[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40956-41008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3591]



[[Page 40955]]

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Part III





Department of the Interior





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Fish and Wildlife Service



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50 CFR Part 17



 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical 
Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis 
californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision; Proposed Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 40956]]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AV05


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis 
californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to 
designate critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis 
canadensis californiana) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act). In total, approximately 417,577 acres (ac) (168,992 
hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical 
habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in 
Tuolumne, Mono, Fresno, Inyo, and Tulare counties, California. We also 
propose a taxonomic revision of the listed entity from distinct 
population segment (DPS) to subspecies, Ovis canadensis sierrae, based 
on recent published information.

DATES: We will accept comments from all interested parties until 
September 24, 2007. We must receive requests for public hearings, in 
writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by September 10, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on this proposed rule, you may submit 
your comments and materials by any one of several methods:
    1. By mail or hand-deliver to Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 
Financial Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502-7147.
    2. By electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected]. Please see the 
Public Comments Solicited section below for other information about 
electronic filing.
    3. By fax to the attention of Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor 
at 775-861-6301.
    4. Via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor, 
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, at the address or telephone number 
listed under ADDRESSES. If you use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-
877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposal will 
be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we seek 
comments or suggestions on this proposed rule. We particularly seek 
comments concerning:
    (1) The reasons why we should or should not designate habitat as 
``critical habitat'' under section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), including whether the benefit of designation will outweigh 
threats to the species caused by designation such that the designation 
of critical habitat is prudent;
    (2) Specific information on:
     The amount and distribution of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
habitat,
     What areas should be included in the designations that 
were occupied at the time of listing that contain the features that are 
essential for the conservation of the subspecies and why, and
     What areas not occupied at the listing are essential to 
the conservation of the subspecies and why;
    (3) Any proposed critical habitat areas covered by existing or 
proposed conservation or management plans that we should consider for 
exclusion from the designation under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. We 
specifically request comment on the appropriateness of including or 
excluding lands covered by: (a) The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 
Recovery and Conservation Plan (Sierra Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1984); (b) the Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (National 
Park Service 1986); (c) the Inyo National Forest Resource & Management 
Plan (U.S. Forest Service 1988); and (d) the Conservation Strategy for 
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1997). We request comment on how these plans do or do 
not benefit or protect the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, or its primary 
constituent elements, and if the benefit or protection provided by 
these plans is equal to or greater than the benefit that would be 
provided by designation of critical habitat;
    (4) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the 
subject areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat;
    (5) Any foreseeable economic, national security, or other potential 
impacts resulting from the proposed designation and, in particular, any 
impacts on small entities, and information about the benefits of 
including or excluding any areas that exhibit those impacts; and
    (6) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating 
critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation 
and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and 
comments.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments and materials 
concerning this proposal by any one of several methods (see ADDRESSES). 
If you use e-mail to submit your comments, please include ``Attn: 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep'' in your e-mail subject header. If you do 
not receive a confirmation from the system that we have received your 
e-mail, contact us directly by calling our Nevada Fish and Wildlife 
Office at 775-861-6300. Please note that comments must be received by 
the date specified in the DATES section in order to consider them in 
our final determination and that the e-mail address [email protected] 
will be closed out at the termination of the public comment period.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment--you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Background

    It is our intent to discuss only those topics directly relevant to 
the designation of critical habitat in this proposed rule. For more 
information on the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, refer to the final 
listing rule published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2000 (65 
FR 20). However, some of this information will need to be cited or 
discussed in the substantive analyses below, where appropriate, such as 
the description of the primary constituent elements (PCEs) and proposed 
critical habitat units.
    The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a large mammal in the family 
Bovidae described by Shaw in 1804 (Shackleton 1985, p. 1). Cowen (1940, 
pp. 519-569) recognized several subspecies based on geography and skull 
measurements. Recent genetic (Ramey 1993, pp. 82-86; 1995, pp. 432-434; 
Boyce et al. 1996, pp. 423-426, 429; Gutierrez-Espeleta et al. 1998, 
pp. 7-9, 11) and morphological data (Wehausen and Ramey 1993, pp. 4-8; 
2000, pp. 148-153), and review and reanalysis of Cowan's data (Ramey 
1993,

[[Page 40957]]

p. 83), do not support Cowan's original subspecies differentiation. 
Ramey (1993, pp. 71-72; 1995, p. 432) found, based on mitochondrial 
DNA, bighorn sheep from the Sierra Nevada to be more allied with sheep 
occupying the adjacent desert area than those to the north. Ramey 
(1993, pp. 67-68; 1995, pp. 433, 435) also found Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep to be a distinctive group in the desert region extending east to 
Utah and New Mexico and south to northern Mexico. Recent morphometric 
analyses of skull shape confirm genetic results (Wehausen and Ramey 
2000, pp. 148-153). Based on both genetic and morphometric data, 
Wehausen and Ramey (2000, p. 156) reassigned California bighorn sheep 
populations outside of the Sierra Nevada to other subspecies, thus 
recognizing bighorn sheep in the Sierra Nevada as its own subspecies. 
In a recent investigation of the taxonomy of Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep, Wehausen et al. (2005, p. 217) reexamined the history of bighorn 
sheep nomenclature and concluded, based on the original type specimen, 
that the correct nomenclature for native sheep in the central and 
southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California is Ovis canadensis 
sierrae.
    Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit portions of the Sierra Nevada 
located along the eastern boundary of California in Tuolumne, Mono, 
Fresno, Inyo, and Tulare counties. Habitat occurs from the eastern base 
of the range as low as 4,790 feet (ft) (1,460 meters (m)) to its peaks 
above 14,100 ft (4,300 m) (Wehausen 1980, pp. 3, 82). Based on recent 
modeling efforts, discussed further in the Criteria Used To Identify 
Critical Habitat section, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat, as well 
as areas necessary to provide connectivity between winter and summer 
ranges, occur as low as 4,000 ft (1,219 m) in the southern portion of 
its range (Johnson et al. 2005). Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit 
open areas where the land is rocky, sparsely vegetated, and 
characterized by steep slopes and canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra 
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5). Wehausen 
(1980, pp. 18-25) provides a detailed description of Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep habitat throughout its range. They prefer open ground to 
better detect predators and allow enough time to reach steep, rocky 
terrain (escape habitat) (Wehausen 1980, p. 81). Forests and thick 
brush are usually avoided if possible (65 FR 21; January 3, 2000). Most 
of the sheep live at higher elevations (10,000 to 14,000 ft (3,050 to 
4,270 m)) in the subalpine and alpine areas during the summer (65 FR 
21; January 3, 2000). During winter, these sheep occupy high elevation, 
windswept ridges and tend to prefer south-facing slopes where snow 
melts more readily (Jones 1950, pp. 44-45; McCullough and Schneegas 
1966, p. 71; Wehausen 1980, pp. 86-87) or migrate to lower elevations 
(4,800 ft (1,460 m)) in the sagebrush-steppe areas to avoid deep snow 
and to find forage.
    Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are gregarious with group size and 
composition depending on gender and season. Spatial segregation by 
gender occurs outside of the mating season. Ewes generally remain with 
the same band in which they were born (Cowan and Geist 1971, pp. 80-
81). Males older than two years of age remain apart from females and 
younger males for most of the year (Jones 1950, p. 50; Cowan and Geist 
1971, p. 65; Wehausen 1980, p. 109). During the winter, the groups come 
together and concentrate in suitable winter habitat.
    Breeding takes place in late fall, generally November and December 
(Jones 1950, pp. 63-64; Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 64; Wishart 1978, p. 
165). Lambing occurs between late April and early July (Wehausen 1996, 
p. 475), on safe, precipitous, rocky slopes (Wehausen 1980, p. 95); 
most lambs in the Sierra Nevada are born in May and June (Wehausen 
1980, p. 94; 1996, p. 475). Ewes and lambs often occupy steep terrain 
that provides a diversity of exposures and slopes for escape cover (65 
FR 21; January 3, 2000). The average lifespan is 9 to 11 years for both 
males and females (Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 68; Wehausen 1980, p. 76).
    Bighorn sheep are primarily diurnal (Jones 1950, pp. 54-57). They 
are primarily grazers; however, they may browse woody vegetation at 
times. Plants consumed include various grasses, browse, and herbaceous 
plants, depending on season and location (Wehausen 1980, pp. 80-93). 
Naturally occurring salt/mineral licks provide necessary minerals for 
bone and muscle growth.
    While distribution of bighorn sheep is naturally fragmented on the 
landscape, the maintenance of migration corridors (space) is important 
to allow genetic exchange between Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep herds. 
The population ecology of bighorn sheep has been described as a 
metapopulation with geographically distinct herds interacting in a 
network (Schwartz et al. 1986, p. 184; Bleich et al. 1990, pp. 384-
388). The movements by rams between herds can counteract the effects of 
inbreeding that can develop with small, isolated populations (Schwartz 
et al. 1986, pp. 182-185).

Previous Federal Actions

    On April 20, 1999, we published an emergency rule listing the 
Sierra Nevada DPS of the California bighorn sheep (SNBS) as endangered 
(64 FR 19300) providing emergency protections to the DPS until such 
time that we could complete the normal listing process. We also 
published a proposed rule to list the DPS on the same date (64 FR 
19333). On January 3, 2000, we published a final rule listing the SNBS 
DPS as endangered (65 FR 20). The emergency rule stated that the 
designation of critical habitat was not determinable due to lack of 
information sufficient to perform the required analysis of impacts of 
the designation. In the final listing rule we stated our revised 
determination: That there is sufficient information to perform the 
required impact analysis and that the designation of critical habitat 
is prudent. During our current efforts to propose critical habitat for 
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, we noticed that the final listing rule 
published in 2000 (65 FR 20) inadvertently listed this entity as a 
subspecies rather than as a DPS. While the listing rule addressed the 
DPS question, we failed to include the DPS language in the table found 
in the regulatory section of the rule. However, as stated above, based 
on the work of Wehausen and Ramey (2000, p. 156) and Wehausen et al. 
(2005, p. 217), the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is recognized as a 
subspecies, and the correct nomenclature is Ovis canadensis sierrae. 
Therefore, we are formally proposing a taxonomic revision to amend the 
final listing rule from DPS to subspecies, Ovis canadensis sierrae. 
Therefore, within this proposed critical habitat designation rule we 
will refer to the listed entity as a subspecies and not as a DPS.
    On July 30, 2003, we made available the Service's Draft Recovery 
Plan for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) 
(68 FR 44808). On October 9, 2003, we re-opened the comment period for 
the draft Recovery Plan (68 FR 58355). We are currently working with 
land management agencies and stakeholders to finalize the Recovery Plan 
by the summer of 2007.
    On December 8, 2005, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a 
complaint based on the Service's failure to designate critical habitat 
for this subspecies within the time mandated under the Act (Center for 
Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, et al. Case No. 
2:05-CB-02492-DFL-KJM). On June 6, 2006, the Service entered into a 
settlement agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity

[[Page 40958]]

to submit a proposed critical habitat designation for this subspecies 
for publication in the Federal Register by July 17, 2007, and to submit 
a final determination on the proposed critical habitat designation for 
publication by July 17, 2008.
    For more information on previous Federal actions concerning Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep, refer to the final listing rule published in the 
Federal Register on January 3, 2000 (65 FR 20).

Critical Habitat

    Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
    (1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a 
species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which 
are found those physical or biological features
    (a) essential to the conservation of the species and
    (b) that may require special management considerations or 
protection; and
    (2) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a 
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas 
are essential for the conservation of the species.
    Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means to use 
and the use of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring 
any endangered species or threatened species to the point at which the 
measures provided under the Act are no longer necessary.
    Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act 
through the prohibition against Federal agencies carrying out, funding, 
or authorizing the destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat. Section 7 of the Act requires consultation on Federal actions 
that may affect critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat 
does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness, 
reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. Such designation does 
not allow government or public access to private lands. Section 7 of 
the Act is a purely protective measure and does not require 
implementation of restoration, recovery, or enhancement measures.
    For inclusion in a critical habitat designation, the habitat within 
the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing 
must first have features that are essential to the conservation of the 
species. Critical habitat designations identify, to the extent known 
using the best scientific data available, habitat areas that provide 
essential life cycle needs of the species (i.e., areas on which are 
found the primary constituent elements, as defined at 50 CFR 
424.12(b)).
    Habitat within the geographical area occupied by the species at the 
time of listing may be included in critical habitat only if the habitat 
has essential features that may require special management or 
protection. Thus, we do not include areas where existing management is 
sufficient to conserve the PCEs and the species. (As discussed below, 
such areas may also be excluded from critical habitat under to section 
4(b)(2) of the Act.)
    We can designate unoccupied areas as critical habitat. However, 
when the best available scientific data do not demonstrate that the 
conservation needs of the species require additional areas, we will not 
designate critical habitat in areas outside the geographical area 
occupied by the species at the time of listing.
    Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on 
the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available. 
Further, our Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered 
Species Act, published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 
34271), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and 
General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 
106-554; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality Guidelines 
provide criteria, establish procedures, and provide guidance to ensure 
that our decisions represent the best scientific data available. They 
require our biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and with 
the use of the best scientific data available, to use primary and 
original sources of information as the basis for recommendations to 
designate critical habitat. When determining which areas may be 
designated as critical habitat, a primary source of information is 
generally the listing package for the species. Additional information 
sources include the recovery plan for the species, articles in peer-
reviewed journals, conservation plans developed by States and counties, 
scientific status surveys and studies, biological assessments, or other 
unpublished materials and expert opinion or personal knowledge. All 
information is used in accordance with the provisions of the 
Information Quality Act and the associated Information Quality 
Guidelines issued by the Service.
    Habitat is often dynamic, and species may move from one area to 
another over time. Furthermore, we recognize that designation of 
critical habitat may not include all of the habitat areas that we may 
eventually determine are necessary for the recovery of the species. For 
these reasons, a critical habitat designation does not signal that 
habitat outside the designation is unimportant or may not be required 
for recovery.
    Areas that support populations of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but 
are outside the critical habitat designation, will continue to be 
subject to conservation actions we implement under section 7(a)(1) of 
the Act. They are also subject to the regulatory protections afforded 
by the section 7(a)(2) jeopardy standard, as determined on the basis of 
the best available information at the time of the agency action. 
Federally funded or permitted projects affecting listed species outside 
their designated critical habitat areas may still result in jeopardy 
findings in some cases. Similarly, critical habitat designations made 
on the basis of the best available information at the time of 
designation will not control the direction and substance of future 
recovery plans, habitat conservation plans (HCPs), or other species 
conservation planning efforts if new information available to these 
planning efforts calls for a different outcome.

Methods

    As required by section 4(b) of the Act, we used the best scientific 
data available in determining areas occupied at the time of listing 
that contain the features essential to the conservation of Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep, and areas unoccupied at the time of listing that 
are essential to the conservation of the subspecies. We have also 
reviewed available information pertaining to the habitat requirements 
of this subspecies. These data include: information from the final 
listing rule (65 FR 20, January 3, 2000); information published in 
peer-reviewed literature, provided in academic theses and agency 
reports, and published in a Resource Selection Probability Functions 
model; location data and survey information provided in agency status 
and monitoring reports and on Geographic Information System (GIS) maps; 
information provided in the subspecies' draft recovery plan (Service 
2003); material submitted during section 7 consultations; discussions 
with members of California Department of Fish and Game's (CDFG's) 
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program and the Sierra Nevada 
Bighorn Sheep Recovery Team; and regional GIS coverages.

Primary Constituent Elements

    In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at 
50 CFR 424.12, in determining which areas to propose as critical 
habitat within geographical areas occupied by the

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species at the time of listing, we consider the primary constituent 
elements to be those physical and biological features that are 
essential to the conservation of the species and which may require 
special management considerations and protection. These include, but 
are not limited to:
    (1) Space for individual and population growth and for normal 
behavior;
    (2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or 
physiological requirements;
    (3) Cover or shelter;
    (4) Sites for breeding, reproduction, and rearing (or development) 
of offspring; and
    (5) Habitats that are protected from disturbance or are 
representative of the historic geographical and ecological 
distributions of a species.
    We derive the specific primary constituent elements required for 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep from its biological needs.

Space for Individual and Population Growth and for Normal Behavior

    In general, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit open areas where 
the land is rocky, sparsely vegetated, and characterized by steep 
slopes and canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5). In the Sierra Nevada, these 
bighorn sheep occur within a wide range of elevations, from alpine 
peaks in excess of 14,100 ft (4,300 m) to the base of the eastern 
escarpment as low as 4,790 ft (1,460 m) (Wehausen 1980, pp. 3 and 82). 
Recent modeling efforts have clarified and supported our knowledge that 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat occurs as low as 4,000 ft (1,219 m) 
in the southern portion of its range (Johnson et al. 2005). Within this 
elevational range, a variety of vegetation communities exists, 
including: (1) Great Basin sagebrush-bitterbrush-bunchgrass scrub; (2) 
pinyon-juniper woodland and mountain mahogany scrub; (3) mid-elevation 
and subalpine forests, woodlands, and meadows; and (4) alpine meadows 
and other alpine habitats varying from cliffs to plateaus (Service 
2003, p. 3). Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep prefer Great Basin scrub and 
alpine communities due to their visual openness. Because of the aridity 
of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, many of the mid-elevation 
vegetation communities have some locations near precipitous rocks with 
sparse plant cover that allow use by bighorn sheep (Wehausen 1980, pp. 
18-25, 80-100). The extreme visual openness and the steep, rocky nature 
of alpine environments in the Sierra Nevada provide large expanses of 
habitat broken by canyons containing forests and willow stands. These 
areas of forests and willow stands are unlikely to be used by bighorn 
sheep. In contrast, low elevation winter habitat has been limited to 
small areas where topographic and visual features are suitable 
(Riegelhuth 1965, pp. 34-38; McCullough and Schneegas 1966, pp. 71-72, 
74-75; Wehausen 1979, pp. 36-53; 1980, pp. 81-88). Large expanses 
lacking precipitous escape terrain can represent substantial barriers 
to movement (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 
1997, p. 5).
    Male and female bighorn sheep commonly live in separate groups 
during much of the year, and often occupy different habitats (Geist and 
Petocz 1977, pp. 1802-1803; Bleich et al. 1997, pp. 7-14, 22-34, 36-42; 
Wehausen 1980, p. 109). In the Sierra Nevada, both sexes may share 
common winter ranges, but they become more segregated as spring nears 
(Wehausen 1980, pp. 112-113). During winter, bighorn sheep occupy high, 
windswept ridges if forage is available or move to lower elevation 
sagebrush-steppe habitat (as low as 4,790 ft (1,460 m)) to escape deep 
winter snows and find nutritious forage. In winter, they show a 
preference for south-facing slopes where snow melts more readily (Jones 
1950, pp. 44-45; McCullough and Schneegas 1966, p. 71; Wehausen 1980, 
pp. 86-87). During summer, the two sexes utilize different habitats, 
with females restricted largely to alpine environments along the crest 
and males often at somewhat lower elevations in subalpine habitats 
(Wehausen 1980, pp. 112-113). Males again join females during the 
breeding season in late fall. Both males and females will inhabit open 
slopes where the area is rough, rocky, sparsely vegetated, and 
characterized by steep slopes and canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra 
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5).
    An indication of winter and summer range size for male and female 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep was provided by Wehausen (1980) and Chow 
(1992). Wehausen (1980, p. 84) determined winter and summer range sizes 
for the Baxter and Williamson herds. He estimated that total winter 
range was 2,632 ac (10.65 square kilometers (km\2\)) and 3,291 ac 
(13.32 km\2\), respectively. Summer range for ewes, lambs, and 
yearlings was estimated at 13,005 ac (52.63 km\2\) and 3,808 ac (15.41 
km\2\), respectively. Fall range was estimated at 11,073 ac (44.81 
km\2\) and 3,242 ac (13.12 km\2\), respectively. Chow (1992, p. 37) 
estimated home range size for the Lee Vining herd (winter/spring and 
summer/fall for rams and ewes) using the minimum convex polygon method 
(completely enclose all data points by connecting the outer locations 
in such a way as to create a convex polygon) during 1986 to 1989. 
During this period, ewes covered an area of 1,038 to 4,473 ac (4.2 to 
18.1 km\2\) during winter/spring, and rams covered an area of 2,941 to 
6,919 ac (11.9 to 28.0 km\2\). During this same period, ewes covered 
2,347 ac to 5,535 (9.5 to 22.4 km\2\) during summer/fall while rams 
covered 3,623 to 8,747 ac (14.7 to 35.4 km\2\). The mean minimum convex 
polygon home range was 7,759 ac (31.4 km\2\) for ewes and 20,979 ac 
(84.9 km\2\) for rams from Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler, Sawmill, 
and Baxter herds (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004, 
pp. 9, 17).
    Bighorn sheep have developed philopatric behaviors (reluctance to 
disperse from their home range) such that they are slow to colonize 
unoccupied habitat (Geist 1971, pp. 98-99; Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 
81). This is likely an adaptation to the naturally fragmented habitats 
that bighorn sheep occupy. Both male and female Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep demonstrate seasonal philopatry (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 
Recovery Program 2004, p. 7). While both males and females show a 
tendency to use the same ranges year after year, males show exceptions 
and demonstrate long-distance movements (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 
Recovery Program 2004, p. 7). Annual home range diameter provides an 
indication of the extreme distances the bighorn sheep can travel. 
Maximum diameters for home ranges for female Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep from the Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler, and Baxter herds 
ranged from 3.95 to 10.41 mi (6.35 to 16.75 km); males from the Mount 
Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler, and Sawmill herds ranged from 5.5 to 36.9 
mi (8.9 to 59.4 km) (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004, 
pp. 9, 17).
    Bighorn sheep exhibit a variety of behavioral adaptations to avoid 
predation. Bighorn sheep are primarily diurnal (Jones 1950, pp. 54-57; 
Krausman et al. 1985, pp. 24-26). Coupled with their strong reliance on 
keen eyesight to detect predators, diurnal behavior minimizes predation 
risks. Due to their keen eyesight and agility on rocky slopes, bighorn 
sheep in general select open habitats that allow predator detection at 
distances great enough to allow time to reach steep, rocky terrain 
(escape habitat) (Wehausen 1980, p. 81). This

[[Page 40960]]

precipitous, rocky terrain is generally near foraging and resting 
areas. Bedding areas are needed for resting or sleeping purposes. 
During the day, bedding areas are generally wherever the individual is 
feeding. Bedding areas are made in the open but not necessarily in a 
place with a view of the surrounding area; during the night, bedding 
areas are generally among or near rugged, chuted cliffs (Jones 1950, p. 
49). Bighorn sheep may venture a short distance away from rocky escape 
terrain to feed; the distance they venture from safer habitat varies 
and is apparently influenced by visual openness, wind, gender, season, 
and abundance of predators (Service 2003, p. 6).

Sites for Breeding, Reproduction, and Rearing of Offspring

    In the Sierra Nevada, ewes and rams come together in late fall or 
early winter (November and December) (Jones 1950, pp. 63-64; Cowan and 
Geist 1971, p. 64; Wishart 1978, p. 165) to breed, usually at high 
elevations. Bighorn sheep generally give birth to single young (Wishart 
1978, p. 165). Most bighorn sheep births in the Sierra Nevada occur in 
May and June (Wehausen 1980, p. 94; 1996, p. 475). Lambing habitat is 
in areas of precipitous rocks away from trees (Wehausen 1980, p. 95), 
providing safe areas from predators. Ewes with newborn lambs are 
solitary for a short period of time before joining nursery groups (65 
FR 21; January 3, 2000).
Mortality Factors
    Bighorn sheep die from a variety of causes including predation, 
disease, and accidents. Various predators, including wolves (Canis 
lupus), mountain lions (Felis concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans), 
bobcats (Lynx rufus), and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) kill wild 
sheep in North America (Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 75; Bleich 1999, p. 
283). Jones (1950, pp. 67-68) listed golden eagles, mountain lions, 
coyotes, wolverines (Gulo luscus), bobcats, and ravens (Corvus corax) 
as likely predators of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but thought none of 
these predators caused anything but small losses on the population 
under normal circumstances. He thought predation overall was thought to 
be light except during abnormally unfavorable winters. In recent years 
in the Sierra Nevada, mountain lions have been the primary predator of 
bighorn sheep, accounting for 96 percent of losses attributed to 
predation (Service 2003, p. 10). Of 147 bighorn sheep deaths recorded 
in the Sierra Nevada during 1975 to 2000, a minimum of 54.5 percent 
could be attributed to predation (Service 2003, p. 10).
    Numerous diseases of bighorn sheep have been documented (Bunch et 
al. 1999, pp. 209-237). Bighorn sheep show a high susceptibility to 
pneumonia, usually caused by bacteria of the genus Pasteurella (some 
species now called Mannheimia) (Post 1971, pp. 98-101). Pneumonia 
caused by Pasturella alone, or with other pathogens, is an important 
disease threat for bighorn sheep (Bunch et al. 1999, p. 210). Lungworms 
of the genus Protostrongylus can be important contributors to pneumonia 
and mortality in bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains (Forrester 1971, 
p. 158; Woodard et al. 1974, pp. 773-774). Bighorn in the Sierra Nevada 
carry Protostrongylus lungworms, but parasite loads have been too low 
to be considered a management concern (Wehausen 1980, p. 191).
    Although die-offs of bighorn sheep due to disease have occurred 
unrelated to domestic sheep (Miller et al. 1991, pp. 534-540), a 
substantial amount of circumstantial evidence is available that 
indicates that contact with domestic sheep is associated with 
respiratory disease outbreaks resulting in significant morbidity and 
mortality in wild bighorn sheep (Martin et al. 1996, pp. 72, 74). The 
history of bighorn sheep in the United States provides numerous 
examples of major die-offs following believed contact with domestic 
sheep (Foreyt and Jessup 1982, pp. 163-164, 166; Singer et al. 2001, p. 
1352; Coggins 2002, pp. 166-170), and these pneumonia epizootics can 
extirpate entire populations (Martin et al. 1996, pp. 72, 75). Diseases 
transferred through contact with domestic sheep are suspected to have 
played a major role in the disappearance of certain bighorn sheep herds 
in the Sierra Nevada beginning about 1870 (Wehausen 1988b, p. 100).
    Many early die-offs of bighorn sheep, including some in the Sierra 
Nevada, were attributed to scabies contracted from domestic sheep 
(Jones 1950, p. 69; Buechner 1960, p. 111). In 1987, Clark et al. 
(1988, p. 13) found scabies in three desert bighorn sheep in California 
east of the Sierra Nevada. In a large sampling of 50 populations of 
bighorn sheep in California between 1980 and 1990, 25 populations were 
designated as scabies-positive because at least 1 seropositive animal 
occurred at the low or high cutoff values, though no clinical evidence 
of scabies was noted (Mazat et al. 1992, pp. 543-545).
    Other infectious diseases may be of concern for bighorn sheep in 
selected instances. Domestic goats are occasionally used as pack 
animals in the back country or for brush control. This use could cause 
concern if it occurs in or near bighorn sheep habitat. For example, a 
recent outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the 
eye) linked to domestic goats resulted in blindness and several deaths 
(exacerbated by the blindness) in bighorn sheep in Arizona, 
demonstrating the risk of disease outbreak in bighorn sheep from 
interactions with domestic goats (Heffelfinger 2004, cited in Sierra 
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004, p. 2).
    Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep remaining at high elevations year-round 
likely contributed to population losses over winter (Wehausen 1996, pp. 
474-477). Those losses included reduced lamb survival over winter and 
losses of all sex and age classes in snow avalanches (Service 2003, pp. 
10-11). A survey of the Wheeler Ridge herd during the heavy winter of 
1995 found 12 sheep had died in a single snow avalanche (Torres et al. 
1996, p. 28).
Metapopulation Structure
    Within mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada, bighorn sheep 
habitat is patchy and the population structure is one of natural 
fragmentation (Bleich et al. 1990, p. 384). This fragmentation has led 
to the application of a broad landscape approach to their population 
ecology which groups geographically distinct herds into 
metapopulations, which are networks of interacting herds (Schwartz et 
al. 1986, pp. 182-183; Bleich et al. 1990, p. 386). This approach 
considers long-term viability not of individual herds but rather of 
entire metapopulations; thus both genetic and demographic factors are 
considered. Decreasing population sizes, over time, can lead to 
decreasing levels of heterozygosity (presence of different forms of a 
gene at a particular location on a chromosome) that may have negative 
demographic effects through inbreeding depression (Lande 1988, p. 1456) 
and loss of adaptability. A small amount of genetic exchange among 
herds by movements of males can counteract inbreeding and associated 
increases in homozygosity (presence of identical forms of a gene at a 
particular location on a chromosome) that might otherwise develop 
within small, isolated populations (Schwartz et al. 1986, p. 185). 
Males have a much greater tendency than females to explore new ranges, 
which males may do in search of other females with which they will 
breed. If geographic distances between female groups within 
metapopulations are not great, gene migration by males occurs readily. 
In

[[Page 40961]]

the absence of such a metapopulation structure, populations will be 
isolated. Because the distribution of bighorn sheep in the Sierra 
Nevada, is naturally fragmented, maintenance of migration corridors is 
important to allow for genetic exchange between herd units. In the 
Sierra Nevada this exchange may be more difficult because the 
metapopulations occur mostly in a linear geographic distribution 
pattern; thus fewer populations may have provided sources of colonists 
(Service 2003, p. 40).
    Substructuring also can occur within what are often thought of as 
single herds of bighorn sheep (Festa-Bianchet 1986, pp. 327-330; Andrew 
et al. 1997, pp. 74-75; Rubin et al. 1998, pp. 543-548). Such 
substructuring is defined by separate home range patterns. Although 
demonstrated more with females, it can occur in both sexes. For 
example, what was once considered the Mount Baxter herd is now 
recognized as two herds, the Mount Baxter and Sawmill Canyon herds.
    Another important long-term process in metapopulation dynamics is 
the balance between rates of natural extinction and colonization among 
populations. Colonization rates must exceed extinction rates for a 
metapopulation to persist (Hanski and Gilpin 1991, pp. 8-9). This 
balance has not occurred for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep since about 
1850 due to the high rate of local extinctions resulting in an 
increasingly fragmented distribution. In addition to fragmentation from 
past extinctions, remaining herds are small, isolated groups of bighorn 
sheep. Because of their small population size, these small groups are 
more vulnerable to extirpation due to random naturally occurring 
events, disease, or predation (Shaffer 1987, pp. 71-73; Meffe and 
Carroll 1994, pp. 190-197; Service 2003, p. 8).

Food and Nutritional Requirements

    Bighorn sheep are ungulates that consume a wide variety of plant 
species. Due to a large rumen and reticulum relative to body size, they 
are able to have flexibility in the plants they consume which includes 
graminoids (grasses, sedges, and rushes) in different phenological 
stages (Hanley 1982, p. 148). Bighorn sheep consume a wide variety of 
plant species. While they prefer grasses, sedges, and forbs, different 
browse species become important food during the fall and winter 
(Wishart 1978, p. 167).
    Bighorn sheep exhibit seasonal changes in habitat use due to 
seasonal changes in resource availability, habitat and resource 
requirements. Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep rarely utilize surface water; 
instead, these bighorn sheep generally obtain moisture from their 
forage or the occasional consumption of snow. Altitudinal migration by 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep allows them to maximize nutrient intake 
during the year (Wehausen and Hansen 1988, pp. 256-257, 265-267; 
Wehausen 1996, pp. 476-477), as the relationship between elevation and 
temperature (Major 1977, pp. 44-45) influences plant growth (Wehausen 
1980, p. 86-91, 133-135). In general, temperatures decrease with 
increasing altitude (Major 1977, p. 44). In the Sierra Nevada, every 56 
ft (17 m) of elevation gain causes 1 day delay in the onset of plant 
growth (Wehausen and Hansen 1988, p. 257). Bighorn sheep are able to 
take advantage of early spring growth (usually cold-season grasses) and 
then later change their diet to include warm-season plants that may 
have higher nutrient concentrations than grasses (Wehausen and Hansen 
1988, p. 257). Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep use low-elevation ranges 
extensively in winter and early spring, alpine ranges in summer and 
fall, and some intermediate ranges during transition periods (Wehausen 
1980, pp. 80-100).
    In the following section plant nomenclature has been updated to 
conform to treatments in Hickman (1993). Common names generally conform 
to those given in Hickman (1993) and/or Abrams et al. (1923-1960). 
Cited scientific names are retained in brackets for ease of reference. 
The following plant species were found to be important winter/spring 
forage for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep: Achnatherum speciosum [Stipa 
speciosa] (desert needlegrass), Eriogonum fasciculatum (California 
buckwheat), Artemisia tridentata (sagebrush), Ephedra viridis (green 
ephedra), Keckiella breviflora (gaping keckiella), Purshia glandulosa 
(Mojave antelope bush), P. tridentata (northern antelope bush), and 
Ceanothus cordulatus (mountain whitethorn) (Wehausen 1980, p. 87). 
McCullough and Schneegas (1966, p. 72) and Riegelhuth (1965, p. 38) 
provide similar lists of plant species observed consumed by Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep during winter and/or summer (TABLE 1). Wehausen 
(1980, pp. 124-126) provides a list of plants consumed by both sexes in 
summer (TABLE 1).

     Table 1.--Plant Species Observed Consumed by Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep During Summer and Fall Months
         (McCullough and Schneegas (1966, p. 72); Riegelhuth (1965, p. 38); Wehausen 1980, p. 124-126).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Sex                            Season              Scientific name            Common name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ewes and Lambs.......................  Summer and fall........  Polemonium eximium.....  sky pilot.
                                                                Hulsea algida..........  alpine hulsea.
                                                                Carex helleri..........  Heller's sedge.
                                                                C. rossii..............  Ross' sedge.
                                                                C. leporinella.........  Sierra hare sedge.
                                                                Elymus elymoides ssp.    bottlebrush
                                                                 elymoides [Sitanion      squirreltail.
                                                                 hystrix].
                                                                Phacelia hastata         timberline phacelia.
                                                                 [frigida].
                                                                Silene sargentii.......  Sargent's campion.
                                                                Aquilegia pubescens....  Coville's columbine.
                                                                Ivesia pygmaea.........  dwarf ivesia.
                                                                Juncus parryi..........  Parry's rush.
                                                                Achnatherum [Stipa]      pine needlegrass.
                                                                 pinetorum.
                                                                Lupinus formosus.......  summer lupine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams.................................  Summer and fall........  Juncus parryi..........  Parry's rush.
                                                                Carex filifolia var.     (no common name).
                                                                 erostrata [exserta].
                                                                C. rossi...............  (no common name).
                                                                C. aurea...............  golden-fruited sedge.
                                                                Luzula comosa..........  hairy wood rush.
                                                                Poa cusickii ssp.        mountain bluegrass.
                                                                 epilis [epilis].
                                                                Elymus elymoides ssp.    (no common name).
                                                                 elymoides [Sitanion
                                                                 hystrix].

[[Page 40962]]

 
                                                                Danthonia intermedia...  mountain oatgrass.
                                                                Achnatherum lemmonii     Lemmon's stipa.
                                                                 [Stipa columbiana].
                                                                Eriogonum latens.......  onion-flowered
                                                                                          eriogonum.
                                                                Trifolium monanthum....  carpet clover.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both sexes...........................  Summer.................  Holodiscus microphyllus  small-leaved cream
                                                                                          bush.
                                                                Jamesia americana......  cliff bush.
                                                                Ribes montigenum.......  alpine prickly currant.
                                                                Potentilla fruticosa...  shrubby cinquefoil.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to forage needs, salt/mineral licks are specific sites 
where bighorn sheep have access to important minerals to meet 
nutritional needs. These licks contain minerals such as sodium, 
calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Sites are generally found in granite 
rock outcroppings in the Sierra Nevada. Some known areas occur in the 
vicinity of Gilcrest Peak and Tioga Road (Chow 1992, p. 52), Baxter 
Pass (Jones 1950, p. 63; Hicks and Elder 1979, p. 911; Wehausen 1980, 
p. 151), and Mayfield Canyon (Stephenson 2007).

Historical and Geographic Distribution of the Species

    Historically, the range of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep included 
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, and for at least one 
subpopulation, a portion of the western slope, from Sonora Pass in Mono 
County to Walker Pass in Kern County, a total distance of approximately 
346 km (215 miles (mi)) (Jones 1950, pp. 33-35; Wehausen 1979, p. 1). 
The extant range of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep begins in the Lee 
Vining area in Mono County and extends south to the Mount Langley area 
in Inyo County. This is a linear distance of approximately 110 mi (177 
km).
    All currently occupied units that are proposed for designation were 
occupied at the time of listing and contain the physical and biological 
features essential to the conservation of the subspecies and may 
require special management considerations or protection. The areas 
proposed for designation that are currently unoccupied were also not 
occupied at the time of listing, however these areas are representative 
of the historical and geographical distribution of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep and were all historically occupied (Ober 1914, p. 125; 
Ober 1931, p. 32; Jones 1950, pp. 35, 38-40; Buechner 1960, p. 69; 
Barrett 1965, p. 43; Riegelhuth 1965, p. 35; Dunaway 1971, p. 19; 
Wehausen et al. 1987, p. 66; Wehausen 1988a, pp.100-101; Wehausen 
1988b, p. 100; Berger 1990, p. 94). Furthermore, we have determined 
that all proposed unoccupied habitat is essential for the conservation 
of the subspecies and will decrease the degree of fragmentation within 
the current geographic distribution of the subspecies. For further 
information on occupancy status see Table 3 and the Unit Description 
sections below.

Primary Constituent Elements for Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

    Under the Act and its implementing regulations, we are required to 
identify the known physical and biological features (primary 
constituent elements or PCEs) within the geographical area occupied, 
which may require special management considerations or protection. All 
areas proposed as critical habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are 
within the subspecies' historical geographic range, and contain 
sufficient PCEs to support at least one life history function.
    Based on the above needs and our current knowledge of the life 
history, biology, and ecology of the subspecies, we have determined 
that the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep's PCEs are:
    (1) Non-forested habitats or forest openings within the Sierra 
Nevada from 4,000 ft (1,219 m) to 14,500 ft (4,420 m) in elevation with 
steep (greater than or equal to 60 percent slope), rocky slopes that 
provide for foraging, mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding 
and allow for seasonal elevational movements between these areas.
    (2) Presence of a variety of forage plants as indicated by the 
presence of grasses (e.g., Achnanthera spp.; Elymus spp.) and browse 
(e.g., Ribes spp.; Artemisia spp., Purshia spp.) in winter, and 
grasses, browse, sedges (e.g., Carex spp.) and forbs (e.g., Eriogonum 
spp.) in summer.
    (3) Presence of granite rock outcroppings containing minerals such 
as sodium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus that could be used as salt 
licks/mineral licks in order to meet nutritional needs.
    We determined that these PCEs contained within the proposed 
critical habitat units discussed below provide for the physiological, 
behavioral, and ecological requirements of the Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep. The first PCE provides for the general biotic communities that 
are known to support Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat in the Sierra 
Nevada of California. Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are not known to 
occur outside of the communities/elevations described in this PCE. This 
PCE further provides the components necessary for foraging (summer and 
winter), breeding, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding, and allows 
for seasonal elevational movements among these areas.
    The second PCE describes the types of food necessary to meet the 
biological needs of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep related to seasonal 
range movements. Altitudinal migration by Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
allows them to maximize nutrient consumption during the year (Wehausen 
and Hansen 1988, pp. 256-257, 265-267; Wehausen 1996, pp. 476-477), as 
the relationship between elevation and temperature (Major 1977, pp. 44-
45) influences plant growth (Wehausen 1980, pp. 86-91, 133-135), as 
discussed earlier. Wehausen (1980, p. 86) found winter diet quality was 
improved with warmer winter temperatures that aided plant growth; he 
found summer diet quality was improved, apparently, by the amount of 
snowfall the previous winter, which may influence soil moisture for 
alpine plants (Wehausen 1980, p. 133).
    The third primary constituent element provides for additional 
nutritional needs. Mineral licks provide necessary nutrients, important 
in meeting dietary requirements.
    We have designed this proposed designation for the conservation of 
PCEs

[[Page 40963]]

necessary to support the life history functions that were the basis for 
our proposal and the areas containing those PCEs. Because not all life 
history functions require all the PCEs, not all areas proposed as 
critical habitat will contain all the PCEs.
    We propose units for designation based on sufficient PCEs being 
present to support one or more of the subspecies' life history 
functions. Some units contain all PCEs and support multiple life 
processes, while some units contain only a portion of the PCEs 
necessary to support the subspecies' particular use of that habitat. 
This applies to both occupied and unoccupied units proposed in this 
designation.

Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat

    We propose to designate critical habitat in areas that we have 
determined were occupied at the time of listing and that contain 
sufficient PCEs to support life history functions essential for the 
conservation of the subspecies and may require special management 
considerations or protection. Some lands contain only a portion of the 
PCEs necessary to support the particular use of that habitat during 
that portion of the life process. We propose to designate critical 
habitat on some specific unoccupied areas outside of the geographical 
area occupied by the subspecies at the time of listing, but these areas 
were historically occupied, and we have determined that they are 
essential for the conservation of the subspecies.
    In our analysis, we reviewed existing data to determine the 
distribution of areas occupied by the subspecies at the time of 
listing. We also reviewed available information related to the habitat 
requirements of the subspecies. We used information from literature 
cited in the final listing rule (65 FR 20; January 3, 2000), the 
recovery plan, site records, reports prepared by CDFG, and other 
published scientific literature.
    We used the following criteria to select areas occupied by the 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep at the time of listing for inclusion in 
critical habitat:
    (a) Those areas occupied by the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep at the 
time of listing (1999-2000) as indicated in the final listing rule (65 
FR 20; January 3, 2000). In the final rule, we identified five 
subpopulations of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep that existed: (1) Lee 
Vining Canyon (=Mount Warren, Mt. Gibbs Herd Units), (2) Wheeler Crest 
(=Wheeler Ridge Herd Unit), (3) Mount Baxter (=Sawmill Canyon, Mount 
Baxter Herd Units), (4) Mount Williamson (=Mount Williamson Herd Unit), 
and (5) Mount Langley (=Mount Langley Herd Unit) in Mono and Inyo 
counties, California (Wehausen 1999, pp. 1-7; 2000, pp. 1-6);
    (b) areas that are representative of the distribution of the Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep throughout the geographical range occupied at the 
time of listing with the goal of maintaining the subspecies' range of 
habitat and genetic variability; and
    (c) areas that allow for the continued existence of viable 
subpopulations under varying environmental conditions and that can 
serve as locations for source populations. The locations of all five 
subpopulations identified in the original listing rule continue to 
remain occupied today.
    Current population estimates of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in 
2006 indicate 350 to 400 individuals occur throughout its range 
(Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7); this is an increase from the 125 
individuals estimated at the time of listing (65 FR 20; January 3, 
2000). Current individual herd numbers in the different subpopulations 
range from 8 to 113 individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7). 
Current occupancy of these herd units is supported by agency reports 
(Wehausen and Stephenson 2004, pp. 2-10; 2005, pp. 2-6; 2006, pp. 2-6), 
status reports (Wehausen 1999, pp. 1-7; 2000, pp. 1-6), and monthly 
CDFG monitoring reports based on GPS/telemetry/monitoring data 
collected during 2001 through 2006. We have determined that the areas 
occupied at the time of listing continue to be occupied, contain 
features essential to the conservation of the subspecies (possess one 
or more PCEs such that the area supports one or more of the Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep's life processes), and provide sufficient habitat 
to protect these populations.
    We further propose to designate critical habitat on lands that were 
historically occupied by the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but were not 
occupied at the time of listing and are not currently occupied. These 
areas were all historically occupied within the past 90 years (Jones 
1950, pp. 33-35) and are essential to the conservation of the 
subspecies. Based on the best available information, we have determined 
that without protection and management of these unoccupied areas, 
conservation of the subspecies will not be possible.
    We applied each of the following criteria to select areas 
historically occupied, but not known to be occupied at the time of 
listing by the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, for inclusion in critical 
habitat:
    (1) Areas where habitat contains sufficient PCEs (e.g, 
characteristics such as non-forested, steep, rocky slopes and foraging 
areas) to support life history functions;
    (2) Areas where habitat has been known to have been occupied by the 
subspecies. In some areas this was as long ago as 90 years (Jones 1950, 
pp. 33-35). In all of the areas the habitat has not changed appreciably 
in size or quality during that time;
    (3) Areas where appropriate habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
has been predicted by CDFG based on Resource Selection Probability 
Functions modeling (Johnson et al. 2005) (i.e., contains habitat with 
the PCEs and additional, more specific characteristics that allow for a 
range of the subspecies' biological needs, such as sites for feeding);
    (4) Areas where there is potential for reoccupation by the 
subspecies, either through natural means of dispersal from currently 
occupied areas or by future re-introduction efforts; and
    (5) Areas that are geographically separated from currently occupied 
units by approximately 0.5 to 8 mi (0.8 to 12.9 km) to provide 
redundancy of habitat in the event of a natural catastrophe removing 
habitat (PCEs) from currently occupied units.
    The designation of these unoccupied areas would decrease the degree 
of fragmentation within the current geographic distribution of the 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. We believe that the designation of these 
additional areas is essential for the conservation of the subspecies 
because:
    (1) Population increases, either through natural means or 
reintroductions into the additional units, are expected to increase the 
viability of the herds within occupied areas as well as the existence 
of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep as a whole (i.e., increase the 
likelihood of persistence at the local population level and of this 
subspecies rangewide);
    (2) The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is recognized as a unique 
subspecies (Wehausen and Ramey 2000, p. 156; Wehausen et al. 2005, p. 
217), and the additional units will serve to decrease the degree of 
fragmentation of the current geographic distribution of the sheep 
(i.e., increase connectivity between areas known to be currently 
occupied). Fragmented distribution across the landscape reduces the 
connectivity between subpopulations. If small populations are isolated 
and remain small, there is an increased risk of genetic drift and risk 
to persistence

[[Page 40964]]

due to naturally occurring events (Gilpin and Soule 1986, pp. 25, 33). 
Maintenance of genetic variation is important in reducing inbreeding 
depression and the ability to respond to environmental changes over 
time especially in small populations (Schwartz et al. 1986, pp. 180-
186; Lande 1988, pp. 1456-1457). Establishing additional units/
subpopulations in unoccupied areas would fill in range gaps between the 
other occupied units/subpopulations. All of the unoccupied units lie 
within 8 mi (12.9 km) of an occupied area. This would reduce migration 
distances and increase the opportunity for genetic exchange between the 
subpopulations. The addition of these unoccupied units would ensure the 
full geographic distribution of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is 
represented; and
    (3) The current overall population size of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep is small, and it must increase to insure the long-term 
survival of this subspecies in the Sierra Nevada, as small populations 
are more vulnerable to extinction (Meffe and Carroll 1994, pp. 190-197; 
Shaffer 1987, pp. 71-73). While the occupied units provide habitat for 
current populations, additional units would provide habitat for 
population growth either through natural means or through re-
introductions. Population increase in the additional units would assist 
in reducing the risk of extinction of the subspecies through stochastic 
events, such as wildfire, disease (Miller et al. 1991, pp. 534-540; 
Martin et al. 1996, pp. 72, 74; Bunch et al. 1999, pp. 209-237), or 
avalanches (Torres et al. 1996, p. 28), as the current isolated 
populations are few in number and small in size and at risk from such 
stochastic events. Establishing additional subpopulations, increasing a 
subpopulation's size, and increasing the overall distribution of 
subpopulations across the landscape are fundamental in reducing the 
significance of losing any single subpopulation.
    We have determined that the proposed but unoccupied Twin Lakes, 
Green Creek, and Coyote Ridge Herd Unit areas, as identified in the 
draft recovery plan (Service 2003), are not essential for the 
conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. During the recovery 
team's continuing efforts to finalize the draft recovery plan, an 
additional herd unit, Bubbs Creek, is to be included in the recovery 
plan due to bighorn sheep occupying this area (Wehausen and Stephenson 
2004, p. 5; Benz 2007, p. 1). These four herd units are considered not 
essential for the following reasons:
    (1) We believe that the 12 units we propose for critical habitat 
would provide the necessary habitat and area to insure the viability 
and long-term survival of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep at the local 
and subspecies levels as well as provide for sufficient resiliency, 
representation and redundancy;
    (2) There is uncertainty whether viable Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
herds can become established in the proposed Twin Lakes, Green Creek, 
and Coyote Ridge Herd Unit areas due to the lack of historic evidence 
regarding the number of animals that may have occurred in these areas 
and/or our limited understanding of the availability and connectivity 
between foraging habitats in these areas. Thus, there is a question as 
to whether there is a potential for reoccupation by the subspecies, 
either through natural means of dispersal or by future re-introduction 
efforts. As a result, the three proposed herd unit areas do not meet 
our criteria number 4 for identification of critical habitat outlined 
above. Therefore, the proposed Twin Lakes, Green Creek, and Coyote 
Ridge Herd Unit areas are not considered essential for recovery; and
    (3) Bighorn sheep were discovered in the Bubbs Creek Herd Unit in 
2001 and were likely a result of a recent colonization. That herd unit 
is west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada where snowfall is much 
greater than the east side of the range. Because there are no 
historical records of bighorn sheep winter ranges in the Bubbs Creek 
area, there is uncertainty as to the long-term viability of this herd 
unit. Consequently the Bubbs Creek Herd Unit is not considered 
essential for recovery.
    Further, the concern for disease transmission from domestic sheep 
to Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is reduced by not including the 
unoccupied herd units as essential to the recovery of the subspecies. 
Twin Lakes and Green Creek overlap with portions of a few currently 
active domestic sheep allotment boundaries. Bubbs Creek and Coyote 
Ridge Herd Units do not occur near any domestic sheep allotments.
    We delineated polygon boundaries for each unit proposed for 
critical habitat designation within the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep's 
historic range and around areas occupied at the time of listing, or 
known to have been historically occupied and considered essential for 
the conservation of the subspecies. We based our consideration of 
boundary delineation on the knowledge that bighorn sheep are naturally 
philopatric and fit a metapopulation model. Separate female groups tend 
to be geographically segregated, and these groups can be defined by 
separate home range patterns. The existing herds provided information 
related to home range and habitat use patterns. Low elevation winter 
range habitat is an important, and an apparently limiting, factor in 
the Sierra Nevada that occurs in disjunct patches. We defined unit 
boundaries around those patches and geographically connected habitat 
that provides visually open habitat on steeper slopes (Wehausen 2006, 
p.1). We also considered, factors such as knowledge of the range of 
elevations used by Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, topographic features 
known to be needed by the subspecies, sighting records, published 
literature, and the expertise of bighorn sheep biologists of the local 
conditions (high elevation, snow-free winter habitat; lower elevation, 
south or east-facing habitat; visual openness; and high elevation, 
summer habitat) during boundary delineation. In addition, a Resource 
Selection Probability Functions model for winter and summer habitat was 
developed that can quantitatively evaluate habitat conditions (Johnson 
et al. 2005). This modeling effort was used to support and refine unit 
boundaries (Wehausen 2006, p. 2) which contain the PCEs and additional, 
more specific characteristics. The model included variables such as: 
elevation, slope, aspect, hillshade, terrain ruggedness, distance to 
escape terrain, and vegetation to determine visibility (Johnson et al. 
2005, pp. 8-9). Pixels (smallest element of an image that can be 
individually processed in a video display system) in the study area 
that received a relative winter and summer probability of use value in 
the 90-100 percent quartile were considered winter and summer ranges. 
Each unit boundary surrounds the areas we consider to be winter and 
summer range, as well as areas necessary to provide connectivity 
between these ranges. These boundary lines translate onto the ground by 
roughly following elevation and geomorphic features. As one progresses 
from south to north along the Sierra Nevada, the low elevation of the 
units increases. The elevation of the boundary lines begins at a low of 
4,000 ft (1,219 m) for Unit 12 (Olancha Peak) at the southern end of 
the Sierra Nevada. From this unit northward, the remaining units begin 
at a low elevation of 4,500 ft (1,372 m) or higher.
    When determining proposed critical habitat boundaries for this 
proposed rule, we made every effort to avoid including developed areas 
such as lands

[[Page 40965]]

covered by buildings, paved areas, and other structures that lack PCEs 
for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The scale of the maps prepared 
under the parameters for publication within the Code of Federal 
Regulations may not reflect the exclusion of such developed areas. Any 
such structures and the land under them inadvertently left inside 
critical habitat boundaries shown on the maps of this proposed rule 
have been excluded by text in the proposed rule and are not proposed 
for designation as critical habitat. Therefore, Federal actions limited 
to these areas would not trigger section 7 consultation, unless they 
may affect the species or primary constituent elements in adjacent 
critical habitat.
    We propose to designate critical habitat on lands that we have 
determined were occupied at the time of listing that contain the 
primary constituent elements that support life history functions 
essential for the conservation of the subspecies (7 units) that may 
require special management considerations or protection, and additional 
areas not occupied at the time of listing that we have determined to be 
essential to the conservation of the subspecies (5 units). The 12 units 
that we propose as critical habitat encompass about 417,577 ac (168,992 
ha) within Tuolumne, Mono, Fresno, Inyo, and Tulare counties, 
California. The proposed units contain habitat that supports biological 
and population-level functions of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. A 
brief discussion of each unit proposed as critical habitat is provided 
in the unit descriptions below.
    Units both occupied and unoccupied at the time of listing are 
proposed for designation based on sufficient PCEs being present to 
support Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep life processes. Some units contain 
all PCEs and support multiple life processes. Some units contain only a 
portion of the PCEs necessary to support the Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep's particular use of that habitat.
    Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act authorizes us to issue permits for 
the take of listed species incidental to otherwise lawful activities. 
An incidental take permit application must be supported by a habitat 
conservation plan (HCP) that identifies conservation measures that the 
permittee agrees to implement to minimize and mitigate the impacts of 
the taking on the species. We often exclude from designated critical 
habitat, under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, non-Federal public lands 
and private lands that are covered by an existing operative HCP and 
executed implementation agreement (IA) because the benefits of 
exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion as discussed in section 
4(b)(2) of the Act. There are no existing operative HCPs that meet our 
issuance criteria within the areas proposed for designation as critical 
habitat.

Special Management Considerations or Protections

    When designating critical habitat, we assess whether the areas that 
we determined to be occupied at the time of listing and that contain 
the features that are essential to the conservation of the subspecies 
and which may require special management considerations or protection. 
As described in more detail in the unit descriptions below, we find 
that the PCEs within the units occupied at the time of listing (Units 
1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10) may require special management considerations 
or protection due to threats to the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep or its 
habitat. All of these units occur almost exclusively on Federal lands 
managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, and the Bureau of 
Land Management. Management considerations and protection may include 
review of various activities proposed in Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
habitat requiring a permit from these agencies. These activities can 
include habitat enhancement projects to reverse fire suppression 
effects, development activities, livestock grazing, mining actions, and 
recreational activities. In addition, because all of the herds are 
relatively small, management actions to protect Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep habitat from catastrophic, naturally occurring events (e.g., 
wildfires, disease, avalanches) may be necessary.
    Fire suppression can modify the structure of Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep habitat by allowing taller vegetation, such as trees, to become 
established, resulting in cover for predators. Mountain lions, a 
primary predator of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, use vegetative cover 
and terrain to conceal themselves prior to attacks. Fires may have 
burned more frequently in the past in bighorn sheep habitat. Old ground 
and aerial photographs show habitats in the eastern Sierra Nevada had 
little vegetation tall enough to obstruct the vision of bighorn sheep; 
pinyon pine woodlands have mostly developed since 1860 (Miller and 
Tausch 2001, pp. 15-16). Continued suppression of fires in Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep range is a threat, as habitat succession alters 
the abundance of suitable bighorn sheep habitat and increases bighorn 
sheep vulnerability to mountain lion predation (Torres et al. 1996, p. 
29). Performing habitat enhancements, such as prescribed burning, or 
enabling ``let burn'' policies, helps to provide open habitats. Opening 
up habitat will help to reduce predation by decreasing the 
effectiveness of ambushing from predators (such as mountain lions) from 
cover. Providing more open habitat will allow more opportunity for 
connectivity among herd units and likely promote greater gene flow to 
conserve genetic diversity. According to Johnson et al. (2005, p. 34), 
all of the herd units would benefit from forest reduction in winter 
range; those units that would benefit the most are Units 8 and 10. 
Thus, the PCEs in all of the units occupied at the time of listing 
(Units 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10) may require special management 
considerations or protection to reverse the impacts of fire 
suppression.
    There is limited development within Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
habitat because most habitat occurs on Federal lands; however, there is 
some recreational development (e.g., resorts). There are several paved 
and unpaved roads that access Federal lands within Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep habitat. For example, State Highway 120 is located 
primarily between Units 1 and 2, but some sections lie within Unit 1. 
Bighorn sheep have been killed due to collisions with vehicles on this 
road (65 FR 28; January 3, 2000). State Routes 158 and 190 occur in or 
adjacent to portions of Unit 2 and Unit 10, respectively. The PCE's in 
Units 1, 2, 4, and 10 require special management considerations or 
protection to address the impacts from development activities, 
including road construction and maintenance within Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep habitat.
    Management of domestic sheep and goat grazing practices that result 
in overgrazing or allow for contact between these domestic species and 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is a threat. Although die-offs of bighorn 
sheep due to disease have occurred unrelated to domestic sheep (Miller 
et al. 1991, pp. 534-540), a major contributing factor responsible for 
the decline of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep populations over the years 
is thought to be the introduction of diseases by domestic livestock 
(Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5; 65 
FR 25, January 3, 2000). Clifford et al. (2007, p. 18) indicate concern 
for the probability of a respiratory disease case occurring from 
disease transmission between domestic sheep and Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep, especially in the northern part of bighorn sheep range. Grazing 
allotments within the vicinity of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat 
should be reviewed and activities

[[Page 40966]]

modified as necessary to prevent competition and contact between the 
two species. These modifications could include such variables as the 
number of domestic sheep allowed on an allotment, where the domestic 
sheep may graze on an allotment, and the length and timing of the 
grazing period. These variables can assist in reducing resource 
competition as well as a means to reduce contact between the two 
species. The PCEs within Units 1, 2, and 4 may require special 
management considerations or protection to address the potential 
impacts of sheep and goat grazing within Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
habitat.
    Patented mining claims occur within habitat used by the Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep, but the acreage is small. Mining activities and 
associated facilities threaten bighorn sheep by causing the loss of 
vegetation structure required for foraging activities; the destruction 
of habitats used for escape, bedding, lambing, or connectivity between 
ranges; or the possible disturbance of due to ongoing mining 
activities. Disturbance could modify bighorn sheep behavior or cause 
them to flee an area. Mining occurs within the habitat of Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep in Unit 4. These mines are underground, thus reducing 
some impacts of habitat loss. PCEs within this unit may require special 
management considerations or protection to address mining and 
associated facility development impacts within Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep habitat.
    It remains unclear how significantly Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
may be affected by human disturbance (Jones 1950, pp. 71-72; Dunaway 
1971, p. 19; Wehausen et al. 1977, p. 31; Hicks and Elder 1979, p. 914; 
Wehausen 1980, pp. 200-201; MacArthur et al. 1982, p. 356; Papouchis et 
al. 2001, pp. 579-580). Additional investigations are needed to 
identify areas of conflict as situations arise where the increased 
presence of humans could be detrimental to the Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep or its habitat. These areas of use could be displacing Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep from important habitats.
    Increases in human uses of bighorn sheep habitat, including 
recreational activities such as rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, 
ski touring, hiking, camping, and pack station establishment, may 
disturb Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in key areas. This could result in 
abandonment of these areas or disruption of feeding and cause reduced 
nutrient intake. A cost in biological energetics could also occur due 
to flight. These losses could translate into reduced reproductive 
success. Impacts to the habitat could occur through trampling and 
reduced vegetation structure due to grazing by pack animals. The 
presence of dogs accompanying recreationists is also a concern in 
bighorn sheep habitat as dogs may cause strong alarm reactions by 
bighorn sheep (MacArthur et al. 1982, p. 356).
    The PCEs within the units occupied at the time of listing (Units 1, 
2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10) may require special management considerations or 
protection to protect Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep and its habitats from 
recreational activities. While recreation could be a threat factor 
throughout an occupied herd unit, it is more likely in some portions of 
units due to their inclusion of these higher use areas or their 
proximity to these areas. These areas include the Virginia Lakes, Lundy 
Lake, Saddlebag Lake, and Lee Vining Canyon recreational areas 
associated with Unit 1; Lee Vining Canyon associated with Unit 2; the 
Rock Creek recreational area associated with Unit 4; Baxter Pass and 
Onion Valley recreational area associated with Unit 7; and the Whitney 
Portal and Trailhead and the Cottonwood Lakes recreational areas 
associated with Units 8 and 10.
    Management actions to protect Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat 
from catastrophic, naturally occurring events may be necessary. Events 
such as wildfire and avalanches could temporarily destroy large areas 
that provide summer or winter foraging habitat.

Proposed Critical Habitat Designation

    We are proposing 12 units as critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep. The critical habitat areas described below constitute 
our best current assessment of areas determined to be occupied at the 
time of listing, that meet the definition of critical habitat for the 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, and those additional areas that were not 
occupied at the time of listing but were found to be essential to the 
conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The 12 areas 
designated as critical habitat are: Mount Warren, Mount Gibbs, Convict 
Creek, Wheeler Ridge, Taboose Creek, Sawmill Canyon, Mount Baxter, 
Mount Williamson, Big Arroyo, Mount Langley, Laurel Creek, and Olancha 
Peak.
    The approximate area encompassed within each proposed critical 
habitat unit is shown in Table 2.

   Table 2.--Proposed Critical Habitat Units for Sierra Nevada Bighorn
                                  Sheep
      [Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit
                               boundaries]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Land ownership by     Size of unit in
     Critical habitat unit              type          acres  (Hectares)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Mount Warren................  Federal..........       35,279 (14,277)
                                 Private..........             568 (230)
                                 Local Government.              165 (67)
2. Mount Gibbs.................  Federal..........       29,702 (12,020)
3. Convict Creek...............  Federal..........       36,497 (14,770)
                                 Private..........                17 (7)
4. Wheeler Ridge...............  Federal..........       80,568 (32,605)
                                 Private..........             398 (161)
5. Taboose Creek...............  Federal..........       28,805 (11,657)
6. Sawmill Canyon..............  Federal..........       30,508 (12,346)
7. Mount Baxter................  Federal..........       32,198 (13,030)
                                 Private..........                22 (9)
8. Mount Williamson............  Federal..........       32,560 (13,177)
9. Big Arroyo..................  Federal..........       24,987 (10,112)
10. Mount Langley..............  Federal..........       32,845 (13,292)
11. Laurel Creek...............  Federal..........        22,037 (8,918)
12. Olancha Peak...............  Federal..........       30,421 (12,311)
                                ----------------------------------------
    Subtotal...................  Federal..........     416,407 (168,518)

[[Page 40967]]

 
                                 Private..........           1,005 (407)
                                 Local Gov't......              165 (67)
                                ----------------------------------------
        Grand Total*...........  .................    417,577 (168,992)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Columns may not sum exactly due to rounding of values.


             Table 3.--Occupancy of Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep by Proposed Critical Habitat Units.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Occupied at time of                                 Size of unit in
                 Unit                           listing?             Currently occupied?      acres  (Hectares)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Mount Warren.......................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       36,013 (14,574)
2. Mount Gibbs........................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       29,702 (12,020)
3. Convict Creek......................  No......................  No......................       36,514 (14,777)
4. Wheeler Ridge......................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       80,966 (32,766)
5. Taboose Creek......................  No......................  No......................       28,805 (11,657)
6. Sawmill Canyon.....................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       30,508 (12,346)
7. Mount Baxter.......................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       32,220 (13,039)
8. Mount Williamson...................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       32,560 (13,177)
9. Big Arroyo.........................  No......................  No......................       24,987 (10,112)
10. Mount Langley.....................  Yes.....................  Yes.....................       32,845 (13,292)
11. Laurel Creek......................  No......................  No......................        22,037 (8,918)
12. Olancha Peak......................  No......................  No......................       30,421 (12,311)
                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    *Total............................  ........................  ........................    417,578 (168,992)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Columns may not sum exactly due to rounding of values.

    We present brief descriptions of all units, and reasons why they 
meet the definition of critical habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep, below.
    Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates and more precise 
legal descriptions of each unit are provided in the Proposed Regulation 
Promulgation section.
    Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep throughout their range utilize a range 
of elevations from about 4,790 ft (1,460 m) to above 14,100 ft (4,300 
m) (Wehausen 1980, pp. 3, 82). As described in the ``Criteria Used To 
Identify Critical Habitat'' section above, the Service used modeling to 
further refine and clarify our knowledge of those areas that may be 
essential to the conservation of the subspecies. Based on these 
modeling efforts, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat is known to be 
available as low as elevation 4,000 ft (1,219 m) in the southern 
portion of its range (Johnson et al. 2005). Within this elevational 
range, a variety of vegetation communities occur including from lowest 
to highest, sagebrush-bitterbrush-bunchgrass scrub; pinyon-juniper 
woodland and mountain mahogany scrub; mid-elevation and subalpine, 
meadows, forests, and woodlands; and alpine meadows and other habitats 
from cliffs to plateaus (Service 2003, p. 3). All units contain one or 
more of these habitat types in varying amounts.

Unit 1: Mount Warren

    Unit 1 consists of approximately 36,013 ac (14,574 ha) in Tuolumne 
and Mono Counties. Unit 1 is generally located within an area bounded 
on the east by U.S. Highway 395 (located about 1 mi (1.6 km) away), on 
the south by State Route 120, on the north by Green Creek and on the 
west by the ridge connecting Ragged Peak in the south to Camiaca Peak 
in the north. It is located northwest of the town of Lee Vining. Land 
ownership within the unit includes approximately 35,279 ac (14,277 ha) 
of Federal land, 165 ac (67 ha) of Los Angeles Department of Water and 
Power lands, and 568 ac (230 ha) of other private land. The Federal 
land is administered by the Humboldt-Toiyabe and Inyo National Forests, 
Yosemite National Park, and Bureau of Land Management.
    Unit 1 begins at a low elevation of about 7,500 ft (2,286 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to about 12,000 ft (3,658 m) on the west. It 
encompasses some areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658 to 4,267 
m). It is the northernmost unit proposed for critical habitat 
designation for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. This unit was occupied 
at the time of listing (65 FR 20, January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 
477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp. 
6-7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 6, 8; 2000, pp. 5-7) and is currently occupied 
with a minimum population estimate of 26 individuals (Wehausen and 
Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 1 contains all of the features essential 
to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. It contains a 
range of vegetation types, and steep, rocky terrain which provides for 
foraging (summer and winter), mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and 
bedding and allows for seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) 
(Service 2003, pp. 3-7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-
38) and mineral licks (PCE 3) (Chow 1992, p. 52). This unit has good 
high-and-low elevation winter habitat in the area north of Lee Vining 
Canyon. Mount Warren has a minimum winter range elevation of about 
7,546 ft (2,300 m), while Tioga Crest has this type of habitat at 9,515 
ft (2,900 m). In the Lundy Canyon area there is good low-elevation 
south-facing winter range near 8,038 ft (2,450 m). Dunderberg Peak can 
provide large areas free of snow in the winter. It does not connect to 
low-elevation winter range but does connect to summer range in Lundy 
Canyon; visual winter range condition is mixed to open (Service 2003, 
pp. 112, 114).
    PCEs within unit 1 may require special management considerations or 
protection to ameliorate the threats of overgrazing and the possible 
occurrence of disease transmission due to the

[[Page 40968]]

proximity of this unit to Forest Service grazing allotments (Clifford 
et al. 2007, pp. 13-14). Additionally, the PCEs within this unit may 
require special management considerations or protection to reverse the 
impacts of fire suppression which would provide more open habitat and 
potentially reduce predation, and for recreation (e.g., Virginia Lakes, 
Lundy Lake, Lee Vining Canyon) and development activities (Sections of 
State Highway 120 are located in this unit). Furthermore, PCEs within 
unit 1 may require special management considerations or protection in 
the form of avalanche control to protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 2: Mount Gibbs

    Unit 2 consists of approximately 29,702 ac (12,020 ha) in Tuolumne 
and Mono Counties. Unit 2 is generally bounded on the north by State 
Route 120 with U.S. Highway 395 located approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) to 
the east. Route 158 lies along a portion of the southeastern boundary 
of this unit. The unit is bounded on the west, in part, by Lyell 
Canyon. It is immediately south of Unit 1 (Mount Warren) and is located 
southwest of the town of Lee Vining. Land ownership within the unit 
includes approximately 29,702 ac (12,020 ha) of Federal land. Federal 
land is administered by the Inyo National Forest and Yosemite National 
Park.
    Unit 2 begins at a low elevation of about 7,500 ft (2,286 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to 9,000 to 12,000 ft (2,743-3,658 m) on the 
west. It encompasses areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658-4,267 
m). Unit 2 was occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20, January 3, 
2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6-7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 7-8; 2000, pp. 6-7) 
and is currently occupied, with a minimum population estimate of 8 
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 2 contains all 
of the features essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep. It contains a range of vegetation types, and steep, 
rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and winter), mating, 
lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows for seasonal 
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3-7; Johnson 
et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38) and mineral licks (PCE 3) 
(Chow 1992, p. 52). An area between Mount Dana and Mount Wood provides 
considerable high-elevation habitat that is blown free of snow in the 
winter and connects to south-facing slopes that decline to lower 
elevations. Winter habitat occurs at a minimum elevation of 2,775 m 
(9,105 ft) around Mount Gibbs, 8,859 ft (2,700 m) around Mount Lewis, 
and 7,546 ft (2,300 m) around Mount Wood; visual winter range condition 
is open (Service 2003, p. 112). The south-facing side of Mount Lewis is 
steep and supports little snow in winter. The slopes above Silver Lake 
offer low-elevation east-facing winter range to 7,599 ft (2,316 m). 
This area may provide birthing habitat in spring during some years 
(Service 2003, p. 115).
    PCEs within unit 2 may require special management considerations or 
protection to ameliorate the threats of overgrazing and the possible 
occurrence of disease transmission due to the proximity of this unit to 
Forest Service grazing allotments (Clifford et al. 2007, pp. 13-14). 
Additionally, PCEs within this unit may require special management 
considerations or protection to reverse the impacts of fire suppression 
which would provide more open habitat and potentially reduce predation, 
and for recreation (e.g., Lee Vining Canyon) and development activities 
(Sections of State Highway 120 is located along the northern boundary 
of this unit; Route 158 lies along a portion of the southeastern 
boundary of this unit). Furthermore, PCEs within unit 2 may require 
special management considerations or protection in the form of 
avalanche control to protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 3: Convict Creek

    Unit 3 consists of approximately 36,514 ac (14,777 ha) in Mono and 
Fresno Counties. Unit 3 is generally located within an area bounded on 
the northeast by U.S. Highway 395 (located about 2 mi (3.2 km) away), 
by Fish Creek and the boundary between Inyo and Sierra National Forests 
on the west, and by Mono Creek on the south. This unit is located about 
3 mi (4.8 km) south of the town of Mammoth Lakes. Land ownership within 
the unit includes approximately 36,497 ac (14,770 ha) of Federal land 
and 17 ac (7 ha) of private land. Federal land is administered by the 
Inyo and Sierra National Forests.
    Unit 3 begins at a low elevation of about 7,500 ft (2,286 m) and 
rises to about 10,500 to 12,000 ft (3,200-3,658 m). The unit 
encompasses areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658-4,267 m). This 
unit was not occupied at the time of listing and is not currently 
occupied, but is essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep. The unit contains a range of vegetation types, and 
steep, rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and winter), 
mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows for 
seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3-
7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). Mineral licks (PCE 
3) may or may not occur in this unit. This unit contains south-facing 
winter habitat above Convict Lake that descends down to 7,874 ft (2,400 
m). This habitat is connected to high-elevation windswept patches on 
Laurel and Bloody Mountains. McGee Mountain has south-facing winter 
habitat down to about 8,005 ft (2,440 m) but only a small amount of 
high-elevation habitat. Nevahbe Ridge has windblown habitat but it is 
east-facing and occurs down to 8,530 ft (2,600 m) (Service 2003, pp. 
112, 116). Visual winter range condition is open (Service 2003, p. 
112).
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep occupied the area historically (Ober 1931, p. 32; 
Jones 1950, p. 40; Buechner 1960, p. 69; Barrett 1965, p. 43; Dunaway 
1971, p 19; Wehausen et al. 1987 p.66; Wehausen 1988a, p. 100). This 
unit is essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep for, increasing the number of herds to reduce the significance of 
losing any particular herd, increasing population viability, decreasing 
the degree of fragmentation of the current geographic distribution 
between this unit and Units 4 (Wheeler Ridge) and 2 (Mount Gibbs), 
increasing opportunities for genetic exchange between these units, and 
increasing overall herd numbers to reduce extinction risk from 
stochastic events. Conservation of this unit is necessary to achieve 
the long-term viability of this subspecies within its range.

Unit 4: Wheeler Ridge

    Unit 4 consists of approximately 80,966 ac (32,766 ha) in Fresno, 
Inyo, and Mono Counties. Unit 4 is generally located within an area 
bounded by U.S. Highway 395 (located about 5 to 17 mi (8 to 27.4 km) to 
the east), by Evolution Creek on the south, by Pavilion Dome, Pilot 
Nob, and Mills Creek on the west, and by Mono Creek on the north. This 
unit is located about 12 mi (19.3 km) west of the town of Bishop. Land 
ownership within the unit includes approximately 80,568 ac (32,605 ha) 
of Federal land and 398 ac (161 ha) of private land. Federal land is 
administered by the Inyo and Sierra National Forests, Kings Canyon 
National Park, and the Bureau of Land Management.
    Unit 4 begins at a low elevation of about 5,500 ft (1,676 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to about 12,000 ft (3,658

[[Page 40969]]

m) on the west. It encompasses numerous areas from 12,000 to over 
14,000 ft (3,658-4,267 m). This unit was occupied at the time of 
listing (65 FR 20, January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra 
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6-7; Wehausen 
1999, pp. 5-6, 8; 2000, pp. 3-5, 7) and is currently occupied with a 
minimum population estimate of 113 individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 
2006, p. 7). Unit 4 contains features that are essential to the 
conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit contains a 
range of vegetation types, and steep, rocky terrain which provides for 
foraging (summer and winter), mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and 
bedding and allows for seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) 
(Service 2003, pp. 3-7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-
38) and mineral licks (PCE 3, Stephenson 2007, p.1). The area around 
Wheeler Ridge provides minimum winter habitat at 5,578 ft (1,700 m) and 
is visually open (Service 2003, p. 112). Mount Tom is located south of 
Wheeler Ridge and provides an open winter visual condition and winter 
habitat at a minimum elevation of 6,398 ft (1,950 m) in Elderberry 
Canyon (Service 2003, p. 112, 115-116). High-elevation winter habitat 
is extensive on the west side of Mount Tom's north ridge. Narrow ridges 
on the south side can be snow free. Between Basin Mountain and Mount 
Humphreys, the plateau remains snow free and is accessible to sheep 
traveling ridge lines from Mount Tom by Four Gables and along the 
crest.
    PCEs within unit 4 may require special management considerations or 
protection to ameliorate the threats of overgrazing and the possible 
occurrence of disease transmission due to the proximity of this unit to 
Forest Service grazing allotments (Clifford et al. 2007, pp. 13-14). 
Additionally, PCEs within this unit may require special management 
considerations or protection to reverse the impacts of fire suppression 
which would provide more open habitat and potentially reduce predation. 
Finally, PCEs within unit 4 may require special management 
considerations or protection for the threats due to mining, 
development, and recreation (e.g., Pine Creek area) and avalanche 
control may be needed to protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 5: Taboose Creek

    Unit 5 consists of approximately 28,805 ac (11,657 ha) in Inyo and 
Fresno Counties. Unit 5 is generally located within an area bounded on 
the north by Big Pine Creek and on the south by Taboose Creek. U.S. 
Highway 395 is about 8.5 mi (13.7 km) to the east, and Marion and 
Observation Peaks are located to the west. This unit is located about 5 
mi (8 km) southwest of the town of Big Pine. Land ownership within the 
unit includes approximately 28,805 ac (11,657 ha) of Federal land. 
Federal land is administered by the Inyo National Forest and Kings 
Canyon National Park.
    Unit 5 begins at a low elevation of about 6,000 ft (1,829 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658-4,267 m) on 
the west. This unit was not occupied at the time of listing and is not 
currently occupied, but is essential to the conservation of the Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit contains a range of vegetation types, 
and steep, rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and 
winter), mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows 
for seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 
3-7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). Mineral licks 
(PCE 3) may or may not occur in this unit. High windblown areas (9,187 
ft (2,800 m)) occur on Birch and Kid Mountains that may support bighorn 
sheep. There appears to be limited low-elevation south- or east-facing 
habitat unless animals move south to Red Mountain or Taboose Creeks. 
Taboose Creek offers patches of high-elevation winter habitat and 
south-facing low-elevation habitat where it occurs as low as 6,398 ft 
(1,950 m). The northeast side of Kid Mountain provides some low habitat 
near 7,218 ft (2,200 m) (Service 2003, pp. 113, 118). The winter range 
visual condition is open in these areas (Service 2003, p. 113).
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep occupied the area historically (Ober 1914, p. 125; 
Jones 1950, p. 38; Buechner 1960, 69; Dunaway 1971 p. 19; Wehausen et 
al. 1987 p.66; Wehausen 1988a, p. 101; Berger 1990, p.94). This unit is 
essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep for 
increasing the number of herds to reduce the significance of losing any 
particular herd, increasing population viability, decreasing the degree 
of fragmentation of the current geographic distribution between this 
unit and Units 6 (Sawmill Canyon) and 4 (Wheeler Ridge), increasing 
opportunities for genetic exchange between these units, and increasing 
overall herd numbers to reduce extinction risk from stochastic events. 
Conservation of this unit is necessary to achieve the long-term 
viability of this subspecies within its range.

Unit 6: Sawmill Canyon

    Unit 6 consists of about 30,508 ac (12,346 ha) in Fresno and Inyo 
Counties. Unit 6 is generally located within an area bounded on the 
east by U.S. Highway 395 (located about 3 mi (4.8 km) away), on the 
south by Unit 7 (Mount Baxter) and Sawmill Pass and Creek, on the west 
by Woods Creek and the South Fork of Woods Creek, and on the north by 
Taboose Creek. Land ownership within the unit includes approximately 
30,508 ac (12,346 ha) of Federal land. Federal land is administered by 
the Inyo National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park.
    Unit 6 begins at a low elevation of about 4,500 ft (1,372 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to about 10,500 to 12,000 ft (3,200-3,658 m). 
It encompasses a few areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658-4,267 
m). Unit 6 was occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20, January 3, 
2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6-7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 4-5, 8; 2000, pp. 3, 
7) and is currently occupied with a minimum population estimate of 36 
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 6 has features 
that are essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep. It contains a range of vegetation types, and steep, rocky 
terrain which provides for foraging (summer and winter), mating, 
lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows for seasonal 
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3-7; Johnson 
et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). It is not known if mineral 
licks (PCE 3) occur on this unit. Unit 6 provides foraging habitat at 
the northern boundary near Mount Pinchot (Service 2003, p. 118). In 
addition, minimum elevations of winter habitat occur in the Goodale 
Creek area at 6,890 ft (2,100 m) and in the Sawmill Creek area at 4,922 
ft (1,500 m); winter visual condition is open (Service 2003, p. 113).
    PCEs within unit 6 may require special management considerations or 
protection to reverse the impacts of fire suppression which would 
provide more open habitat and potentially reduce predation. Unit 6 PCEs 
also may require special management considerations or protection for 
threats due to recreation, and avalanche control may be needed to 
protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 7: Mount Baxter

    Unit 7 consists of approximately 32,220 ac (13,039 ha) in Fresno 
and Inyo Counties. Unit 7 is generally located within an area bounded 
on the east by U.S. Highway 395 (located about 3 mi

[[Page 40970]]

(4.8 km) away), on the south by Bubbs Creek and the Road 13S17 to 
Independence, on the west by Mount Bago, Gardiner Lakes, and Mount 
Clarence King, and on the north by Unit 6 (Sawmill Canyon) and Sawmill 
Pass and Creek. This unit is located about 6 mi (9.7 km) west of the 
town of Independence. Land ownership within the unit includes 
approximately 32,198 ac (13,030 ha) of Federal land and 22 ac (9 ha) of 
private land. Federal land is administered by the Inyo National Forest 
and Kings Canyon National Park.
    Unit 7 begins at a low elevation of about 4,500 ft (1,372 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to about 10,500 to 12,000 ft (3,200-3,658 m) on 
the west. It encompasses areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658-
4,267 m). Unit 7 was occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20, January 
3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6-7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 3-4, 8; 2000, pp. 2-3, 
7) and is currently occupied with a minimum population estimate of 69 
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 7 contains 
features that are essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep. It contains a range of vegetation types, and steep, 
rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and winter), mating, 
lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows for seasonal 
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3-7; Johnson 
et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38) and mineral licks (PCE 3) 
(Jones 1950, p. 63; Hicks and Elder 1979, p. 911). This unit provides 
foraging habitat along the ridges and in drainages of Mount Baxter. 
Minimum elevations of winter habitat in the Thibaut-Sand Mountain area 
occur at 5,003 ft (1,525 m), and in the Onion Valley area at 7,546 ft 
(2,300 m); winter visual condition is open (Service 2003, p. 113).
    In addition to containing the features essential to the 
conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, Unit 7 has additional 
conservation value as it served as a source population, due to its size 
and productivity, for reintroductions to the Wheeler Crest area (1979, 
1980, 1982, 1986, 1988), Mount Langley (1980 and 1982), and Lee Vining 
Canyon area (1986, 1988) (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1997, p. 6). Individuals from this population may be 
used for future translocations within the range.
    PCEs within unit 7 may require special management considerations or 
protection to reverse the impacts of fire suppression which would 
provide more open habitat and potentially reduce predation. PCEs within 
unit 7 also may require special management considerations or protection 
for threats due to recreation (e.g., Baxter Pass and Onion Valley), and 
avalanche control may be needed to protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 8: Mount Williamson

    Unit 8 consists of about 32,560 ac (13,177 ha) in Inyo and Tulare 
Counties. Unit 8 is generally located within an area bounded on the 
east by U.S. 395 (located about 9 mi (14.5 km) away), on the south by 
Tulainyo Lake, on the west by the Kern River (located about 3.5 miles 
(5.6 km) away), and on the north by Road 13S17 to Independence about 
1.5 mi (2.4 km) away. This unit is located southwest of the town of 
Independence and northwest of the town of Lone Pine. Land ownership 
within the unit includes approximately 32,560 ac (13,177 ha) of Federal 
land. Federal land is administered by the Inyo National Forest and 
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
    Unit 8 begins at a low elevation of about 6,000 ft (1,829 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to 12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658-4,267 m) on 
the west. Unit 8 was occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20, January 
3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency 
Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6-7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 2-3, 8; 2000, pp. 1-2, 
7) and is currently occupied with a minimum population estimate of 20 
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 8 contains 
features that are essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep. The unit contains a range of vegetation types, and 
steep, rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and winter), 
mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows for 
seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3-
7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). It is not known if 
mineral licks (PCE 3) occur in this unit. The Shepherd Creek-Pinyon 
Creek area in this unit offers winter habitat at a minimum elevation of 
6,808 ft (2,075 m); the George Creek-North Bairs Creek provides this 
habitat at 6,234 ft (1,900 m) (Service 2003, p. 113). The winter visual 
condition is mixed (Service 2003, p. 113).
    PCEs within unit 8 may require special management considerations or 
protection to reverse the impacts of fire suppression which would 
provide more open habitat and potentially reduce predation. This unit 
could provide an estimated additional 1,433 ac (5.8 km\2\) of winter 
range with a relative probability of equal to or greater than 10 
percent use if forests were reduced by burning (Johnson et al. 2005, p. 
34). Furthermore, PCEs within unit 8 also may require special 
management considerations or protection for threats due to recreation 
(e.g., Whitney Portal and Trailhead), and avalanche control may be 
needed to protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 9: Big Arroyo

    Unit 9 consists of approximately 24,987 ac (10,112 ha) in Tulare 
County. Unit 9 is generally located within an area bounded on the east 
by the Kern River, on the north by Kern-Kaweah River, Junction Meadow, 
and Wallace Creek area, and on the west and south by the Big Arroyo 
Creek. Land ownership within the unit includes approximately 24,987 ac 
(10,112 ha) of Federal land. Federal land is administered by Sequoia 
National Park.
    Unit 9 begins at a low elevation of about 6,500 ft (1,981 m) on the 
eastern slope and rises to about 12,000 ft (3,658 m) on the west. The 
northern boundary encompasses areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft 
(3,658-4,267 m). This unit was not occupied at the time of listing and 
is not currently occupied, but is essential to the conservation of 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit contains a range of vegetation 
types, and steep, rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and 
winter), mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows 
for seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 
3-7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). It is not known 
if mineral licks (PCE 3) are located within this unit. This unit 
contains no high-elevation wind-swept areas (Service 2003, p. 121). 
Winter habitat is provided at a minimum elevation of 6,890 ft (2,100 m) 
with a mixed visual condition due to scattered trees (Service 2003, pp. 
113, 121). From the upper end of the Big Arroyo drainage, sheep could 
find access to alpine habitat on Kaweah Peaks.
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep occupied the area historically (Jones 1950, p 35; 
Buecher 1960, p. 69; Barrett 1965, p. 43; Riegelhuth 1965, p. 35; 
Wehausen 1988b, p. 100). This unit is essential to the conservation of 
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep for increasing the number of herds to 
reduce the significance of losing any particular herd, increasing 
population viability, decreasing the degree of fragmentation of the 
current geographic distribution between this unit and Units 10 (Mount 
Langley) and 8 (Mount Williamson), increasing

[[Page 40971]]

opportunities for genetic exchange between these units, and increasing 
overall herd numbers to reduce extinction risk from stochastic events. 
Conservation of this unit is necessary to achieve the long-term 
viability of this subspecies within its range.

Unit 10: Mount Langley

    Unit 10 consists of approximately 32,845 ac (13,292 ha) in Inyo and 
Tulare Counties. Unit 10 is generally located within an area bounded on 
the east by Route 190 located from immediately adjacent to the unit to 
7 mi (11.3 km) away, on the south by Muah Mountain, on the west by 
Cirque Peak and Perrin Creek area, and on the north by Lone Pine Creek. 
This unit is located about 7 mi (11.3 km) southwest of the town of Lone 
Pine. Land ownership within the unit includes approximately 32,845 ac 
(13,292 ha) of Federal land. Federal land is administered by the Inyo 
National Forest, Sequoia National Park, and Bureau of Land Management.
    Unit 10 begins at a low elevation of about 4,500 ft (1,372 m) on 
the eastern slope and rises to 9,000 to 12,000 ft (2,743-3,658 m) on 
the west side. It encompasses areas between 12,000 and 14,000 ft 
(3,658-4,267 m). Unit 10 was occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20, 
January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6-7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 1-2, 8; 
2000, pp. 1, 7) and is currently occupied with a minimum population 
estimate of 90 individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 
10 contains features that are essential to the conservation of the 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit contains a range of vegetation 
types, and steep, rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and 
winter), mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows 
for seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 
3-7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). It is not known 
if mineral licks (PCE 3) occur in this unit. The unit provides low 
elevation (5,742 ft (1,750 m)) mixed winter range in the Carroll Creek-
Turtle Creek area. It also provides low-elevation (4,757 ft) (1,450 m), 
open winter range in the Slide Canyon-Cottonwood Creek area (Service 
2003, pp. 113, 119). From this area it is thought bighorn sheep could 
cross a short distance of the open south-facing forest by Wonoga Peak 
to access the large open plateau country. It is also possible that 
bighorn sheep using the Cottonwood Creek area use summer range to the 
southeast of the Kern Plateau where elevations are about 10,000 ft 
(3,048 m) (Service 2003, pp. 119-120).
    PCEs within unit 10 may require special management considerations 
or protection to reverse the impacts of fire suppression which would 
provide more open habitat and potentially reduce predation. This unit 
could provide an estimated additional 1,161 ac) (4.7 km \2\) of winter 
range with a relative probability of equal to or greater than 10 
percent use if forests were reduced by burning (Johnson et al. 2005, p. 
34). PCEs within unit 10 also may require special management 
considerations or protection for threats due to recreation (e.g., 
Whitney Portal and Trailhead), and development (Route 190 crosses a 
portion of this unit). Furthermore, PCEs within unit 10 may require 
special management considerations or protection in the form of 
avalanche control to protect against catastrophic events.

Unit 11: Laurel Creek

    Unit 11 consists of approximately 22,037 ac (8,918 ha) in Tulare 
County. Unit 11 is generally located within an area bounded on the east 
by the Kern River, on the south by Pistol, Laurel, and Golden Trout 
Creeks, on the west by a portion of Little Kern River, and on the north 
by Soda Creek. Land ownership within the unit includes approximately 
22,037 ac (8,918 ha) of Federal land. Federal land is administered by 
the Sequoia National Forest and Sequoia National Park.
    Unit 11 begins at a low elevation of about 6,500 ft (1,981 m) on 
the eastern slope and rises to 10,500 to 12,000 ft (3,200-3,658 m) on 
the west. It includes a few small areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft 
(3,658-4,267 m). This unit was not occupied at the time of listing and 
is not currently occupied, but is essential to the conservation of 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit contains a range of vegetation 
types, and steep, rocky terrain which provides for foraging (summer and 
winter), mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding and allows 
for seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 
3-7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). It is unknown 
whether mineral licks (PCE 3) occur in this unit. This unit contains no 
high-elevation wind-swept areas (Service 2003, p. 121). Winter habitat 
is provided at a minimum elevation of 6,808 ft (2,075 m) with a mixed 
visual condition due to scattered trees (Service 2003, pp. 113, 121). 
Laurel Creek provides access to summer range.
    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep occupied the area historically (Buechner 1960 p. 
69; Barrett 1965, p. 43; Wehausen 1988b, p. 100). This unit is 
essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep for 
increasing the number of herds to reduce the significance of losing any 
particular herd, increasing population viability, decreasing the degree 
of fragmentation of the current geographic distribution between this 
unit and Unit 10 (Mount Langley), increasing opportunities for genetic 
exchange between these units, and increasing overall herd numbers to 
reduce extinction risk from stochastic events. Conservation of this 
unit is necessary to achieve the long-term viability of this subspecies 
within its range.

Unit 12: Olancha Peak

    Unit 12 consists of approximately 30,421 ac (12,311 ha) in Tulare 
and Inyo Counties. Unit 12 is generally located within an area bounded 
on the east by U.S. Highway 395, on the south by Falls and Walker 
Creeks, on the west by portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic 
Trail, and on the north by Muah Mountain. This unit is located west of 
the towns of Cartago and Olancha. Land ownership within the unit 
includes approximately 30,421 ac (12,311 ha) of Federal land. Federal 
land is administered by the Inyo National Forest and Bureau of Land 
Management.
    Unit 12 begins at a low elevation of about 4,000 ft (1,219 m) on 
the eastern slope and rises to about 9,000 to 10,500 ft (2,743-3,200 m) 
on the west. It is the southernmost unit proposed for critical habitat 
designation for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. This unit was not 
occupied at the time of listing and is not currently occupied, but is 
essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The 
unit contains a range of vegetation types, and steep, rocky terrain 
which provides for foraging (summer and winter), mating, lambing, 
predator avoidance, and bedding and allows for seasonal elevational 
movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3-7; Johnson et al. 
2005, pp. 4-14, 31-32, 34, 37-38). It is not known if mineral licks 
(PCE 3) occur within this unit. This unit provides bighorn sheep 
habitat in the areas of Ash, Braley, Cartago, Olancha, and Falls 
Creeks. Carago, Olancha and Falls Creeks connect by Olancha Canyon to 
Olancha Peak (12,123 ft) (3,695 m) which provides some alpine summer 
habitat (southernmost in the Sierra Nevada) (Service 2003, p. 120). 
Winter range occurs as open, low-elevation (4,757 ft (1,450 m)), south-
facing slopes (Service 2003, pp. 113, 120).

[[Page 40972]]

    While this unit was not occupied at the time of listing, Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep occupied the area historically (Jones 1950, p. 39; 
Wehausen et al. 1987, p. 66; Wehausen 1988a, p. 101). This unit is 
essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep for 
increasing the number of herds to reduce the significance of losing any 
particular herd, increasing population viability, decreasing the degree 
of fragmentation of the current geographic distribution between this 
unit and Unit 10 (Mount Langley), increasing opportunities for genetic 
exchange between these units, and increasing overall herd numbers to 
reduce extinction risk from stochastic events. Conservation of this 
unit is necessary to achieve the long-term viability of this subspecies 
within its range.

Effects of Critical Habitat Designation

Section 7 Consultation

    Section 7 of the Act requires Federal agencies, including the 
Service, to ensure that actions they fund, authorize, or carry out are 
not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Decisions 
by the 5th and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals have invalidated our 
definition of ``destruction or adverse modification'' (50 CFR 402.02) 
(see Gifford Pinchot Task Force v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 378 
F.3d 1059 (9th Cir. 2004) and Sierra Club v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service et al., 245 F.3d 434, 442F (5th Cir. 2001)), and we do not rely 
on this regulatory definition when analyzing whether an action is 
likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Under current 
national policy and the statutory provisions of the Act, we determine 
destruction or adverse modification on the basis of whether, with 
implementation of the proposed Federal action, the affected critical 
habitat would remain functional (or retain the current ability for the 
primary constituent elements to be functionally established) to serve 
the intended conservation role for the species.
    Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires Federal agencies to confer with 
us on any action that is likely to jeopardize the continued existence 
of a species proposed for listing under the Act or result in 
destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat. This 
is a procedural requirement only. However, once a species proposed for 
listing becomes listed, or proposed critical habitat is designated as 
final, the full prohibitions of section 7(a)(2) apply to any Federal 
action. The primary utility of the conference procedures is to allow a 
Federal agency to maximize its opportunity to adequately consider 
species proposed for listing and proposed critical habitat and to avoid 
potential delays in implementing the proposed action because of the 
section 7(a)(2) compliance process, should we list those species or 
designate the critical habitat.
    We may provide advisory conservation recommendations to assist the 
agency in eliminating conflicts that the proposed action may cause. We 
may conduct either an informal or a formal conference. We typically use 
an informal conference if the proposed action is not likely to have any 
adverse effects to the species proposed for listing or proposed 
critical habitat. We typically use formal conferences when we or the 
Federal agency believes the proposed action is likely to cause adverse 
effects to species proposed for listing or proposed critical habitat, 
inclusive of those that may cause jeopardy or adverse modification.
    We generally provide the results of an informal conference in a 
conference report, while we provide the results of a formal conference 
in a conference opinion. We typically prepare conference opinions on 
proposed critical habitat according to 50 CFR 402.14, as if the 
proposed critical habitat were already designated. We may adopt the 
conference opinion as the biological opinion when the critical habitat 
is designated, if no substantial new information or changes in the 
action alter the content of the opinion (see 50 CFR 402.10(d)). As 
noted above, any conservation recommendations in a conference report or 
opinion are strictly advisory.
    If a species is listed or critical habitat is designated, section 
7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities 
they authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the 
continued existence of the species or to destroy or adversely modify 
its critical habitat. If a Federal action may affect a listed species 
or its critical habitat, the responsible Federal agency (action agency) 
must enter into consultation with us. As a result of this consultation, 
we document compliance with the requirements of section 7(a)(2) through 
our issuance of:
    (1) A concurrence letter for Federal actions that may affect, but 
are not likely to adversely affect, listed species or critical habitat; 
or
    (2) A biological opinion for Federal actions that are likely to 
adversely affect listed species or critical habitat.
    When we issue a biological opinion concluding that a project is 
likely to result in jeopardy to a listed species or the destruction or 
adverse modification of critical habitat, we also provide reasonable 
and prudent alternatives to the project, if any are identifiable. We 
define ``Reasonable and prudent alternatives'' at 50 CFR 402.02 as 
alternative actions identified during consultation that:
     Can be implemented in a manner consistent with the 
intended purpose of the action,
     Can be implemented consistent with the scope of the 
Federal agency's legal authority and jurisdiction,
     Are economically and technologically feasible, and
     Would, in the Director's opinion, avoid jeopardy to the 
listed species or destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat.

Reasonable and prudent alternatives can vary from slight project 
modifications to extensive redesign or relocation of the project. Costs 
associated with implementing a reasonable and prudent alternative are 
similarly variable.
    Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require Federal agencies to reinitiate 
consultation on previously reviewed actions in instances where we have 
listed a new species or subsequently designated critical habitat that 
may be affected and the Federal agency has retained discretionary 
involvement or control over the action (or the agency's discretionary 
involvement or control is authorized by law). Consequently, some 
Federal agencies may request reinitiation of consultation with us on 
actions for which formal consultation has been completed, if those 
actions may affect subsequently listed species or designated critical 
habitat or adversely modify or destroy proposed critical habitat.
    Federal activities that may affect the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
or its designated critical habitat will require section 7 consultation 
under the Act. Activities on state, tribal, local or private lands 
requiring a Federal permit (such as a permit from the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 
et seq.) or a permit from us under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act) or 
involving some other Federal action (such as funding from the Federal 
Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, or the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency) are also subject to the section 7 
consultation process. Federal actions not affecting listed species or 
critical habitat, and actions on State, Tribal, local or private lands 
that are not federally funded, authorized, or permitted, do not require 
section 7 consultations.

[[Page 40973]]

Application of the ``Adverse Modification'' Standard

    The analytical framework described in the Director's December 9, 
2004, memorandum will be used to complete section 7(a)(2) analysis for 
Federal actions affecting Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep critical habitat. 
The key factor related to the adverse modification determination is 
whether, with implementation of the proposed Federal action, the 
affected critical habitat would continue to serve its intended 
conservation role for the species, or would retain its current ability 
for the primary constituent elements to be functionally established. 
Activities that may destroy or adversely modify critical habitat are 
those that alter the PCEs to an extent that appreciably reduces the 
conservation value of critical habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. 
Generally, the conservation role of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep 
critical habitat units is to support viable core area populations.
    Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us to briefly evaluate and 
describe in any proposed or final regulation that designates critical 
habitat, those activities involving a Federal action that may destroy 
or adversely modify such habitat, or that may be affected by such 
designation.
    Activities that, when carried out, funded, or authorized by a 
Federal agency, may affect critical habitat and therefore should result 
in consultation for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep include, but are not 
limited to:
    (1) Actions that would significantly reduce ongoing management and 
conservation efforts that benefit the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep on 
public lands. Such activities could include, but are not limited to, 
the sale, exchange, or lease of lands managed by the United States 
Forest Service (USFS) or other Federal agency. These activities could 
reduce the amount of space that is available for individual and 
population growth and normal behavior, as well as reduce or eliminate 
the number and extent of sites for foraging, breeding, reproduction, 
and rearing of offspring. These activities could also reduce the 
opportunities available to Federal agencies to exercise their section 
7(a)(1) responsibilities to carry out programs to conserve listed 
species.
    (2) Actions that would significantly reduce the availability of or 
accessibility to summer and winter ranges. Such activities could 
include, but are not limited to, grazing, mining, and road construction 
activities. These activities could degrade, reduce, fragment or 
eliminate available foraging resources or alter current foraging 
activities of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
    (3) Actions that would result in the significant expansion of tall, 
dense vegetation such as timber within bighorn sheep habitat. Such 
activities could include, but are not limited to, fire suppression. 
These activities could allow expansion of vegetation cover such that 
movement patterns of bighorn sheep are altered by avoidance of these 
areas. Tall, dense vegetation provides cover for predators such as the 
mountain lion, a common predator of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
    (4) Actions that would create significant barriers to movement. 
Such activities could include, but are not limited to, road 
construction, and resort or campground facility development or 
expansion. These activities could interfere with movement within and 
between habitats reducing the availability of habitat for foraging, 
breeding, reproduction, sheltering, and rearing of offspring. These 
activities could also reduce opportunities for movement between 
existing populations. Dispersal and interaction between populations 
could be affected, restricting gene flow and jeopardizing the integrity 
of the gene pool. Road construction can result in the direct mortality 
of individuals through collisions with vehicles.
    (5) Actions that would significantly degrade habitat or cause a 
disturbance to Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Such activities could 
include, but are not limited to, recreational activities, such as off-
road vehicle use, hiking, camping, rock climbing, and outfitter guides 
and pack animal expeditions. These activities could impact the quality 
and quantity of forage across landscape or displace animals from key 
foraging areas. These activities could also impact the accessibility to 
key habitats such as escape terrain, breeding sites, or lambing areas. 
If animals flee these areas as a result of these activities, energy is 
expended which can negatively impact the animal's body condition, 
resulting in possible reduced reproductive success.
    We consider all of the units proposed as critical habitat to 
contain features essential to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep, including those units which were not occupied at the 
time of listing. All units are within the historic geographic range of 
the subspecies, and those units which were not occupied at the time of 
listing have been determined to be essential for the conservation of 
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Detailed descriptions of the units and 
their occupancy status can be found in each of the Unit descriptions or 
within Table 3. Under section 7 of the Act, Federal agencies already 
consult with us on activities in areas currently occupied by the Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep, or if the subspecies may be affected by the 
action, to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize the continued 
existence of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act

    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that the Secretary must designate 
and revise critical habitat on the basis of the best available 
scientific data after taking into consideration the economic impact, 
impact on national security, and any other relevant impact, of 
specifying any particular area as critical habitat. The Secretary may 
exclude an area from critical habitat if he determines that the 
benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying such 
area as part of the critical habitat, unless he determines, based on 
the best scientific data available, that the failure to designate such 
area as critical habitat will result in the extinction of the species. 
In making that determination, the Congressional record is clear that 
the Secretary has broad discretion regarding which factor(s) to use and 
how much weight to give to any factor.
    Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, in considering whether to exclude 
a particular area from the designation, we must identify the benefits 
of including the area in the designation, identify the benefits of 
excluding the area from the designation, and determine whether the 
benefits of exclusion outweigh the benefits of inclusion. If we 
consider an exclusion then we must determine whether excluding the area 
would result in the extinction of the species.
    In the following sections, we address a number of general issues 
that are relevant to the exclusions we are considering. In addition, we 
are conducting an economic analysis of the impacts of the proposed 
critical habitat designation and related factors, which will be 
available for public review and comment when it is complete. Based on 
public comment on that document, the proposed designation itself, and 
the information in the final economic analysis, the Secretary may 
exclude from critical habitat additional areas beyond those identified 
in this assessment under the provisions of section 4(b)(2) of the Act. 
This is also addressed in our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 
242.19.
    Currently, we are aware of four documents related to the 
conservation and recovery of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. We 
reviewed these documents, but we are not currently

[[Page 40974]]

proposing the exclusion of lands covered by them for reasons indicated 
below. These documents include the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery 
and Conservation Plan (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory 
Group 1984), the Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (National Park Service 
1986), the Inyo National Forest Resource & Management Plan (U.S. Forest 
Service 1988), and A Conservation Strategy for Sierra Nevada Bighorn 
Sheep (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997). 
All of these documents were prepared prior to the emergency listing of 
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in 1999.
    The goal of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery and 
Conservation Plan (Sierra Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 
1984, pp. 1-2) was to improve the status of the Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep by (1) maintaining the health and viability of existing 
populations, and by promoting the establishment of at least 3 
populations that exceeded 100 animals and were geographically distant 
from one another; (2) restoring bighorn sheep to former ranges within 
the Sierra Nevada where ecologically, economically, and politically 
feasible and where favorable to their success; and (3) ensuring genetic 
integrity by using only bighorn from existing Sierra Nevada populations 
to restock historic ranges. Conservation recommendations made in A 
Conservation Strategy for Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Sierra Nevada 
Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp. 11-14) related to 
restoration of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in a distribution that 
assures long-term viability and reestablishment throughout its native 
range and included preservation of current populations, predator 
control, fire (let burn policy), grazing by domestic sheep and goats, 
genetic diversity, reintroductions and augmentations, and research and 
monitoring. The goal of the Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (National 
Park Service 1986, pp. 1-2) was to restore and perpetuate bighorn sheep 
and to protect the integrity of the ecosystem. Management was directed 
toward restoring and maintaining populations of bighorn sheep for 
ecological, scientific, educational, aesthetic, and recreational 
values. The Inyo National Forest's Land & Resource Management Plan 
(U.S. Forest Service 1988, pp. 101-102) provided guidance to maintain 
existing sheep habitat, expand the range of bighorn sheep by 
transplanting animals into suitable unoccupied habitats within the 
historic range, maintain the health of existing herds by not allowing 
an increase in livestock use if disease transmission was shown to be 
harmful to bighorn sheep, and prohibit the conversion of livestock type 
from cattle to sheep on or adjacent to existing or approved 
reintroduction sites for the bighorn sheep.
    The Inyo National Forest also established two California Bighorn 
Sheep Zoological Areas for the Mount Baxter and Mount Williamson herds. 
These areas totaled 4,505 acres (1,823 hectares) in addition to 
existing wilderness lands (36,235 acres (14,664 hectares)) occupied by 
bighorn sheep. In 1981, forest officials issued Order No. 04-81-3, 
which prohibited entrance into these areas without a valid visitor use 
permit, and restricted entrance into closed portions of the zoological 
areas during certain time periods, and the presence of dogs, or the 
discharge of firearms unless taking a game animal legally permitted by 
the State of California (U.S. Forest Service 1981, p. 1). Exemptions 
were allowed for certain individuals and duties/activities. This order 
was issued during a time when recreational use was thought to be having 
a detrimental impact on the Mount Baxter and Mount Williamson herds.
    While these plans were prepared to assist in the restoration and 
recovery and habitat protection of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, 
they were written prior to the listing of this subspecies, which 
occurred in 1999 and 2000, and they generally offer only guidance and 
recommendations related to translocations, research, monitoring, 
education, and habitat management with little specificity of actions to 
be implemented. The guidance provided in these documents and the 
recreational prohibitions in the California Bighorn Sheep Zoological 
Areas did not provide sufficient, nor necessarily appropriate, 
protections, to the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep or its habitat to 
prevent its listing under the Act.

Economic Analysis

    We are preparing an analysis of the economic impacts of proposing 
critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. We will announce 
the availability of the draft economic analysis as soon as it is 
completed, at which time we will seek public review and comment. At 
that time, copies of the draft economic analysis will be available for 
downloading from the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/nevada, or by 
contacting the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office directly (see ADDRESSES 
section). We may exclude areas from the final rule based on the 
information in the economic analysis.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our joint policy published in the Federal 
Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we are obtaining the expert 
opinions of at least three appropriate and independent specialists 
regarding this proposed rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure 
that our critical habitat designation is based on scientifically sound 
data, assumptions, and analyses. We have invited these peer reviewers 
to comment during this public comment period on our specific 
assumptions and conclusions in this proposed designation of critical 
habitat.
    We will consider all comments and information we receive during 
this comment period on this proposed rule during our preparation of a 
final determination. Accordingly, our final decision may differ from 
this proposal.

Public Hearings

    The Act provides for one or more public hearings on this proposal, 
if we receive any requests for hearings. Per 4(b)(5)(e), a request for 
hearing must be received within 45 days of publication of the proposal. 
We will schedule public hearings on this proposal, if any are 
requested, and announce the dates, times, and places of those hearings 
in the Federal Register and local newspapers at least 15 days before 
the first hearing.

Required Determinations

Clarity of the Rule

    Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) requires 
each agency to write regulations and notices that are easy to 
understand. We invite your comments on how to make this proposed rule 
easier to understand, including answers to questions such as the 
following: (1) Are the requirements in the proposed rule clearly 
stated? (2) Does the proposed rule contain technical jargon that 
interferes with the clarity? (3) Does the format of the proposed rule 
(grouping and order of the sections, use of headings, paragraphing, and 
so forth) aid or reduce its clarity? (4) Is the description of the 
notice in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the preamble helpful 
in understanding the proposed rule? (5) What else could we do to make 
this proposed rule easier to understand?
    Send a copy of any comments on how we could make this proposed rule 
easier to understand to: Office of Regulatory Affairs, Department of 
the Interior, Room 7229, 1849 C Street, NW.,

[[Page 40975]]

Washington, DC 20240. You may e-mail your comments to this address: 
[email protected].

Regulatory Planning and Review

    In accordance with Executive Order (E.O.) 12866, this document is a 
significant rule in that it may raise novel legal and policy issues, 
but we do not anticipate that it will have an annual effect on the 
economy of $100 million or more or affect the economy in a material 
way. Due to the tight timeline for publication in the Federal Register, 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not formally reviewed 
this rule. In order to determine the economic consequences of 
designating the specific area as critical habitat we are preparing a 
draft economic analysis of this proposed action, which will be 
available for public comment. This economic analysis also will be used 
to determine compliance with E.O. 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, E.O. 
12630, E.O. 13211, and E.O. 12875.
    Further, E.O. 12866 directs Federal agencies promulgating 
regulations to evaluate regulatory alternatives (OMB, Circular A-4, 
September 17, 2003). Under Circular A-4, once an agency determines that 
the Federal regulatory action is appropriate, the agency must consider 
alternative regulatory approaches. Since the determination of critical 
habitat is a statutory requirement under the Act we must then evaluate 
alternative regulatory approaches, where feasible, when promulgating a 
designation of critical habitat.
    In developing our designations of critical habitat, we consider 
economic impacts, impacts to national security, and other relevant 
impacts pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Based on the discretion 
allowable under this provision, we may exclude any particular area from 
the designation of critical habitat providing that the benefits of such 
exclusion outweigh the benefits of specifying the area as critical 
habitat and that such exclusion would not result in the extinction of 
the species. As such, we believe that the evaluation of the inclusion 
or exclusion of particular areas, or a combination of both constitutes 
our regulatory alternative analysis for designations.
    We will announce the availability of the draft economic analysis in 
the Federal Register and in local newspapers so that it is available 
for public review and comments. The draft economic analysis will also 
be available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/nevada, or at the 
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
(SBREFA) of 1996), whenever an agency must publish a notice of 
rulemaking for any proposed or final rule, it must prepare and make 
available for public comment a regulatory flexibility analysis that 
describes the effects of the rule on small entities (small businesses, 
small organizations, and small government jurisdictions). However, no 
regulatory flexibility analysis is required if the head of the agency 
certifies the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. SBREFA amended RFA to require 
Federal agencies to provide a statement of the factual basis for 
certifying that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.
    At this time, we lack the available economic information necessary 
to provide an adequate factual basis for the required RFA finding. 
Therefore, we defer the RFA finding until completion of the draft 
economic analysis prepared under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and E.O. 
12866. This draft economic analysis will provide the required factual 
basis for the RFA finding. Upon completion of the draft economic 
analysis, we will announce availability of the draft economic analysis 
of the proposed designation in the Federal Register and reopen the 
public comment period for the proposed designation. We will include 
with this announcement, as appropriate, an initial regulatory 
flexibility analysis or a certification that the rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
accompanied by the factual basis for that determination. We have 
concluded that deferring the RFA finding until completion of the draft 
economic analysis is necessary to meet the purposes and requirements of 
the RFA. Deferring the RFA finding in this manner will ensure that we 
make a sufficiently informed determination based on adequate economic 
information and provide the necessary opportunity for public comment.

Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use

    On May 18, 2001, the President issued an Executive Order (E.O. 
13211; ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'') on regulations that 
significantly affect energy supply, distribution, and use. E.O. 13211 
requires agencies to prepare Statements of Energy Effects when 
undertaking certain actions. While this proposed rule to designate 
critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is a significant 
regulatory action under E.O. 12866 in that it may raise novel legal and 
policy issues, we do not expected it to significantly affect energy 
supplies, distribution, or use. Therefore, this action is not a 
significant energy action, and no Statement of Energy Effects is 
required. However, we will further evaluate this issue as we conduct 
our economic analysis, and review and revise this assessment as 
warranted.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)

    In accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 
et seq.), we make the following findings:
    (a) This rule will not produce a Federal mandate. In general, a 
Federal mandate is a provision in legislation, statute, or regulation 
that would impose an enforceable duty upon State, local, or Tribal 
governments, or the private sector, and includes both ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandates'' and ``Federal private sector mandates.'' 
These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C. 658(5)-(7). ``Federal 
intergovernmental mandate'' includes a regulation that ``would impose 
an enforceable duty upon State, local, or tribal governments'' with two 
exceptions. It excludes ``a condition of Federal assistance.'' It also 
excludes ``a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal 
program,'' unless the regulation ``relates to a then-existing Federal 
program under which $500,000,000 or more is provided annually to State, 
local, and tribal governments under entitlement authority,'' if the 
provision would ``increase the stringency of conditions of assistance'' 
or ``place caps upon, or otherwise decrease, the Federal Government's 
responsibility to provide funding,'' and the State, local, or Tribal 
governments ``lack authority'' to adjust accordingly. At the time of 
enactment, these entitlement programs were: Medicaid; AFDC work 
programs; Child Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social Services Block Grants; 
Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants; Foster Care, Adoption 
Assistance, and Independent Living; Family Support Welfare Services; 
and Child Support Enforcement. ``Federal private sector mandate'' 
includes a regulation that ``would impose an enforceable duty upon the 
private sector, except (i) a condition of Federal assistance or (ii) a 
duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal program.''

[[Page 40976]]

    The designation of critical habitat does not impose a legally 
binding duty on non-Federal Government entities or private parties. 
Under the Act, the only regulatory effect is that Federal agencies must 
ensure that their actions do not destroy or adversely modify critical 
habitat under section 7. While non-Federal entities that receive 
Federal funding, assistance, or permits, or that otherwise require 
approval or authorization from a Federal agency for an action, may be 
indirectly impacted by the designation of critical habitat, the legally 
binding duty to avoid destruction or adverse modification of critical 
habitat rests squarely on the Federal agency. Furthermore, to the 
extent that non-Federal entities are indirectly impacted because they 
receive Federal assistance or participate in a voluntary Federal aid 
program, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would not apply, nor would 
critical habitat shift the costs of the large entitlement programs 
listed above onto State governments.
    (b) We do not believe that this rule will significantly or uniquely 
affect small governments because the vast majority of the lands 
involved in the proposed designation are Federal (e.g., U.S. Forest 
Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management). As 
such, a Small Government Agency Plan is not required. However, as we 
conduct our economic analysis, we will further evaluate this issue and 
revise this assessment if appropriate.

Takings

    In accordance with E.O. 12630 (``Government Actions and 
Interference with Constitutionally Protected Private Property 
Rights''), we have analyzed the potential takings implications of 
designating critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in a 
takings implications assessment. The takings implications assessment 
concludes that this designation of critical habitat for the Sierra 
Nevada bighorn sheep does not pose significant takings implications. 
However, we will, further evaluate this issue as we conduct our 
economic analysis and review and revise this assessment as warranted.

Federalism

    In accordance with E.O. 13132 (Federalism), this rule does not have 
significant Federalism effects. A Federalism assessment is not 
required. In keeping with Department of the Interior and Department of 
Commerce policy, we requested information from, and coordinated 
development of, this proposed critical habitat designation with 
appropriate State resource agencies in California. The designation of 
critical habitat in areas currently occupied by the Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep imposes no additional restrictions to those currently in 
place and, therefore, has little incremental impact on State and local 
governments and their activities. The designation may have some benefit 
to these governments in that the areas that contain the features 
essential to the conservation of the subspecies are more clearly 
defined, and the primary constituent elements of the habitat necessary 
to the conservation of the subspecies are specifically identified. This 
information does not alter where and what federally sponsored 
activities may occur. However, it may assist local governments in long-
range planning (rather than having them wait for case-by-case section 7 
consultations to occur).

Civil Justice Reform

    In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil Justice Reform), the Office of 
the Solicitor has determined that the rule does not unduly burden the 
judicial system and that it meets the requirements of sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of the Order. We have proposed designating critical habitat in 
accordance with the provisions of the Act. This proposed rule uses 
standard property descriptions and identifies the primary constituent 
elements within the designated areas to assist the public in 
understanding the habitat needs of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This rule does not contain any new collections of information that 
require approval by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This rule will not impose recordkeeping or 
reporting requirements on State or local governments, individuals, 
businesses, or organizations. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and 
a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

    It is our position that, outside the jurisdiction of the Circuit 
Court of the United States for the Tenth Circuit, we do not need to 
prepare environmental analyses as defined by the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.) in connection with designating critical habitat under the Act. 
We published a notice outlining our reasons for this determination in 
the Federal Register on October 25, 1983 (48 FR 49244). This assertion 
was upheld by the Circuit Court of the United States for the Ninth 
Circuit (Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d 1495 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. 
denied 516 U.S. 1042 (1996)).

Government-to-Government Relationship with Tribes

    In accordance with the President's memorandum of April 29, 1994, 
``Government-to-Government Relations with Native American Tribal 
Governments'' (59 FR 22951), E.O. 13175, and the Department of the 
Interior's manual at 512 DM 2, we readily acknowledge our 
responsibility to communicate meaningfully with recognized Federal 
Tribes on a government-to-government basis. In accordance with 
Secretarial Order 3206 of June 5, 1997, ``American Indian Tribal 
Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust Responsibilities, and the Endangered 
Species Act,'' we readily acknowledge our responsibilities to work 
directly with tribes in developing programs for healthy ecosystems, to 
acknowledge that tribal lands are not subject to the same controls as 
Federal public lands, to remain sensitive to Indian culture, and to 
make information available to tribes. We have determined that there are 
no tribal lands occupied at the time of listing that contain the 
features essential for the conservation, and no tribal lands that are 
essential for the conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. 
Therefore, we have not proposed designation of critical habitat for the 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep on Tribal lands.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this rulemaking is 
available upon request from the Field Supervisor, Nevada Fish and 
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Author(s)

    The primary authors of this package are staff from the Nevada Fish 
and Wildlife and the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Offices.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Proposed Regulation Promulgation

    Accordingly, we propose to amend part 17, subchapter B of chapter 
I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as set forth below:

[[Page 40977]]

PART 17--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1544; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

    2. In Sec.  17.11(h), revise the entry for ``Sheep, Sierra Nevada 
bighorn'' under ``MAMMALS'' in the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Wildlife to read as follows:


Sec.  17.11  Endangered and threatened wildlife.

* * * * *
    (h) * * *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Species                                                  Vertebrate
------------------------------------------------------                       population where                       When      Critical
                                                          Historic range       endangered or         Status        listed      habitat    Special rules
           Common name              Scientific name                             threatened
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             MAMMALS
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Sheep, Sierra Nevada bighorn....  Ovis canadensis      U.S.A. (western      U.S.A. (CA)--       E..............   660E, 675    17.95(a)  NA
                                   sierrae.             conterminous         Sierra Nevada.
                                                        States), Canada,
                                                        (south-west),
                                                        Mexico (north).
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    3. In Sec.  17.95(a), add an entry for ``Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae)'' in the same alphabetical order in 
which the subspecies appears in the table in Sec.  17.11(h) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  17.95  Critical habitat--fish and wildlife.

    (a) Mammals.
* * * * *
    Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis Sierrae)
    (1) Critical habitat units are depicted for Mono, Fresno, Inyo, 
Tulare, and Tuolumne counties, California, on the maps below.
    (2) The primary constituent elements of critical habitat for the 
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are the habitat components that provide:
    (i) Non-forested habitats or forest openings within the Sierra 
Nevada from 4,000 ft (1,219 m) to 14,500 ft (4,420 m) in elevation with 
steep (greater than or equal to 60 percent slope), rocky slopes that 
provide for foraging, mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding 
and allow for seasonal elevational movements between these areas.
    (ii) Presence of a variety of forage plants as indicated by the 
presence of grasses (e.g., Achnanthera spp.; Elymus spp.) and browse 
(e.g., Ribes spp.; Artemisia spp., Purshia spp.) in winter, and 
grasses, browse, sedges (e.g., Carex spp.) and forbs (e.g., Eriogonum 
spp.) in summer.
    (iii) Presence of granite rock outcroppings containing minerals 
such as sodium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus that could be used as 
salt licks/mineral licks in order to meet nutritional needs.
    (3) Critical habitat does not include manmade structures (such as 
buildings, aqueducts, airports, roads, and other paved areas) and the 
land on which they are located existing on the effective date of this 
rule and not containing one or more of the primary constituent 
elements.
    (4) Critical Habitat Map Units--Boundaries of proposed critical 
habitat were derived from Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Herd Units 
developed by the California Department of Fish and Game for the final 
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (SNBS) recovery plan. The proposed critical 
habitat unit boundaries differ from SNBS Herd Unit polygons by the 
removal of developed areas and private parcels that are unlikely to 
contain the primary constituent elements. The data were projected to 
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), zone 11, on the North American 
Datum of 1983.
    (5) Note: Index map of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep critical habitat 
(Map 1) follows:

[[Page 40978]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.001

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
    (6) Unit 1 (Mount Warren); Mono and Tuolumne Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Dunderberg Peak, Lundy, 
Tioga Pass, and Mount Dana. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 11 
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 300786, 4215918; 301348, 4215650; 301467, 
4215784; 302384, 4216077; 303459, 4215689; 303626, 4215452; 303452,

[[Page 40979]]

4215254; 303072, 4215278; 302764, 4215064; 302495, 4214977; 302218, 
4214677; 302052, 4214558; 301783, 4214281; 300486, 4214005; 300351, 
4213839; 299853, 4213704; 299442, 4213475; 299007, 4213079; 298991, 
4212842; 299252, 4212723; 299640, 4212755; 300185, 4212913; 300359, 
4213103; 300525, 4213166; 300565, 4213498; 300952, 4213562; 301111, 
4213158; 301435, 4212858; 301593, 4213150; 301807, 4213253; 302566, 
4213245; 303396, 4213317; 303902, 4213419; 304227, 4214044; 304567, 
4214092; 304891, 4213752; 305310, 4213467; 305864, 4213158; 306239, 
4212945; 306714, 4212984; 307362, 4212747; 307474, 4212940; 307514, 
4213252; 307539, 4213822; 307697, 4214242; 307964, 4214386; 308395, 
4214515; 308841, 4214450; 308846, 4214218; 308653, 4213802; 308499, 
4213297; 308529, 4212618; 308692, 4211980; 308673, 4211876; 308514, 
4211856; 308366, 4211891; 307853, 4211988; 307236, 4212146; 306682, 
4212162; 306073, 4212186; 305788, 4211948; 305694, 4211640; 305788, 
4211165; 305970, 4210944; 306192, 4210991; 306643, 4210857; 306801, 
4210588; 306785, 4209932; 306813, 4209244; 306995, 4208658; 307596, 
4208532; 307920, 4208532; 308173, 4208674; 308252, 4209244; 308315, 
4209418; 308647, 4209275; 308774, 4208951; 308861, 4208635; 309082, 
4208500; 309320, 4208184; 309415, 4207425; 309810, 4206847; 309023, 
4206191; 308628, 4206151; 308177, 4206547; 308177, 4206927; 307679, 
4207037; 307275, 4206863; 306856, 4206444; 306761, 4206033; 306991, 
4205724; 307220, 4205701; 307560, 4205495; 307623, 4205179; 307797, 
4204973; 307916, 4204649; 308074, 4204325; 308398, 4204182; 309134, 
4204348; 309846, 4203850; 309960, 4203534; 310316, 4202846; 310490, 
4202284; 310569, 4201841; 310585, 4201240; 310640, 4201098; 310799, 
4200900; 310759, 4200655; 310672, 4200584; 310261, 4200536; 309984, 
4200513; 309513, 4200252; 309102, 4200370; 308865, 4200418; 308651, 
4200592; 308525, 4201043; 308303, 4201343; 308058, 4201644; 307837, 
4202047; 307362, 4202403; 307180, 4202458; 307062, 4202268; 307165, 
4202015; 306919, 4202023; 306477, 4202150; 306081, 4202300; 305599, 
4202632; 305231, 4202751; 304456, 4203210; 304369, 4203344; 303989, 
4203637; 303720, 4203913; 303420, 4204119; 303183, 4204870; 303325, 
4205329; 303396, 4205661; 303345, 4206057; 303202, 4206278; 303052, 
4206294; 302688, 4205582; 302894, 4205092; 302720, 4204799; 302736, 
4204467; 303036, 4204198; 303036, 4203637; 303195, 4203399; 303487, 
4203178; 303622, 4203036; 304120, 4202806; 304353, 4202577; 304529, 
4202575; 304667, 4202584; 304837, 4202460; 304869, 4202391; 304869, 
4202134; 304626, 4201784; 304263, 4201582; 304024, 4201380; 303875, 
4201200; 303803, 4201210; 303746, 4201218; 303578, 4201335; 303363, 
4201575; 303353, 4201611; 303344, 4201642; 303314, 4201600; 303309, 
4201636; 303304, 4201627; 303289, 4201621; 303104, 4201636; 302748, 
4201612; 302416, 4201770; 301988, 4202118; 301648, 4202442; 301387, 
4202695; 301150, 4203099; 300897, 4203431; 300826, 4203787; 301024, 
4204032; 301126, 4204412; 301142, 4205092; 300652, 4205970; 300253, 
4206191; 299794, 4206294; 299311, 4206365; 298916, 4206349; 298584, 
4205900; 298544, 4205764; 298853, 4205614; 299375, 4205622; 300142, 
4204847; 300197, 4204617; 300166, 4204412; 300071, 4204174; 299565, 
4204214; 298963, 4204174; 298315, 4204151; 298149, 4203953; 298188, 
4203257; 298378, 4202893; 298350, 4202526; 298268, 4202121; 298476, 
4201913; 298679, 4202026; 298698, 4202381; 298628, 4202634; 298691, 
4202950; 299115, 4202552; 299185, 4202324; 298875, 4201482; 298647, 
4201236; 298324, 4200742; 298369, 4200337; 298122, 4200388; 298116, 
4200685; 298192, 4201109; 298160, 4201261; 298078, 4201337; 297970, 
4201318; 297685, 4200983; 297319, 4200888; 297186, 4200793; 297091, 
4200748; 296901, 4200951; 296654, 4200976; 296287, 4201008; 295857, 
4200660; 295579, 4200200; 295506, 4200236; 295139, 4199793; 294924, 
4199483; 294734, 4199641; 294582, 4199932; 294449, 4200109; 294095, 
4200084; 293583, 4200369; 293323, 4200710; 293108, 4200609; 292950, 
4200268; 292608, 4200369; 292754, 4200748; 292944, 4200964; 293228, 
4201248; 293614, 4201014; 293874, 4200723; 294127, 4200571; 294563, 
4200635; 295196, 4200805; 295310, 4200957; 295247, 4201122; 295367, 
4201406; 295702, 4201318; 296031, 4201375; 296265, 4201622; 296474, 
4201982; 296803, 4202349; 296942, 4202539; 296936, 4202849; 296635, 
4202969; 296426, 4202994; 296078, 4202703; 295990, 4202507; 295541, 
4202406; 294756, 4202697; 294674, 4202800; 294642, 4203007; 294813, 
4203134; 295560, 4203178; 295661, 4203184; 295882, 4203418; 295927, 
4203703; 295383, 4203855; 295326, 4203943; 295927, 4204057; 296135, 
4204241; 296015, 4204405; 295522, 4204405; 295427, 4204608; 295569, 
4205032; 295746, 4205354; 295980, 4205677; 296252, 4206012; 296347, 
4206265; 296322, 4206778; 296328, 4207126; 296566, 4207328; 296800, 
4207721; 296850, 4207948; 296743, 4208214; 295971, 4208777; 295813, 
4208891; 295674, 4209163; 295212, 4209492; 294408, 4209555; 294161, 
4209378; 293801, 4209239; 293776, 4209473; 294070, 4209967; 294620, 
4210454; 295057, 4210327; 295215, 4210315; 295272, 4210625; 295234, 
4210776; 295316, 4211010; 295689, 4211156; 295816, 4211023; 295879, 
4210776; 295765, 4210618; 295898, 4210485; 296215, 4210416; 296297, 
4210232; 296335, 4209954; 296436, 4209682; 296866, 4209384; 296923, 
4209043; 297113, 4208904; 297160, 4209239; 296945, 4210163; 296926, 
4210220; 296964, 4210511; 296838, 4210852; 296699, 4211542; 296578, 
4211789; 296411, 4212206; 296316, 4212814; 296202, 4213219; 296316, 
4213693; 296664, 4213959; 297094, 4213826; 297372, 4213535; 297676, 
4213402; 297942, 4213301; 298157, 4213320; 298429, 4213434; 298625, 
4213769; 298517, 4214085; 298464, 4214465; 298666, 4214705; 298919, 
4214819; 299122, 4214832; 299267, 4214857; 299368, 4215136; 299027, 
4215585; 299033, 4215781; 299210, 4215926; 299533, 4215711; 299988, 
4215528; 300071, 4215756; 300090, 4215983; 299697, 4216559; 299546, 
4216654; 299410, 4216907; 299359, 4217034; 299416, 4217413; 299454, 
4217729; 299391, 4218002; 299410, 4218318; 299479, 4218577; 299529, 
4218766; 299885, 4218821; 300296, 4218734; 300755, 4218505; 300865, 
4218101; 300858, 4217690; 300731, 4217445; 300525, 4217247; 300446, 
4216796; 300470, 4216409; returning to 300786, 4215918; excluding land 
bounded by 304870, 4211718; 304755, 4211663; 304590, 4211666; 304426, 
4211699; 304273, 4211615; 304237, 4211614; 304100, 4211575; 304119, 
4211576; 304068, 4211562; 304036, 4211567; 303925, 4211593; 303824, 
4211552; 303714, 4211495; 303668, 4211501; 303558, 4211486; 303473, 
4211423; 303421, 4211366; 303381, 4211308; 303223, 4211322; 303176, 
4211295; 303181, 4211202; 303103, 4211161; 303208, 4210962; 303418, 
4211073; 303481, 4211022; 303500, 4211020; 303617, 4211098; 303675, 
4211109; 303894, 4211096; 303983, 4211127; 304053, 4211125; 304053, 
4211124; 304106, 4211121; 304460, 4211207; 304518, 4211250; 304590, 
4211261; 304644, 4211303; 304747, 4211336; 304863, 4211395; 304882, 
4211457; 305018, 4211524; 305128, 4211543; 305289, 4211677; 305397,

[[Page 40980]]

4211739; 305477, 4211807; 305515, 4211863; 305405, 4211903; 305374, 
4211907; 305176, 4211813; 305029, 4211770; returning to 304870, 
4211718.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 1 Mount Warren for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 2) follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.002


[[Page 40981]]


    (7) Unit 2 (Mount Gibbs); Mono and Tuolumne Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Mount Dana, Vogelsang 
Peak, Kiop Peak, and June Lake. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 
11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 305185, 4201586; 305855, 4201263; 306124, 
4201406; 306203, 4201516; 306615, 4201390; 307214, 4201220; 307539, 
4200758; 307946, 4200481; 308191, 4199870; 308255, 4199529; 308437, 
4199297; 308728, 4198949; 308679, 4198612; 308778, 4198157; 309188, 
4197993; 309259, 4197840; 308990, 4197698; 308498, 4197676; 308268, 
4197570; 308079, 4197576; 307891, 4197582; 307737, 4197512; 307657, 
4197364; 307500, 4197181; 307271, 4197113; 307075, 4196893; 307221, 
4196737; 307673, 4196685; 308081, 4196446; 308575, 4196543; 308912, 
4196457; 309062, 4196415; 309890, 4196313; 309934, 4195897; 309443, 
4195913; 309141, 4195923; 308877, 4195931; 308572, 4195866; 308570, 
4195790; 308525, 4195566; 308481, 4195379; 308053, 4194978; 307970, 
4194755; 308120, 4194712; 308418, 4194590; 308675, 4194356; 308668, 
4194130; 308697, 4193865; 308613, 4193604; 308382, 4193461; 308112, 
4193281; 307734, 4193293; 307728, 4193105; 307761, 4192953; 308063, 
4192944; 308472, 4192742; 308775, 4192770; 308930, 4192878; 309271, 
4192905; 309416, 4192712; 309403, 4192298; 309382, 4191659; 309372, 
4191358; 309323, 4190983; 309238, 4190684; 309151, 4190348; 308920, 
4190204; 308879, 4190093; 309026, 4189975; 309327, 4189928; 309478, 
4189923; 309626, 4189843; 309582, 4189656; 309389, 4189511; 309271, 
4189365; 309114, 4189181; 308699, 4189195; 308470, 4189127; 308167, 
4189099; 308163, 4188986; 308347, 4188829; 308683, 4188705; 308907, 
4188623; 309244, 4188537; 309241, 4188424; 309232, 4188161; 309187, 
4187936; 309219, 4187747; 309325, 4187517; 309475, 4187475; 309740, 
4187504; 309966, 4187459; 310116, 4187454; 310418, 4187445; 310796, 
4187433; 310981, 4187314; 311089, 4187160; 311233, 4186929; 311450, 
4186621; 311820, 4186383; 312166, 4186560; 312582, 4186585; 312850, 
4186689; 313267, 4186713; 313537, 4186893; 313956, 4186993; 314142, 
4186911; 314210, 4186683; 313896, 4186317; 313515, 4186216; 313165, 
4185888; 312814, 4185560; 312729, 4185262; 312376, 4184859; 312069, 
4184718; 312061, 4184454; 312163, 4184112; 312082, 4183926; 312340, 
4183730; 312407, 4183464; 312433, 4183087; 312500, 4182821; 312680, 
4182551; 312860, 4182282; 312892, 4182093; 312627, 4182063; 312476, 
4182068; 312249, 4182075; 312208, 4182071; 311998, 4182077; 311586, 
4182088; 311587, 4181967; 311448, 4181837; 311217, 4181694; 310862, 
4181818; 310494, 4182132; 310199, 4182367; 310100, 4182822; 309769, 
4183096; 309149, 4183794; 308929, 4183989; 308630, 4184112; 308254, 
4184162; 307917, 4184248; 307768, 4184328; 307399, 4184603; 307064, 
4184765; 306876, 4184771; 306831, 4184546; 306859, 4184244; 307079, 
4184049; 307309, 4184154; 307832, 4183949; 307980, 4183869; 308206, 
4183824; 308386, 4183555; 308415, 4183290; 308521, 4183061; 308890, 
4182785; 309001, 4182707; 309101, 4182289; 309206, 4182022; 309387, 
4181790; 309493, 4181561; 309480, 4181147; 309469, 4180808; 309422, 
4180509; 309346, 4180511; 308934, 4180599; 308710, 4180682; 308336, 
4180807; 307916, 4180670; 307577, 4180718; 307056, 4180961; 307062, 
4181149; 307103, 4181261; 307594, 4181245; 307821, 4181238; 307972, 
4181233; 308421, 4181105; 308651, 4181211; 308583, 4181439; 308513, 
4181630; 308597, 4181891; 308640, 4182040; 308456, 4182197; 308228, 
4182166; 308186, 4182017; 308104, 4181831; 307987, 4181722; 307724, 
4181768; 307615, 4181885; 307621, 4182073; 307627, 4182261; 307712, 
4182559; 307685, 4182899; 307543, 4183205; 307282, 4183289; 307129, 
4183256; 307044, 4182957; 306921, 4182660; 306760, 4182326; 306600, 
4182068; 306519, 4181882; 306400, 4181697; 306253, 4181853; 306186, 
4182118; 306269, 4182342; 306507, 4182711; 306589, 4182897; 306638, 
4183234; 306530, 4183426; 306339, 4183357; 306140, 4183024; 306019, 
4182802; 305780, 4182395; 305402, 4182407; 304992, 4182571; 304691, 
4182618; 304390, 4182666; 304162, 4182635; 303858, 4182570; 303478, 
4182506; 303058, 4182369; 302790, 4182265; 302558, 4182084; 302321, 
4181752; 302167, 4181682; 302174, 4181908; 302245, 4182357; 302609, 
4183099; 303409, 4183300; 303569, 4183558; 303767, 4183853; 303915, 
4183773; 304140, 4183691; 304291, 4183686; 304371, 4183834; 304419, 
4184171; 304505, 4184470; 304744, 4184876; 305210, 4185276; 305624, 
4185225; 305819, 4185407; 305910, 4185894; 305808, 4186236; 305819, 
4186575; 305677, 4186881; 305456, 4187038; 305266, 4187007; 305033, 
4186826; 304725, 4186647; 304426, 4186732; 304291, 4186912; 304361, 
4187073; 304630, 4187215; 304639, 4187479; 304380, 4187675; 303774, 
4187619; 303538, 4187326; 303336, 4186918; 302983, 4186515; 302551, 
4186001; 302008, 4185567; 301544, 4185242; 301242, 4185252; 301103, 
4185633; 301045, 4186162; 301023, 4186653; 300708, 4187454; 300429, 
4188178; 300069, 4188717; 299821, 4189253; 299469, 4190055; 299301, 
4190701; 299206, 4191269; 298879, 4191693; 298557, 4192269; 298227, 
4192581; 297610, 4193354; 297507, 4193696; 297853, 4193873; 298117, 
4193865; 298670, 4193433; 299225, 4193038; 299810, 4192455; 300248, 
4191951; 300500, 4191566; 300693, 4191711; 300702, 4191974; 300710, 
4192237; 300763, 4192688; 301153, 4193090; 301573, 4193227; 301797, 
4193144; 301901, 4192840; 301743, 4192619; 301656, 4192283; 301725, 
4192054; 301910, 4191935; 301638, 4191718; 301556, 4191495; 301664, 
4191341; 301928, 4191332; 301999, 4191179; 301875, 4190844; 301831, 
4190657; 301974, 4190389; 302007, 4190237; 302072, 4189934; 302332, 
4189775; 302708, 4189725; 302857, 4189645; 302775, 4189459; 302842, 
4189194; 303031, 4189188; 303109, 4189260; 303151, 4189410; 303419, 
4189514; 303412, 4189288; 303441, 4189024; 303428, 4188610; 303908, 
4188255; 304058, 4188213; 304396, 4188165; 304735, 4188116; 304855, 
4188338; 304939, 4188599; 304950, 4188938; 304957, 4189164; 305187, 
4189269; 305269, 4189455; 305127, 4189761; 305504, 4189711; 305763, 
4189552; 305714, 4189215; 305825, 4189136; 305907, 4189322; 306137, 
4189427; 306323, 4189346; 306553, 4189452; 306809, 4189180; 306998, 
4189174; 307228, 4189279; 307030, 4189587; 307033, 4189700; 307043, 
4190001; 306899, 4190231; 306523, 4190281; 306299, 4190364; 306043, 
4190635; 305976, 4190901; 306020, 4191088; 306175, 4191196; 306371, 
4191416; 306346, 4191831; 306166, 4192101; 306021, 4192293; 305873, 
4192411; 305718, 4192266; 305637, 4192117; 305145, 4192096; 304781, 
4192521; 304448, 4192720; 304155, 4193031; 303859, 4193229; 303716, 
4193460; 303612, 4193764; 303468, 4193995; 303328, 4194338; 303076, 
4194723; 302596, 4195078; 302527, 4195268; 302718, 4195337; 303205, 
4195209; 303469, 4195200; 303808, 4195152; 304074, 4195219; 304642, 
4195238; 304872, 4195344; 304913, 4195455; 304954, 4195567; 304921, 
4195719; 304545, 4195768; 304283, 4195852; 304096, 4195896; 303835, 
4196017; 303572, 4196063; 302817, 4196087; 302749, 4196316; 302916, 
4196800; 303270, 4197241; 303129, 4197546; 302755, 4197671; 302575,

[[Page 40982]]

4197941; 302696, 4198201; 302856, 4198459; 302985, 4198945; 303114, 
4199430; 303351, 4199762; 303767, 4199786; 304175, 4199547; 304351, 
4199127; 304677, 4198702; 305313, 4198494; 305467, 4198602; 305372, 
4199170; 305153, 4199403; 304741, 4199529; 304600, 4199835; 304504, 
4200365; 304630, 4200775; 304836, 4201296; returning to 305185, 
4201586.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 2 (Mount Gibbs) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 3) follows:

[[Page 40983]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.003

    (8) Unit 3 (Convict Creek); Fresno and Mono Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Crystal Crag, Bloody 
Mountain, Convict Lake, Graveyard Peak, and Mount Abbot. Land bounded 
by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 327481, 4161516; 
327397, 4161255; 327279, 4161108; 327082, 4160851; 327076, 4160663; 
327184, 4160508; 327409, 4160464; 327720, 4160717; 327917, 4160975;

[[Page 40984]]

328080, 4161346; 328312, 4161527; 328424, 4161486; 328373, 4161073; 
328322, 4160660; 328009, 4160294; 327814, 4160112; 327619, 4159930; 
327573, 4159668; 327755, 4159436; 327980, 4159391; 328058, 4159464; 
328100, 4159613; 328112, 4159989; 328455, 4160091; 328333, 4159794; 
328366, 4159642; 328515, 4159600; 329004, 4159509; 329304, 4159462; 
329223, 4159276; 329061, 4158942; 329089, 4158640; 329077, 4158264; 
329260, 4158070; 329631, 4157870; 329891, 4157711; 330272, 4157812; 
330655, 4157988; 330812, 4158171; 330677, 4158665; 330869, 4158772; 
330951, 4158957; 330667, 4159531; 330492, 4159989; 330469, 4160441; 
330231, 4160072; 329887, 4159970; 329706, 4160202; 329604, 4160582; 
329624, 4161184; 329708, 4161445; 329829, 4161705; 329701, 4162424; 
329860, 4162683; 330161, 4162636; 330229, 4162605; 330305, 4162536; 
330367, 4162498; 330436, 4162454; 330524, 4162442; 330650, 4162448; 
330788, 4162473; 330908, 4162473; 331083, 4162492; 331140, 4162504; 
331203, 4162517; 331272, 4162523; 331366, 4162555; 331511, 4162561; 
331699, 4162599; 331781, 4162643; 331938, 4162661; 332095, 4162680; 
332208, 4162712; 332277, 4162768; 332465, 4162862; 332534, 4162913; 
332635, 4162969; 332817, 4163076; 333112, 4163170; 333338, 4163252; 
333477, 4163271; 333769, 4163236; 333886, 4163345; 333999, 4163342; 
334489, 4163289; 334674, 4163170; 334896, 4163012; 335120, 4162930; 
335271, 4162925; 335385, 4162959; 335499, 4162993; 335873, 4162868; 
335986, 4162864; 336135, 4162784; 336130, 4162634; 336050, 4162486; 
335971, 4162375; 335815, 4162230; 335736, 4162119; 335467, 4161977; 
335312, 4161869; 335113, 4161536; 335031, 4161351; 334948, 4161090; 
334944, 4160977; 334971, 4160637; 335037, 4160334; 335176, 4159953; 
335396, 4159757; 335442, 4160020; 335634, 4160089; 335816, 4159895; 
336039, 4159775; 336234, 4159957; 336206, 4160259; 336107, 4160714; 
336230, 4161011; 336572, 4161076; 336860, 4160652; 337102, 4159929; 
337085, 4159402; 336881, 4158919; 336718, 4158548; 336744, 4158170; 
336769, 4157793; 336716, 4157305; 336743, 4156965; 336896, 4157036; 
337058, 4157370; 337147, 4157781; 337196, 4158156; 337552, 4158634; 
337948, 4159224; 338069, 4159446; 338416, 4159661; 338643, 4159692; 
339127, 4159450; 339575, 4159285; 339958, 4159462; 340015, 4160062; 
339770, 4160673; 339893, 4160970; 340382, 4160917; 340644, 4160833; 
340942, 4160711; 341461, 4160393; 341779, 4159705; 341840, 4159251; 
341780, 4158537; 341470, 4158284; 340960, 4157697; 340383, 4157377; 
339777, 4157321; 339130, 4157191; 338931, 4156858; 339034, 4156553; 
339306, 4156771; 339537, 4156914; 340337, 4157115; 340640, 4157143; 
341134, 4157240; 341505, 4157040; 341686, 4156770; 341995, 4156987; 
342165, 4157584; 342517, 4157949; 342774, 4157715; 342913, 4157334; 
343193, 4156647; 343330, 4156191; 343594, 4155015; 343725, 4154371; 
343966, 4153647; 343986, 4153082; 344111, 4152249; 343944, 4151765; 
343522, 4151553; 343113, 4151754; 342857, 4152026; 342402, 4151965; 
342317, 4151666; 342226, 4151180; 342065, 4150883; 341869, 4150664; 
341671, 4150369; 341818, 4150251; 341851, 4150099; 341956, 4149833; 
342177, 4149637; 342286, 4149521; 342403, 4149630; 342560, 4149813; 
342900, 4149803; 343043, 4149572; 342844, 4149239; 342499, 4149100; 
342680, 4148830; 342942, 4148747; 343179, 4149078; 343456, 4149484; 
343790, 4149285; 343627, 4148913; 343392, 4148657; 343149, 4148138; 
343258, 4148021; 343285, 4147681; 343274, 4147305; 343051, 4147425; 
342828, 4147545; 342597, 4147402; 342331, 4147373; 342146, 4147492; 
341968, 4147836; 341938, 4148063; 342128, 4148095; 342311, 4147938; 
342503, 4148008; 342621, 4148154; 342698, 4148227; 342665, 4148379; 
342076, 4148850; 341633, 4149165; 341530, 4149507; 341467, 4149886; 
340838, 4150320; 340536, 4150330; 340193, 4150228; 339889, 4150162; 
339587, 4150171; 339398, 4150177; 339018, 4150114; 338825, 4149970; 
338896, 4149817; 339009, 4149813; 339161, 4149846; 339187, 4149469; 
339290, 4149164; 339520, 4149270; 339943, 4149482; 339780, 4149111; 
339617, 4148739; 339785, 4148094; 339553, 4147913; 339226, 4148338; 
339052, 4148795; 338679, 4148958; 338273, 4149234; 338126, 4149389; 
337938, 4149395; 337855, 4149172; 337743, 4149213; 337593, 4149256; 
337372, 4149413; 337145, 4149421; 336956, 4149427; 336767, 4149395; 
336649, 4149248; 336606, 4149099; 336751, 4148906; 336861, 4148789; 
337006, 4148597; 336889, 4148487; 336627, 4148571; 336405, 4148729; 
336376, 4148993; 336231, 4149186; 335967, 4149194; 335890, 4149159; 
335775, 4149088; 335555, 4149321; 335298, 4149555; 335219, 4149444; 
335214, 4149294; 335317, 4148952; 335422, 4148685; 335343, 4148574; 
335155, 4148618; 334974, 4148849; 334791, 4149044; 334636, 4148935; 
334377, 4149094; 334726, 4149385; 334810, 4149646; 335042, 4149826; 
335274, 4149970; 335582, 4150148; 335517, 4150489; 335252, 4150460; 
334801, 4150550; 334430, 4150750; 334326, 4151054; 334556, 4151160; 
334815, 4151001; 335077, 4150917; 335122, 4151142; 335386, 4151134; 
335508, 4151393; 335481, 4151733; 335604, 4152030; 335946, 4152095; 
335919, 4152435; 335770, 4152515; 335428, 4152450; 335229, 4152118; 
334800, 4151717; 334460, 4151690; 334193, 4151623; 333778, 4151637; 
333556, 4151794; 333602, 4152057; 333834, 4152200; 334068, 4152456; 
333925, 4152686; 333513, 4152813; 333101, 4152939; 332646, 4152878; 
332309, 4152964; 332579, 4153144; 332958, 4153169; 332736, 4153327; 
332481, 4153636; 332603, 4153896; 332905, 4153886; 333240, 4153725; 
333470, 4153831; 333326, 4154061; 332997, 4154411; 332816, 4154642; 
332323, 4154583; 331984, 4154631; 331786, 4154336; 331739, 4154036; 
331544, 4153854; 331056, 4153945; 330870, 4154064; 330929, 4153535; 
330955, 4153158; 330490, 4152796; 330298, 4152689; 329759, 4152367; 
329452, 4152226; 328877, 4151981; 328610, 4151876; 328051, 4152120; 
327499, 4152590; 327096, 4152979; 326655, 4153370; 326660, 4153520; 
326891, 4153664; 327222, 4153389; 327255, 4153238; 327701, 4152997; 
328038, 4152911; 328485, 4152709; 328936, 4152619; 329510, 4152865; 
329784, 4153157; 330092, 4153336; 330406, 4153702; 330418, 4154079; 
330544, 4154489; 330398, 4154644; 330064, 4154843; 329848, 4155189; 
329897, 4155526; 330114, 4155218; 330372, 4155021; 330745, 4154859; 
330825, 4155007; 330829, 4155120; 330800, 4155422; 330658, 4155690; 
330699, 4155802; 330882, 4155608; 331136, 4155298; 331392, 4155027; 
331581, 4155021; 331776, 4155203; 331783, 4155428; 331529, 4155775; 
331387, 4156044; 331135, 4156428; 331029, 4156658; 330886, 4156926; 
330742, 4157156; 330441, 4157204; 330252, 4157172; 329987, 4157180; 
329609, 4157155; 329273, 4157278; 329088, 4157397; 328941, 4157553; 
328787, 4157445; 328668, 4157260; 328468, 4156927; 328161, 4156787; 
328003, 4156566; 327921, 4156342; 327877, 4156155; 327758, 4155971; 
327559, 4155676; 327286, 4155383; 327201, 4155085; 327007, 4154940; 
326815, 4154833; 326772, 4154684; 326727, 4154460; 326612, 4154388; 
326271, 4154361; 326126, 4154554; 325531, 4154874; 325086, 4155114; 
324787, 4155237; 324378, 4155438; 324118, 4155560; 323895, 4155680;

[[Page 40985]]

323635, 4155838; 323259, 4155888; 322877, 4155750; 322732, 4155943; 
322737, 4156093; 322896, 4156352; 323125, 4156420; 323018, 4156611; 
322684, 4156810; 322343, 4156783; 321782, 4156952; 321290, 4156930; 
320875, 4156943; 320497, 4156955; 320162, 4157117; 319826, 4157240; 
319673, 4157170; 319511, 4156836; 319276, 4156580; 319088, 4156586; 
318974, 4156589; 318478, 4156417; 318176, 4156426; 317723, 4156441; 
317349, 4156566; 317047, 4156575; 316698, 4156285; 316351, 4156070; 
316118, 4155889; 315930, 4155895; 315745, 4156014; 315795, 4156427; 
316149, 4156868; 316383, 4157086; 316545, 4157420; 317188, 4157437; 
317494, 4157578; 318140, 4157670; 318786, 4157801; 319280, 4157898; 
319619, 4157849; 320036, 4157911; 320491, 4157935; 321164, 4157725; 
322066, 4157583; 322813, 4157296; 323329, 4156903; 323662, 4156666; 
324374, 4156493; 324515, 4156187; 324658, 4155919; 325033, 4155832; 
325413, 4155895; 325671, 4155698; 325961, 4155313; 326257, 4155115; 
326599, 4155179; 326800, 4155549; 327035, 4155806; 327234, 4156138; 
327403, 4156698; 327602, 4157030; 327877, 4157361; 328071, 4157505; 
328272, 4157875; 328618, 4158090; 328548, 4158243; 328136, 4158369; 
328410, 4158662; 328343, 4158927; 328427, 4159188; 328470, 4159375; 
328242, 4159307; 328161, 4159159; 327707, 4159136; 327489, 4159407; 
327232, 4159641; 327165, 4159906; 327061, 4160211; 326614, 4160414; 
326550, 4160755; 326336, 4161176; 326306, 4161403; 326647, 4161429; 
326949, 4161420; 326992, 4161607; 327347, 4162047; 327465, 4162194; 
327587, 4162492; 327642, 4163017; 327766, 4163352; 328145, 4163378; 
328207, 4162961; 328235, 4162659; 328223, 4162283; 328027, 4162063; 
327795, 4161882; 327560, 4161626; returning to 327481, 4161516.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 3 (Convict Creek) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 4) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 40986]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.004

    (9) Unit 4 (Wheeler Ridge); Fresno, Inyo and Mono Counties, 
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Mount Abbot, Mount Morgan, 
Mount Hilgard, Mount Tom, Tungsten Hills, Mount Henry, Mount Darwin and 
Mount Thompson. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83 
coordinates (E, N): 351676, 4150867; 352490, 4150441; 352738,

[[Page 40987]]

4150510; 353065, 4150282; 353442, 4150500; 353779, 4150847; 354294, 
4150817; 354552, 4150341; 354641, 4149994; 354681, 4149558; 354453, 
4149439; 354245, 4149221; 354463, 4148953; 354522, 4148735; 354413, 
4148398; 354532, 4148140; 354493, 4147862; 354909, 4147912; 354711, 
4147119; 355098, 4146296; 355132, 4146201; 355158, 4146034; 355162, 
4145681; 355123, 4145288; 355123, 4144981; 355035, 4144787; 354974, 
4144489; 354895, 4144120; 354745, 4143840; 354537, 4143588; 354359, 
4143519; 354349, 4143132; 354329, 4142934; 354141, 4142686; 353967, 
4141942; 353729, 4141853; 353600, 4141804; 353610, 4141566; 353729, 
4141328; 353610, 4141219; 353600, 4141000; 354066, 4140584; 354463, 
4140584; 354780, 4140286; 355068, 4140019; 355256, 4139642; 355425, 
4139136; 355395, 4138799; 355489, 4138412; 355499, 4138254; 355618, 
4138144; 355737, 4137748; 356035, 4137639; 356560, 4137272; 356818, 
4136984; 356828, 4136617; 356996, 4136211; 357016, 4135715; 356649, 
4135477; 356243, 4135299; 356084, 4135239; 356144, 4135011; 356491, 
4135090; 356848, 4134892; 357046, 4134614; 357140, 4134515; 356932, 
4134019; 356714, 4133771; 356476, 4133652; 356357, 4133405; 356486, 
4133216; 356535, 4132839; 356307, 4132740; 355990, 4132611; 355782, 
4132542; 355583, 4132294; 355197, 4132125; 355038, 4131907; 354671, 
4131709; 354265, 4131739; 353898, 4131778; 353590, 4131719; 352817, 
4131709; 352688, 4131421; 352787, 4131223; 353283, 4131263; 354235, 
4131382; 354473, 4131253; 354721, 4131233; 355018, 4131144; 355157, 
4131025; 355068, 4130757; 354721, 4130450; 354656, 4130281; 354746, 
4130241; 354835, 4130132; 355103, 4130063; 355202, 4129944; 354934, 
4129488; 354755, 4129111; 354865, 4128556; 355103, 4128189; 355222, 
4127842; 355202, 4127385; 354993, 4127247; 354795, 4127544; 354458, 
4127822; 354240, 4128020; 354081, 4128010; 353922, 4127792; 353893, 
4127584; 354369, 4127524; 354398, 4127247; 354508, 4127038; 354438, 
4126612; 354508, 4126443; 354364, 4126196; 354106, 4126086; 353888, 
4125670; 353898, 4125491; 354215, 4125402; 354334, 4125204; 354721, 
4124956; 355960, 4125313; 355940, 4125095; 355603, 4124926; 355197, 
4124619; 354701, 4124411; 354126, 4123994; 353808, 4123806; 353828, 
4123707; 354156, 4123508; 354661, 4123627; 354453, 4123449; 354354, 
4123122; 353967, 4123042; 354512, 4122715; 355613, 4122546; 356089, 
4122675; 356416, 4122497; 356501, 4122179; 356431, 4121832; 356035, 
4121713; 355846, 4121644; 355638, 4121406; 355291, 4121436; 354835, 
4121644; 354567, 4121674; 354160, 4121793; 353932, 4121862; 353843, 
4121753; 353794, 4121406; 354527, 4120970; 355013, 4120742; 354954, 
4120305; 354270, 4119691; 354022, 4119770; 353675, 4119730; 353357, 
4119562; 353169, 4119413; 353159, 4119224; 352792, 4119304; 352653, 
4119215; 352217, 4119224; 351553, 4119334; 351280, 4119026; 351250, 
4118679; 351389, 4118570; 351617, 4118649; 351766, 4118471; 351914, 
4118193; 352024, 4117945; 351984, 4117132; 351776, 4117013; 351468, 
4116845; 350576, 4117102; 350080, 4117271; 349971, 4117152; 349406, 
4117102; 349644, 4117549; 349911, 4117747; 350645, 4117618; 350982, 
4117638; 351012, 4117945; 350725, 4118511; 350100, 4118600; 349545, 
4118332; 349178, 4118342; 348712, 4117787; 348464, 4117142; 348196, 
4116884; 348077, 4116914; 348057, 4117122; 347819, 4117142; 347750, 
4117370; 347908, 4117737; 348156, 4117836; 348325, 4118154; 348176, 
4118332; 347879, 4118352; 347175, 4118570; 346798, 4118848; 346937, 
4119096; 347651, 4119294; 347482, 4119572; 346847, 4119532; 346728, 
4119572; 346748, 4119750; 347165, 4120057; 347065, 4120295; 347065, 
4120494; 346946, 4120583; 346788, 4120345; 346599, 4119998; 346461, 
4119958; 346153, 4120256; 345801, 4120038; 345682, 4119661; 345414, 
4119581; 345206, 4119373; 345018, 4119334; 344601, 4119026; 344403, 
4118996; 344086, 4118610; 343848, 4118689; 343243, 4118877; 342846, 
4118947; 342767, 4119096; 342836, 4119383; 343223, 4119691; 343620, 
4119740; 344006, 4119899; 344343, 4120077; 344224, 4120256; 343887, 
4120305; 343630, 4120414; 343798, 4120761; 343580, 4120890; 343064, 
4120811; 342757, 4120910; 342678, 4120990; 342628, 4121366; 342886, 
4121813; 342816, 4121912; 342549, 4121892; 342410, 4121991; 342122, 
4122160; 341934, 4122209; 341825, 4121951; 342033, 4121753; 342043, 
4121396; 341736, 4121198; 341755, 4120791; 341438, 4120424; 341150, 
4120514; 341150, 4120752; 341061, 4120900; 340992, 4121366; 340541, 
4121684; 340273, 4121654; 339757, 4121644; 339648, 4121505; 339351, 
4121475; 339222, 4121555; 339222, 4121922; 339361, 4122298; 339787, 
4122338; 340065, 4122249; 340263, 4122110; 340630, 4122070; 340987, 
4121872; 341245, 4121743; 341384, 4121783; 341473, 4121942; 341324, 
4122061; 341403, 4122417; 341284, 4122646; 341403, 4122854; 341691, 
4122725; 341820, 4122774; 341859, 4122983; 341701, 4123241; 341542, 
4123290; 341215, 4123161; 340947, 4123151; 340620, 4123211; 340313, 
4123340; 340104, 4123538; 340164, 4123677; 340600, 4123657; 340937, 
4123756; 341235, 4123816; 341354, 4124262; 341651, 4124192; 341790, 
4123994; 341800, 4123707; 341969, 4123498; 342137, 4123389; 342355, 
4123241; 342445, 4123022; 342564, 4122963; 342564, 4123290; 342425, 
4123945; 342534, 4124252; 342831, 4124391; 342930, 4124500; 343208, 
4124401; 342950, 4123915; 343020, 4123558; 342891, 4123022; 342901, 
4122784; 343258, 4122616; 343387, 4122675; 343565, 4123191; 343555, 
4123746; 343644, 4124083; 343773, 4124163; 343952, 4124034; 343962, 
4123667; 344319, 4123746; 344269, 4123528; 343942, 4123300; 343922, 
4122844; 343664, 4122298; 343506, 4122070; 343674, 4121832; 343922, 
4121634; 344200, 4121614; 344497, 4121813; 344755, 4121882; 344775, 
4122606; 344943, 4123241; 345241, 4123687; 345409, 4123161; 345350, 
4122497; 345261, 4121664; 345340, 4121307; 345920, 4121237; 346416, 
4121158; 346694, 4121128; 346912, 4121327; 346961, 4121604; 346832, 
4121872; 346644, 4122120; 346446, 4122398; 346495, 4122546; 346743, 
4122427; 347150, 4122239; 347368, 4121912; 347507, 4121991; 347665, 
4122229; 347834, 4122189; 347675, 4121783; 347725, 4121585; 347388, 
4121466; 347239, 4121099; 347417, 4120851; 347437, 4120623; 347576, 
4120385; 347755, 4120206; 347953, 4120186; 348151, 4120305; 348102, 
4120523; 348558, 4121456; 348667, 4121416; 348657, 4120434; 348697, 
4120256; 348568, 4119978; 348300, 4119938; 348012, 4119938; 347923, 
4119800; 348231, 4119472; 348488, 4119324; 348637, 4119145; 348786, 
4119016; 349292, 4119423; 349242, 4119780; 349510, 4120038; 349530, 
4120295; 349877, 4120295; 350244, 4120236; 350095, 4120028; 349827, 
4119978; 349659, 4119810; 349659, 4119502; 349768, 4119234; 349817, 
4118897; 350283, 4118907; 350710, 4119036; 350992, 4119552; 351141, 
4119810; 350883, 4120434; 350814, 4120950; 350943, 4121426; 351091, 
4121892; 350834, 4122328; 350596, 4122765; 350576, 4123003; 350655, 
4123181; 350987, 4123112; 351592, 4123250; 351919, 4123746; 352088, 
4124192; 352405, 4124678; 352286, 4125095; 351800, 4125372; 351463, 
4125650; 351057, 4125888; 350700, 4126017; 350491, 4125868; 350194,

[[Page 40988]]

4126007; 350333, 4126255; 350660, 4126245; 350868, 4126414; 350819, 
4126701; 350472, 4126850; 349986, 4126820; 349827, 4126662; 349629, 
4126493; 349510, 4126652; 349371, 4127068; 349292, 4127227; 349113, 
4127435; 348320, 4126840; 348161, 4126681; 347884, 4126681; 347794, 
4126781; 347636, 4126751; 347536, 4126523; 347368, 4126295; 346912, 
4126037; 346604, 4125769; 346545, 4125521; 346356, 4125333; 346029, 
4125353; 345598, 4124986; 344963, 4124906; 344348, 4125115; 343962, 
4125412; 343515, 4125809; 342891, 4125958; 342673, 4126156; 342722, 
4126315; 343109, 4126562; 344110, 4126840; 344696, 4126949; 345538, 
4127038; 346381, 4126999; 347046, 4127078; 347611, 4127247; 348057, 
4127614; 348156, 4128090; 348275, 4128328; 348622, 4128447; 348969, 
4128774; 349069, 4129200; 348945, 4129577; 348726, 4129736; 348350, 
4129964; 348032, 4130003; 348350, 4130142; 348855, 4129914; 349153, 
4129904; 349153, 4130261; 348984, 4130380; 348518, 4131035; 348231, 
4131649; 348001, 4131812; 347610, 4131751; 346976, 4131497; 346488, 
4131121; 345930, 4130538; 345600, 4130086; 344777, 4129685; 344366, 
4129451; 343719, 4129106; 342627, 4129131; 341637, 4129314; 340922, 
4129396; 340478, 4129563; 340320, 4129769; 340454, 4130269; 340201, 
4130832; 340772, 4130769; 340978, 4130872; 341105, 4131166; 341113, 
4131411; 341390, 4131760; 341494, 4132244; 341565, 4132387; 341763, 
4132292; 341787, 4132165; 341985, 4132236; 342021, 4132578; 341902, 
4132847; 341617, 4133117; 341371, 4133276; 340918, 4133339; 340696, 
4133307; 340101, 4133347; 339586, 4133101; 339284, 4133061; 338737, 
4133014; 338253, 4132800; 337650, 4132816; 337448, 4132887; 337432, 
4133196; 337345, 4133442; 337392, 4133656; 337916, 4133775; 338027, 
4134132; 338249, 4134339; 338360, 4134315; 338479, 4134132; 338328, 
4133966; 338305, 4133736; 338400, 4133664; 338662, 4133736; 338939, 
4133783; 339114, 4134005; 339106, 4134474; 339368, 4134688; 339439, 
4134513; 339439, 4134243; 339606, 4134045; 340010, 4133910; 340177, 
4133887; 340335, 4134132; 340288, 4134378; 340097, 4134719; 339883, 
4134910; 339463, 4135053; 339375, 4135140; 339344, 4135529; 339399, 
4135640; 339621, 4135759; 340177, 4135592; 340581, 4135061; 340883, 
4134973; 340922, 4134831; 340851, 4134569; 340788, 4134442; 340859, 
4134362; 341176, 4134513; 341462, 4134656; 341668, 4134664; 341775, 
4135219; 341886, 4135624; 342053, 4135862; 342116, 4136068; 342410, 
4136235; 343163, 4136211; 343290, 4136433; 343275, 4136576; 343052, 
4136719; 342751, 4136687; 342529, 4136933; 342204, 4137234; 342283, 
4137440; 342648, 4137440; 342973, 4137210; 343084, 4137298; 343060, 
4137472; 342902, 4137631; 342616, 4137750; 342418, 4137948; 342398, 
4138361; 342009, 4138670; 341652, 4138472; 341605, 4138242; 341375, 
4138020; 341359, 4137837; 341145, 4137615; 340970, 4137298; 340891, 
4137147; 340669, 4137012; 340312, 4136980; 340208, 4137052; 340034, 
4137020; 339780, 4136695; 339709, 4136520; 339439, 4136385; 339320, 
4136251; 339233, 4136028; 339130, 4135830; 338519, 4135830; 338419, 
4135487; 338438, 4135279; 338210, 4134912; 337943, 4134872; 337397, 
4134803; 337199, 4134803; 336852, 4134912; 336495, 4135408; 336247, 
4135765; 336059, 4135903; 335632, 4135933; 335236, 4135775; 334898, 
4135537; 334571, 4135338; 334125, 4135338; 334095, 4135884; 334482, 
4136568; 334700, 4136845; 335216, 4137242; 335751, 4137718; 336019, 
4137956; 336039, 4138174; 335771, 4138313; 335513, 4138571; 335513, 
4138948; 335920, 4139245; 336168, 4139444; 336148, 4139672; 335930, 
4139959; 335617, 4140653; 335548, 4141228; 335310, 4141357; 334953, 
4141942; 334943, 4142200; 335379, 4142399; 335766, 4142389; 336113, 
4142200; 336480, 4141417; 336599, 4141109; 336986, 4140752; 337105, 
4140455; 337630, 4140197; 337948, 4139473; 338453, 4138601; 338543, 
4138214; 338473, 4137817; 338275, 4137550; 338334, 4137391; 338632, 
4137341; 338860, 4137490; 338900, 4137797; 339128, 4137847; 339266, 
4137470; 339257, 4137321; 339623, 4137202; 339772, 4137510; 339723, 
4138035; 340060, 4138333; 340357, 4138402; 340972, 4138690; 340947, 
4139037; 340957, 4139265; 341265, 4139265; 341384, 4139106; 341731, 
4139136; 341701, 4139354; 341463, 4139533; 341304, 4139701; 340917, 
4139850; 340818, 4140138; 340412, 4140534; 339807, 4141040; 339252, 
4141347; 338795, 4141615; 338627, 4141744; 338141, 4141734; 337943, 
4141595; 337665, 4141675; 337239, 4141942; 337040, 4142190; 336792, 
4142488; 336505, 4142875; 336321, 4143360; 337382, 4143261; 337521, 
4143668; 337680, 4143797; 337729, 4143559; 337710, 4143033; 337789, 
4142835; 338086, 4142666; 338205, 4142765; 338265, 4142944; 338047, 
4143142; 338186, 4143390; 338652, 4142894; 338622, 4142468; 339465, 
4142200; 339485, 4142537; 339108, 4142706; 339009, 4142984; 339157, 
4143370; 339465, 4143549; 339812, 4143767; 340109, 4143965; 340228, 
4144302; 340496, 4144372; 340585, 4143777; 340109, 4142706; 340208, 
4142289; 340288, 4142180; 340278, 4141714; 340456, 4141516; 340655, 
4141893; 340556, 4142280; 340922, 4142736; 341041, 4143112; 341022, 
4143906; 340942, 4144441; 340873, 4144937; 341190, 4145334; 341458, 
4145235; 341557, 4145512; 341666, 4145532; 341924, 4145264; 341825, 
4144620; 341914, 4144015; 341626, 4143479; 341825, 4143132; 341329, 
4142557; 341428, 4141893; 341200, 4141675; 340962, 4141199; 340903, 
4141060; 341041, 4141040; 341170, 4141060; 341141, 4140852; 341210, 
4140643; 341398, 4140663; 341537, 4140514; 341696, 4140842; 341874, 
4141179; 342038, 4141694; 342058, 4142349; 342127, 4143093; 342445, 
4143291; 342306, 4143856; 342564, 4144511; 342752, 4144481; 343218, 
4144025; 343287, 4143757; 343059, 4143499; 342772, 4142974; 342802, 
4142835; 342970, 4142815; 343010, 4142448; 342980, 4142200; 342990, 
4142042; 343238, 4141833; 343783, 4142101; 343922, 4142309; 344130, 
4142458; 344606, 4142428; 344557, 4142151; 344408, 4141764; 344180, 
4141347; 344041, 4140941; 344081, 4140554; 344497, 4140157; 344596, 
4139721; 344626, 4139394; 344715, 4139245; 344973, 4139374; 344943, 
4140058; 345171, 4140157; 345598, 4140386; 345727, 4140673; 345697, 
4141080; 345568, 4141417; 345647, 4142002; 345717, 4142607; 345955, 
4142785; 346133, 4143073; 346342, 4143698; 346550, 4144243; 346639, 
4144808; 346847, 4145235; 347001, 4145631; 347298, 4145929; 347447, 
4145879; 347586, 4145562; 347546, 4145135; 347556, 4144699; 347725, 
4144174; 347715, 4143846; 347586, 4143539; 347527, 4143172; 347874, 
4143598; 348211, 4143817; 348201, 4144084; 348449, 4144382; 348548, 
4144419; 348838, 4144480; 348970, 4144480; 349110, 4144489; 349189, 
4144489; 349295, 4144480; 349374, 4144498; 349461, 4144489; 349549, 
4144489; 349602, 4144471; 349698, 4144436; 349795, 4144445; 349979, 
4144471; 350190, 4144550; 350321, 4144594; 350453, 4144673; 350452, 
4144878; 350432, 4145562; 350442, 4146236; 350551, 4146672; 350501, 
4147158; 350670, 4147436; 350878, 4147664; 350591, 4148061; 350283, 
4148229; 350353, 4148933; 350402, 4149459; 350348, 4150371; 350606, 
4150788; 350992, 4151016; returning to 351676, 4150867; excluding land

[[Page 40989]]

bounded by 352666, 4139452; 352330, 4139197; 352261, 4139018; 352280, 
4139004; 352300, 4138988; 352332, 4138964; 352634, 4139235; 352732, 
4139417; 352718, 4139424; 352718, 4139425; 352694, 4139437; 352694, 
4139437; 352690, 4139439; 352687, 4139441; 352687, 4139441; returning 
to 352666, 4139452; excluding land bounded by 350254, 4136280; 350216, 
4136187; 350216, 4136187; 350178, 4136094; 350363, 4136018; 350402, 
4136111; 350402, 4136111; 350440, 4136204; 350478, 4136296; 350305, 
4136368; 350300, 4136361; 350295, 4136351; 350293, 4136348; 350287, 
4136341; 350283, 4136338; 350280, 4136335; 350276, 4136333; 350276, 
4136333; returning to 350254, 4136280; excluding land bounded by 
349527, 4136002; 349500, 4136201; 349450, 4136194; 349408, 4136200; 
349404, 4136201; 349391, 4136206; 349321, 4136238; 349317, 4136223; 
349126, 4136278; 349099, 4136181; 349045, 4135990; 349139, 4135963; 
349138, 4135962; 349235, 4135934; 349212, 4135851; 349308, 4135823; 
349406, 4135799; 349478, 4135988; 349478, 4135995; returning to 349527, 
4136002.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 4 (Wheeler Ridge) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 5) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 40990]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.005

    (10) Unit 5 (Taboose Creek); Fresno and Inyo Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Coyote Flat, North 
Palisade, Split Mountain, Fish Springs, Mount Pinchot, and Aberdeen. 
Land bounded by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 
376756, 4109414; 376837, 4109413; 376838, 4109467; 376865, 4109466; 
377166, 4109426;

[[Page 40991]]

377588, 4109383; 377647, 4109351; 377738, 4109348; 377949, 4109341; 
378189, 4109273; 378307, 4109179; 378423, 4109025; 378417, 4108844; 
378288, 4108608; 378131, 4108402; 377943, 4108197; 377878, 4108048; 
377872, 4107868; 377869, 4107777; 378016, 4107622; 378227, 4107615; 
378408, 4107610; 378649, 4107602; 378949, 4107502; 378970, 4107230; 
378903, 4107022; 378751, 4106996; 378625, 4106820; 378498, 4106643; 
378218, 4106381; 378030, 4106176; 377814, 4106032; 377809, 4105881; 
377958, 4105817; 378200, 4105809; 378319, 4105745; 378467, 4105650; 
378524, 4105558; 378552, 4105466; 378547, 4105316; 378483, 4105198; 
378299, 4105113; 378206, 4105056; 378232, 4104904; 378410, 4104808; 
378404, 4104628; 378341, 4104539; 378248, 4104452; 378126, 4104426; 
378006, 4104459; 377826, 4104495; 377612, 4104412; 377461, 4104416; 
377400, 4104418; 377007, 4104401; 376822, 4104286; 376728, 4104169; 
376786, 4104106; 377240, 4104122; 377424, 4104207; 377787, 4104225; 
378148, 4104184; 378360, 4104177; 378631, 4104169; 378992, 4104097; 
379233, 4104089; 379320, 4103966; 379283, 4103756; 378943, 4103526; 
378788, 4103380; 378511, 4103239; 378355, 4103063; 378316, 4102793; 
378220, 4102615; 378126, 4102528; 377794, 4102538; 377432, 4102550; 
377312, 4102584; 377221, 4102587; 376947, 4102505; 376851, 4102327; 
376876, 4102176; 376992, 4102021; 377135, 4101776; 377222, 4101653; 
377248, 4101531; 377278, 4101500; 377365, 4101407; 377570, 4101190; 
377685, 4101005; 377766, 4100702; 377727, 4100432; 377722, 4100251; 
377713, 4099980; 377856, 4099735; 377972, 4099581; 378422, 4099476; 
378659, 4099318; 378563, 4099140; 378468, 4099023; 378282, 4098848; 
378125, 4098672; 377937, 4098467; 377751, 4098322; 377623, 4098085; 
377528, 4097938; 377462, 4097789; 377306, 4097614; 377026, 4097381; 
376873, 4097296; 376869, 4097175; 377043, 4096959; 377279, 4096771; 
377430, 4096766; 377522, 4096793; 377673, 4096819; 377887, 4096872; 
378039, 4096898; 378249, 4096861; 378578, 4096760; 378698, 4096726; 
378967, 4096627; 379089, 4096684; 379571, 4096608; 379781, 4096571; 
380053, 4096563; 380202, 4096498; 380257, 4096346; 380221, 4096166; 
380069, 4096111; 379856, 4096087; 379613, 4096035; 379459, 4095949; 
379305, 4095864; 379182, 4095777; 378998, 4095692; 378874, 4095606; 
378844, 4095607; 378751, 4095550; 378627, 4095433; 378532, 4095316; 
378350, 4095291; 378168, 4095267; 377956, 4095243; 377831, 4095127; 
377766, 4094978; 377722, 4095010; 377686, 4094830; 377563, 4094744; 
377407, 4094598; 377257, 4094633; 377106, 4094638; 376865, 4094675; 
376779, 4094799; 376630, 4094894; 376207, 4094877; 375932, 4094795; 
375628, 4094714; 375475, 4094659; 374990, 4094614; 374778, 4094621; 
374629, 4094656; 374445, 4094571; 374327, 4094665; 374149, 4094791; 
374001, 4094886; 373852, 4094951; 373761, 4094924; 373728, 4094835; 
373783, 4094682; 373748, 4094533; 373656, 4094475; 373477, 4094541; 
373359, 4094635; 373150, 4094732; 373059, 4094705; 372935, 4094619; 
372930, 4094468; 373017, 4094345; 372984, 4094256; 372949, 4094106; 
372732, 4093932; 372517, 4093818; 372366, 4093823; 372188, 4093919; 
372167, 4094221; 372117, 4094554; 372151, 4094673; 372216, 4094822; 
372313, 4095030; 372682, 4095229; 372838, 4095375; 373206, 4095544; 
373388, 4095568; 373626, 4095440; 373747, 4095436; 373900, 4095522; 
373933, 4095581; 373906, 4095703; 373849, 4095795; 373820, 4095856; 
373676, 4096071; 373527, 4096136; 373351, 4096292; 373142, 4096389; 
372962, 4096425; 372841, 4096429; 372626, 4096315; 372446, 4096351; 
372387, 4096383; 372332, 4096566; 372306, 4096717; 372068, 4096815; 
371887, 4096821; 371648, 4096919; 371440, 4097015; 371287, 4096960; 
371191, 4096812; 371041, 4096847; 371079, 4097087; 371235, 4097233; 
371298, 4097321; 371571, 4097343; 371661, 4097340; 371963, 4097330; 
372056, 4097388; 372059, 4097478; 372062, 4097598; 372068, 4097779; 
372131, 4097867; 372278, 4097742; 372485, 4097585; 372753, 4097456; 
372962, 4097389; 373146, 4097474; 373153, 4097684; 373065, 4097777; 
372952, 4098022; 372899, 4098265; 373024, 4098381; 373145, 4098377; 
373387, 4098400; 373391, 4098520; 373396, 4098671; 373283, 4098915; 
373167, 4099070; 373018, 4099135; 372559, 4098968; 372437, 4098942; 
372349, 4099005; 372291, 4099097; 372174, 4099221; 372026, 4099316; 
371875, 4099321; 371785, 4099324; 371695, 4099357; 371515, 4099393; 
371363, 4099368; 371240, 4099311; 371118, 4099285; 370871, 4099112; 
370782, 4099145; 370755, 4099266; 370452, 4099246; 370267, 4099131; 
370291, 4098919; 370103, 4098714; 369949, 4098629; 369733, 4098485; 
369636, 4098277; 369478, 4098071; 369421, 4098164; 369397, 4098375; 
369247, 4098410; 368883, 4098361; 368578, 4098251; 368421, 4098075; 
368236, 4097960; 368408, 4097683; 368555, 4097528; 368516, 4097258; 
368782, 4097069; 368900, 4096975; 368983, 4096732; 369070, 4096608; 
369216, 4096453; 369333, 4096329; 369664, 4096288; 369960, 4096098; 
370169, 4096031; 370227, 4095939; 370311, 4095726; 370395, 4095512; 
370478, 4095268; 370471, 4095058; 370317, 4094972; 370228, 4095005; 
370143, 4095189; 370086, 4095311; 370033, 4095554; 369852, 4095559; 
369759, 4095472; 369754, 4095321; 369931, 4095195; 370052, 4095192; 
369896, 4095046; 369683, 4094992; 369532, 4094997; 369377, 4094851; 
369310, 4094673; 369183, 4094466; 369211, 4094405; 369359, 4094310; 
369449, 4094277; 369688, 4094179; 370050, 4094167; 370288, 4094039; 
370281, 4093829; 370067, 4093745; 369857, 4093812; 369530, 4093973; 
369319, 4093980; 369109, 4094046; 368894, 4093933; 368830, 4093814; 
368917, 4093691; 369065, 4093596; 369099, 4093715; 369248, 4093650; 
369486, 4093522; 369694, 4093425; 369843, 4093361; 369959, 4093206; 
369715, 4093124; 369443, 4093132; 369292, 4093137; 369229, 4093049; 
369285, 4092926; 369737, 4092882; 370010, 4092903; 370348, 4093074; 
370470, 4093130; 370718, 4093303; 370874, 4093479; 370969, 4093596; 
371087, 4093502; 371205, 4093408; 371198, 4093197; 371193, 4093047; 
371183, 4092716; 370931, 4092392; 370682, 4092159; 370465, 4092015; 
370342, 4091929; 370126, 4091785; 369852, 4091734; 369636, 4091590; 
369421, 4091476; 369237, 4091391; 368843, 4091344; 368665, 4091470; 
368548, 4091594; 368360, 4091841; 368334, 4091992; 368373, 4092262; 
368409, 4092442; 368479, 4092741; 368637, 4092977; 368673, 4093156; 
368709, 4093336; 368531, 4093432; 368410, 4093436; 368414, 4093556; 
368453, 4093826; 368457, 4093977; 368495, 4094216; 368565, 4094515; 
368542, 4094727; 368574, 4094786; 368698, 4094903; 368789, 4094900; 
368883, 4095018; 368919, 4095197; 368924, 4095348; 368868, 4095500; 
368715, 4095445; 368595, 4095448; 368472, 4095392; 368227, 4095279; 
368044, 4095225; 368078, 4095344; 368205, 4095551; 368331, 4095698; 
368364, 4095787; 368307, 4095909; 368194, 4096154; 368168, 4096305; 
368052, 4096430; 367957, 4096312; 367742, 4096198; 367646, 4096021; 
367429, 4095847; 367213, 4095703; 367067, 4095888; 367194, 4096065; 
367350, 4096211; 367413, 4096299; 367418, 4096450; 367606, 4096685; 
367759, 4096740; 367882, 4096796; 368006, 4096913; 368070, 4097001;

[[Page 40992]]

368013, 4097124; 367892, 4097127; 367710, 4097103; 367467, 4097050; 
367410, 4097173; 367536, 4097319; 367660, 4097436; 367724, 4097524; 
367728, 4097675; 367734, 4097855; 367741, 4098066; 367655, 4098219; 
367475, 4098255; 367205, 4098324; 366941, 4098573; 366794, 4098698; 
366678, 4098853; 366739, 4098881; 366947, 4098784; 367216, 4098685; 
367456, 4098617; 367575, 4098553; 367756, 4098548; 367879, 4098604; 
368093, 4098688; 368185, 4098745; 368340, 4098860; 368404, 4098979; 
368408, 4099099; 368413, 4099250; 368295, 4099344; 368022, 4099322; 
367900, 4099296; 367718, 4099272; 367507, 4099278; 367328, 4099344; 
367241, 4099468; 367424, 4099522; 367668, 4099605; 367791, 4099661; 
367824, 4099750; 367735, 4099813; 367676, 4099845; 367556, 4099879; 
367347, 4099946; 367135, 4099923; 367103, 4099894; 366918, 4099779; 
366800, 4099843; 366619, 4099879; 366379, 4099916; 366200, 4099982; 
366106, 4099895; 365983, 4099809; 366017, 4099928; 366051, 4100077; 
366055, 4100198; 365817, 4100296; 365759, 4100388; 365764, 4100538; 
365707, 4100661; 365468, 4100728; 365289, 4100825; 365262, 4100916; 
365238, 4101097; 365242, 4101248; 365305, 4101306; 365338, 4101395; 
365461, 4101482; 365583, 4101508; 365707, 4101595; 365977, 4101556; 
366008, 4101555; 366064, 4101433; 366149, 4101249; 366112, 4101040; 
366107, 4100889; 366194, 4100766; 366281, 4100643; 366337, 4100520; 
366394, 4100398; 366634, 4100330; 366906, 4100352; 367057, 4100347; 
367270, 4100370; 367542, 4100392; 367636, 4100479; 367759, 4100566; 
367793, 4100685; 367768, 4100837; 367771, 4100927; 367534, 4101085; 
367235, 4101185; 367092, 4101430; 367124, 4101490; 367185, 4101518; 
367366, 4101512; 367606, 4101444; 367787, 4101438; 367910, 4101525; 
368004, 4101612; 367978, 4101764; 367950, 4101825; 367743, 4101952; 
367539, 4102199; 367574, 4102349; 367786, 4102372; 367993, 4102215; 
368261, 4102086; 368496, 4101868; 368612, 4101714; 368728, 4101559; 
368932, 4101342; 369076, 4101127; 369126, 4100794; 369116, 4100463; 
368958, 4100257; 368834, 4100140; 368738, 4099993; 368643, 4099845; 
368729, 4099692; 368852, 4099748; 369094, 4099771; 369240, 4099615; 
369508, 4099486; 369412, 4099309; 369169, 4099286; 368986, 4099232; 
368953, 4099142; 369102, 4099077; 369344, 4099070; 369771, 4099207; 
369894, 4099263; 369926, 4099323; 370111, 4099437; 370208, 4099645; 
370427, 4099879; 370519, 4099906; 370610, 4099934; 370672, 4099992; 
370707, 4100141; 370743, 4100321; 370868, 4100437; 371083, 4100551; 
371115, 4100610; 371028, 4100734; 370728, 4100803; 370514, 4100720; 
370122, 4100732; 370126, 4100883; 370163, 4101092; 370288, 4101209; 
370533, 4101322; 370744, 4101285; 370922, 4101189; 371195, 4101240; 
371378, 4101265; 371409, 4101294; 371412, 4101414; 371358, 4101597; 
371421, 4101685; 371541, 4101651; 371686, 4101466; 371830, 4101251; 
371977, 4101125; 372163, 4101270; 372198, 4101420; 372147, 4101692; 
372058, 4101755; 371972, 4101909; 372009, 4102119; 372133, 4102235; 
372138, 4102386; 372050, 4102449; 371932, 4102543; 371809, 4102486; 
371747, 4102428; 371629, 4102522; 371477, 4102497; 371327, 4102532; 
371331, 4102652; 371182, 4102717; 371001, 4102723; 370879, 4102696; 
370699, 4102732; 370400, 4102832; 370157, 4102810; 370092, 4102661; 
370179, 4102538; 370358, 4102472; 370384, 4102351; 370381, 4102230; 
370284, 4102052; 370043, 4102060; 369801, 4102068; 369442, 4102169; 
369050, 4102212; 368692, 4102344; 368607, 4102527; 368855, 4102730; 
369133, 4102902; 369262, 4103169; 369148, 4103384; 369067, 4103687; 
369165, 4103925; 369441, 4104037; 369619, 4103941; 369732, 4103697; 
369879, 4103571; 370210, 4103531; 370366, 4103677; 370400, 4103796; 
370434, 4103915; 370500, 4104094; 370416, 4104308; 370421, 4104458; 
370544, 4104545; 370549, 4104695; 370497, 4104968; 370506, 4105239; 
370688, 4105263; 370743, 4105080; 370857, 4104866; 370970, 4104621; 
370933, 4104412; 370928, 4104261; 370924, 4104111; 370982, 4104049; 
371073, 4104046; 371227, 4104161; 371263, 4104341; 371360, 4104519; 
371490, 4104816; 371501, 4105177; 371446, 4105329; 371364, 4105603; 
371340, 4105815; 371315, 4105966; 371229, 4106119; 371082, 4106245; 
371001, 4106548; 370978, 4106790; 370984, 4106971; 370989, 4107121; 
371055, 4107300; 371210, 4107415; 371395, 4107530; 371668, 4107582; 
371718, 4107249; 371740, 4106977; 371758, 4106615; 371873, 4106430; 
372109, 4106242; 372322, 4106266; 372390, 4106505; 372276, 4106749; 
372192, 4106963; 371960, 4107271; 371880, 4107605; 371891, 4107936; 
371868, 4108178; 371847, 4108450; 371856, 4108751; 371860, 4108871; 
371957, 4109079; 372145, 4109284; 372207, 4109342; 372301, 4109429; 
372518, 4109603; 372702, 4109688; 373006, 4109738; 373158, 4109764; 
373430, 4109785; 373856, 4109862; 374282, 4109969; 374583, 4109930; 
375005, 4109886; 375212, 4109759; 375603, 4109686; 375630, 4109681; 
375627, 4109522; 376032, 4109425; 376434, 4109419; 376474, 4109418; 
376515, 4109417; 376595, 4109416; 376635, 4109416; 376676, 4109415; 
376716, 4109414; returning to 376756, 4109414.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 5 (Taboose Creek) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 6) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 40993]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.006

    (11) Unit 6 (Sawmill Canyon); Fresno and Inyo Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Mount Pinchot, Aberdeen, 
Mount Clarence King and Kearsarge Peak. Land bounded by the following 
UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 380512, 4083384; 380416, 4083207; 
380321, 4083059; 380256, 4082940; 380133, 4082854; 379980, 4082799;

[[Page 40994]]

379859, 4082802; 379709, 4082837; 379527, 4082813; 379374, 4082757; 
379265, 4082696; 379160, 4082674; 379038, 4082647; 378867, 4082568; 
378795, 4082595; 378516, 4082363; 378327, 4082128; 378166, 4081831; 
378065, 4081503; 377933, 4081146; 377834, 4080878; 377738, 4080700; 
377610, 4080493; 377442, 4080457; 377339, 4080502; 377219, 4080536; 
376984, 4080754; 376746, 4080882; 376628, 4080946; 376239, 4081079; 
376030, 4081176; 375641, 4081278; 375519, 4081252; 375032, 4081147; 
374788, 4081064; 374635, 4081009; 374295, 4080749; 373983, 4080457; 
374028, 4080221; 373860, 4080371; 373684, 4080557; 373540, 4080772; 
373455, 4080956; 373288, 4081413; 373050, 4081541; 372934, 4081695; 
372606, 4081826; 372340, 4082015; 372244, 4082045; 372121, 4082062; 
371940, 4082079; 371706, 4082035; 371156, 4081842; 370857, 4081941; 
370503, 4082224; 370199, 4082263; 369698, 4082060; 368468, 4081749; 
367602, 4081695; 367089, 4081384; 366778, 4081235; 366399, 4081303; 
366264, 4081871; 366778, 4082344; 367143, 4082763; 367427, 4083358; 
367548, 4083750; 367616, 4084237; 367778, 4084629; 367995, 4084724; 
368279, 4084669; 368495, 4084764; 368738, 4084940; 368968, 4085237; 
369198, 4085400; 369536, 4085481; 369769, 4085771; 369933, 4086158; 
370188, 4086602; 370528, 4086832; 370742, 4086916; 370782, 4087216; 
370816, 4087335; 370850, 4087454; 370978, 4087691; 371016, 4087931; 
371050, 4088051; 371089, 4088321; 371394, 4088401; 371664, 4088363; 
371848, 4088447; 371973, 4088564; 372034, 4088592; 372340, 4088703; 
372640, 4088633; 372970, 4088562; 373118, 4088467; 373447, 4088367; 
373629, 4088361; 373659, 4088360; 373750, 4088387; 373842, 4088414; 
373968, 4088591; 373971, 4088682; 374007, 4088861; 374100, 4088949; 
374253, 4089004; 374464, 4088967; 374645, 4088962; 374768, 4089048; 
374801, 4089137; 374776, 4089289; 374686, 4089322; 374443, 4089269; 
374323, 4089303; 374265, 4089365; 374147, 4089459; 374089, 4089551; 
374033, 4089674; 374071, 4089913; 374164, 4090001; 374256, 4090058; 
374379, 4090115; 374439, 4090113; 374535, 4090260; 374479, 4090413; 
374486, 4090623; 374585, 4090891; 374648, 4090980; 374742, 4091067; 
374806, 4091186; 374869, 4091274; 374873, 4091394; 374944, 4091724; 
375104, 4092020; 375353, 4092253; 375506, 4092308; 375784, 4092480; 
376026, 4092503; 376146, 4092469; 376298, 4092494; 376391, 4092582; 
376454, 4092670; 376548, 4092757; 376700, 4092783; 376851, 4092778; 
377125, 4092860; 377249, 4092946; 377375, 4093123; 377410, 4093272; 
377564, 4093358; 377719, 4093474; 378147, 4093641; 378302, 4093756; 
378486, 4093841; 378704, 4094045; 378951, 4094218; 379315, 4094267; 
379468, 4094322; 379649, 4094316; 379894, 4094399; 380136, 4094421; 
380289, 4094477; 380473, 4094561; 380690, 4094735; 380873, 4094790; 
381053, 4094754; 381294, 4094716; 381411, 4094592; 381403, 4094351; 
381394, 4094081; 381389, 4093900; 381322, 4093691; 381288, 4093572; 
381041, 4093429; 380797, 4093346; 380552, 4093234; 380575, 4093022; 
380630, 4092839; 380441, 4092604; 380495, 4092392; 380611, 4092238; 
380818, 4092111; 380998, 4092045; 381116, 4091981; 381142, 4091829; 
381107, 4091680; 380983, 4091593; 380798, 4091479; 380494, 4091398; 
380431, 4091340; 380366, 4091191; 380361, 4091041; 380386, 4090859; 
380532, 4090704; 380796, 4090454; 381061, 4090235; 381269, 4090108; 
381504, 4089920; 381771, 4089761; 381913, 4089455; 381966, 4089213; 
381956, 4088912; 381975, 4088550; 382088, 4088305; 382178, 4088272; 
382237, 4088240; 382297, 4088238; 382537, 4088170; 382775, 4088042; 
383039, 4087793; 383123, 4087580; 383323, 4087242; 383434, 4086907; 
383638, 4086690; 383908, 4086621; 384089, 4086615; 384330, 4086578; 
384450, 4086544; 384718, 4086445; 384987, 4086346; 385137, 4086311; 
385317, 4086245; 385466, 4086180; 385554, 4086117; 385552, 4086057; 
385399, 4085971; 385278, 4085975; 385186, 4085948; 385065, 4085922; 
384944, 4085926; 384792, 4085900; 384672, 4085934; 384490, 4085910; 
384369, 4085914; 384277, 4085856; 384185, 4085829; 384094, 4085802; 
383696, 4085634; 383574, 4085607; 383452, 4085581; 383330, 4085525; 
383178, 4085499; 383086, 4085472; 382963, 4085386; 382749, 4085332; 
382537, 4085309; 382385, 4085283; 382231, 4085198; 381960, 4085206; 
381842, 4085300; 381721, 4085304; 381628, 4085217; 381595, 4085127; 
381529, 4084949; 381466, 4084890; 381429, 4084681; 381331, 4084443; 
381176, 4084297; 381080, 4084150; 381016, 4084031; 380956, 4084033; 
380773, 4083979; 380619, 4083893; 380582, 4083683; 380513, 4083414; 
returning to 380512, 4083384.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 6 (Sawmill Canyon) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 7) follows:

[[Page 40995]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.007

    (12) Unit 7 (Mount Baxter); Fresno and Inyo Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Aberdeen, Mount Clarence 
King and Kearsarge Peak. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 11 
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 374028, 4080221; 373983, 4080457; 374295, 
4080749; 374635, 4081009; 374788, 4081064; 375032, 4081147; 375519, 
4081252; 375641, 4081278; 376030, 4081176; 376239, 4081079; 376628, 
4080946;

[[Page 40996]]

376746, 4080882; 376984, 4080754; 377219, 4080536; 377339, 4080502; 
377442, 4080457; 377610, 4080493; 377738, 4080700; 377834, 4080878; 
377933, 4081146; 378065, 4081503; 378166, 4081831; 378327, 4082128; 
378516, 4082363; 378795, 4082595; 378867, 4082568; 379038, 4082647; 
379160, 4082674; 379265, 4082696; 379374, 4082757; 379527, 4082813; 
379709, 4082837; 379859, 4082802; 379980, 4082799; 380133, 4082854; 
380256, 4082940; 380321, 4083059; 380416, 4083207; 380512, 4083384; 
380727, 4083498; 380880, 4083553; 381125, 4083666; 381307, 4083660; 
381760, 4083676; 382157, 4083814; 382374, 4083988; 382561, 4084163; 
382902, 4084423; 382969, 4084632; 383097, 4084869; 383261, 4085256; 
383416, 4085401; 383537, 4085398; 383692, 4085513; 383967, 4085625; 
384119, 4085650; 384182, 4085709; 384213, 4085738; 384244, 4085767; 
384367, 4085853; 384670, 4085874; 384852, 4085898; 385092, 4085830; 
385213, 4085827; 385396, 4085881; 385515, 4085817; 385631, 4085663; 
385715, 4085479; 385770, 4085297; 385765, 4085147; 385729, 4084967; 
385662, 4084758; 385564, 4084520; 385498, 4084342; 385402, 4084164; 
385277, 4084047; 385184, 4083960; 385117, 4083751; 385113, 4083631; 
385078, 4083481; 385073, 4083331; 385069, 4083210; 385124, 4083028; 
385088, 4082848; 385084, 4082728; 385114, 4082697; 385234, 4082693; 
385384, 4082658; 385383, 4082598; 385318, 4082480; 385255, 4082391; 
385162, 4082304; 385128, 4082184; 385124, 4082064; 385023, 4081736; 
384960, 4081647; 384898, 4081619; 384777, 4081593; 384649, 4081386; 
384581, 4081147; 384392, 4080912; 384386, 4080702; 384320, 4080523; 
384199, 4080527; 384108, 4080530; 383867, 4080537; 383745, 4080511; 
383682, 4080423; 383584, 4080185; 383519, 4080036; 383422, 4079858; 
383385, 4079619; 383318, 4079410; 383126, 4079084; 382787, 4078884; 
382573, 4078801; 382268, 4078720; 382054, 4078636; 381899, 4078491; 
381864, 4078341; 381857, 4078130; 382123, 4077941; 382299, 4077785; 
382598, 4077685; 382685, 4077562; 382772, 4077439; 382798, 4077317; 
382762, 4077138; 382693, 4076869; 382628, 4076720; 382592, 4076541; 
382467, 4076394; 382431, 4076214; 382422, 4075944; 382420, 4075853; 
382415, 4075703; 382411, 4075582; 382376, 4075433; 382219, 4075257; 
382127, 4075200; 382006, 4075204; 381917, 4075237; 381828, 4075300; 
381588, 4075367; 381498, 4075370; 381257, 4075408; 380982, 4075296; 
380831, 4075301; 380799, 4075242; 380856, 4075149; 381004, 4075054; 
381064, 4075022; 381215, 4075018; 381455, 4074980; 381605, 4074945; 
381725, 4074911; 381844, 4074847; 382054, 4074810; 382239, 4074925; 
382392, 4074981; 382544, 4075006; 382632, 4074913; 382593, 4074643; 
382436, 4074467; 382281, 4074351; 382129, 4074296; 382216, 4074203; 
382393, 4074047; 382659, 4073858; 382774, 4073673; 382858, 4073460; 
382822, 4073280; 382787, 4073131; 382753, 4073011; 382778, 4072860; 
382835, 4072737; 382895, 4072736; 383014, 4072672; 383010, 4072551; 
382977, 4072462; 382885, 4072404; 382761, 4072318; 382640, 4072322; 
382489, 4072327; 382488, 4072266; 382575, 4072173; 382694, 4072109; 
382968, 4072161; 382965, 4072071; 382933, 4072011; 382902, 4071982; 
382839, 4071924; 382810, 4071955; 382750, 4071957; 382686, 4071869; 
382565, 4071842; 382502, 4071754; 382409, 4071696; 382314, 4071549; 
382310, 4071428; 382273, 4071219; 382268, 4071068; 382264, 4070918; 
382141, 4070861; 381900, 4070869; 381691, 4070966; 381361, 4071037; 
381238, 4070980; 380965, 4070929; 380812, 4070873; 380627, 4070759; 
380476, 4070763; 380386, 4070796; 380329, 4070888; 380183, 4071044; 
380004, 4071140; 379946, 4071202; 379823, 4071145; 379698, 4070999; 
379600, 4070761; 379445, 4070645; 379050, 4070567; 378715, 4070487; 
378534, 4070493; 378263, 4070532; 378142, 4070536; 377869, 4070514; 
377753, 4070668; 377635, 4070762; 377516, 4070796; 377272, 4070744; 
377151, 4070717; 376969, 4070723; 376700, 4070792; 376551, 4070857; 
376068, 4070872; 375768, 4070942; 375405, 4070953; 375071, 4070903; 
374892, 4070969; 374774, 4071063; 374477, 4071223; 374114, 4071205; 
373869, 4071092; 373301, 4071291; 373065, 4071479; 372945, 4071628; 
373168, 4071877; 373380, 4072302; 373305, 4073027; 373293, 4073252; 
373093, 4073577; 372943, 4073790; 372693, 4073852; 372480, 4073752; 
372330, 4073514; 372255, 4073289; 371993, 4073327; 371693, 4073689; 
371543, 4074102; 371843, 4074765; 372030, 4075127; 372243, 4075427; 
372205, 4075727; 371980, 4075927; 371824, 4076302; 371812, 4077578; 
371661, 4078453; 371486, 4078640; 371024, 4078703; 370743, 4078628; 
370443, 4078490; 370226, 4078314; 370197, 4078295; 370023, 4078503; 
370037, 4078955; 369931, 4079410; 369948, 4079952; 370023, 4080401; 
370216, 4080787; 370463, 4080930; 370861, 4081098; 371163, 4081088; 
371407, 4081171; 371836, 4081368; 372051, 4081482; 372322, 4081443; 
372676, 4081161; 372814, 4080765; 372865, 4080462; 373090, 4079913; 
373259, 4079546; 373580, 4079174; 373739, 4079410; 373866, 4079617; 
374025, 4079883; 374061, 4080063; 374035, 4080184; returning to 374028, 
4080221.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 7 (Mount Baxter) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 8) follows:

[[Page 40997]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.008

    (13) Unit 8 (Mount Williamson); Inyo and Tulare Counties, 
California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangle Kearsarge Peak, Mount 
Brewer, Mount Williamson, Manzanar, Mount Whitney and Mount Langley. 
Land bounded by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 
384282, 4069770; 384492, 4069703; 384612, 4069699; 384763, 4069694; 
384974, 4069658; 385152, 4069562; 385148, 4069441; 384994, 4069356;

[[Page 40998]]

384934, 4069358; 384840, 4069270; 384627, 4069217; 384623, 4069096; 
384617, 4068886; 384580, 4068676; 384570, 4068345; 384463, 4067836; 
384390, 4067447; 384376, 4066995; 384334, 4066635; 384385, 4066332; 
384439, 4066120; 384495, 4065998; 384611, 4065813; 384637, 4065692; 
384753, 4065538; 384810, 4065445; 384959, 4065380; 385077, 4065286; 
384980, 4065079; 384910, 4064780; 384839, 4064450; 384862, 4064209; 
384918, 4064056; 385100, 4064081; 385438, 4064281; 385590, 4064306; 
385804, 4064360; 386017, 4064413; 386229, 4064437; 386532, 4064457; 
386649, 4064333; 386769, 4064299; 386886, 4064205; 387004, 4064111; 
387091, 4063988; 387176, 4063804; 387171, 4063654; 387194, 4063412; 
387310, 4063258; 387397, 4063135; 387484, 4063042; 387660, 4062855; 
387746, 4062702; 387828, 4062458; 387887, 4062396; 387883, 4062276; 
387817, 4062097; 387843, 4061976; 387870, 4061855; 387898, 4061794; 
387989, 4061791; 388140, 4061786; 388260, 4061782; 388319, 4061720; 
388316, 4061630; 388344, 4061569; 388460, 4061414; 388579, 4061350; 
388606, 4061229; 388631, 4061078; 388595, 4060898; 388555, 4060598; 
388580, 4060417; 388546, 4060297; 388542, 4060177; 388630, 4060084; 
388839, 4060017; 388928, 4059954; 388773, 4059838; 388618, 4059722; 
388402, 4059579; 388397, 4059398; 388391, 4059217; 388447, 4059065; 
388594, 4058940; 388774, 4058904; 388864, 4058871; 389100, 4058713; 
389155, 4058531; 389363, 4058404; 389540, 4058278; 389596, 4058155; 
389626, 4058124; 389745, 4058090; 389835, 4058057; 389834, 4058027; 
389832, 4057967; 389829, 4057877; 389793, 4057697; 389668, 4057551; 
389602, 4057372; 389476, 4057225; 389472, 4057075; 389497, 4056923; 
389524, 4056832; 389490, 4056683; 389393, 4056505; 389239, 4056419; 
389119, 4056423; 388970, 4056488; 388908, 4056460; 388935, 4056339; 
388928, 4056128; 388917, 4055767; 388912, 4055616; 388873, 4055346; 
388742, 4055019; 388615, 4054812; 388579, 4054633; 388511, 4054394; 
388566, 4054241; 388716, 4054177; 388927, 4054170; 388956, 4054139; 
389047, 4054136; 389195, 4054041; 389404, 4053974; 389523, 4053910; 
389613, 4053877; 389637, 4053696; 389606, 4053667; 389515, 4053669; 
389362, 4053584; 389208, 4053498; 388962, 4053355; 388780, 4053331; 
388597, 4053277; 388261, 4053167; 388014, 4053024; 387829, 4052879; 
387458, 4052620; 387303, 4052504; 387118, 4052389; 386845, 4052338; 
386600, 4052255; 386356, 4052172; 386230, 4052026; 385918, 4051704; 
385734, 4051619; 385550, 4051535; 385187, 4051516; 385006, 4051522; 
384674, 4051532; 384346, 4051663; 384167, 4051759; 383870, 4051919; 
383573, 4052079; 383456, 4052203; 383402, 4052416; 383346, 4052538; 
383319, 4052629; 383116, 4052907; 382907, 4053004; 382548, 4053105; 
382245, 4053085; 382121, 4052998; 381970, 4052973; 381696, 4052921; 
381422, 4052870; 381087, 4052760; 380627, 4052563; 380323, 4052513; 
380085, 4052610; 380029, 4052763; 379974, 4052945; 380013, 4053215; 
380141, 4053422; 380360, 4053686; 380609, 4053919; 380948, 4054120; 
381137, 4054355; 381414, 4054527; 381478, 4054645; 381571, 4054703; 
381610, 4054972; 381611, 4055033; 381616, 4055183; 381592, 4055365; 
381537, 4055547; 381513, 4055759; 381430, 4055972; 381345, 4056156; 
381109, 4056344; 380873, 4056532; 380604, 4056631; 380274, 4056701; 
380091, 4056647; 379968, 4056560; 379993, 4056409; 380049, 4056257; 
380102, 4056044; 380036, 4055865; 379851, 4055751; 379547, 4055670; 
379304, 4055647; 378973, 4055688; 378731, 4055665; 378518, 4055642; 
378304, 4055558; 378158, 4055714; 378223, 4055862; 378114, 4056227; 
377969, 4056443; 377946, 4056654; 378101, 4056770; 378405, 4056851; 
378590, 4056965; 378715, 4057082; 378841, 4057259; 378934, 4057316; 
379088, 4057402; 379180, 4057459; 379273, 4057546; 379521, 4057719; 
379646, 4057866; 379741, 4058014; 379896, 4058129; 380108, 4058153; 
380260, 4058178; 380561, 4058138; 380806, 4058251; 380993, 4058426; 
380972, 4058698; 380976, 4058848; 380712, 4059098; 380536, 4059254; 
380206, 4059324; 379996, 4059391; 379902, 4059274; 379722, 4059310; 
379631, 4059312; 379453, 4059408; 379369, 4059622; 379312, 4059744; 
379080, 4060053; 378929, 4060027; 378803, 4059881; 378768, 4059731; 
378794, 4059580; 378759, 4059430; 378755, 4059310; 378691, 4059191; 
378537, 4059106; 378325, 4059082; 378175, 4059117; 378049, 4058971; 
377834, 4058857; 377650, 4058772; 377526, 4058656; 377492, 4058536; 
377306, 4058391; 377186, 4058425; 377161, 4058607; 377077, 4058790; 
377052, 4058972; 376908, 4059187; 376820, 4059280; 376702, 4059374; 
376581, 4059378; 376525, 4059501; 376711, 4059645; 376924, 4059699; 
377053, 4059966; 377151, 4060204; 377277, 4060350; 377435, 4060587; 
377600, 4061003; 377637, 4061243; 377703, 4061422; 377738, 4061571; 
377771, 4061660; 377898, 4061837; 377992, 4061955; 378115, 4062011; 
378327, 4062035; 378478, 4062030; 378900, 4061986; 379110, 4061950; 
379325, 4062063; 379420, 4062181; 379485, 4062329; 379672, 4062534; 
379860, 4062739; 380015, 4062855; 380292, 4063027; 380417, 4063144; 
380483, 4063322; 380579, 4063500; 380562, 4063922; 380460, 4064498; 
380261, 4064896; 380149, 4065201; 379947, 4065478; 379629, 4065940; 
379428, 4066278; 379342, 4066431; 379258, 4066644; 379299, 4066975; 
379427, 4067211; 379584, 4067387; 379680, 4067565; 379718, 4067805; 
379784, 4067983; 379940, 4068159; 380098, 4068365; 380252, 4068451; 
380591, 4068651; 380653, 4068709; 380777, 4068826; 380840, 4068884; 
380901, 4068912; 380964, 4069001; 381026, 4069059; 381120, 4069146; 
381180, 4069144; 381242, 4069173; 381362, 4069169; 381453, 4069166; 
381543, 4069163; 381785, 4069156; 381935, 4069121; 382146, 4069114; 
382297, 4069109; 382358, 4069107; 382478, 4069104; 382539, 4069102; 
382572, 4069191; 382725, 4069246; 382815, 4069244; 382906, 4069241; 
383119, 4069294; 383210, 4069322; 383243, 4069411; 383310, 4069590; 
383403, 4069677; 383616, 4069731; 383828, 4069754; 383919, 4069751; 
384010, 4069748; returning to 384282, 4069770.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 8 (Mount Williamson) for Sierra Nevada 
bighorn sheep (Map 9) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 40999]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.009

    (14) Unit 9 (Big Arroyo); Tulare County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Triple Divide Peak, Mount 
Kaweah, and Chagoopa Falls. Land bounded by the following UTM zone 11 
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 367856, 4049078; 368038, 4049073; 368311,

[[Page 41000]]

4049124; 368644, 4049144; 368824, 4049108; 369090, 4048919; 369207, 
4048795; 369203, 4048644; 369201, 4048584; 369169, 4048525; 369072, 
4048347; 368645, 4048210; 368224, 4048284; 367925, 4048383; 367593, 
4048394; 367503, 4048397; 367260, 4048374; 366955, 4048293; 366591, 
4048244; 366345, 4048102; 365916, 4047904; 365549, 4047765; 365361, 
4047560; 364989, 4047270; 364864, 4047124; 364797, 4046915; 364973, 
4046759; 365395, 4046715; 365735, 4046946; 366102, 4047085; 366467, 
4047164; 366891, 4047211; 367465, 4047193; 367920, 4047269; 368407, 
4047374; 368560, 4047429; 369013, 4047415; 368911, 4047057; 368632, 
4046825; 368322, 4046593; 367802, 4046399; 367406, 4046291; 366767, 
4046130; 366404, 4046141; 366068, 4046031; 365913, 4045886; 365868, 
4045435; 366038, 4045068; 366392, 4044786; 366506, 4044572; 367012, 
4044315; 366916, 4044167; 366999, 4043924; 367179, 4043858; 367575, 
4043966; 367970, 4044044; 368277, 4044185; 368402, 4044331; 368714, 
4044653; 369028, 4045005; 369348, 4045597; 369454, 4046076; 369830, 
4046486; 370175, 4046897; 370518, 4047247; 370783, 4047028; 370644, 
4046430; 370695, 4046127; 370690, 4045977; 370534, 4045831; 370317, 
4045657; 370041, 4045515; 369914, 4045338; 369817, 4045130; 369781, 
4044951; 369897, 4044797; 370077, 4044731; 370292, 4044844; 370507, 
4044958; 370665, 4045194; 370946, 4045487; 371279, 4045506; 371607, 
4045345; 372024, 4045152; 372379, 4044929; 372551, 4044623; 372817, 
4044434; 373092, 4044546; 373223, 4044843; 373304, 4045503; 373323, 
4046105; 373219, 4046650; 372992, 4047109; 372919, 4047684; 372692, 
4048143; 372701, 4048414; 373011, 4048675; 373283, 4048667; 373432, 
4048602; 373602, 4048265; 373805, 4047988; 373975, 4047621; 374080, 
4047105; 374277, 4046647; 374322, 4046164; 374308, 4045712; 374200, 
4045174; 374158, 4044783; 374181, 4044572; 374200, 4044210; 374217, 
4043787; 374236, 4043425; 374288, 4043152; 374391, 4042607; 374467, 
4042122; 374516, 4041759; 374537, 4041488; 374470, 4041279; 374347, 
4041192; 374136, 4041229; 374014, 4041173; 373950, 4041054; 373904, 
4040574; 373897, 4040333; 373915, 4039971; 373903, 4039579; 373888, 
4039098; 373877, 4038737; 373895, 4038375; 373915, 4038043; 373877, 
4037773; 373839, 4037533; 373619, 4037269; 373549, 4036970; 373479, 
4036670; 373530, 4036368; 373518, 4035976; 373478, 4035676; 373263, 
4035563; 373112, 4035567; 373019, 4035480; 373040, 4035208; 373120, 
4034844; 373172, 4034601; 373171, 4034571; 373195, 4034360; 373188, 
4034149; 373125, 4034061; 373093, 4034001; 372881, 4033978; 372671, 
4034015; 372489, 4034020; 372278, 4034027; 372096, 4034002; 372005, 
4034005; 371642, 4033987; 371403, 4034054; 371161, 4034062; 371012, 
4034127; 370652, 4034198; 370474, 4034294; 370386, 4034387; 369997, 
4034520; 369847, 4034555; 369670, 4034681; 369253, 4034875; 368900, 
4035187; 368785, 4035372; 368611, 4035588; 368408, 4035866; 368444, 
4036045; 368544, 4036343; 368613, 4036612; 368531, 4036916; 368483, 
4037309; 368432, 4037582; 368318, 4037827; 368114, 4038044; 367910, 
4038291; 367764, 4038447; 367616, 4038542; 367411, 4038759; 367265, 
4038914; 366971, 4039194; 366588, 4039508; 366295, 4039788; 366005, 
4040159; 365710, 4040409; 365323, 4040602; 364940, 4040885; 364704, 
4041073; 364407, 4041233; 364172, 4041451; 363937, 4041670; 363675, 
4041979; 363294, 4042383; 363033, 4042722; 362830, 4043000; 362598, 
4043309; 362513, 4043462; 362550, 4043702; 362773, 4044056; 362873, 
4044354; 362976, 4044743; 362987, 4045104; 362907, 4045438; 362796, 
4045743; 362624, 4046049; 362419, 4046267; 362243, 4046423; 362434, 
4046718; 362771, 4046888; 363048, 4047030; 363355, 4047201; 363540, 
4047316; 363809, 4047217; 363990, 4047211; 364085, 4047329; 364213, 
4047566; 364430, 4047740; 364638, 4047643; 364880, 4047635; 364946, 
4047814; 364918, 4047875; 364772, 4048061; 364751, 4048332; 364757, 
4048543; 364885, 4048750; 365096, 4048743; 365274, 4048647; 365419, 
4048432; 365540, 4048458; 365753, 4048482; 365964, 4048475; 366116, 
4048500; 366302, 4048645; 366454, 4048671; 366638, 4048755; 366736, 
4048993; 366926, 4049288; 367023, 4049466; 367148, 4049613; 367333, 
4049727; 367635, 4049718; 367747, 4049443; 367652, 4049296; 367648, 
4049175; 367736, 4049082; returning to 367856, 4049078.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 9 (Big Arroyo) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 10) follows:

[[Page 41001]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.010

    (15) Unit 10 (Mount Langley); Inyo and Tulare Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Mount Whitney, Mount 
Langley, Lone Pine, Johnson Peak, Cirque Peak, and Bartlett. Land 
bounded by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 391201, 
4048676; 391835, 4048656; 392289, 4048672; 392648, 4048570; 393008, 
4048499; 393517, 4048332; 393840, 4048051; 393861, 4047749; 393701, 
4047453;

[[Page 41002]]

393997, 4047263; 394301, 4047313; 394691, 4047241; 394959, 4047112; 
394980, 4046810; 394761, 4046576; 394545, 4046432; 394209, 4046322; 
393872, 4046182; 393805, 4045973; 393952, 4045848; 394346, 4045866; 
394557, 4045859; 394797, 4045822; 394914, 4045698; 395096, 4045722; 
395312, 4045836; 395435, 4045922; 395609, 4045676; 395357, 4045352; 
395142, 4045239; 394955, 4045064; 394737, 4044860; 394607, 4044562; 
394630, 4044351; 394785, 4044466; 394972, 4044641; 395189, 4044815; 
395465, 4044957; 395741, 4045069; 396017, 4045211; 396292, 4045323; 
396624, 4045312; 396865, 4045275; 397011, 4045120; 396916, 4044972; 
396912, 4044852; 396906, 4044671; 396989, 4044427; 397139, 4044392; 
397225, 4044239; 397130, 4044092; 397004, 4043945; 396941, 4043856; 
396910, 4043827; 396816, 4043710; 396872, 4043588; 397085, 4043611; 
397269, 4043726; 397424, 4043841; 397610, 4043986; 397705, 4044134; 
397826, 4044130; 397974, 4044035; 397988, 4043910; 398032, 4043812; 
398101, 4043709; 398135, 4043591; 398258, 4043464; 398459, 4043386; 
398630, 4043312; 398832, 4043175; 399028, 4043028; 399145, 4042939; 
399209, 4042895; 399312, 4042807; 399366, 4042758; 399410, 4042704; 
399454, 4042670; 399582, 4042567; 399694, 4042459; 399758, 4042385; 
399846, 4042312; 399944, 4042199; 400033, 4042101; 400096, 4041978; 
400219, 4041836; 400286, 4041643; 400252, 4041523; 400128, 4041437; 
400005, 4041380; 399883, 4041324; 399698, 4041209; 399455, 4041157; 
399327, 4040950; 399383, 4040797; 399592, 4040731; 399927, 4040810; 
400292, 4040889; 400718, 4040966; 401019, 4040957; 401230, 4040920; 
401313, 4040742; 401218, 4040743; 401216, 4040470; 401215, 4040469; 
401123, 4040411; 400849, 4040330; 400699, 4040395; 400579, 4040398; 
400425, 4040313; 400272, 4040257; 400151, 4040261; 399969, 4040237; 
399818, 4040242; 399727, 4040214; 399573, 4040129; 399364, 4040196; 
399184, 4040231; 399001, 4040177; 398875, 4040030; 398718, 4039824; 
398769, 4039552; 398794, 4039370; 398816, 4039098; 398776, 4038798; 
398854, 4038404; 398936, 4038130; 399265, 4038030; 399537, 4038021; 
399838, 4037982; 400353, 4038026; 400864, 4037949; 401406, 4037902; 
402036, 4037732; 402453, 4037568; 403052, 4037399; 403265, 4037370; 
403437, 4037350; 403454, 4037349; 403451, 4037001; 403437, 4037001; 
402801, 4037105; 402468, 4037086; 401954, 4037072; 401743, 4037078; 
401474, 4037177; 401200, 4037095; 400986, 4037012; 400832, 4036926; 
400587, 4036813; 400582, 4036663; 400580, 4036603; 400666, 4036449; 
400841, 4036263; 401078, 4036105; 401286, 4036008; 401736, 4035904; 
402332, 4035644; 402478, 4035459; 402592, 4035244; 402736, 4035029; 
402939, 4034751; 403054, 4034567; 403316, 4034257; 403521, 4034040; 
403693, 4033764; 403840, 4033638; 403988, 4033543; 404106, 4033449; 
404311, 4033232; 404456, 4033047; 404629, 4032770; 404746, 4032646; 
404742, 4032526; 404646, 4032378; 404481, 4032210; 404371, 4031974; 
404270, 4031915; 404169, 4031814; 404034, 4031695; 403840, 4031602; 
403679, 4031476; 403510, 4031223; 403325, 4031113; 403114, 4030986; 
402911, 4030843; 402683, 4030682; 402455, 4030471; 402345, 4030421; 
402016, 4030302; 401797, 4030311; 401611, 4030311; 401256, 4030370; 
401079, 4030370; 400767, 4030328; 400404, 4030286; 400100, 4030159; 
399880, 4030100; 399745, 4030286; 399661, 4030640; 399568, 4030868; 
399652, 4031501; 399492, 4031881; 399323, 4032202; 399070, 4032464; 
398876, 4032742; 398758, 4033029; 398606, 4033527; 398766, 4033823; 
398859, 4034354; 398867, 4034473; 398867, 4034574; 398867, 4034692; 
398859, 4034768; 398867, 4034878; 398859, 4034962; 398842, 4035047; 
398817, 4035156; 398825, 4035292; 398817, 4035418; 398783, 4035553; 
398775, 4035671; 398741, 4035787; 398591, 4035822; 398442, 4035887; 
398294, 4035982; 398026, 4036080; 397844, 4036086; 397727, 4036104; 
397729, 4036166; 397321, 4036177; 397117, 4036180; 397065, 4036291; 
397073, 4036532; 397229, 4036678; 397565, 4036818; 397899, 4036868; 
398144, 4036950; 398575, 4037208; 398760, 4037323; 398826, 4037501; 
398587, 4037599; 398285, 4037609; 398074, 4037615; 397779, 4037835; 
397573, 4038023; 397247, 4038214; 396925, 4038555; 396808, 4038679; 
396694, 4038894; 396521, 4039140; 396440, 4039474; 396020, 4039548; 
395687, 4039528; 395353, 4039478; 395015, 4039308; 394354, 4039419; 
393996, 4039551; 393553, 4039896; 393199, 4040148; 392841, 4040310; 
392599, 4040288; 392388, 4040324; 392208, 4040360; 392026, 4040336; 
391845, 4040341; 391695, 4040376; 391607, 4040469; 391464, 4040715; 
391168, 4040905; 391019, 4040970; 390717, 4040979; 390615, 4040870; 
390526, 4040776; 390443, 4040719; 390324, 4040646; 390241, 4040657; 
390158, 4040641; 390080, 4040574; 390002, 4040480; 389955, 4040018; 
390023, 4039509; 389862, 4039176; 389441, 4038958; 389108, 4038818; 
389015, 4038797; 388682, 4038673; 388527, 4038553; 388246, 4038309; 
388225, 4038111; 388142, 4038091; 388054, 4038169; 387992, 4038413; 
387898, 4039083; 387695, 4039478; 387443, 4039666; 387108, 4039586; 
386653, 4039541; 386445, 4039637; 386479, 4039787; 386788, 4039988; 
387154, 4040097; 387492, 4040267; 387587, 4040415; 387626, 4040685; 
387539, 4040808; 387242, 4040968; 387030, 4040945; 386663, 4040805; 
386571, 4040778; 386423, 4040873; 386520, 4041081; 386706, 4041226; 
386895, 4041461; 387083, 4041696; 387183, 4041994; 387197, 4042415; 
387266, 4042684; 387125, 4043020; 387068, 4043112; 386891, 4043269; 
386710, 4043274; 386617, 4043187; 386370, 4043014; 386328, 4042654; 
386323, 4042503; 386227, 4042325; 386193, 4042206; 386187, 4042025; 
386181, 4041815; 386147, 4041695; 385866, 4041403; 385677, 4041168; 
385489, 4040963; 385424, 4040814; 385175, 4040581; 384687, 4040446; 
384085, 4040495; 383395, 4040667; 382950, 4040922; 382597, 4041234; 
382557, 4041868; 382965, 4042368; 383585, 4042860; 383899, 4043242; 
383974, 4043692; 384083, 4044291; 384064, 4044653; 384347, 4045005; 
384752, 4045384; 385209, 4045490; 385338, 4045757; 385674, 4045867; 
386068, 4045915; 386432, 4045964; 386733, 4045925; 387003, 4045856; 
387456, 4045842; 387935, 4045706; 388454, 4045870; 388701, 4046043; 
388853, 4046069; 389062, 4046002; 389305, 4046024; 389585, 4046287; 
389713, 4046524; 389873, 4046790; 390029, 4046966; 390102, 4047355; 
390199, 4047563; 390149, 4047896; 390462, 4048217; 390866, 4048596; 
returning to 391201, 4048676.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 10 (Mount Langley) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 11) follows:

[[Page 41003]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.011

    (16) Unit 11 (Laurel Creek); Tulare County, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Mineral King, Chagoopa 
Falls, Quinn Peak, and Kern Lake. Land bounded by the following UTM 
zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 373174, 4031891; 373186, 4031558; 
373154, 4031248; 373234, 4030979; 373246, 4030646; 373240, 4030446; 
373299, 4030200; 373294, 4030045; 373311, 4029867; 373368, 4029577; 
373315,

[[Page 41004]]

4029290; 373265, 4029114; 373238, 4028981; 373232, 4028782; 373228, 
4028671; 373244, 4028471; 373261, 4028292; 373235, 4028160; 373118, 
4027986; 373114, 4027853; 373201, 4027784; 373307, 4027625; 373303, 
4027492; 373295, 4027248; 373288, 4027026; 373370, 4026802; 373343, 
4026647; 373335, 4026403; 373361, 4025803; 373349, 4025426; 373426, 
4025046; 373542, 4024488; 373421, 4024158; 373270, 4024319; 373084, 
4024791; 372982, 4025082; 372972, 4025460; 373002, 4025726; 372967, 
4026015; 372813, 4026087; 372622, 4026381; 372567, 4026738; 372492, 
4027184; 372494, 4027251; 372544, 4027449; 372683, 4027600; 372797, 
4027685; 372844, 4027773; 372868, 4027839; 372850, 4027950; 372627, 
4027957; 372493, 4027939; 372334, 4027833; 372088, 4027819; 371867, 
4027848; 371735, 4027896; 371467, 4027883; 371376, 4027819; 371153, 
4027804; 370951, 4027743; 370794, 4027704; 370614, 4027665; 370368, 
4027628; 370167, 4027590; 369942, 4027531; 369740, 4027471; 369540, 
4027477; 369315, 4027417; 369225, 4027376; 369088, 4027291; 368842, 
4027232; 368686, 4027237; 368416, 4027135; 368191, 4027075; 368057, 
4027057; 367878, 4027018; 367675, 4026936; 367474, 4026920; 367297, 
4026970; 367076, 4027021; 366900, 4027093; 366656, 4027101; 366475, 
4027018; 366339, 4026933; 366202, 4026827; 366128, 4026607; 365901, 
4026481; 365715, 4026220; 365708, 4025999; 365794, 4025885; 366031, 
4025655; 366097, 4025609; 366225, 4025450; 366418, 4025199; 366479, 
4025020; 366407, 4024844; 366270, 4024760; 366159, 4024741; 365979, 
4024680; 365753, 4024599; 365468, 4024718; 365362, 4024899; 365163, 
4024950; 365047, 4024798; 365032, 4024310; 364847, 4024094; 364692, 
4024121; 364515, 4024171; 364294, 4024222; 364143, 4024360; 363697, 
4024352; 363475, 4024359; 363204, 4024257; 362979, 4024175; 362728, 
4023983; 362562, 4023655; 362372, 4023284; 362190, 4023156; 361949, 
4023275; 361734, 4023526; 361439, 4024046; 361355, 4024226; 361276, 
4024539; 361283, 4024739; 361287, 4024894; 361272, 4025116; 361278, 
4025294; 361376, 4025579; 361426, 4025778; 361250, 4025827; 361010, 
4025990; 360838, 4026196; 360688, 4026378; 360408, 4026675; 360260, 
4026924; 360046, 4027197; 359897, 4027402; 359791, 4027583; 359529, 
4027746; 359063, 4027783; 358774, 4027814; 358531, 4027866; 358309, 
4027895; 358180, 4028033; 358116, 4028124; 358009, 4028282; 357927, 
4028485; 357931, 4028618; 358005, 4028837; 358096, 4028901; 358170, 
4029143; 358309, 4029316; 358871, 4029476; 359141, 4029579; 359257, 
4029708; 359484, 4029857; 359667, 4030028; 359672, 4030184; 359521, 
4030322; 359325, 4030483; 359243, 4030686; 359295, 4030928; 359325, 
4031171; 359351, 4031282; 359270, 4031551; 359321, 4031749; 359261, 
4031973; 359113, 4032221; 358851, 4032407; 358587, 4032504; 358259, 
4032692; 358269, 4033003; 358344, 4033267; 358592, 4033348; 358837, 
4033362; 358952, 4033470; 359201, 4033617; 359530, 4033452; 359660, 
4033336; 359907, 4033395; 359976, 4033482; 360158, 4033587; 360425, 
4033579; 360624, 4033550; 360800, 4033478; 361106, 4033313; 361280, 
4033175; 361405, 4032904; 361468, 4032769; 361508, 4032613; 361594, 
4032521; 361719, 4032251; 361664, 4031919; 361657, 4031698; 361918, 
4031512; 362074, 4031507; 362141, 4031505; 362367, 4031609; 362415, 
4031740; 362396, 4031852; 362578, 4031957; 362711, 4031931; 362842, 
4031860; 362907, 4031814; 363107, 4031785; 363177, 4031894; 363224, 
4031959; 363248, 4032025; 363250, 4032092; 363320, 4032178; 363564, 
4032148; 363742, 4032143; 363940, 4032092; 364228, 4032039; 364294, 
4032015; 364472, 4032009; 364583, 4032005; 364830, 4032064; 364966, 
4032127; 365212, 4032186; 365326, 4032249; 365371, 4032269; 365553, 
4032397; 365712, 4032503; 365780, 4032523; 365916, 4032607; 366029, 
4032671; 366122, 4032779; 366147, 4032889; 366152, 4033022; 366154, 
4033088; 366317, 4033327; 366406, 4033325; 366516, 4033277; 366602, 
4033185; 366665, 4033072; 366816, 4032912; 366948, 4032864; 367016, 
4032884; 367175, 4032990; 367310, 4033030; 367512, 4033090; 367623, 
4033087; 367799, 4033015; 367930, 4032944; 367993, 4032809; 367812, 
4032726; 367632, 4032665; 367429, 4032582; 367248, 4032477; 367132, 
4032325; 366969, 4032108; 366718, 4031916; 366739, 4031871; 366849, 
4031823; 366916, 4031844; 367049, 4031839; 367250, 4031833; 367384, 
4031851; 367499, 4031958; 367588, 4031978; 367634, 4032021; 367749, 
4032128; 367815, 4032126; 367880, 4032057; 367852, 4031859; 367892, 
4031724; 367957, 4031678; 368048, 4031741; 368183, 4031782; 368397, 
4031508; 368486, 4031506; 368664, 4031500; 368891, 4031626; 368958, 
4031646; 369050, 4031732; 369297, 4031791; 369564, 4031783; 369809, 
4031797; 370121, 4031810; 370520, 4031753; 370984, 4031649; 371185, 
4031643; 371741, 4031626; 372030, 4031617; 372432, 4031648; 372543, 
4031667; 372702, 4031751; 372753, 4031949; 372714, 4032150; 372652, 
4032285; 372548, 4032533; 372578, 4032776; 372564, 4033021; 372571, 
4033264; 372624, 4033507; 372783, 4033635; 372942, 4033719; 373052, 
4033671; 373028, 4033628; 373070, 4033537; 373088, 4033404; 373101, 
4033115; 373095, 4032937; 373087, 4032671; 373125, 4032470; 373138, 
4032159; returning to 373174, 4031891.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 11 (Laurel Creek) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 12) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

[[Page 41005]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.012

    (17) Unit 12 (Olancha Peak); Inyo and Tulare Counties, California.
    (i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale quadrangles Cirque Peak, Bartlett, 
Templeton Mountain, Olancha, and Haiwee Pass. Land bounded by the 
following UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 403133, 4029453; 
403358, 4029282; 403619, 4029209; 403945, 4029133; 404369, 4029021; 
404658, 4028816; 404816, 4028614; 405104, 4028376; 405331, 4028270;

[[Page 41006]]

405620, 4028065; 405682, 4027932; 405805, 4027666; 405734, 4027504; 
405863, 4027434; 406060, 4027428; 406290, 4027421; 406385, 4027320; 
406479, 4027153; 406544, 4027151; 406674, 4027081; 406738, 4027046; 
406835, 4026978; 406993, 4026776; 407086, 4026610; 407116, 4026510; 
407176, 4026345; 407206, 4026245; 407201, 4026082; 407131, 4025953; 
407161, 4025854; 407158, 4025755; 407190, 4025722; 407251, 4025589; 
407282, 4025522; 407279, 4025424; 407210, 4025328; 407206, 4025197; 
407203, 4025099; 407234, 4025032; 407263, 4024933; 407291, 4024768; 
407287, 4024637; 407250, 4024507; 407178, 4024313; 407042, 4024153; 
406975, 4024123; 406909, 4024125; 406811, 4024128; 406841, 4024061; 
406903, 4023928; 406933, 4023829; 406963, 4023763; 407057, 4023596; 
407118, 4023463; 407282, 4023458; 407411, 4023355; 407439, 4023223; 
407499, 4023025; 407524, 4022795; 407487, 4022632; 407350, 4022473; 
407214, 4022313; 407044, 4022154; 407010, 4022123; 406941, 4021994; 
406870, 4021832; 406765, 4021639; 406663, 4021511; 406627, 4021414; 
406622, 4021283; 406686, 4021215; 406682, 4021085; 406739, 4020821; 
406701, 4020658; 406634, 4020595; 406565, 4020498; 406562, 4020400; 
406557, 4020237; 406553, 4020106; 406515, 4019943; 406508, 4019747; 
406537, 4019615; 406434, 4019487; 406336, 4019490; 406301, 4019425; 
406296, 4019262; 406194, 4019167; 406127, 4019103; 406121, 4018939; 
406086, 4018842; 405983, 4018714; 405817, 4018654; 405649, 4018561; 
405584, 4018563; 405583, 4018530; 405611, 4018398; 405572, 4018203; 
405538, 4018139; 405435, 4018011; 405400, 4017946; 405332, 4017883; 
405395, 4017783; 405428, 4017782; 405460, 4017748; 405620, 4017612; 
405779, 4017443; 405875, 4017374; 405935, 4017209; 405999, 4017141; 
405962, 4017011; 405959, 4016913; 405955, 4016782; 405919, 4016685; 
405885, 4016653; 405816, 4016557; 405749, 4016494; 405747, 4016428; 
405843, 4016360; 405942, 4016356; 406040, 4016353; 406104, 4016286; 
406134, 4016219; 406131, 4016121; 406063, 4016025; 406026, 4015895; 
405988, 4015732; 406018, 4015666; 406016, 4015600; 406108, 4015368; 
406101, 4015172; 406062, 4014976; 406055, 4014747; 405918, 4014555; 
405816, 4014460; 405812, 4014329; 405703, 4014005; 405598, 4013811; 
405530, 4013715; 405491, 4013520; 405488, 4013422; 405480, 4013192; 
405405, 4012900; 405336, 4012771; 405329, 4012542; 405353, 4012279; 
405416, 4012179; 405313, 4012051; 405109, 4011828; 404843, 4011738; 
404673, 4011547; 404541, 4011551; 404414, 4011686; 404316, 4011689; 
404187, 4011758; 404086, 4011696; 403921, 4011668; 403724, 4011675; 
403625, 4011678; 403527, 4011681; 403365, 4011751; 403199, 4011691; 
403002, 4011697; 402935, 4011667; 402706, 4011707; 402610, 4011775; 
402480, 4011845; 402250, 4011819; 402186, 4011887; 401989, 4011893; 
401860, 4011962; 401729, 4011999; 401598, 4012003; 401366, 4011945; 
401165, 4011820; 401032, 4011759; 400764, 4011604; 400498, 4011514; 
400367, 4011518; 400040, 4011561; 399878, 4011631; 399816, 4011764; 
399787, 4011896; 399790, 4011995; 399794, 4012093; 399732, 4012226; 
399669, 4012326; 399540, 4012396; 399444, 4012464; 399349, 4012598; 
399327, 4012927; 399402, 4013219; 399406, 4013350; 399445, 4013546; 
399515, 4013674; 399520, 4013838; 399557, 4013968; 399563, 4014164; 
399600, 4014294; 399608, 4014556; 399611, 4014654; 399615, 4014785; 
399590, 4015016; 399595, 4015179; 399404, 4015382; 399177, 4015487; 
399182, 4015618; 399286, 4015812; 399294, 4016073; 399398, 4016234; 
399566, 4016360; 399635, 4016456; 399737, 4016551; 399901, 4016546; 
399960, 4016347; 400087, 4016212; 400183, 4016111; 400341, 4015910; 
400463, 4015611; 400557, 4015477; 400849, 4015337; 400916, 4015400; 
401120, 4015590; 401351, 4015648; 401360, 4015910; 401368, 4016172; 
401440, 4016367; 401443, 4016465; 401381, 4016598; 401321, 4016764; 
401226, 4016898; 401164, 4016998; 401067, 4017066; 400906, 4017170; 
400742, 4017175; 400640, 4017047; 400342, 4016991; 400311, 4017057; 
400313, 4017123; 400383, 4017252; 400419, 4017349; 400455, 4017446; 
400490, 4017511; 400525, 4017575; 400592, 4017638; 400597, 4017769; 
400471, 4017970; 400179, 4018077; 399917, 4018118; 399692, 4018256; 
399663, 4018388; 399666, 4018487; 399735, 4018583; 399935, 4018675; 
399939, 4018806; 399745, 4018910; 399617, 4019012; 399357, 4019119; 
398800, 4019169; 398672, 4019272; 398480, 4019441; 398298, 4019906; 
398237, 4020072; 398082, 4020371; 397992, 4020636; 397996, 4020767; 
398000, 4020898; 398005, 4021062; 398011, 4021226; 398122, 4021648; 
398191, 4021744; 398332, 4022035; 398442, 4022392; 398584, 4022748; 
398657, 4022975; 398663, 4023171; 398935, 4023458; 399006, 4023619; 
399074, 4023683; 399072, 4023617; 399110, 4023780; 399181, 4023941; 
399119, 4024074; 399094, 4024337; 399000, 4024471; 398813, 4024805; 
398716, 4024841; 398527, 4025109; 398467, 4025275; 398472, 4025438; 
398510, 4025601; 398514, 4025732; 398553, 4025927; 398622, 4026023; 
398722, 4026086; 398791, 4026182; 398928, 4026341; 399031, 4026502; 
399002, 4026634; 398945, 4026898; 399113, 4027024; 399214, 4027086; 
399283, 4027182; 399254, 4027314; 399194, 4027513; 399136, 4027744; 
399140, 4027875; 399143, 4027973; 399180, 4028103; 399218, 4028266; 
399226, 4028527; 399329, 4028655; 399466, 4028815; 399568, 4028943; 
399902, 4029096; 399971, 4029225; 400106, 4029319; 400270, 4029314; 
400401, 4029310; 400666, 4029367; 400864, 4029393; 400930, 4029391; 
400995, 4029389; 401356, 4029378; 401586, 4029371; 401783, 4029365; 
402145, 4029386; 402443, 4029442; 402676, 4029533; 403004, 4029523; 
returning to 403133, 4029453.
    (ii) Note: Map of Unit 12 (Olancha Peak) for Sierra Nevada bighorn 
sheep (Map 13) follows:

[[Page 41007]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP25JY07.013


[[Page 41008]]


* * * * *

    Dated: July 17, 2007.
Todd Willens,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 07-3591 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-C