[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 11455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5306]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Final Revised Environmental Assessment, 
Management Plan, and Implementation Guidance, and a Finding of No 
Significant Impact for Take of Nestling American Peregrine Falcons in 
the Contiguous United States and Alaska for Use in Falconry

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce the availability of a Final Revised 
Environmental Assessment, Management Plan, and Implementation Guidance, 
and a Finding of No Significant Impact for take of nestling American 
Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) for use in falconry. We 
published the Draft Revised Environmental Assessment in April 2003. We 
considered 945 comments in revising the assessment. After completion of 
the Final Revised 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, Mail Stop 4107, 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 Revised Environmental 
Assessment, Management Plan, and Implementation Guidance (draft Revised 
EA) we considered six alternatives for take of nestling American 
peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus anatum) in the western United 
States and Alaska. We accepted comment on the draft Revised EA for 60 
days (68 FR 22727). We received 945 electronic or written comment 
letters on the draft Revised Environmental Assessment, Management Plan, 
and Implementation Guidance. Fifteen were from State or Federal 
agencies; 930 were from individuals and organizations. Thirteen agency 
responses favored allowing take of nestlings, and two responses were 
neutral. Of the individual and organization comments received, 6 
opposed take of nestlings and 929 supported allowing take. We modified 
the Draft Revised Environmental Assessment, Management Plan, and 
Implementation Guidance to respond to concerns expressed by agencies, 
organizations, and individuals.
    Having reviewed the comments on the draft, our proposed action is 
to allow take of up to 5 percent of the American peregrine falcon 
nestlings produced in the States west of 100[deg] longitude, at the 
discretion of each State. We believe that this 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. Based on this assessment, I have signed a 
Finding of No Significant Impact for take of nestling American 
peregrine falcons under the conditions we evaluated.

    Dated: March 1, 2004.
Steve Williams,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-5306 Filed 3-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P