[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]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P