its 

natural range. 

The vast majority of threats to the 

desert tortoise or its habitat are 

associated with human land uses. The 

threats identified in the 1994 Recovery 

Plan, and that formed the basis for 

listing the tortoise as a threatened 

species, continue to affect the species. 

Habitat loss, degradation, and 

fragmentation from urbanization, offhighway vehicle use in the desert, linear 

features such as roads and utility 

corridors, livestock grazing and mining, 

and military activities were cited as 

some of the primary reasons for the 

decline in desert tortoise populations. 

Disease and increased incidence of fire 

in the Mojave Desert have also been 

implicated in desert tortoise declines. 

The data amassed between 1979 and 

2002 from permanent study plots 

throughout the range of the species were 

used to explore regional and recoveryunit-level analyses and trends, and to 

develop within-population spatial 

analyses at various scales on the 

landscape and in different management 

units. Despite the challenges in 

comparing data from year to year, the 

apparent downward trend in desert 

tortoise populations in the western 

portion of the range that was identified 

at the time of listing is considered 

ongoing. Results from other portions of 

the range were inconclusive, but recent 

surveys of some populations found too 

few tortoises to produce population 

estimates, suggesting that declines may 

have occurred more broadly. 

Collectively, the various analyses that 

have been performed do not suggest that 

implementation of specific management 

actions over time has abated declines of, 

or resulted in detectable increases in, 

desert tortoise populations across most 

of the range. The life history of the 

species (i.e., delayed reproductive 

maturity, low reproductive rates, and 

relatively high mortality early in life) is 

such that observing relatively rapid 

increases in populations is highly 

unlikely, even over the 23-year 

monitoring period evaluated. 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
45238 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 150 / Monday, August 4, 2008 / Notices 

Despite the clear demonstration that 

the threats identified at the time of 

listing impact individual tortoises, there 

are few data available to evaluate or 

quantify the effects of threats on desert 

tortoise populations. While current 

research results can lead to predictions 

about how local tortoise abundance 

should be affected by the presence of 

threats, quantitative estimates of the 

magnitude of these threats, or of their 

relative importance, have not yet been 

developed. 

While precise correlations between 

the multitude of threats and desert 

tortoise populations have not been 

clearly shown, a great deal of effort has 

been put forth by research scientists and 

land managers to actively conserve the 

species. Substantive datasets pertaining 

to disease, non-native invasive plant 

species, and fire have been assembled 

over the years that will be used to 

inform decisions relative to desert 

tortoise recovery. Conservation actions 

such as land acquisitions, installing 

protective fencing, retiring grazing 

allotments, limiting off-highway vehicle 

access, and implementing restoration 

projects have been important recovery 

and management efforts based on our 

current state of knowledge regarding the 

threats facing the species. 

The revised strategy emphasizes 

partnerships to direct and maintain 

focus on implementing recovery actions 

and a system to track implementation 

and effectiveness of those actions. The 

strategic elements listed herein are part 

of a multi-faceted approach designed to 

improve the 1994 Recovery Plan. The 

goals of the revised recovery plan are 

recovery and delisting of the desert 

tortoise. The objectives and recovery 

criteria address demography (maintain 

self-sustaining populations of desert 

tortoises within each recovery unit into 

the future); distribution (maintain welldistributed populations of desert 

tortoises throughout each recovery unit); 

and habitat (ensure that habitat within 

each recovery unit is protected and 

managed to support long-term viability 

of desert tortoise populations. The 

strategic elements include the following: 

(1) Develop, support, and build 

partnerships to facilitate recovery; (2) 

protect existing populations and habitat, 

instituting habitat restoration where 

necessary; (3) augment depleted 

populations in a strategic, experimental 

manner; (4) monitor progress toward 

recovery, includes population trend and 

effectiveness monitoring; (5) conduct 

applied research and modeling in 

support of recovery efforts within a 

strategic framework; and (6) implement 

a formal adaptive management program 

that integrates new information and 

utilizes conceptual models that link 

management actions to predicted 

responses by desert tortoise populations 

or their habitat. The success of this 

revised recovery strategy will rely 

heavily upon the involvement of our 

partners and our commitment to 

implementing the strategic elements 

listed above coupled with a functioning 

adaptive management program. 

Public Comments Solicited 

We solicit written comments on the 

draft revised recovery plan described in 

this notice. All comments received by 

the date specified above will be 

considered in development of a final 

revised recovery plan for the Mojave 

population of the desert tortoise. 

Authority: The authority for this action is 

section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 

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

Jim A. Bartel, 

Acting Regional Director, Region 8, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–17520 Filed 8–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R9–FHC–2008–N0185; 71490–1351–

0000–M2] 

Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock 

Assessment Reports 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of final 

revised marine mammal stock 

assessment reports for three stocks of 

northern sea otters in Alaska; response 

to comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(MMPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service 

(Service) has incorporated public 

comments into revisions of marine 

mammal stock assessment reports for 

the three stocks of northern sea otters 

(Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska. The 

2008 final stock assessment reports are 

now complete and available to the 

public. 

ADDRESSES: Send requests for printed 

copies of the final stock assessment 

reports to: Chief, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Marine Mammals Management 

Office, 1011 East Tudor Road, 

Anchorage, AK 99503; (800) 362–5148. 

Copies of the final revised stock 

assessment reports are also available on 

the Internet in Adobe Acrobat format at 

http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/ 

seaotters/reports.htm. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the 

goals of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361–

1407) is to ensure that stocks of marine 

mammals occurring in waters under the 

jurisdiction of the United States do not 

experience a level of human-caused 

mortality and serious injury that is 

likely to cause the stock to be reduced 

below its optimum sustainable 

population level (OSP). OSP is defined 

as ‘‘ * * * the number of animals which 

will result in the maximum productivity 

of the population or the species, keeping 

in mind the carrying capacity of the 

habitat and the health of the ecosystem 

of which they form a constituent 

element.’’

To help accomplish the goal of 

maintaining marine mammal stocks at 

their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA 

requires the Service and the National 

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to 

prepare stock assessment reports for 

each marine mammal stock that occurs 

in waters under the jurisdiction of the 

United States. These stock assessments 

are to be based on the best scientific 

information available and are, therefore, 

prepared in consultation with 

established regional scientific review 

groups. Each stock assessment must 

include: 

(1) A description of the stock and its 

geographic range; (2) minimum 

population estimate, maximum net 

productivity rate, and current 

population trend; (3) estimate of humancaused mortality and serious injury; (4) 

commercial fishery interactions; (5) 

status of the stock; and (6) potential 

biological removal level (PBR). The PBR 

is defined as ‘‘ * * * the maximum 

number of animals, not including 

natural mortalities, that may be removed 

from a marine mammal stock while 

allowing that stock to reach or maintain 

its OSP.’’ The PBR is the product of the 

minimum population estimate of the 

stock (Nmin); one-half the maximum 

theoretical or estimated net productivity 

rate of the stock at a small population 

size (Rmax); and a recovery factor (Fr) of 

between 0.1 and 1.0, which is intended 

to compensate for uncertainty and 

unknown estimation errors. 

Section 117 of the MMPA also 

requires the Service and the NMFS to 

review and revise the stock assessment 

reports: (a) At least annually for stocks 

that are specified as strategic stocks; (b) 

at least annually for stocks for which 

significant new information is available; 

and (c) at least once every 3 years for all 

other stocks. 

A strategic stock is defined in the 

MMPA as a marine mammal stock: (A) 

For which the level of direct humancaused mortality exceeds the PBR; (B) 

which, based on the best available 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES