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RECENTLY EXPIRED COMMENT PERIODS 2014 & 2015
These comment periods have passed, but following links to public documents
may educate you about issues in SD
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Earlier alert on Proposed listing of northern long eared bat as endangered
Northern Long eared bat is a bat common in the Black Hills of SD. it likes humid caves in winter and roost in trees in the summer.
The bat is threatened by white-nose syndrome, an introduced fungal disease which is moving across country from east; it is now in Missouri and maybe Minnesota. The eastern edge of Wyoming and Montana is the far west side of bat's range. Population declines of more than 90 percent have happened in the core of its range, with more declines predicted due to WNS, this constitutes a present “danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” The decreases do not represent a mere “[likelihood] to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” In other words, for the northern long-eared bat, endangerment is not just a possibility on the horizon – endangerment is already here.
This listing will be very significant to the Black Hills, as bat is common in the Black Hills. Please write in support of listing as endangered.
Range of bat:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/nlebRangeMaps.html
Central USFWS page on the bat:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/index.html
On reopening of comment period:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/734.html
These comment periods have passed, but following links to public documents
may educate you about issues in SD
======================
March 17th, 2015 Deadline Northern Long Eared Bat Comment Period
Below are excerpts from this USFWS web page
The USFW Service proposed to list the northern long-eared bat as endangered under the ESA in October 2013 and is due to make a final decision by April 2, 2015. The Service’s options include listing the species as endangered; listing as threatened; listing as threatened with a 4(d) rule; and withdrawing the proposal to list.
“While we originally proposed the northern long-eared bat as endangered, the ongoing scientific review of threats to the species could possibly lead to a final listing determination of threatened rather than endangered,” Melius added. “Although a final listing decision has not yet been made, we believe we can best serve the American people by proposing and seeking comment on a potential 4(d) rule now, so if we determine listing as threatened with a 4(d) rule is appropriate, the rule can be implemented immediately.”
For areas of the country affected by white-nose syndrome, the measures provided in the proposed 4(d) rule exempt take from forest management practices, maintenance and limited expansion of transportation and utility rights-of-way, removal of trees and brush to maintain prairie habitat, and limited tree removal projects, provided these activities protect known maternity roosts and hibernacula. The proposed 4(d) rule also exempts take as a result of removal of hazardous trees, removal of northern long-eared bats from human dwellings, and research-related activities. These measures are designed to protect northern long-eared bats when they are most vulnerable, including when they occupy hibernacula and during the two-month pup-rearing season from June through July. The greatest potential restrictions would be during these months, with reduced restrictions at all other times.
For more information about the northern long-eared bat, the proposal to list and the proposed 4(d) rule, go to: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/nleb/ and http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/.
"We [USFWS] will accept comments received or postmarked on or before
March 17, 2015. 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."
You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
- Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter Docket No. FWS–R5–ES–2011–0024. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Comment Now!'' Please ensure you have found the correct rulemaking before submitting your comment.
- By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R5–ES–2011–0024; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Va. 22041-3803.
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Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) on petition
Thanks to CBD for all their good work -- the petition to list was submitted by Mollie Matteson,
Center for Biological Diversity,
P.O. Box 188 Richmond, VT ph. (802) 434.2388 fax (802) 329.2075 mmatteson (at) biologicaldiversity.org
CBD criticism of latest listing proposal
Link to the CBD petition to list NLEB:
Testimony of Mollie:
Other writings of CBD
Earlier alert on Proposed listing of northern long eared bat as endangered
Northern Long eared bat is a bat common in the Black Hills of SD. it likes humid caves in winter and roost in trees in the summer.
The bat is threatened by white-nose syndrome, an introduced fungal disease which is moving across country from east; it is now in Missouri and maybe Minnesota. The eastern edge of Wyoming and Montana is the far west side of bat's range. Population declines of more than 90 percent have happened in the core of its range, with more declines predicted due to WNS, this constitutes a present “danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” The decreases do not represent a mere “[likelihood] to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” In other words, for the northern long-eared bat, endangerment is not just a possibility on the horizon – endangerment is already here.
This listing will be very significant to the Black Hills, as bat is common in the Black Hills. Please write in support of listing as endangered.
Range of bat:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/nlebRangeMaps.html
Central USFWS page on the bat:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/index.html
On reopening of comment period:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/news/734.html
USFWS proposal to list species Oct 2013
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/pdf/FRpropListNLBA2Oct2013.pdf
USFWS Fact sheet on Bat:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/nlbaFactSheet.html
On listing proposal process for Bat
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nlba/nlbaListPropQA.html
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SD Wildlife Action Plan Revision Available for Review
The draft plan is available at http://gfp.sd.gov/wildlife/management/plans/wildlife-action-plan.aspx
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Powder River Training Complex
T Powder River Training Complex (PRTC) military operating area (MOA) over the northern Great Plains
The PRTC would expand to an area roughly the size of South Carolina (approximately 28,000 square miles-see map). It would include airspace over four states, with high and low complexes ranging from 500 feet AGL to FL 180. The complex is designed to facilitate low-level, high-speed combat training for B-1 and B-52 crews operating out of Ellsworth and Minot Air Force bases, and is scheduled to be active 240 days per year, including 10 days of Large Force Exercises. The Air Force completed an environmental impact study for the expanded MOA in 2010, and the FAA released its airspace study in February 2014, which is the final step before the MOA gets accepted and charted.
For more information, please see the Air Force's website on the PRTC or call EAA's advocacy and safety office at (920) 426-6522.
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Rare Element Resources proposes to create a 232-acre open pit mine at Bull Hill on Forest Service (FS) land 6 air miles north of Sundance, Wyoming. Ore will be crushed and concentrated at a facility on FS land. A Hydromet Plant (chemical processing for crushed & concentrated rare earth mineral ore) is proposed to be at Upton, Wyoming, on private land next to the railroad. Some existing roads will be closed, some upgraded, and some new roads built. Mineral exploration will continue for 43 years.
As the mine will be on FS land, an Environmental Impact Statement must be written.
Written Scoping Comments were due April 30, 2014
To send late scoping comments on what issues & concerns you want the EIS to analyze to:
Bear Lodge Project EIS, C/O JeanetteTimm, Project Coordinator, Bear Lodge Ranger District
BHNF, P.O. Box 680, Sundance, Wyoming, 82729-0680
Send electronic comments to - comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-bearlodge@fs.fed.us
For info: contact Jeanette: jmtimm@fs.fed.us - 307-283-1361.
Some Rare Earth Links For Bearlodge Project
Link to download Forest Service information on Project and Scoping:
Go to this link and click on Bear Lodge Project,
http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/blackhills/landmanagement/projects
or
http://tinyurl.com/BearlodgeMineProject
or
http://tinyurl.com/BearlodgeMineProject
Rare Element Resources (mining company) web page:
http://www.rareelementresources.com/
http://www.rareelementresources.com/bear-lodge-project#.UztiLF7gXSg
Some links to learn more about Rare Earth & Other Mining:
Guidebook for Evaluating Mining Project EIAs: https://www.elaw.org/mining-eia-guidebook
Study of Rare Earths and their Recycling: http://www.oeko.de/oekodoc/1112/2011-003-en.pdf
Slide Presentation on “Rare Earth Elements: A Review of Production, Processing, Recycling, and Associated Environmental Issues”
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/remedytech/tsp/download/2012_spring_meeting/fff_wed/4_weber-rare_earth_minerals.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/remedytech/tsp/download/2012_spring_meeting/fff_wed/4_weber-rare_earth_minerals.pdf
Rare Earth Elements: A Review of Production, Processing, Recycling, and Associated Environmental Issues: http://nepis.epa.gov/Adobe/PDF/P100EUBC.pdf
USGS Fact Sheet - Rare Earth Elements—Critical Resources for High Technology http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/
USGS Fact Sheet - Rare Earth Elements—Critical Resources for High Technology http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2002/fs087-02/
USGS Mineral Commodity Summary Rare Earths: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/rare_earths/mcs-2013-raree.pdf
USGS Rare Earth Elements—End Use and Recyclability: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5094/pdf/sir2011-5094.pdf
"NECHALACHO RARE EARTH ELEMENT PROJECT EFFLUENT QUALITY CRITERIA REPORT," December 2013 http://www.mvlwb.ca/Boards/mv/Registry/2010/MV2010D0017/MV2010D0017_MV2010L2-0005%20%E2%80%93Attachment%20J_Effluent%20Quality%20Criteria.pdfThis report provides baseline data and effluent quality criteria for rare earths associated with the deposit addressed near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.
"Maximum Permissible Concentration and Negligible Concentrations for Rare Earth Elements" from the year 2000:
http://www.rivm.nl/en/Documents_and_publications/Scientific/Reports/2000/juli/Maximum_Permissible_Concentrations_and_Negligible_Concentrations_for_Rare_Earth_Elements_REEs?sp=cml2bXE9ZmFsc2U7c2VhcmNoYmFzZT0yMjQ5MDtyaXZtcT1mYWxzZTs=&pagenr=2250
"HUMAN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES FROM MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING WASTES" http://www.epa.gov/waste/nonhaz/industrial/special/mining/minedock/damage/damage.pdf
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SDGFP link to Sage Grouse Draft Management Plan notice and proposal
The deadline for providing comments has passed.
To view the draft management plan, please visit: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/sage-grouse.aspx.
To view the draft management plan, please visit: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/sage-grouse.aspx.
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Comment deadline expired on proposed amendments about Greater Sage Grouse management
in diverse federal properties in Wyoming, including those that border SD -
Link to BLM/FS DEIS on sage grouse for Newcastle BLM and Thunderbasin NG,
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USFWS Reopened Comment Period on Wolf Proposal
Independent scientific peer review report available for public review
Comment deadline expired -
Comment deadline expired -
Following receipt of an independent scientific peer review, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reopened the comment period on its proposal to list the Mexican wolf as an endangered subspecies and remove the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List.
The peer review report is available online, and comprehensive links relating to the proposal, at www.fws.gov/home/wolfrecovery. Comments and materials USFWS receives, as well as some of the supporting documentation used in preparing this proposed rule, are available for public inspection at www.regulations.gov under the docket number FWS–HQ–ES–2013–0073.
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Sheyenne Grasslands in North Dakota - This is only remnant tall grass prairie in federal ownership. Because tall grass prairie was so productive and easily converted to agricultural use, it is now one of the most endangered habitat types in the world. The Sheyenne National Grasslands, home to more that 40 sensitive plant and animal species, holds the bulk of remaining native tall grass prairie in the state. The Sheyenne National Grasslands located in Ransom and Richland counties contains the largest population of the greater prairie chicken in North Dakota.This grassland is located in SE ND and not that far from NE SD. The birds have no clue where state boundaries are.
On page 3-81of EA the FS writes:
"The following listed or Candidate species may occur in the Project area: black-footed ferret, gray wolf, whooping crane, interior least tern, pallid sturgeon, piping plover and designated critical habitat, Dakota skipper, poweshiek skipperling, Sprague’s pipit, and greater sage-grouse (Table 3-43). As of October 24, 2013, the Federal Register proposed to list Dakota skipper as threatened and Poweshiek skipperling as endangered and also proposed designation of critical habitat for these species (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 2013). "
To download document & learn more about this area:
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