[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 70876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23157]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Douglas County 
Distinct Population Segment of the Columbian White-tailed Deer 
(Odocoileus virginianus leucurus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the Draft Post-delisting Monitoring Plan for the 
Douglas County Distinct Population Segment of the Columbian White-
tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus leucurus) (Monitoring Plan). The 
status of the Douglas County distinct population segment of the 
Columbian white-tailed deer will be monitored over a 5-year period 
through spring and fall population trend monitoring surveys, regular 
disease outbreak monitoring, and an annual habitat status review. We 
solicit review and comment on this Monitoring Plan from local, State 
and Federal agencies, and the public.

DATES: We will accept and consider all public comments received on or 
before December 23, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Monitoring Plan are available by request from 
the State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 2600 SE. 98th Avenue, Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 
97266 (telephone: 503-231-6179; fax: 503-231-6195). This Monitoring 
Plan is also available on the World Wide Web at http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/EndSpp/ESA-Actions/PDMonitorCWTDeer-05.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cat Brown, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Portland address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Douglas County distinct population segment of the Columbian 
white-tailed deer was removed from the Federal List of Threatened and 
Endangered Wildlife and Plants on July 24, 2003 (68 FR 43647). We 
determined it was recovered due to robust population growth and 
amelioration of threats to its survival. Section 4(g)(1) of the 
Endangered Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that we 
implement a system, in cooperation with the States, to monitor for no 
fewer than 5 years the status of all species that have recovered and no 
longer need the protection of the Act.
    The Columbian white-tailed deer is the westernmost representative 
of 30 subspecies of white-tailed deer in North and Central America 
(Halls 1978; Baker 1984). The subspecies was formerly distributed 
throughout the bottomlands and prairie woodlands of the lower Columbia, 
Willamette, and Umpqua River basins in Oregon and southern Washington 
(Bailey 1936; Verts and Carraway 1998). It currently exists in two 
distinct population segments, one in Douglas County, Oregon, and the 
other along the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington. The 
Columbia River distinct population segment remains listed as 
endangered.
    We propose to monitor the status of the Columbian white-tailed deer 
over a 5-year period in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Fish 
and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management, through spring and fall 
population trend monitoring surveys, regular disease outbreak 
monitoring, and an annual habitat status review. We will compile annual 
reports, in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 
and the Bureau of Land Management. If data from this monitoring effort, 
or some other source, indicate that the Columbian white-tailed deer is 
experiencing significant declines in abundance or distribution, or that 
it requires protective status under the Act for some other reason, we 
can initiate listing procedures including, if appropriate, emergency 
listing.
    In April 2004, we contacted three experts on the white-tailed deer, 
asking for scientific review of the draft Monitoring Plan. We received 
two responses to our request. We carefully considered the comments of 
the reviewers and used them to improve the Monitoring Plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    We will accept written comments and information during this comment 
period. If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments and 
materials concerning this Monitoring Plan by any of these methods:
    1. You may submit written comments and information by mail, 
facsimile, or in person to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office at the 
above address (see ADDRESSES).
    2. You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to: 
[email protected]. If you submit comments by e-mail, please submit 
them as an ASCII file and avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption. Please also include your name and return address in 
your e-mail message.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the Monitoring Plan, will be 
available for inspection, during normal business hours at the above 
Portland address (see ADDRESSES).

References Cited

    Bailey, V. 1936. The mammals and life zones of Oregon. U.S. 
Government Printing Office, Washington, DC. 416 pp.
    Baker, R.H. 1984. Origin, classification and distribution. Pages 
1-18 in: Halls, L. K., editor. White-tailed Deer: Ecology and 
Management. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
    Halls, L. K. 1978. White-tailed Deer. Pages 43-65 in: Schmidt, 
J. L. and D. L. Gilbert, editors. Big Game of North America: Ecology 
and Management. Stackpole books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
    Verts, B. J. and L. N. Carraway. 1998. Land mammals of Oregon. 
University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 668 pp.

Author

    The primary author of this document is Cat Brown, Oregon Fish and 
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

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

    Dated: October 24, 2005.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-23157 Filed 11-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P