[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32733-32734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15807]
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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 Second
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 second 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 a
second reopening of the comment period on the proposed endangered
status for the Peninsular Ranges population of desert bighorn sheep
(Ovis canadensis). On April 7, 1997, the Service reopened the comment
period to acquire additional information from interested parties, and
to resume the proposed listing action (62 FR 16518). In addition, the
Service sought public comment on various articles and reports
concerning the distinctiveness and status of bighorn sheep in the
Peninsular Ranges. Because of a request to allow for further
development of biological, distributional, and status information on
the bighorn sheep, the comment period is reopened again for another 15
days.
DATES: The public comment period closes July 2, 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 and biological
circumstances and the need to review the best scientific information
available during the decision-making process, the Service reopened the
comment period for 30 days on April 7, 1997 (62 FR 16518). Moreover,
the Service reopened the comment period to ensure that this proposed
listing of a population of desert bighorn sheep is 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 an endangered or
threatened species under section 4(a) of the Act. On May 6, 1997, the
Service received a request from Mr. Francis D. Logan, Jr., a
representative of a landowner potentially affected by this proposal, to
hold a public hearing and to extend the comment period to allow for the
development of further biological, distributional, and status
information on the bighorn sheep. Though the Service will not hold a
hearing, the Service reopens the comment period for 15 days. In this
regard, the following recent articles and reports contained in Service
files, including other non-cited information, remain 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.
[[Page 32734]]
Written comments may now be submitted until July 17, 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: June 9, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-15807 Filed 6-16-97; 8:45 am]
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