[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6930-6931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3464]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Status 
Reviews for the Alexander Archipelago Wolf and Queen Charlotte Goshawk

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of status reviews; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that 
the comment period on the rangewide status reviews for the Queen 
Charlotte goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) and the Alexander 
Archipelago wolf (Canis lupus ligoni) is reopened. The Service solicits 
any information, data, comments, and suggestions from the public, other 
government agencies, the scientific community, industry, or other 
interested parties concerning the status of these species. The notice 
of the status reviews was published on December 5, 1996 (61 FR 64496), 
and the extension of comment period was published December 31, 1996 (61 
FR 69065).

DATES: The comment period, previously scheduled to close February 5, 
1997, is extended and will now close on March 5, 1997. Any comments 
received by the closing date will be considered in the findings.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials should be sent to Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 3000 Vintage 
Blvd., Suite 201, Juneau, Alaska 99801-7100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Lindell at the above address 
(907/586-7240).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

    The Service will issue separate findings on petitions to list the 
Queen Charlotte goshawk and the Alexander Archipelago wolf under the 
Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.).

Queen Charlotte Goshawk

    The Queen Charlotte goshawk occurs in forested areas throughout 
coastal mainland and insular areas of British Columbia, Canada, and 
southeastern Alaska. On May 9, 1994, the Service received a petition to 
list the Queen Charlotte goshawk as endangered under the Act, from Mr. 
Peter Galvin of the Greater Gila Biodiversity Project, Silver City, New 
Mexico, and nine copetitioners including, the Southwest Center for 
Biological Diversity, the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Greater 
Ecosystem Alliance, Save the West, Save America's Forests, Native 
Forest Network, Native Forest Council, Eric Holle, and Don Muller. On 
August 26, 1994, the Service announced a 90 day finding (59 FR 44124) 
that the petition presented substantial information indicating that the 
requested action may be warranted, and opened a public comment period 
until November 25, 1994. The Service extended the public comment period 
until February 28, 1995, through two subsequent Federal Register 
notices on January 4, 1995 (60 FR 425), and February 24, 1995 (60 FR 
10344). The Service issued its 12-month finding on June 29, 1995 (60 FR 
33784), indicating that listing the Queen Charlotte goshawk under the 
Act was not warranted.
    On July 16, 1995, the petitioners filed a 60-day notice of intent 
to sue the Service over its 12-month finding, and on November 17, 1995, 
they filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia challenging the not warranted finding made by the Service. As 
a result of the court proceedings the Service is reevaluating the 
status of the Queen Charlotte goshawk. The Service is requesting any 
information, data, comments, and suggestions from the public, other 
government agencies, the scientific community, industry, or other 
interested parties concerning the status of this species.

Alexander Archipelago Wolf

    The Alexander Archipelago wolf occurs in forested areas of insular 
and mainland southeast Alaska, from Dixon Entrance (US/Canada border) 
to Yakutat Bay, including all large islands of the Alexander 
Archipelago except Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof islands. On 
December 17, 1993, the Service received a petition to list the 
Alexander Archipelago wolf as threatened under the Act, from the 
Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Eric Holle and Martin J. Berghoffen. A 
90-day finding was made by the Service that the petition presented 
substantial information indicating that the requested action may be 
warranted. The 90-day finding was announced (59 FR 26476) and a status 
review was initiated on May 20, 1994. The public comment period was 
open between May 20, and October 1, 1994 (59 FR 26476 and 59 FR 44122). 
The Service announced its finding that listing the Alexander 
Archipelago wolf was not warranted on February 23, 1995 (60 FR 10056).
    The petitioners issued a 60-day notice of intent to sue over the 
Service's not warranted finding on November 13, 1995. On February 7, 
1996, they filed suit in the United States District Court for the 
District of Columbia challenging the not-warranted finding made by the 
Service. As a result of the court proceedings the Service is 
reevaluating the status of the Alexander Archipelago wolf. The Service 
is requesting any information, data, comments, and suggestions from the 
public, other government agencies, the scientific community, industry, 
or other interested parties concerning the status of this species.

Author

    This primary author of this notice is Teresa Woods, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 
99503.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Export, Import, Reporting and

[[Page 6931]]

recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

    Dated: February 4, 1997.
David B. Allen,
Regional Director, Region 7, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-3464 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]
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