[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15280-15281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7205]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AC48
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of
Comment Period on Proposed Rule to Reclassify the Bald Eagle From
Endangered to Threatened
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the
comment period on the bald eagle reclassification proposal for thirty
days. On July 12, 1994, the Service proposed reclassifying the bald
eagles of the lower 48 States as threatened, except those already
listed as threatened and those of the Southwestern Recovery Region and
Mexico. The bald eagles of the Southwestern Recovery Region were
proposed to remain listed as [[Page 15281]] endangered. The Service
also proposed classifying bald eagles in Mexico as endangered; they are
not currently listed as endangered or threatened. Specific public
comment was solicited on the status of bald eagles in the Southwest and
Mexico and the distinctness of those eagles as a separate population.
New information indicates that the Southwestern and Mexican bald eagles
may not warrant a classification as endangered. The Service is making
available for public review and comment information recently received
about bald eagles of the Southwestern Recovery Region.
DATES: The comment period on the proposal is reopened, effective
immediately, and will close on April 24, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may obtain copies of the comments and
other information listed below from the Chief, Division of Endangered
Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal
Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056 (612/725-
3536; fax 612/725-3526). Copies may also be obtained from the State
Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services State Office, 2321 W. Royal
Palm Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85021 (602/640-2720; fax 602/640-2730).
Send written comments and other materials to the above Ft.
Snelling, Minnesota, Regional Office address. Comments and materials
received will be available for public inspection during normal business
hours, by appointment, at that address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle
Recovery Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469-48th Avenue
Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201 (309/793-5800; fax 309/793-5804).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is listed as endangered
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), in the
lower 48 States except Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and
Michigan, where it is listed as threatened. The bald eagle also occurs
in Alaska and Canada, where it is not at risk and is not protected
under the Act; and in small numbers in northern Mexico. The Service
proposed in the July 12, 1994, Federal Register notice (59 FR 35584) to
reclassify the bald eagle from endangered to threatened in the lower 48
States except in certain portions of the American Southwest and to
classify bald eagles in Mexico as endangered. That notice also stated
that comments and other information received by the Service may lead to
a final regulation that differs from the original proposal, including
the possible complete reclassification to threatened status for all
bald eagles south of Canada.
The Service has received significant new information regarding
Southwestern bald eagles and has re-examined other information.
Existing information at the time of the proposed rule fails to identify
any unique genetic characteristics possessed by the Southwestern bald
eagles. New information indicates that the bald eagles of the
Southwestern Recovery Region and Mexico are not likely to be
reproductively isolated. Evidence of recruitment has recently been
found from the Southeastern Recovery Region into the Southwestern
Recovery Region and Mexico. Unique threats to Southwestern bald eagles
remain, but their significance is diminished in light of immigration
into the population segment.
The Service is now considering reclassifying the eagles of the
Southwestern Recovery Region as threatened, and classifying the bald
eagles of Mexico as threatened. The bald eagle would remain threatened
in the five States where it is currently listed as threatened. This
modified action, if finalized, would not alter those conservation
measures already in force to protect the species and its habitats.
The Federal Register notice announcing the proposed rule opened a
public comment period that ended on October 11, 1994; the deadline for
receipt of public hearing requests was August 26, 1994. Public hearings
were subsequently held, and the comment period was extended in a
September 30, 1994 notice (59 FR 49908) to accommodate them. The
extended comment period closed November 9, 1994. This notice reopens
the comment period for 30 days to allow interested parties to obtain
copies of the following documents and to submit additional comments on
the proposed rule.
References
Driscoll, D.E., R.I. Mesta and J.T. Driscoll. 1993. Population
ecology and demography of bald eagles in Arizona: 1991-1993.
American Eagle Research Institute, Mesa, Arizona 74pp.
Driscoll, Dan (American Eagle Research Institute) 1995. Letter to
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Phoenix, Arizona.
Driscoll, Dan (American Eagle Research Institute) 1995. Letter to
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock Island, Illinois.
Mabie, D.W., M.T. Merendino and D.H Reid. 1994. Dispersal of bald
eagles fledged in Texas. Journal of Raptor Research 28(4):213-219.
Montoya, Bill (Director, New Mexico Department of Game & Fish).
1994. Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Shroufe, Duane. (Director, Arizona Game & Fish Department). 1994.
Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Spiller, Sam. (State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Phoenix, Arizona). 1994. Memo to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Twin Cities, Minnesota.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald
Eagle Recovery Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469-48th
Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: March 15, 1995.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-7205 Filed 3-22-95; 8:45 am]
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