[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24149-24150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11960]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Final Environmental Assessment of Take of 
Nestling American Peregrine Falcons in the Contiguous United States and 
Alaska for Falconry

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[[Page 24150]]


ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce the availability of a Final 
Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact of take 
of nestling American Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) for 
falconry. We published the Draft Environmental Assessment in July 2000. 
We considered 352 comments in revising the assessment. After completion 
of the Final Environmental Assessment, we also produced a Finding of No 
Significant Impact for the action.

ADDRESSES: The documents are available from the Division of Migratory 
Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax 
Drive, Room 634, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1610. They also are 
available on the Division of Migratory Bird Management web pages at 
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George T. Allen, Division of 
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at 703/358-
1714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the draft Environmental Assessment, we 
considered six alternatives for take of nestling American peregrine 
falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) in the western United States and 
Alaska. We received 352 electronic or written comment letters on the 
draft Environmental Assessment. Seventeen were from State or Federal 
agencies; 335 were from individuals and organizations. Fifteen agency 
responses favored allowing take of nestlings, and 2 responses were 
neutral. Of the individual and organization comments received, 21 
opposed take of nestlings and 314 supported allowing take. We modified 
the Environmental Assessment to respond to concerns expressed by 
agencies, organizations, and individuals.
    Having reviewed the comments on the draft, our preferred 
alternative is to allow take of up to 5% of the American peregrine 
falcon nestlings produced in the States west of 100 deg. longitude, at 
the discretion of each State. These States include Alaska, Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, 
Washington, and Wyoming. We believe that a conservative level of take 
is appropriate for a species recently removed from the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, and will have no 
discernible effect on the American peregrine falcon population in the 
western United States.

    Dated: May 1, 2001.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-11960 Filed 5-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P