[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 23 (Thursday, February 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2464]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 3, 1994]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC39

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Rule to 
List the Pacific Pocket Mouse as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to make the 
provisions of the emergency rule listing the Pacific pocket mouse 
(Perognathus longimembris pacificus) as an endangered species pursuant 
to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), permanent. 
Although a minimum of 8 populations of the Pacific pocket mouse 
encompassing 29 sites from Los Angeles County south to San Diego County 
formerly occurred, the only known extant population occurs on the Dana 
Point Headlands in Orange County, California. Depredation by feral and/
or domestic cats and a proposed development threaten the continued 
existence of the remaining population. Additional data and information, 
which may assist the Service in making a final decision on this 
proposed action, is solicited on the status of this species.

DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by April 
4, 1994. The Service intends to hold a public hearing on this proposal 
and will soon announce the date, time, and location in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be 
submitted to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Carlsbad Field Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 
92008. Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the address 
listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Kobetich, Field Supervisor, 
Carlsbad Field Office, at the address listed above (telephone 619/431-
9440).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    For a thorough discussion of biological information, previous 
Federal action, a summary of the factors affecting the species, the 
reasons why critical habitat is not being proposed, and conservation 
measures available to listed and proposed species, consult the 
emergency rule on the Pacific pocket mouse published in this same 
Federal Register separate part.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service intends that any final action resulting from this 
proposal will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, 
comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental 
agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested 
party concerning this proposed rule are hereby solicited. Comments 
particularly are sought concerning:
    (1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning 
any threat (or lack thereof) to this species;
    (2) The location of any additional populations of this species and 
the reasons why any habitat should or should not be determined to be 
critical habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act;
    (3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and 
population size of this species; and
    (4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their 
possible impacts on this species.
    Any final decision on this proposal will take into consideration 
the comments and any additional information received by the Service, 
and such communications may lead to a final regulation that differs 
from this proposal.
    The Endangered Species Act requires that a public hearing be held 
if requested within 45 days of the date of publication of a proposed 
rule. As indicated under the DATES section of this proposed rule, the 
Service intends to hold a public hearing on this proposal and will soon 
announce the date, time, and location in the Federal Register.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that an Environmental 
Assessment, as defined under the authority of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, need not be prepared in connection 
with regulations adopted pursuant to section (4)(a) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended. A notice outlining the Service's 
reasons for this determination was published in the Federal Register on 
October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244).

Author

    The primary author of this proposed rule is Loren R. Hays of the 
Carlsbad Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

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

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, the Service hereby proposes to amend part 17, 
subchapter B of chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 
as set forth below:

PART 17--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

    2. Amend Sec. 17.11(h) by revising the entry for ``Mouse, Pacific 
pocket'' under ``MAMMALS,'' in the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife, to read as follows:


Sec. 17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

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                      Species                                                    Vertebrate population                                                  
----------------------------------------------------      Historic range          where endangered or      Status    When listed    Critical    Special 
       Common name              Scientific name                                       threatened                                    habitat      rules  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Mammals                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                      * * * * * * *                                                                     
Mouse, Pacific pocket....  Perognathus longimembris  U.S.A. (CA).............  Entire..................  E             526, ____           NA         NA
                            pacificus.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                      * * * * * * *                                                                     
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    Dated: January 28, 1994.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-2464 Filed 1-31-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-W