[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 86 (Friday, May 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 26064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10492]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2013-N064; 60120-1113-0000-C2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Conservation 
Strategy for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of a draft Conservation Strategy for the Northern 
Continental Divide Ecosystem grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horriblis) 
population for public review and input. The strategy will be the post-
delisting management plan for the NCDE grizzly bears and their habitat. 
This document is necessary to demonstrate the adequacy of regulatory 
mechanisms in order to delist this grizzly population.
    Grizzly bears are currently federally listed as threatened in the 
lower 48 States under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.), as amended (Act). The Service solicits review and 
comment from the public on this draft document.

DATES: Comments on the draft revised recovery plan must be received on 
or before August 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES: An electronic copy of the draft Conservation Strategy for 
the Northern Continental Divide grizzly bear population is available at 
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html. Hard copies 
of the draft strategy are available by request from the Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Hall, 
Room 309, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812; telephone 406-243-
4903. Submit comments on the draft Conservation Strategy for the 
Northern Continental Divide grizzly bear population to the Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Coordinator at this same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader, at the above address, 
or telephone 406-243-4903.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. 
Conservation Strategy for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem of 
the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) demonstrates the adequacy of 
regulatory mechanisms that will remain in place post-delisting to 
assure the health of this grizzly population. The Conservation Strategy 
describes the management and monitoring direction to maintain a 
recovered grizzly bear population in the NCDE and documents the 
commitment of signatory agencies to the Memorandum of Understanding 
implementing the Strategy to continue to manage the grizzly and its 
habitat as per the specifics in the Strategy document. The NCDE 
Conservation Strategy is the post-delisting management plan for this 
population and its habitat.

Request for Public Comments

    The Service hereby solicits public comments on a draft Northern 
Continental Divide Ecosystem Conservation Strategy. All comments 
received by the date specified in DATES will be considered prior to 
approval of the final Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem 
Conservation Strategy. Written comments and materials regarding the 
Strategy should be addressed to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator 
(see ADDRESSES section). Comments and materials received will be 
available, by appointment, for public inspection during normal business 
hours at the above address. All public comment information provided 
(e.g., names, addresses, letters of comment, input recorded during 
meetings) becomes part of the official public record. If requested 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) by a private 
citizen or organization, the Service may provide copies of such 
information.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 
1533(f).

    Dated: April 17, 2013.
Noreen E. Walsh,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 2013-10492 Filed 5-2-13; 8:45 am]
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