Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period for Additional Information Relative to the Status of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of

Comment Period for Additional Information Relative to the Status of the

Lesser Prairie-Chicken

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period

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SUMMARY: On July 8, 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

published a positive 90-day finding on a petition to list the lesser

prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) as threatened under the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, and requested that

any additional information be submitted by September 8, 1997. The

Service has been asked by the Lesser Prairie-chicken Interstate Working

Group to reopen the comment period to allow for submission of a

conservation strategy for the lesser prairie-chicken.

Thus, the Service announces that it will reopen the comment period

to allow additional time for submission of information regarding the

status, population trend, distribution, and habitat use of the lesser

prairie-chicken.

DATES: The comment period, which originally closed on September 8,

1997, is reopened and now closes on December 3, 1997. To be considered

in the 12-month finding for this petition, additional information on

the lesser prairie-chicken should be submitted to the Service by

December 3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Information, comments, or questions should be sent to the

Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services

Field Office, 222 S. Houston, Suite A, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127-8909. The

petition finding and supporting data are available for public

inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the above

address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Brabander, Field Supervisor, at

the above address, or telephone (918) 581-7458 ext. 224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.), requires that the Service make an initial finding within

90 days, if practicable, on whether a petition to list, delist, or

reclassify a species presents substantial scientific or commercial

information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted. A

petition to list the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus

pallidicinctus) as threatened was received by the Service on October 6,

1995, from the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Boulder, Colorado, and

Marie E. Morrissey. On July 8, 1997 (62 FR 36482), the Service

published a 90-day finding on that petition. The finding stated that

the petition contained substantial information to indicate that listing

under the Act may be warranted, and announced that the Service would

conduct a thorough status review of the species in conjunction with the

affected states. In addition, the Service requested that any additional

information on lesser prairie-chicken population abundance, population

trends, distribution, and use of habitats be submitted to the Service

by September 8, 1997.

On September 3, 1997, the Service received a request from the

Lesser Prairie-chicken Interstate Working Group (Working Group) to

extend or reopen the comment period to allow this group additional time

to submit a Conservation Plan for the lesser prairie-chicken. The

Working Group stated in their letter that they are currently editing

the first draft of a conservation strategy that contains goals,

objectives, and action items that will significantly reduce the threats

to the species.

This notice reopens the comment period for submission of

information on the status of the species throughout its range until

December 3, 1997. The Service invites the public to submit additional

information on the population abundance, population trends,

distribution, use of habitats including native prairie and cropland,

and factors documented to influence population abundance, distribution,

and habitat use of lesser prairie-chickens.

Authors

This document was prepared by Noreen E. Walsh, at the Service's

Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES above).

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.

[[Page 59335]]

Dated: October 28, 1997.

Thomas Bauer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97-28981 Filed 10-31-97; 8:45 am]

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