Welcome!
This is the web site of the Oklahoma Ecological Services
Field Office. Use the links to the left or at the bottom to
browse the sections of this and related sites. Below are some
news and updates regarding the activities of this office.
LATEST DOCUMENTATION FOR THE AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has received an Application for an Incidental Take Permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the American Burying Beetle, from American Electric Power, and Availability of Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. The Supporting Documentation referenced in the Federal Register are listed below.
INDUSTRY CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE AMERICAN BURYING BEETLE AMENDED
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has approved an amendment to the American Burying Beetle Industry Conservation Plan (ABB ICP). The plan, originally approved in 2014, provides the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma a streamlined Endangered Species Act (ESA) permitting process for activities that may impact the American burying beetle (ABB).
In the interest of providing industry with greater certainty while continuing to ensure the conservation of the American burying beetle, the Service amended the ABB ICP to extend it for three years (through May 20, 2019). In addition to extending the ABB ICP timeframe, the amendment: extends the construction period for permitted projects until May 20, 2025; extends operations and maintenance coverage for activities including maintenance of right-of-ways and repairing pipelines until May 20, 2039; and removes requirements that all projects must be completely located within the planning area. The amendment does not change the amount of take authorized under the 2014 ABB ICP and no additional acreage will be impacted. For more information, visit the ICP webpage.
American Burying Beetle
Range Updated
The known range of the American burying beetle (ABB) in Oklahoma
has been updated. The update is a result of positive survey
findings in 2015 along the eastern and western edges of the
species' range. This year’s update results in a slight range
expansion to the west in Osage, Noble, Pawnee, and Lincoln
Counties, totaling 410,898 acres, and smaller expansion in
the east (currently identified as potential habitat in IPAC)
of 11,875 acres in Craig, Delaware, and Mayes Counties. This
update represents a 2.3% expansion of the ABB’s range. Last
year, positive survey findings led to a 3.0% (576,738 acre)
increase in known range. Since 2014, the known range in Oklahoma
has been increased by 5.3 percent (999,511 acres).
The updated range has been uploaded into the Service’s Information
Planning and Conservation (IPaC) system, which provides
the most current information on threatened and endangered
species ranges. A map of the range and description on how
the range is designated can be found in the American Burying
Beetle Impact Assessment for Project Reviews document on the
ABB
webpage. Updated geographic information system (GIS) shapefiles
also are available on the ABB
webpage.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Evaluating Status of the American Burying Beetle
As part of a substantial 90-day finding and species status
assessment, the Service is requesting additional scientific
and commercial data on the American burying beetle. We will
accept public comments on the 90-day finding until May 16,
2016. Click
here for the news release (3/16/2016)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Proposes Amending Industry Conservation Plan for the American
Burying Beetle
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability of a proposed amendment to the American Burying
Beetle Industry Conservation Plan (ABB ICP). Originally approved
in 2014, the ABB ICP provides the oil and gas industry in
Oklahoma a streamlined Endangered Species Act permitting process
for activities that may impact the American burying beetle
(ABB). Since approval of the ABB ICP, the Service has had
significantly fewer than anticipated requests for permits
and as a result, only a small fraction of the 32,234 acres
of authorized “take” under the ABB ICP have been issued. In
the interest of providing industry with greater certainty
while continuing to ensure the conservation of the American
burying beetle, the Service is proposing to amend the ABB
ICP to extend it for three years (through May 20, 2019). Public
comments will be accepted until April 7, 2016. The draft ABB
ICP and related documents are available on our ABB
ICP page.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Finalizes Critical Habitat for Two Freshwater Mussels, Neosho
Mucket and Rabbitsfoot
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has finalized
critical habitat designations for the endangered Neosho mucket
and the threatened rabbitsfoot. Both species are freshwater
mussels found in river systems in the eastern half of the
United States. The Service also announces the availability
of its final economic analysis, an environmental assessment,
and other materials used in preparation of the final decisions.
Service authority for designating critical habitat is provided
under the Endangered Species Act.
The Federal Register designation is located here
The 38 critical habitat areas in 12 states include 4 areas
in the Service's Southwest Region, all within the State of
Oklahoma. These four areas total approximately 138 river-miles
in length. For the Neosho mucket, the Oklahoma areas consist
of the Illinois River upstream of its confluence with Baron
Creek and the Elk River upstream of Buffalo Creek. For the
rabbitsfoot, the Oklahoma areas consist of a segment of the
Verdigris River between Oolagah Lake Dam and Oklahoma Highway
266, and the Little River downstream of its confluence with
the Glover River. The four areas involve portions of Adair,
Cherokee, Delaware, McCurtain, and Rogers counties.
A fact sheet on the two mussels can be found here
Answers to frequently asked questions about the mussels' critical
habitat can be found here
A news release describing the critical habitat designation,
and links to additional information, can be found here
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