Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the Jaguar in the United States

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of

Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the

Jaguar in the United States

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that the

comment period is reopened on the proposed rule to list the jaguar

(Panthera onca) as an endangered species in the United States. This

reopening of the comment period will allow all interested parties to

submit written comments on the proposal.

DATES: The comment period for this proposal is reopened and now closes

on February 14, 1997. Comments must be received by the closing date.

Any comments that are received after the closing date may not be

considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and material should be sent to the

Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 3616 West Thomas

Road, Suite 6, Phoenix, Arizona 85019. Comments and materials received

will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal

business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Palmer, Arizona Ecological

Services Field Office, Phoenix, Arizona (See ADDRESSES section)

(telephone 602/640-2720; facsimile 602/640-2730).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 13, 1994, the Service published a proposed rule (59 FR

35674) to extend endangered status to the jaguar in the United States

portion of its former range. The jaguar is already listed as endangered

from the Mexican border southward throughout its entire range.

By letter dated January 15, 1997, the State of Arizona requested

that the Service reopen the comment period on the proposed listing of

the jaguar to solicit public comments on a draft jaguar conservation

strategy. The State asked the Service to consider a finalized

conservation strategy in its analysis of threats faced by the species

prior to finalizing the listing decision. The Service believes that the

conservation strategy constitutes significant new information that

should be considered in making a final listing determination.

Author: The primary author of this notice is Steve Spangle, Fish

and Wildlife Service Southwest Regional Office, P.O. Box 1306,

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103.

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973

(16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 16 U.S.C. 4201-4245; Pub. L.

99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Dated: January 27, 1997.

Nancy M. Kaufman,

Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, NM.

[FR Doc. 97-2581 Filed 1-30-97; 8:45 am]

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