IFCNR staff monitors the U.S. Federal Register daily and provides breaking information to members about policies, meetings, and activities impacting wild ecology issues. (Note: No postings will be made on days where items of immediate importance to wildlife ecology are lacking.)

Friday, 31 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 105

Notices

EIS Proposed for Deerfoot Ridge Watershed Sector of Panhandle National Park

The Forest Service is set to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on a proposed vegetation rehabilitation project to restore historical ponderosa pine stands and improve wildlife habitat for the Deerfoot Ridge watershed east of Hayden Lake. The area is one of a number of fire-prone dry-site ecosystems. Comments are requested. For more information contact Sarah Jerome at 208.664.2318. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, pages 38063-4.

Central Idaho Resource Committee to Meet on Salmon-Challis Projects

Proposed resource projects for the Salmon-Challis National Forest are the topics for a meeting of the Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee. The meeting will be held June 6th at the Challis Ranger District Office in North Challis, Idaho. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Page 38064-5.

Final EIS for Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex Available

The final Environmental Impact Statement for the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex boundary revisions is now available at www.r1.fws.gov/planning/plnhome.html. Five options are listed. For more information contact Kim Hudson at 775.423.5128. Dept. of Interior, Fish & Wildlife Service, Pages 38142-44.

Thursday, 30 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 104

Rules & Regulations

South American Vicuna to be Downlisted on ESA

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to downlist the South American vicuna from endangered to threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). This rule will take effect July 1. For more information contact Dr. Kurt Johnson at 703.358.2276. Dept. of Interior, F&WS, pages 37695-700.

Estonia Declared Rinderpest/Hoof and Mouth Disease Free

Estonia has been added to the Department of Agriculture list of regions considered free of rinderpest and hoof-and-mouth disease. Because of its proximity to nations lacking that status additional requirements for meat importation from Estonia are also changed. Both are effective June 14th. For more information contact Dr. Hatim Gubara at 301.734.5538. Dept. of Agriculture, APHIS, pages 37663-4.

Proposed Rules

Swim-With-Dolphins Regs to Be Changed

The Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to address missing language in regulations regarding the care and safety of dolphins in swim-with-the-dolphins and other “entertainment” venues involving interaction of humans and marine mammals. Comments must be received by July 29th. These rule changes deal primarily with water standards and area size and depth for such activities. For more information contact Barbara Kohn at 301.734.7833. Dept. of Agriculture, APHIS, pages 37731-2.

Notices

BLM Proposes Off-Road Restrictions for Surprise Canyon

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend the California Desert Conservation Act to restrict trail designations for off-road vehicles. The planned Environmental Impact Study will propose alternative means of access. Comments are sought. For more information contact Jeffery Aardahl at 760.384.5420. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land management, page 37859.

Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board to Meet

BLM will hold a meeting of its Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board to discuss management and protection of wild, free-roaming horses on public lands. The meeting will be held June 24-25 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center, Denver Colorado. For more information contact Janet Nordin at 775.861.6583. Dept. of Interior, BLM, pages 37859-60.

FEDs Plan Study of Threat to Fish by Bellingham, Washington Water Supply

Both the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (US F&WS) are planning a joint environmental impact statement on the dangers posed to endangered stocks of salmon, trout and Dolly varden by water diversion by the city from the Middle Fork Nooksack River and Lake Whatcom in Washington State. Comments are requested. For more information contact Mark Oswald at 360.753.9564. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA and Dept. of Interior, US F&WS, pages 37776-7.

Interior Plans Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Complex

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Complex. Created in 1924 the complex encompasses 230,000 acres in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. Included is Wisconsin’s Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge (5754 acres) and Iowa’s Driftless National Wildlife Refuge (775) acres. Public meetings and workshops will be held beginning in August. For more information contact Thomas Magnuson at 800.247.1247 ext. 5467. Dept. of Interior, F&WS, page 37852.

Wednesday, 29 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 103

Notices

Draft Waubay National Wildlife Management Plan Available

The US Fish & Wildlife Service has prepared a three-option conservation management plan for South Dakota’s Waubay National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The options offered are “no change,” an expanded grassland conversion approach, and a full expanded activities plan. The latter is preferred by the Service. A copy of the draft plan is at www.r6.fws.gov/larp. For more information contact Larry Martin at 605.947.4521. Dept. of Interior, F&WS, pages 37436-7.

Thursday, 23 May 2002/Vol. 67, No. 100

Notices

Environmental Justice for Indigenous People Meeting Set

The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council’s Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee will meet June 6th to discuss the development of a two-year strategic plan and on EPA recommendations on support for tribes seeking to address environmental justice issues. The meeting will be held at the John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, Nevada. For more information contact Daniel Gogal at 202.564.2576. EPA, page 36176.