Voglio sapere a riguardo di…

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 103 / Tuesday, June 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS3

the Northern DPS is at risk of extinction in the foreseeable future, we propose to list it as threatened.
Peer review. In accordance with our joint policy on peer review published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 59
FR 34270, and our August 22, 2016, memorandum updating and clarifying the role of peer review of listing actions under the Act, we sought the expert opinions of 6 appropriate specialists regarding the species status assessment SSA report. We received responses from 4 specialists, which informed the proposed listing rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure that our listing determinations and 4d rules are based on scientifically sound data, assumptions, and analyses. The peer reviewers have expertise in the biology, habitat, and threats to the species.
Information Requested We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and be as accurate and as effective as possible.
Therefore, we request comments or information from other governmental agencies, Native American Tribes, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties concerning this proposed rule.
We particularly seek comments concerning:
1 The species biology, range, and population trends, including:
a Biological or ecological requirements of the species, including habitat requirements for feeding, breeding, and sheltering;
b Genetics and taxonomy;
c Historical and current range, including distribution patterns;
d Historical and current population levels, and current and projected trends;
and e Past and ongoing conservation measures for the species, its habitat, or both.
2 Factors that may affect the continued existence of the species, which may include habitat modification or destruction, overutilization, disease, predation, the adequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms, or other natural or manmade factors.
3 Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning any threats or lack thereof to this species and existing conservation measures and regulations that may be addressing those threats.
4 Additional information concerning the historical and current status, range, distribution, and population size of this species, including the locations of any additional populations of this species.

VerDate Sep<11>2014

20:04 May 28, 2021

Jkt 253001

5 Information on regulations that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of the Northern DPS of the lesser prairie-chicken and that the Service can consider in developing a 4d rule for the DPS. In particular, information concerning the extent to which we should include any of the prohibitions associated with section 9 in the 4d rule or whether any other forms of take should be excepted from the prohibitions in the 4d rule.
6 Information on whether an exception from the prohibitions associated with section 9 should be included in the 4d rule for the Northern DPS for industry and/or landowner participants who are enrolled in and operating in compliance with the mitigation framework included in the Range-Wide Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken being administered by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies but who do not have incidental take coverage via the companion Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances covering oil and gas activities.
7 Which areas would be appropriate as critical habitat for the species and why areas should or should not be proposed for designation as critical habitat in the future, including whether there are threats to the species from human activity that would be expected to increase due to the designation and whether that increase in threat would outweigh the benefit of designation such that the designation of critical habitat may not be prudent.
8 Specific information on:
a The amount and distribution of habitat for the lesser prairie-chicken which should be considered for proposed critical habitat;
b What may constitute physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species within the geographical range currently occupied by the species;
c Where these features are currently found;
d Whether any of these features may require special management considerations or practices;
e What areas are currently occupied and contain features essential to the conservation of the species should be included in the designation and why;
and f What unoccupied areas are essential for the conservation of the species and why. Please include sufficient information with your submission such as scientific journal articles or other publications to allow us to verify any scientific or commercial information you include.

PO 00000

Frm 00003

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4702

29433

Please note that submissions merely stating support for, or opposition to, the action under consideration without providing supporting information, although noted, will not be considered in making a determination, as section 4b1A of the Act directs that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or a threatened species must be made solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.
You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES.
If you submit information via http
www.regulations.gov, your entire submissionincluding any personal identifying informationwill be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
We will post all hardcopy submissions on http www.regulations.gov.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on http www.regulations.gov.
Because we will consider all comments and information we receive during the comment period, our final determinations may differ from this proposal. Based on the new information we receive and any comments on that new information, we may conclude that the Southern DPS is threatened instead of endangered, or that the Northern DPS
is endangered instead of threatened, or we may conclude that either DPS does not warrant listing as either an endangered species or a threatened species. In addition, we may change the parameters of the prohibitions or the exceptions to those prohibitions in the 4d rule for the Northern DPS if we conclude it is appropriate in light of comments and new information received. For example, we may expand the incidental-take prohibitions or the exceptions to those prohibitions in the 4d rule for the Northern DPS to include prohibiting additional activities if we conclude that those additional activities are not compatible with conservation of the species. Conversely, we may establish additional exceptions to the incidental-take prohibitions in the final rule if we conclude that the activities would facilitate or are compatible with the conservation and recovery of the species.

E:FRFM01JNP3.SGM

01JNP3