[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55159-55160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18683]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Candidate Conservation
Agreement With Assurances and Enhancement of Survival Permit
Application for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received an
application from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Applicant)
for an enhancement of survival permit (ESP) pursuant to section
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), as amended (Act). The Applicant proposes to implement
conservation measures for the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus
sistrurus catenatus) by removing the threats to the survival and
protecting and managing its habitat within the Rome State Nature
Preserve. The Service announces receipt of the ESP application as well
as the availability of a proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with
Assurances (CCAA) intended to facilitate the implementation of
conservation measures for the species by the Applicant. Compliance
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed
action was addressed in an Environmental Assessment (EA) approved July
26, 2005. A copy of the final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) is available at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/NEPA.
DATES: Written data or comments must be received on or before October
20, 2005.
ADDRESSES: 1. Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ecological
[[Page 55160]]
Services, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056.
2. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Field
Office, 6950 Americana Pkwy, Suite H, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-4127.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Fasbender, (612) 713-5343,
or [email protected].; or Ms. Angela Zimmerman, telephone: (614)
469-6923.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Documents
We provide this notice pursuant to section 10(c) of the Act and
pursuant to implementing regulations for the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) found at (40 CFR 1506.6). All comments received on
the permit application and proposed Agreement, including names and
addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be
released to the public. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or
address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your
comment. All submissions from organizations or companies, or from
individuals representing organizations or companies, are available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Background
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake, also known as the swamp rattler
or black snapper, is a resident of many glaciated areas of Ohio. The
massasauga was once common throughout much of the Great Lakes basin,
but now is restricted to scattered, often isolated populations.
Extensive farming, draining of their wetland habitats, vegetation
succession and other forms of habitat fragmentation has contributed to
their reduced numbers. Loss of habitat and persecution by humans are
thought to be the primary causes of decline. Current records from the
Heritage Database (Division of Natural Areas and Preserves) place the
snake in only 15 Ohio counties. At least eight of these populations
occur on state-owned and/or managed land. The Division of Natural Areas
and Preserves (the Division) manages three sites, the Division of
Wildlife manages four sites and the Ohio Historical Society manages
another. The massasauga was listed as an endangered species in Ohio in
1996. In October 1999, the Service designated it a candidate species
for Federal protection by the Endangered Species Act.
The Rome State Nature Preserve is located within Ashtabula County,
Ohio. Containing approximately 105 acres, the preserve is located
between Rome and Hartsgrove Townships and lies within the Grand River
watershed. Under the CCAA, the Applicant has agreed to implement
several conservation measures that will reduce and/or eliminate
potential threats to the species. The Applicant will: (1) Maintain and
manage the Rome State Nature Preserve in a mosaic of habitats essential
for the massasauga; (2) control the spread of invasive vegetation
species; and (3) implement protective measures to reduce losses from
human and natural predators.
Implementation of the CCAA is expected to protect and conserve
habitat for the covered species, eliminate unauthorized human
disturbances within Rome State Nature Preserve that are believed to
impact the covered species, and provide important monitoring data that
can be used to develop and/or improve management strategies for the
massasauga. These benefits will be obtained through restoration and
protection of habitats on the enrolled property.
We will make our final determination after the end of the 30-day
comment period and will fully consider all comments received. If the
final analysis shows the CCAA to be consistent with our policies and
applicable regulations, we will sign the CCAA and issue the ESP. The
proposed ESP would, in compliance with the CCAA policy, only become
valid on such date as the eastern massasauga rattlesnake is listed as a
threatened or endangered species under the Act.
Written data or comments concerning the CCAA or ESP application
should be submitted to the Regional Director. (see ADDRESSES section).
Further, persons wishing to review the CCAA and ESP application may
obtain copies by writing to the same address or they can be viewed on
the Service's Regional Web site at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/NEPA.
Comments must be submitted in writing to be adequately considered in
the Service's decision-making process. Please reference permit number
TE-101451 in your comments, or in requests of the documents discussed
herein. Documents will also be available for public inspection by
appointment during normal business hours at the Reynoldsburg, Ohio,
Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).
Dated: August 29, 2005.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 05-18683 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
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