Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/02/20/2015-03503/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-reinstatement-of-final-rules-for-the-gray-wolf-in
Timestamp: 2019-09-19 21:33:36
Document Index: 373162613

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917', '§\u200917']

Federal Register :: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reinstatement of Final Rules for the Gray Wolf in Wyoming and the Western Great Lakes in Compliance With Court Orders
This action is effective February 20, 2015. The September 23, 2014, court order reinstated the April 2, 2009, final rule designating the gray wolf in Wyoming as a nonessential experimental population immediately upon its filing. The court order regarding wolves in the western Great Lakes had legal effect immediately upon its filing on December 19, 2014. The Director has further determined, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d), that the Service has good cause to make this rule effective upon publication.
9218-9229 (12 pages)
Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2014-0059
FXES11130900000C2-156-FF09E42000
1018-BA64
FWS-R6-ES-2014-0059
Reinstatement of Protections for the Gray Wolf in Wyoming in Compliance With a Court Order
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-03503 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-03503
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are issuing this final rule to comply with court orders that reinstate the regulatory protections under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), for the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Wyoming and the western Great Lakes. Pursuant to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia court order dated September 23, 2014, this rule reinstates the April 2, 2009 (74 FR 15123), final rule regulating the gray wolf in the State of Wyoming as a nonessential experimental population. Gray wolves in Montana, Idaho, the eastern third of Washington and Oregon, and north-central Utah retain their delisted status and are not impacted by this final rule. In addition, pursuant to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia court order dated December 19, 2014, this rule reinstates the March 9, 1978 (43 FR 9607), final rule as it relates to gray wolves in the western Great Lakes including endangered status for gray wolves in all of Wisconsin and Michigan, the eastern half of North Dakota and South Dakota, the northern half of Iowa, the northern portions of Illinois and Indiana, and the northwestern portion of Ohio; threatened status for gray wolves in Minnesota; critical habitat for gray wolves in Minnesota and Michigan; and the rule promulgated under section 4(d) of the ESA for gray wolves in Minnesota.
This final rule is available:
Electronically at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2014-0059;
From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region Office, Ecological Services Division, 134 Union Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80228; telephone 303-236-7400; or
From U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Midwest Region Office, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437; telephone 612-713-5360.
For information on wolves in Wyoming, contact Mike Jimenez, Northern Rocky Mountains Gray Wolf Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 8135, Missoula, MT 59807; by telephone 307-330-5631. For information on wolves in the western Great Lakes, contact Laura Ragan, Regional Listing Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990, Bloomington, MN 55437; by telephone 612-713-5350. Individuals who are hearing-impaired or speech-impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8337 for TTY assistance.
On September 10, 2012, we published a final rule to remove the gray wolf in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (77 FR 55530; “2012 delisting rule”). Additional background information on the gray wolf in Wyoming and on this decision, including previous Federal actions, can be found in our 2012 delisting rule.
Lawsuits challenging our 2012 delisting rule were filed. On September 23, 2014, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated and set aside our 2012 delisting rule (Defenders of Wildlife et al. v. Salazar, et al., and The Humane Society of the United States, et al., v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, et al., 1:12-cv-01833-ABJ) and reinstated our April 2, 2009 (74 FR 15123), final rule to govern management of gray wolves in Wyoming pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
The decision reinstates Federal protections that were in place prior to our 2012 delisting rule. Therefore, gray wolves in Wyoming are once again classified as an experimental population (59 FR 60252, November 22, 1994; 70 FR 1286, January 6, 2005; 73 FR 4720, January 28, 2008; 50 CFR 17.84(i) and (n)). Thus, take of wolves may be authorized only by one of these experimental population rules or by a permit obtained under section 10 of the ESA.
As a result of the court's decision, all of Wyoming except the Wind River Indian Reservation again operates under the 1994 nonessential experimental population rule (50 CFR 17.84(i)). The rule allows significant management flexibility, but does not allow the State to assume authority for wolf management. Thus, at present, the Service will continue to be the lead management agency for wolves throughout most of Wyoming. The Wind River Indian Reservation can again operate under the 2005 nonessential experimental population rule, as amended in 2008 (50 CFR 17.84(n)). Under the 2005 rule, States and Tribal entities can assume management authority over wolves if they obtain approved management plans from the Service and comply with all other applicable procedures. We notified all State, Federal, and Tribal partners of the court's September 23, 2014, decision and its impact shortly after the court issued its order. The Service and the State of Wyoming also took steps, such as press releases and agency Web site postings, to ensure the public was aware of the court's order.
On December 28, 2011, we published a final rule to remove the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (76 FR 81666; “2011 delisting rule”). Additional background information on the gray wolf in the western Great Lakes and on this decision, including previous Federal actions, can be found in our 2011 delisting rule.
A lawsuit challenging the 2011 delisting rule was filed on February 12, 2013. On December 19, 2014, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated and set aside our 2011 delisting rule (The Humane Society of the United States, et al., v. Jewell, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175846 (D.D.C. Dec. 19, 2014) and reinstated the rule in effect prior to the 2011 delisting rule, namely, the rule regarding Reclassification of the Gray Wolf in the United States and Mexico, with Determination of Critical Habitat in Michigan and Minnesota (43 FR 9607; Mar. 9, 1978).
The decision reinstates Federal protections that were in place prior to our 2011 delisting rule. Therefore, wolves in all of Wisconsin and Michigan, the eastern half of North Dakota and South Dakota, the northern half of Iowa, the northern portions of Illinois and Indiana, and the northwestern portion of Ohio are once again classified as endangered, and wolves in Minnesota are once again classified as threatened. The decision also reinstates the formerly designated critical habitat at 50 CFR 17.95(a) for gray wolves in Minnesota and Michigan and the regulations promulgated under section 4(d) of the ESA at 50 CFR 17.40(d) for the gray wolf in Minnesota. Thus, take of wolves in those areas may be authorized only by the section 4(d) rule for wolves in Minnesota or by a permit obtained under section 10 of the ESA.
To comply with the September 23, 2014, court order, we must reinstate our:
April 2, 2009, rule (74 FR 15123), and
Section 10(j) rules (59 FR 60252, November 22, 1994; 70 FR 1286, January 6, 2005; 73 FR 4720, January 28, 2008; 50 CFR 17.84(i) and (n)).
To comply with the December 19, 2014, court order, we must reinstate our:
March 9, 1978, rule (43 FR 9607),
Critical habitat designation for gray wolves in Minnesota and Michigan, and
Section 4(d) rule for gray wolves in Minnesota.
Therefore, the Director has determined, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b), that prior notice and opportunity for public comment are impractical and unnecessary.
Per the September 23, 2014 court order, any and all gray wolves in Wyoming are listed as a nonessential experimental population under section 10(j) of the ESA (50 CFR 17.84(i) and (n)). These regulations are the same as those in the regulations that were removed per our 2012 delisting rule (77 FR 55530). Although not required by the court, for consistency, we are placing the reinstated regulations at the specific paragraph designations they previously occupied in the Code of Federal Regulations prior to our issuance of the 2012 delisting rule. In order to accommodate this placement, we are moving regulations governing the Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka =tristis) nonessential experimental population that were placed in § 17.84(n) via a final rule that published July 17, 2013 (78 FR 42702); these regulations will now be located at § 17.84(d). This is purely an organizational action and has no effect on the implementation of any of the regulations.
Per the December 19, 2014, court order, any and all gray wolves in all of Wisconsin and Michigan, the eastern half of North Dakota and South Dakota, the northern half of Iowa, the northern portions of Illinois and Indiana, and the northwestern portion of Ohio are listed as an endangered species under the ESA. Any and all wolves in Minnesota are listed as a threatened species under the ESA. The reinstated regulations at 50 CFR 17.95 designate critical habitat for gray wolves in Minnesota and Michigan, and the reinstated regulations at 50 CFR 17.40(d) govern the regulation of gray wolves in Minnesota. The provisions of these regulations are the same as those in the regulations that were removed per our 2011 delisting rule (76 FR 81666). Although not required by the court, for consistency, we are placing the reinstated regulations at the specific paragraph designations they previously occupied in the Code of Federal Regulations prior to our issuance of the 2011 delisting rule. In order to accommodate this placement, we are moving regulations promulgated under section 4(d) of the ESA for the straight-horned markhor (Capra falconeri megaceros) that were placed at § 17.40(d) via a final rule that published October 7, 2014 (79 FR 60365); these regulations will now be located at § 17.40(n). This is purely an organizational action and has no effect on the implementation of any of the regulations.Start Printed Page 9220
Because of previous rulemaking actions pertaining to gray wolves, the result of this recent court action is that gray wolves in all of Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio are hereby listed as endangered (50 CFR 17.11(h)). Wolves in Minnesota are listed as threatened (50 CFR 17.11(h)).
This rule does not affect the status of gray wolves in Montana, Idaho, the eastern third of Washington and Oregon, and north-central Utah. Wolves in these areas retain their delisted status and will continue to be managed by the States.
This rule does not affect the gray wolf's Appendix II status under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
2. In § 17.11(h), the entries for “Markhor, straight-horned” and “Wolf, gray” under MAMMALS and the second entry for “Shiner, Topeka” under FISHES in the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife are revised to read as follows:
Markhor, straight-horned Capra falconeri megaceros Afghanistan, Pakistan Entire T 15, 841 NA 17.40(n)
Wolf, gray Canis lupus Holarctic U.S.A.: All of AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, and WV; and portions of AZ, NM, OR, UT, and WA as follows: E 1, 6, 13, 15, 35 17.95(a) NA
Wolf, gray Canis lupus Holarctic U.S.A. (MN) T 35 17.95(a) 17.40(d)
Start Printed Page 9221
Wolf, gray [Northern Rocky Mountain DPS] Canis lupus U.S.A. (MT, ID, WY, eastern WA, eastern OR, and north central UT) U.S.A. (WY—see § 17.84(i) and (n)). XN 561, 562 NA 17.84(i) 17.84(n)
Shiner, Topeka Notropis topeka = tristis U.S.A. (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD) U.S.A. (MO—specified portions of Little Creek, Big Muddy Creek, and Spring Creek watersheds in Adair, Gentry, Harrison, Putnam, Sullivan, and Worth Counties; see 17.84(d)(1)(i)) XN NA 17.84(d)
3. Amend § 17.40 by:
a. Redesignating paragraph (d) as paragraph (n); and, in newly redesignated paragraph (n)(1), removing “(d)(2)” and adding in its place “(n)(2)”; and
b. Adding paragraph (d) to read as set forth below.
(ii) Zone 2—1,856 square miles. Beginning at the intersection of the Erie Mining Co. Railroad and State Highway 1 (Murphy City); thence southeasterly on State Highway 1 to the junction with County Road 4; thence southwesterly on County Road 4 to the State Snowmobile Trail (formerly the Alger-Smith Railroad); thence southwesterly to the intersection of the Old Railroad Grade and Reserve Mining Co. Railroad in Section 33 of Township 56 North, Range 9 West; thence northwesterly along the Railroad to Forest Road 107; thence westerly along Forest Road 107 to Forest Road 203; thence westerly along Forest Road 203 to the junction with County Route 2; thence in a northerly direction on County Route 2 to the junction with Forest Road 122; thence in a westerly direction along Forest Road 122 to the junction with the Duluth, Missable and Iron Range Railroad; thence in a southwesterly direction along the said railroad tracks to the junction with County Route 14; thence in a northwesterly direction along County Route 14 to the junction with County Route 55; thence in a westerly direction along County Route 55 to the junction with County Route 44; thence in a southerly direction along County Route 44 to the junction with County Route 266; thence in a southeasterly direction along County Route 266 and subsequently in a westerly direction to the junction with County Road 44; thence in a northerly direction on County Road 44 to the junction with Township Road 2815; thence westerly along Township Road 2815 to Alden Lake; thence northwesterly across Alden Lake to the inlet of the Cloquet River; thence northerly along the Cloquet River to the junction with Carrol Trail-State Forestry Road; thence west along the Carrol Trail to the junction with County Route 4 and County Route 49; thence west along County Route 49 to the junction with the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railroad; thence in a northerly direction along said Railroad to the Start Printed Page 9222junction with the Whiteface River; thence in a northeasterly direction along the Whiteface River to the Whiteface Reservoir; thence along the western shore of the Whiteface Reservoir to the junction with County Route 340; thence north along County Route 340 to the junction with County Route 16; thence east along County Route 16 to the junction with County Route 346; thence in a northerly direction along County Route 346 to the junction with County Route 569; thence along County Route 569 to the junction with County Route 565; thence in a westerly direction along County Route 565 to the junction with County Route 110; thence in a westerly direction along County Route 110 to the junction with County Route 100; thence in a north and subsequent west direction along County Route 100 to the junction with State Highway 135; thence in a northerly direction along State Highway 135 to the junction with State Highway 169 at Tower; thence in an easterly direction along the southern boundary of Zone 1 to the point of beginning of Zone 2 at the junction of the Erie Railroad Tracks and State Highway 1.
Start Printed Page 9223
(ii) Export and commercial transactions. Except as may be authorized by a permit issued under § 17.32, no person may sell or offer for sale in interstate commerce, import or export, or in the course of a commercial activity transport, ship, carry, deliver, or receive any Minnesota gray wolf.
(iii) Unlawfully taken wolves. No person may possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship, by any means whatsoever, a gray wolf taken unlawfully in Minnesota, except that an employee or agent of the Service, or any other Federal land management agency, or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who is designated by his/her agency for such purposes, may, when acting in the course of his official duties, possess, deliver, carry, transport, Start Printed Page 9224or ship a gray wolf taken unlawfully in Minnesota.
(3) Permits. All permits available under § 17.32 (General Permits—Threatened Wildlife) are available with regard to the gray wolf in Minnesota. All the terms and provisions of § 17.32 apply to such permits issued under the authority of this paragraph (d)(3).
4. Amend § 17.84 by:
a. Redesignating paragraph (n) as paragraph (d); and, in newly redesignated paragraph (d):
i. In paragraph (d)(1)(i), removing “(n)(5)” and adding in its place “(d)(5)”;
ii. In paragraphs (d)(2)(i), (d)(2)(ii), and (d)(2)(iii), removing “(n)(3)” each time that appears and adding in its place “(d)(3)”;
iii. In paragraph (d)(2)(iv), removing “(n)(2)(iii)” and adding in its place “(d)(2)(iii)”, and
b. Adding paragraphs (i) and (n) to read as set forth below.
(i) Gray wolf (Canis lupus). (1) The gray wolves (wolf) identified in paragraph (i)(7) of this section are nonessential experimental. These wolves will be managed in accordance with the respective provisions of this paragraph (i).
(vi) Any person may harass or take (kill or injure) a wolf in self defense or in defense of others, provided that such take is reported within 24 hours to the Service reintroduction project leader or Service-designated agent. The taking of a wolf without an immediate and direct threat to human life may be referred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
(vii) The Service or agencies designated by the Service may take wolves that are determined to be “problem” wolves. Problem wolves are defined as wolves that in a calendar year attack livestock (cattle, sheep, horses, and mules or as defined by State and tribal wolf management plans approved by the Service) or wolves that twice in a calendar year attack domestic animals (all domestic animals other than livestock). Authorized take includes, but is not limited to, nonlethal measures such as: Aversive conditioning, nonlethal control, and/or translocating wolves. Such taking may be done when five or fewer breeding pairs are established in an experimental population area. If the take results in a wolf mortality, then evidence that the mortality was nondeliberate, accidental, nonnegligent, and unavoidable must be provided. When six or more breeding pairs are established in the experimental population area, lethal control of problem wolves or permanent placement in captivity will be authorized but only after other methods to resolve livestock depredations have been exhausted. Depredations occurring on Federal lands or other public lands identified in State or tribal wolf management plans and prior to six breeding pairs becoming established in an experimental population area may result in capture and release of the female wolf and her pups at or near the site of capture prior to October 1. All wolves on private land, including female wolves with pups, may be relocated or moved to other areas within the experimental population area if continued depredation occurs. Wolves attacking domestic animals other than livestock, including pets on private land, two or more times in a calendar year will be relocated. All chronic problem wolves (wolves that depredate on domestic animals after being moved once for previous domestic animal depredations) will be removed from the wild (killed or placed in captivity). The following three criteria will be used in determining the status of problem wolves within the nonessential experimental population area:Start Printed Page 9225
(viii) Any person may take a gray wolf found in an area defined in paragraph (i)(7) of this section, provided that the take is incidental to an otherwise lawful activity, accidental, unavoidable, unintentional, not resulting from negligent conduct lacking reasonable due care, and due care was exercised to avoid taking a gray wolf. Such taking is to be reported within 24 hours to a Service or Service-designated authority. Take that does not conform with such provisions may be referred to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
(x) Any person with a valid permit issued by the Service under § 17.32 may take wolves in the wild in the experimental population area, pursuant to terms of the permit.
(8) The reintroduced wolves will be monitored during the life of the project, including by the use of radio telemetry and other remote sensing devices as appropriate. All released animals will be vaccinated against diseases and parasites prevalent in canids, as appropriate, prior to release and during subsequent handling. Any animal that is sick, injured, or otherwise in need of special care may be captured by authorized personnel of the Service or Service-designated agencies and given Start Printed Page 9226appropriate care. Such an animal will be released back into its respective reintroduction area as soon as possible, unless physical or behavioral problems make it necessary to return the animal to captivity or euthanize it.
(n) Gray wolf (Canis lupus). (1) The gray wolves (wolf) identified in paragraph (n)(9)(i) of this section are a nonessential experimental population. These wolves will be managed in accordance with the respective provisions of this paragraph (n) in the boundaries of the nonessential experimental population (NEP) areas within any State or Tribal reservation that has a wolf management plan that has been approved by the Service, as further provided in this paragraph (n). Furthermore, any State or Tribe that has a wolf management plan approved by the Service can petition the Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI) to assume the lead authority for wolf management under this rule within the borders of the NEP areas in their respective State or reservation.
Legally present—A person is legally present when:
(i) On his or her own property;
(ii) Not trespassing and has the landowner's permission to bring his or her stock animal or dog on the property; or
(iii) Abiding by regulations governing legal presence on public lands.
Noninjurious—Does not cause either temporary or permanent physical damage or death.
Public land permittee—A person or that person's employee who has an active, valid Federal land-use permit to use specific Federal lands to graze livestock, or operate an outfitter or guiding business that uses livestock. This definition does not include private individuals or organizations who have Federal permits for other activities on public land such as collecting firewood, mushrooms, antlers, or Christmas trees; logging; mining; oil or gas development; or other uses that do not require livestock. In recognition of the special and unique authorities of Tribes and their relationship with the U.S. Government, for the purposes of this rule, the definition includes Tribal Start Printed Page 9227members who legally graze their livestock on ceded public lands under recognized Tribal treaty rights.
Rule-Federal regulations—“This rule” or “this regulation” refers to this final NEP regulation.
(i) Opportunistic harassment. Anyone may conduct opportunistic harassment of any gray wolf in a noninjurious manner at any time. Opportunistic harassment must be reported to the Service or our designated agent(s) within 7 days as outlined in paragraph
(n)(6) of this section.
(2) Demonstrates that attempts were and are being made to address other identified major causes of ungulate herd or population declines or the State or Tribe commits to implement possible remedies or conservation measures in addition to wolf removal; andStart Printed Page 9228
(x) Take under permits. Any person with a valid permit issued by the Service under § 17.32, or our designated agent(s), may take wolves in the wild, pursuant to terms of the permit.
(xii) Take for research purposes. We may issue permits under § 17.32, or our designated agent(s) may issue written authorization, for individuals to take wolves in the wild pursuant to approved scientific study proposals. Scientific studies should be reasonably expected to result in data that will lend to development of sound management of the gray wolf, and lend to enhancement of its survival as a species.
(6) Reporting requirements. Except as otherwise specified in paragraph (n) of this section or in a permit, any take of a gray wolf must be reported to the Service or our designated agent(s) within 24 hours. We will allow additional reasonable time if access to the site is limited. Report any take of wolves, including opportunistic harassment, to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Ecological Services Office (585 Shepard Way, Suite 1, Helena, Montana 59601, 406-449-5225; facsimile 406-449-5339), or a Service-designated agent of another Federal, State, or Tribal agency. Unless otherwise specified in paragraph (n) of this section, any wolf or wolf part taken legally must be turned over to the Service, which will determine the disposition of any live or dead wolves.
(7) No person shall possess, sell, deliver, carry, transport, ship, import, or export by any means whatsoever, any wolf or part thereof from the experimental populations taken in violation of the regulations in paragraph Start Printed Page 9229(n) of this section or in violation of applicable State or Tribal fish and wildlife laws or regulations or the Act.
(9) The sites for these experimental populations are within the historic range of the species as designated in paragraph (i)(7) of this section:
(ii) The Secretary will approve such a petition upon a finding that the applicable criteria are met and that approval is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the endangered gray wolf, as defined in § 17.11(h).
(ix) In order for the MOA to remain in effect, the Secretary must find, on an annual basis, that the management under the MOA is not jeopardizing the continued existence of the endangered gray wolf as defined in § 17.11(h). The Secretary or State or Tribe may terminate the MOA upon 90 days notice if:
(A) Management under the MOA is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the endangered gray wolf as defined in § 17.11(h); or
5. Amend § 17.95(a) by adding an entry for “Gray Wolf ( Canis lupus)” in the same alphabetical order in which this species appears in the table in § 17.11(h) to read as set forth below:
Minnesota. Areas of land, water, and airspace in Beltrami, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, and St. Louis Counties, with boundaries (4th and 5th Principal meridians) identical to those of zones 1, 2, and 3, as delineated in § 17.40(d)(l).
[FR Doc. 2015-03503 Filed 2-19-15; 8:45 am]