[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16518-16519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8779]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AB73
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of
Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the
Peninsular Ranges Population of the Desert Bighorn Sheep
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule, notice of reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of
reopening of the comment period for the proposed endangered status for
the Peninsular Ranges population of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis
canadensis). The comment period has been reopened to acquire additional
information from interested parties, and to resume the proposed listing
action. In addition, the Service is seeking public comment on various
articles and reports concerning the distinctiveness and status of
bighorn sheep in the Peninsular Ranges.
DATES: The public comment period closes May 7, 1997. Any comments
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision
on this proposal.
ADDRESSES: Written comments, materials and data, and available reports
and articles concerning this proposal should be sent directly to the
Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 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 above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Sorensen, at the address listed
above (telephone 760/431-9440, facsimile 760/431-9618).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Peninsular Ranges population of the desert bighorn sheep occurs
along desert slopes of the Peninsular Ranges from the vicinity of Palm
Springs, California, into northern Baja California, Mexico. Depressed
recruitment, habitat loss and degradation, disease, loss of dispersal
corridors, and random events (e.g., drought) affecting small
populations threaten the desert bighorn sheep in the Peninsular Ranges.
On May 8, 1992, the Service published a rule proposing endangered
status for the Peninsular Ranges population of the desert bighorn sheep
(57 FR 19837). The original comment period closed on November 4, 1992.
The Service was unable to make a final listing determination regarding
the bighorn sheep because of a limited budget, other endangered species
assignments driven by court orders, and higher listing priorities. In
addition, a moratorium on listing actions (Public Law 104-6), which
took effect on April 10, 1995, stipulated that no funds could be used
to make final listing or critical habitat determinations. Now that
funding has been restored, the Service is proceeding with a final
determination for the Peninsular Ranges population of the desert
bighorn sheep.
Due to the length of time that has elapsed since the close of the
initial comment period, changing procedural
[[Page 16519]]
and biological circumstances and the need to review the best scientific
information available during the decision-making process, the comment
period is being reopened. Moreover, this proposed listing of a
population of desert bighorn sheep must be consistent with Service
policy published on February 7, 1996, regarding the recognition of
distinct vertebrate population segments (61 FR 4722). This policy
requires that distinct population segments be discrete from other
populations of the species, be biologically and/or ecologically
significant to the species, and meet the standards of a endangered or
threatened species under section 4(a) of the Act. In this regard, the
following recent articles and reports contained in Service files,
including other non-cited information, are available for public review:
Berger, J. 1990. Persistence of different-sized populations: An
empirical assessment of rapid extinctions. Conservation Biology 4:91-
98.
Bleich, V. C., J. D. Wehausen, and S. A. Holl 1990. Desert-dwelling
mountain sheep: Conservation implications of a naturally fragmented
distribution. Conservation Biology 4:383-390.
Bleich, V. C., J. D. Wehausen, R. R. Ramey II, and J. L. Rechel
1997. Metapopulation theory and mountain sheep: Implications for
conservation. Pages 353-373 in D. R. McCullough, editor.
Metapopulations and Wildlife Conservation, Island Press, Washington
D.C.
Bighorn Institute 1996. Summary of the San Jacinto Mountains
helicopter survey of Peninsular bighorn sheep. unpublished report, 2
pp.
Bighorn Institute 1996. Summary of the Santa Rosa Mountains
helicopter survey of Peninsular bighorn sheep. unpublished report, 3
pp.
Boyce, W. M., P. W. Hedrick, N. E. Muggli-Cockett, S. Kalinowski,
M. C. T. Penedo, and R. R. Ramey II 1997. Genetic variation of major
histocompatibility complex and microsatellite loci: A comparison in
bighorn sheep. Genetics 145:421-433.
DeForge, J. R., E. M. Barrett, S. D. Ostermann, M. C. Jorgensen,
and S. G. Torres 1995. Population dynamics of Peninsular bighorn sheep
in the Santa Rosa Mountains, California. Desert Bighorn Council Trans.
39:50-57.
R. R. Ramey II 1995. Mitochondrial DNA variation, population
structure, and evolution of mountain sheep in the south-western United
States and Mexico. Molecular Ecology 4:429-439.
Rubin, E., and W. Boyce 1996. Results of helicopter survey
conducted in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, unpublished memo to Steve
Torres (CDFG Bighorn Sheep Coordinator) and project collaborators. 6
pp.
Wehausen, J. D., and R. R. Ramey II 1993. A morphometric
reevaluation of the Peninsular bighorn subspecies. Desert Bighorn
Council Trans. 37:1-10.
Regarding the above articles and reports, the Service particularly
seeks information concerning:
(1) The biological and ecological distinctiveness of bighorn sheep
in the Peninsular Ranges from other populations of bighorn sheep;
(2) other biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any
threat (or lack thereof) to bighorn sheep in the Peninsular Ranges; and
(3) the current size, number, or distribution of bighorn sheep
populations in the Peninsular Ranges.
Written comments may now be submitted until [May 7, 1997] to the
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: April 1, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-8779 Filed 4-4-97; 8:45 am]
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