[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3051-3052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1666]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Availability of ``Black-footed Ferret Survey Guidelines 
for Oil and Gas Activities in Wyoming for Compliance With the 
Endangered Species Act'' for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of draft ``Black-footed Ferret Survey 
Guidelines For Oil and Gas Activities In Wyoming For Compliance With 
The Endangered Species Act''. The draft guidelines offer an 
alternative, only in Wyoming, to the existing survey guidelines found 
in ``Black-footed Ferret Survey Guidelines For Compliance With The 
Endangered Species Act'', which were developed by the Service in 1989. 
The Service solicits review and comment from the public on these draft 
guidelines.

DATES: Comments on the draft guidelines must be received on or before 
February 29, 1996, to ensure they receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft guidelines may obtain a 
copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 4000 Morrie Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. 
Written comments and materials regarding the draft guidelines should be 
sent to the Field Supervisor at the Cheyenne address given above. 
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:
Chuck Davis (see ADDRESSES above), at telephone 307/772-2374.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to implement the 
newly developed ``Black-footed Ferret Survey Guidelines for Oil and Gas 
Activities in Wyoming for Compliance with the Endangered Species Act'' 
(proposed guidelines) as an alternative to the existing ferret survey 
guidelines found in ``Black-footed Ferret Survey Guidelines for 
Compliance with the Endangered Species Act'' (1989 guidelines) which 
were developed by the Service in April 1989. The failure of ferret 
surveys to locate new populations, coupled with the minimal impacts 
arising from oil and gas activities, has prompted the Service to 
develop the proposed guidelines for use in Wyoming. This alternative to 
the existing survey recommendations as outlined in the 1989 guidelines 
is elective, not mandatory, and available only in Wyoming. It deviates 
from the 1989 guidelines by eliminating the black-ferret survey 
requirements in white-tailed prairie dog towns/colonies/complexes in 
Wyoming for all oil and gas exploration, development, and transmission 
activities except in certain areas, which are identified in Appendix A 
of the proposed guidelines. Wyoming was selected to be the prototype 
area for the proposed guidelines because of intensive oil and gas 
development, particularly in the southwestern part of the State. If a 
project proponent opts not to choose this alternative, the provisions 
of the 1989 guidelines will continue to apply.
    The Service believes this alternative approach will increase the 
potential for black-footed ferret survival and recovery by improving 
the manner in which funds are used, particularly regarding fruitless 
ferret survey efforts in white-tailed prairie dog towns as well as 
repeated ferret surveys in black-tailed prairie dog towns. Furthermore, 
the Service believes this alternative to the 1989 guidelines will add 
to the flexibility and options for the recovery of this species. 
Instead of surveys, the project proponent contributes to ferret 
recovery through voluntary participation in the Ferret Recovery 
Enhancement Program (FREP), a strategy the Service believes offers a 
better black-footed ferret conservation approach than the current 
strategy. The money generated by FREP will fund ferret recovery efforts 
that have a higher potential for success than ferret surveys in areas 
of limited habitat value and low probability of impacts to ferrets from 
the oil and gas activities.
    Participation in the FREP requires the project proponent to 
coordinate with the Cheyenne Field Office of the Service, provide 
documentation that the project and project site qualify (including 
identification of specific proposed oil and gas activities, description 
of anticipated disturbance, and a map of the white-tailed prairie dog 
town showing location of the disturbance), and agree to provide to the 
FREP Fund a one-time fee of $30/acre of prairie dog town disturbance. 
Disturbance will be defined to include all rights-of-way, well sites, 
and other areas of ground disturbance. Funds generated by the 
contributions into FREP will be used for actions that benefit the 
recovery of the black-footed ferret. Such actions might include, but 
would not be limited to: activities such as development of improved 
survey methodologies; identification, mapping, digitizing of maps; 
conducting ferret surveys of prairie dog complexes greater than 5,000 
acres or areas where physical evidence has been found; and, 
identification of potential reintroduction sites.
    Applicability of the proposed guidelines to black-tailed prairie 
dog towns will be addressed on a case-by-case basis by the Cheyenne 
Field Office of the Service. The determination will be based on the 
size of the town/colony/complex, quality of habitat, extent and results 
of previous black-footed ferret surveys in the vicinity, historical 
presence of ferrets, and the importance of the complex to the overall 
recovery and survival of the black-footed ferret.
    Other values of maintaining the biological integrity of the prairie 
dog ecosystem are still important and should not be overlooked. The 
prairie dog, as a keystone species, plays an important role in 
maintaining specific habitat conditions or providing forage for many 
species, including several candidate and sensitive species such as the 
mountain plover, ferruginous hawk, and burrowing owl. Severe impacts to 
or loss of prairie dog colonies threaten all species associated with 
that community. This document addresses only requirements for surveys 
and for potential impacts to black-footed ferrets. Other listed and 
candidate species potentially impacted by proposed actions must be 
addressed separately to ensure compliance with applicable laws and 
regulations.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the draft guidelines 
described above. All comments received by the date specified in the 
DATES section above will be considered prior to approval of the 
guidelines.


[[Page 3052]]

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 24, 1996.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, CO.
[FR Doc. 96-1666 Filed 1-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M