Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Application for Enhancement of Survival Permit, New England Cottontail, Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, Cheshire, and Strafford Counties, NH

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

SUMMARY: The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFGD) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an Enhancement of Survival Permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended. The requested permit would authorize take of the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis; hereafter, NEC) resulting from certain habitat improvement and land use activities should the species be listed as endangered or threatened in the future. The permit application includes a proposed Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) between the NHFGD and the Service. In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), we have prepared a draft categorical exclusion of the impacts of the requested permit. We are accepting comments on the permit application, proposed CCAA, and draft NEPA document.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application, draft CCAA, and draft NEPA document must be received on or before November 26, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Address any written comments concerning this notice to Anthony Tur, New England Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 70 Commercial Street, Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301; alternatively, fax written comments to 603-224-0104, or electronically mail comments to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Tur, at the New England Field Office (See ADDRESSES above), 603-223-2541; facsimile 603-223-0104, or [email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the permit application, proposed CCAA, and draft NEPA document are available for public inspection, by appointment, at the New England Field Office (See ADDRESSES), or you may view them on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/newengland/. Copies of these documents can also be obtained by contacting the office and personnel listed in the ADDRESSES section.

We...