Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the Peninsular Ranges Population of Desert Bighorn Sheep

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AB73

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of

Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for the

Peninsular Ranges Population of Desert Bighorn Sheep

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), pursuant to the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of

reopening of the comment period for the proposed endangered status for

the Peninsular Ranges population of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis

canadensis). The comment period has been reopened to acquire additional

information on the status, distribution, and management of bighorn

sheep in the Peninsular Ranges of Baja California, Mexico.

DATES: The comment period closes November 12, 1997. Any comments

received by the closing date will be considered by the Service.

[[Page 55564]]

ADDRESSES: Written comments, materials and data, and available reports

and articles concerning this proposal should be sent directly to the

Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Comments

and materials received will be available for public inspection, by

appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Sorensen, at the address listed

above (telephone 760/431-9440, facsimile 760/431/9618).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Peninsular Ranges population of the desert bighorn sheep occurs

along the desert slopes of the Peninsular Ranges from the vicinity of

Palm Springs, California, into northern Baja California, Mexico.

Depressed recruitment, habitat loss and degradation, disease, loss of

dispersal corridors, and random events (e.g., drought) affecting small

populations threaten the desert bighorn sheep in the Peninsular Ranges.

On May 8 ,1992, the Service published a rule proposing endangered

status for the Peninsular Ranges population of the desert bighorn sheep

(57 FR 19837). The original comment period closed on November 4, 1992.

The Service was unable to make a final listing determination regarding

the bighorn sheep because of limited budget, other endangered species

assignments driven by court orders, and higher listing priorities. In

addition, a moratorium on listing actions (Pub. L. 104-6), which took

effect on April 10, 1995, stipulated that no funds could be used to

make final listing or critical habitat determinations. Now that funding

has been restored, the Service is proceeding with a final determination

for the Peninsular Ranges population of desert bighorn sheep.

Due to government reorganization in Mexico, appropriate officials

were apparently not made aware of the Service's proposed listing of the

Peninsular bighorn sheep. As a result, no comments were received from

the Mexican government during the initial comment period on the period

rule nor during the subsequent two extended comment periods (62 FR

16518, April 7, 1997, and 62 FR 32733, June 17, 1997). Recently the

Service became award of apparent Mexican interest in providing comment

on the proposed rule. Therefore, to ensure that the final listing

decision is based on the best available information, and abide by the

requirement that foreign countries be involved regarding listing

decisions that may affect conservation of species in their area, the

comment period is being reopened.

Written comments may now be submitted until November 12, 1997, to

the Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Authority

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

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: October 14, 1997.

Michael J. Spear,

Regional Director, Region 1.

[FR Doc. 97-28346 Filed 10-24-97; 8:45 am]

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