[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 6 (Tuesday, January 9, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1633-1634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-506]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Re-opening of the 
Public Comment Period for Status Review of the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo in 
the Western United States

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Status Review; notice of the re-opening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On February 17, 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we), 
announced a 90-day finding on a petition to list the yellow-billed 
cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) as endangered, pursuant to the Endangered 
Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (65 FR 8104). We found that the 
petition presented substantial information indicating that the listing 
of the yellow-billed cuckoo may be warranted. At that time, we 
initiated a status review for the yellow-billed cuckoo and announced 
that a 12-month finding would be prepared at the conclusion of the 
review.

DATES: Comments and materials related to this petition may be submitted 
on or before February 8, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions concerning this 
petition finding and status review should be submitted to the Field 
Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room 
W-2605, Sacramento, California

[[Page 1634]]

95825. The petition, finding, and supporting data and comments will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dwight Harvey or Stephanie Brady at 
the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section above), 
or at 916/414-6600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species 
Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that 
we make a finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify 
a species presents substantial scientific or commercial information 
indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. To the maximum 
extent practicable, this finding is to be made within 90 days of the 
receipt of the petition, and the finding is to be published promptly in 
the Federal Register. If the finding is that substantial information 
was presented, we are also required to promptly commence a review of 
the status of the involved species. The Act requires that we make this 
finding within 12 months of the receipt of the petition.
    On February 17, 2000, we announced a 90-day finding for a petition 
to list the yellow-billed cuckoo under the Act (65 FR 8104). In 
addition, the petition asked that since the yellow-billed cuckoo is 
endangered in a significant portion of it's range (i.e., the western 
United States) and that this range represents the range of a valid 
subspecies, the western yellow-billed cuckoo, they would concur with a 
decision to list only this subspecies. In that finding, we found that 
the petition presented substantial information indicating that the 
listing of the western yellow-billed cuckoo subspecies (Coccyzus 
americanus occidentalis) may be warranted, although the taxonomy of 
this subspecies is unclear.
    At this time, we continue to seek additional data, information or 
comments on yellow-billed cuckoos in the western U.S. from the public, 
other concerned government agencies, the scientific community, industry 
or any other interested persons. We are also interested in information 
from throughout the potential breeding range in Canada, Mexico and the 
overwintering range in Central and South America.

Public Comments Solicited

    Of particular interest is information regarding:
    1. Subspecies taxonomy and geographic variation in the species, in 
the form of genetic, behavioral, physiological, morphological, and/or 
ecological data which might be used to evaluate subspecies and the 
distinctness of population segments;
    2. Historic and current distribution in your area, region, or 
state, indicating breeding or wintering range;
    3. Historic and current population estimates and/or trends in your 
area, region, or state. If known please indicate whether the population 
is increasing, stable, or decreasing, and the sources of this 
information;
    4. Any ongoing research or monitoring efforts in your area, region, 
or state;
    5. Summarize any threats in your area, and specifically address the 
following categories:
    (a) Present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment 
of habitat;
    (b) Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or 
educational purposes;
    (c) Disease or predation;
    (d) Inadequate regulatory mechanisms;
    (e) Other natural or manmade factors affecting the species' 
continued existence;
    6. Seasonal habitat requirements and habitat conditions in your 
area or region or state;
    7. Relative abundance of cuckoos on private vs. public lands in 
your area, region or state;
    8. Past, current and planned conservation efforts in your area, 
region, or state that may be beneficial to the species;
    9. Any banding information that has not been sent to the Bird 
Banding Laboratory in Patuxent, Maryland.

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: January 3, 2001.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-506 Filed 1-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P