[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 63921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21936]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Take of Migrant Peregrine Falcons in the United States for Use in 
Falconry

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to announce the availability of a Draft 
Environmental Assessment and Management Plan (DEA) for take of migrant 
peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) in the United States for use in 
falconry.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment and Management 
Plan are due by February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The document is available from, and written comments about 
it should be submitted to, Chief, Division of Migratory Bird 
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, 
Room 634, Arlington, VA 22203-1610. The fax number for a request or for 
comments is 703-358-2272. You can request a copy of the DEA by calling 
703-358-1714. The DEA also is available on the Division of Migratory 
Bird Management Web site at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The peregrine falcon is found almost 
worldwide. It is found throughout much of North America from the 
subarctic boreal forests of Alaska and Canada south to Mexico. The 
Arctic peregrine falcon (F. p. tundrius) nests in the tundra of Alaska, 
Canada, and Greenland, and is typically a long-distance migrant, 
wintering as far south as South America. The American peregrine falcon 
(F. p. anatum) occurs throughout much of North America from the 
subarctic boreal forests of Alaska and Canada south to Mexico. The 
American peregrine falcon nests from central Alaska, central Yukon 
Territory, and northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, east to the Maritimes 
and south throughout western Canada and the United States to Baja 
California, Sonora, and the highlands of central Mexico. However, it is 
not found in areas of the Pacific Northwest occupied by the Peales's 
peregrine falcon (F. p. pealei), a year-round resident of the northwest 
Pacific coast from northern Washington to the Aleutian Islands.
    Peregrine falcons declined precipitously in North America following 
World War II, a decline attributed largely to organochlorine 
pesticides, mainly DDT, applied in the United States and Canada. 
Because of the decline, we listed the Arctic and American peregrine 
falcon subspecies were listed as endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. on October 13, 1970 (35 FR 16047).
    We removed the Arctic peregrine from the Federal List of Endangered 
and Threatened Wildlife on October 5, 1994 (59 FR 50796) but still 
regulated this species under the Act in the contiguous U.S. due to the 
similarity of appearance provision for all peregrine falcons; the 
American peregrine falcon remained listed as endangered. However, on 
August 25, 1999, we removed the American peregrine from the list (64 FR 
46541) because the subspecies had considerably exceeded the recovery 
goals set for it in most areas.
    Anticipating delisting, in June 1999, the States, through the 
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, had proposed 
allowing take of migrant peregrines for falconry. In an October 4, 
1999, Federal Register notice (64 FR 53686), we stated that we would 
consider a conservative level of take of migrant peregrine falcons in 
the United States. The DEA we announce in this notice is required as 
part of our consideration of allowing the take of migrant peregrines.
    In the DEA, we considered six alternatives to address potential 
take of migrant peregrine falcons in the United States and Alaska. 
Under the No-Action Alternative, no legal take of migrant peregrine 
falcons for falconry could occur. We also evaluated alternatives that 
would allow take in different locations and at different times.
    The preferred alternative is to allow take of peregrine falcons 
between September 20th and October 20th from areas of the continental 
areas south of 31degrees North latitude and east of 100 degrees West 
longitude, and within the State of Alaska. The allowed take would be 
consistent with management goals outlined in the DEA, and would be very 
unlikely to have negative effects on any portion of the populations of 
peregrine falcons in North America or Greenland.
    Most of the alternatives would require reductions in the allowed 
take of nestling American peregrine falcons in the 12 western States in 
which it is allowed. We propose to allow the decisions on allocation of 
the reduced take of nestlings to the States themselves, with the 
recommendations made through the Flyway Councils.

Kenneth Stansell,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-21936 Filed 11-9-07; 8:45 am]
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