[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 67 (Friday, April 6, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14836-14841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07108]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2018-0010; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BD06


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Section 4(d) Rule 
for Louisiana Pinesnake

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose a 
rule under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act for the Louisiana 
pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni), a reptile from Louisiana and Texas. 
This rule would provide measures to protect the species.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before May 
7, 2018. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, below) must be received by 11:59 
p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. We must receive requests for 
public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT by April 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R4-ES-2018-0010, 
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, click on the 
Search button. On the resulting page, in the Search panel on the left 
side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the 
Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment 
by clicking on ``Comment Now!''
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R4-ES-2018-0010, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see Information Requested, below, for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Ranson, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Ecological Services Office, 646 
Cajundome Blvd., Suite 400, Lafayette, LA; telephone 337-291-3113. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Previous Federal Actions

    On October 6, 2016, the Service, under the authority of the 
Endangered Species Act, as amended (``Act''; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to add the Louisiana 
pinesnake (Pituophis ruthveni), a reptile from Louisiana and Texas, as 
a threatened species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 
(81 FR 69454). The List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife is in 
title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations in part 17 (50 CFR 
17.11(h)). The proposed listing rule had a 60-day comment period, 
ending on December 5, 2016. Then, on October 6, 2017, the Service 
published in the Federal Register a document that reopened the comment 
period on the proposed rule and announced that we were extending by 6 
months the 1-year period for making a final determination on the 
proposed rule to list the Louisiana pinesnake as a threatened species 
(82 FR 46748). In accordance with section 4(b)(6)(A)(i)(III) of the 
Act, this extension was based on our finding that there was substantial 
disagreement regarding available information related to the 
interpretation of the available survey data used to determine the 
Louisiana pinesnake's status and trends. The second comment period 
closed November 6, 2017. No public hearing was requested or held in 
response to publication of these documents.
    Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we publish a final 
rule for the 2016 proposed listing rule for the Louisiana pinesnake as 
a threatened species. For a complete list of previous Federal actions 
related to this species as well as information on its taxonomy, 
habitat, life history, historical and current distribution, population 
estimates and status, and a summary of factors affecting the species, 
see that proposed rule (81 FR 69454, October 6, 2016).

Background

    The primary habitat feature that contributes to the conservation of 
the Louisiana pinesnake is open-canopy forest situated on well-drained 
sandy soils with an abundant herbaceous plant community that provides 
forage for the Baird's pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps), which is the 
snake's primary known source of food. In addition, Baird's pocket 
gopher burrows are the

[[Page 14837]]

primary known source of shelter for the Louisiana pinesnake. As 
discussed in the, proposed listing rule, one of the primary threats to 
the Louisiana pinesnake is the continuing loss and degradation of the 
open pine forest habitat that supports the Baird's pocket gopher. In 
the types of sandy soil in which the Louisiana pinesnake and pocket 
gopher are found (Wagner et al. 2014, p. 152 ; Duran 2010, p. 11; Davis 
et al. 1938, p. 414), the pocket gopher creates burrows at an average 
depth of about 18 centimeters (cm) (7 inches (in)) (Wagner et al. 2015, 
p. 54).
    One of the primary features of suitable pocket gopher habitat is a 
diverse herbaceous (non-woody) plant community with an adequate amount 
of forbs (non-grass herbaceous vegetation) that provide forage for the 
pocket gopher. Louisiana pinesnakes and pocket gophers are known to be 
highly associated (Ealy et al. 2004, p. 389) and occur together in 
areas with herbaceous vegetation, a nonexistent or sparse midstory, and 
a low pine basal area (Rudolph and Burgdorf 1997, p. 117; Himes et al. 
2006, pp. 110, 112; Wagner et al. 2017, p. 22). In a study of pocket 
gophers in a Louisiana forest system managed according to guidelines 
for red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) habitat, it was shown 
that pocket gopher selection of habitat increased with increasing forb 
cover and decreased with increasing midstory stem density and midstory 
pine basal area (Wagner et al. 2017, p. 11). Few (less than 25 percent) 
sites used by pocket gophers had less than 18 percent coverage by forbs 
alone (Wagner et al. 2017, p. 22). Use by pocket gophers is also 
inhibited by increased midstory stem density and midstory pine basal 
area even when herbaceous vegetation is present (Wagner et al. 2017, 
pp. 20, 22, 25). Pocket gophers used areas with higher densities of 
trees much less frequently than areas with fewer stems, presumably 
because of greater root mass, which reduces burrowing efficiency 
(Wagner et al. 2017, pp. 11, 22).
    One of the main causes of the degradation of this habitat is the 
decline in or absence of fire. Fire was the primary source of 
historical disturbance and maintenance, and prescribed fire is 
currently known to reduce midstory and understory hardwoods and promote 
abundant herbaceous groundcover in the natural communities of the 
longleaf dominant pine ecosystem where the Louisiana pinesnake most 
often occurs. In the absence of regularly recurring, unsuppressed 
fires, open pine forest habitat requires active management activities 
essentially the same as those required to produce and maintain red-
cockaded woodpecker foraging habitat. Those activities, such as 
thinning, prescribed burning, reforestation and afforestation, midstory 
woody vegetation control, herbaceous vegetation (especially forbs) 
enhancement, and harvest (particularly in stands that require 
substantial improvement) are necessary to maintain or restore forests 
to the conditions that are suitable (as described in the preceding 
paragraph) for pocket gophers and Louisiana pinesnakes.
    Establishment and management of open pine forests beneficial to the 
Louisiana pinesnake has been occurring on some privately owned land in 
Louisiana and Texas Additionally, throughout the range of the Louisiana 
pinesnake, Federal and State agencies have developed conservation 
efforts, which have provided a conservation benefit to the species. 
Increased efforts, however, are necessary on both public and private 
lands to address continued habitat loss, degradation, and 
fragmentation, one of the species' primary threats across its entire 
range, and it is the intent of this proposed rule to encourage these 
increased efforts.
    In the proposed listing rule (81 FR 69454, October 6, 2016), we 
solicited public comments as to which prohibitions, and exceptions to 
those prohibitions, are necessary and advisable to provide for the 
conservation of the Louisiana pinesnake. During the public comment 
periods on the proposed listing rule (81 FR 69454, October 6, 2016; 82 
FR 46748, October 6, 2017), we received comments expressing concern 
that, when the species is listed under the Act, certain beneficial 
forest management activities on private land could be considered 
takings in violation of section 9(a)(1) of the Act or its implementing 
regulations, and would thus be regulated.
    The Service intends to strongly encourage the continuation and 
increased implementation of forest management activities--thinning, 
prescribed fire, and mid- and understory woody vegetation control in 
particular--that promote open canopy forest and herbaceous vegetation 
growth, which are beneficial to the Louisiana pinesnake. In recognition 
of efforts that provide for conservation and management of the 
Louisiana pinesnake and its habitat in a manner consistent with the 
purposes of the Act, as discussed in more detail below, we are now 
proposing a rule under section 4(d) of the Act that identifies 
situations in which take resulting from actions that provide for 
conservation and management of the Louisiana pinesnake would not be 
prohibited. Information about section 4(d) of the Act is set forth 
below in Provisions of Section 4(d) of the Act.
    Our goal is to strongly encourage continuation and increased 
implementation of these beneficial practices. Nevertheless, if 
activities could cause subsurface ground disturbance that can directly 
harm or kill Louisiana pinesnakes inhabiting pocket gopher burrows, or 
inhibit the persistence of suitable pocket gopher and Louisiana 
pinesnake habitat, as described above, they would be subject to the 
section 9 take prohibitions in certain occupied habitat areas, 
specifically areas known as Louisiana pinesnake estimated occupied 
habitat areas (EOHAs). These areas have been the site of recorded 
occurrences of Louisiana pinesnakes, and they are considered by the 
Service to be occupied by the species (see the proposed listing rule). 
This regulation would also apply to any EOHAs that are identified in 
the future, because activities in such areas could be detrimental to 
maintenance and development of suitable habitat conditions critical to 
this species and are more likely to affect the Louisiana pinesnake 
directly.

Provisions of Section 4(d) of the Act

    The Act and its implementing regulations set forth a series of 
general prohibitions and exceptions that apply to threatened wildlife. 
Under section 4(d) of the Act, the Secretary of the Interior has the 
discretion to issue such regulations as he deems necessary and 
advisable to provide for the conservation of threatened species. The 
Secretary also has the discretion to prohibit, by regulation with 
respect to any threatened species of fish or wildlife, any act 
prohibited under section 9(a)(1) of the Act. The prohibitions of 
section 9(a)(1) of the Act, codified at 50 CFR 17.31, make it illegal 
for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to take 
(which includes harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, 
capture, or collect; or to attempt any of these) threatened wildlife 
within the United States or on the high seas. In addition, it is 
unlawful to import; export; deliver, receive, carry, transport, or ship 
in interstate or foreign commerce in the course of commercial activity; 
or sell or offer for sale in interstate or foreign commerce any listed 
species. It is also illegal to possess, sell, deliver, carry, 
transport, or ship any such wildlife that has been taken illegally. To 
the extent the section 9(a)(1) prohibitions apply only to endangered 
species, this

[[Page 14838]]

proposed rule would apply those same prohibitions to the Louisiana 
pinesnake with some exceptions.
    The regulations implementing the ESA include a provision that 
generally applies to threatened wildlife the same prohibitions and 
exceptions that apply to endangered wildlife (50 CFR 17.31(a), 17.32), 
in accordance with section 4(d) of the Act. For any species, the 
Service may instead develop a protective regulation that is specific to 
the conservation needs of that species. Such a regulation would contain 
all of the protections applicable to that species (50 CFR 17.31(c)); 
this may include some of the general prohibitions and exceptions under 
50 CFR 17.31 and 17.32, but would also include protections that are 
tailored to the specific conservation needs of the threatened species 
and may be more or less restrictive than the general provisions at 50 
CFR 17.31.
    The courts have recognized the extent of the Secretary's discretion 
to develop prohibitions, as well as exclusions from those prohibitions, 
that are appropriate for the conservation of a species. For example, 
the Secretary may decide not to prohibit take, or to put in place only 
limited take prohibitions. See Alsea Valley Alliance v. Lautenbacher, 
2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 60203 (D. Or. 2007); Washington Environmental 
Council v. National Marine Fisheries Service, 2002 U.S. Dist. Lexis 
5432 (W.D. Wash. 2002). In addition, as affirmed in State of Louisiana 
v. Verity, 853 F.2d 322 (5th Cir. 1988), the protective regulation for 
a species need not address all the threats to the species. As noted by 
Congress when the Act was initially enacted, ``once an animal is on the 
threatened list, the Secretary has an almost infinite number of options 
available to him with regard to the permitted activities for those 
species. He may, for example, permit taking, but not importation of 
such species,'' or he may choose to forbid both taking and importation 
but allow the transportation of such species, as long as the measures 
will ``serve to conserve, protect, or restore the species concerned in 
accordance with the purposes of the Act'' (H.R. Rep. No. 412, 93rd 
Cong., 1st Sess. 1973).

Proposed 4(d) Rule for the Louisiana Pinesnake

    Under this proposed section 4(d) rule, except as noted below, all 
prohibitions and provisions of 50 CFR 17.31 and 17.32 would apply to 
the Louisiana pinesnake.
    Outside of any known EOHAs, the following management activities 
would not be subject to the general prohibitions at 50 CFR 17.31:
    (1) Forestry activities, including tree thinning, harvest 
(including clearcutting), planting and replanting pines, as well as 
other silvicultural practices outlined below, that maintain lands in 
forest land use and that result in the establishment and maintenance of 
open pine canopy conditions through time across the landscape.
    (2) Prescribed burning, including all firebreak establishment and 
maintenance actions, as well as actions taken to control wildfires.
    (3) Herbicide application that is generally targeted for invasive 
plant species control and midstory and understory woody vegetation 
control, but is also used for site preparation when applied in a manner 
that minimizes long-term impact to noninvasive herbaceous vegetation. 
These provisions include only herbicide applications conducted in a 
manner consistent with Federal and applicable State laws, including 
Environmental Protection Agency label restrictions and herbicide 
application guidelines as prescribed by manufacturers.
    Although these management activities may result in some minimal 
level of harm or temporary disturbance to the Louisiana pinesnake, 
overall, these activities benefit the pinesnake by contributing to 
conservation and recovery. With adherence to the three limitations 
described in the preceding paragraph these activities will have a net 
beneficial effect on the species by encouraging active forest 
management that creates and maintains the herbaceous plant conditions 
needed to support the persistence of Baird's pocket gopher populations, 
which is essential to the long-term viability and conservation of the 
Louisiana pinesnake. This is a reasonable conclusion and therefore 
meets the standard for applying endangered-species prohibitions to 
threatened species under the second sentence of section 4(d) of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1533(d) (``The Secretary may by regulation prohibit with 
respect to any threatened species any act prohibited under section 
1538(a)(1) of this title . . . with respect to endangered species.'')). 
Moreover, even if the ``necessary and advisable'' standard in the first 
sentence of section 4(d) applied to regulations adopting endangered-
species prohibitions for a threatened species, we would find that 
adopting these prohibitions meets that standard.
    These provisions are necessary because, absent protections, the 
species is likely to become in danger of extinction in the foreseeable 
future. Applying the prohibitions of the Act will minimize threats that 
could cause further declines in the status of the species. 
Additionally, these provisions are advisable because the species needs 
active conservation to improve the quality of its habitat. By exempting 
some of the prohibitions, these provisions can encourage cooperation by 
landowners and other affected parties in implementing conservation 
measures. This will allow for use of the land while at the same time 
ensuring the preservation of suitable habitat and minimizing impact on 
the species.
    When practicable and to the extent possible, the Service encourages 
managers to conduct such activities in a manner to maintain suitable 
Louisiana pinesnake habitat in large tracts; minimize ground and 
subsurface disturbance; and promote a diverse, abundant herbaceous 
groundcover. Prescribed fire is an important tool to effectively manage 
open-canopy pine habitats to establish and maintain suitable conditions 
for the Louisiana pinesnake, and the Service strongly encourages its 
use over other methods (mechanical or chemical) wherever practicable. 
The Service also encourages managers, when practicable and to the 
extent possible, to (1) enroll their lands into third-party forest 
certification programs such as the Sustainable Forest Initiative, 
Forest Stewardship Council, and American Tree Farm System; and (2) 
conduct such activities using best management practices as described 
and implemented through such programs, or by others such as State 
forestry agencies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (the Forest 
Service's Forest Stewardship Program or the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service's Conservation Practices Manual), or the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
    As noted above, the management activities discussed above are not 
subject to the general prohibitions at 50 CFR 17.31 outside of known 
EOHAs. Within any known EOHAs on lands with suitable or preferable 
soils that are forested, undeveloped, or non-farmed (i.e., not 
cultivated on an annual basis) and adjacent to forested lands, the 
management activities discussed above would also not be subject to the 
general prohibitions at 50 CFR 17.31, but only provided the following 
additional conditions are met:
    (a) Those activities do not cause subsurface disturbance including, 
but not limited to, wind-rowing, stumping, disking (except during 
firebreak creation or maintenance), root-raking, drum chopping, below-
ground shearing, and bedding. In highly degraded areas with

[[Page 14839]]

no herbaceous vegetation, subsurface disturbance shall be limited to 
that less than 4 in (10 cm) in depth; and
    (b) Those activities do not inhibit the persistence of suitable 
pocket gopher and Louisiana pinesnake habitat.
    These additional conditions on when the prohibitions would not 
apply within known EOHAs are reasonable because the actual likelihood 
of encountering individuals of the species is higher within the EOHAs. 
For the same reason, even if the ``necessary and advisable'' standard 
is applied to regulations adopting endangered-species prohibitions for 
a threatened species, we would find that adopting these more narrow 
prohibitions is necessary and advisable.
    Anyone undertaking activities that are not covered by the 
provisions, including the additional conditions, and may result in take 
would need to: (1) ensure, in consultation with the Service are not 
likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the species (where the 
entity is a Federal agency or there is a Federal nexus), or (2) obtain 
a permit before proceeding with the activity (if there is no Federal 
nexus). A map of the currently known EOHAs is found in the proposed 
listing rule (81 FR 69461, October 6, 2016). The Service intends to 
update maps identifying the locations of Louisiana pinesnake EOHAs and 
make them available to the public in the docket on www.regulations.gov 
as new information becomes available. Alternatively, you may contact 
the Louisiana Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES).
    Based on the explanations above, the prohibitions under section 
9(a)(1) would apply to the Louisiana pinesnake, with specific 
exemptions tailored to the conservation of the species. Nothing in this 
proposed 4(d) rule would change in any way the recovery planning 
provisions of section 4(f) and consultation requirements under section 
7 of the Act or the ability of the Service to enter into partnerships 
for the management and protection of the Louisiana pinesnake.

Available Conservation Measures

    Conservation measures provided to species listed as endangered or 
threatened species under the Act include recognition, recovery actions, 
requirements for Federal protection, and prohibitions against certain 
practices. Recognition of a species through listing it results in 
public awareness, and leads Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, 
private organizations, and individuals to undertake conservation. The 
Act encourages cooperation with the States and other countries and 
calls for recovery actions to be carried out for listed species. 
Information about the protection required by Federal agencies, and the 
prohibitions against certain activities, and recovery planning and 
implementation and interagency consultation, are discussed in the 
proposed and final listing rules.
    The Act and its implementing regulations set forth a series of 
general prohibitions and exceptions that apply to threatened wildlife. 
The prohibitions of section 9(a)(1) of the Act, codified at 50 CFR 
17.31, make it illegal for any person subject to the jurisdiction of 
the United States to take (which includes harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect; or to attempt any of 
these) threatened wildlife within the United States or on the high 
seas. In addition, it is unlawful to import; export; deliver, receive, 
carry, transport, or ship in interstate or foreign commerce in the 
course of commercial activity; or sell or offer for sale in interstate 
or foreign commerce any listed species. It is also illegal to possess, 
sell, deliver, carry, transport, or ship any such wildlife that has 
been taken illegally.
    As described in the final listing rule, it is our policy to 
identify, to the maximum extent practicable at the time a species is 
listed, those activities that would or would not constitute a violation 
of section 9 of the Act. The intent of this policy is to increase 
public awareness of the effect of a proposed listing on proposed and 
ongoing activities within the range of the species proposed for 
listing. Since the Louisiana pinesnake is a threatened species subject 
to the protections outlined in both section 9(a)(1) of the Act and this 
proposed rule, we are identifying those activities that would or would 
not constitute a violation of either section 9(a)(1) or this proposed 
rule. Based on the best available information, the following activities 
may potentially result in a violation of section 9 of the Act or this 
proposed rule; this list is not comprehensive:
    (1) Unauthorized collecting, handling, possessing, selling, 
delivering, carrying, or transporting of the Louisiana pinesnake, 
including interstate transportation across State lines and import or 
export across international boundaries, except for properly documented 
antique specimens of these taxa at least 100 years old, as defined by 
section 10(h)(1) of the Act.
    (2) Introduction of nonnative animal species that compete with or 
prey upon the Louisiana pinesnake.
    (3) Introduction of invasive plant species that contribute to the 
degradation of the natural habitat of the Louisiana pinesnake.
    (4) Unauthorized destruction or modification of suitable occupied 
Louisiana pinesnake habitat that results in damage to or alteration of 
desirable herbaceous (non-woody) vegetation or the destruction of 
Baird's pocket gopher burrow systems used as refugia by the Louisiana 
pinesnake, or that impairs in other ways the species' essential 
behaviors such as breeding, feeding, or sheltering.
    (5) Unauthorized use of insecticides and rodenticides that could 
impact small mammal prey populations, through either unintended or 
direct impacts within habitat occupied by Louisiana pinesnakes.
    (6) Unauthorized actions that would result in the destruction of 
eggs or cause mortality or injury to hatchling, juvenile, or adult 
Louisiana pinesnakes.
    Questions regarding whether specific activities would constitute a 
violation of section 9 of the Act should be directed to the Louisiana 
Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Under regulations codified at 50 CFR 17.32, we may issue permits to 
carry out otherwise prohibited activities involving threatened wildlife 
under certain circumstances, including the following: Scientific 
purposes, to enhance the propagation or survival of the species, 
economic hardship, zoological exhibition, and incidental take in 
connection with otherwise lawful activities. There are also certain 
statutory exemptions from the prohibitions, which are found in sections 
9 and 10 of the Act.

Information Requested

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposal 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 the public, other concerned governmental agencies, 
Native American tribes, the scientific community, industry, or any 
other interested parties concerning the proposed section 4(d) rule. We 
will consider all comments and information received during our 
preparation of a final 4(d) rule. Accordingly, our final decision may 
differ from this proposal based on specific public comments or any 
other new information that may become available.
    We particularly seek comments concerning:
    (1) Information concerning the appropriateness and scope of a 4(d) 
rule for the Louisiana pinesnake. We are

[[Page 14840]]

particularly interested in input from forestry experts regarding forest 
management, restoration practices, or related activities, along with 
the value of certified forestry practices and best management 
practices, that would be appropriately addressed through a 4(d) rule.
    (2) Additional provisions the Service may wish to consider for a 
4(d) rule in order to manage and conserve the Louisiana pinesnake.
    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.
    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 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that 
determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or 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 submission--including any personal identifying information--will 
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, or by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Louisiana Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Required Determinations

Clarity of the Rule

    We are required by Executive Orders 12866 and 12988 and by the 
Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain 
language. This means that each rule we publish must:
    (1) Be logically organized;
    (2) Use the active voice to address readers directly;
    (3) Use clear language rather than jargon;
    (4) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and
    (5) Use lists and tables wherever possible.
    If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us 
comments by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. To better help us 
revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as possible. For 
example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections or paragraphs 
that are unclearly written, which sections or sentences are too long, 
the sections where you feel lists or tables would be useful, etc.

National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)

    We intend to undertake an environmental assessment of this action 
under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 
We will notify the public of the availability of the draft 
environmental assessment for this proposal when it is finished.

References Cited

    A list of the references cited in this proposed rule may be found 
in the docket in www.regulations.gov.

Authors

    The primary authors of this proposed rule are the staff members of 
the Louisiana Ecological Services Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, for the reasons just described, we propose to amend 
part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, as set forth below:

PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, 
unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  17.42 by adding paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  17.42   Special rules--reptiles.

* * * * *
    (i) Louisiana pinesnake (Pituophuis ruthveni)--(1) Definitions. The 
following definitions apply only to terms used in this paragraph (i) 
for activities affecting the Louisiana pinesnake.
    (i) Estimated occupied habitat area (EOHA). Areas of land where 
occurrences of Louisiana pinesnakes have been recorded and that are 
considered by the Service to be occupied by the species. For current 
information regarding the EOHAs, contact your local Service ecological 
services field office. Field office contact information may be obtained 
from the Service regional offices, the addresses of which are listed in 
50 CFR 2.2.
    (ii) Suitable or preferable soils. Those soils in Louisiana and 
Texas that generally have high sand content and a low water table and 
that have been shown to be selected by Louisiana pinesnakes (Natural 
Resources Conservation Service soil survey hydrologic group, Categories 
A and B).
    (2) Prohibitions. Except as noted in paragraph (i)(3) of this 
section, all prohibitions and provisions of Sec. Sec.  17.31 and 17.32 
apply to the Louisiana pinesnake.
    (3) Exceptions from prohibitions. Incidental take of the Louisiana 
pinesnake will not be considered a violation of section 9 of the Act if 
the take results from any of the following activities:
    (i) Outside any known EOHAs:
    (A) Forestry activities, including tree thinning, harvest 
(including clearcutting), planting and replanting pines, as well as 
other silviculture practices, that maintain lands in forest land use 
and that result in the establishment and maintenance of open canopy 
conditions through time across the landscape.
    (B) Prescribed burning, including all firebreak establishment and 
maintenance actions, as well as actions taken to control wildfires.
    (C) Herbicide application that is generally targeted for invasive 
plant species control and midstory and understory woody vegetation 
control, but also for site preparation when applied in a manner that 
minimizes long-term impact to noninvasive herbaceous vegetation. All 
exempted herbicide applications must be conducted in a manner 
consistent with Federal and applicable State laws, including 
Environmental Protection Agency label restrictions and herbicide 
application guidelines as prescribed by herbicide manufacturers.
    (ii) Within any known EOHAs on lands with suitable or preferable 
soils that are forested, undeveloped, or non-farmed (i.e., not 
cultivated on an annual basis) and adjacent to forested lands,

[[Page 14841]]

activities described in paragraphs (i)(3)(i)(A) through (C) of this 
section provided that:
    (A) Activities do not cause subsurface disturbance, including, but 
not limited to, wind-rowing, stumping, disking (except during firebreak 
creation or maintenance), root-raking, drum chopping, below-ground 
shearing, and bedding. In highly degraded areas with no herbaceous 
vegetation, subsurface disturbance will be limited to that less than 4 
inches in depth.
    (B) Activities do not inhibit the persistence of suitable Louisiana 
pinesnake and Baird's pocket gopher habitat.

    Dated: March 12, 2018.
James W. Kurth,
Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, exercising the 
authority of the Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-07108 Filed 4-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P