Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of Comment Period on Status Review for Cheetah in Namibia

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of

Comment Period on Status Review for Cheetah in Namibia

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of status review; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Service gives notice that the comment period on the status

review of the Cheetah in Namibia, as initiated in response to a

petition to reclassify the species in that country from endangered to

threatened, will be reopened.

DATES: Comments and information may be submitted through February 1,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments, information, and questions should be submitted to

the Chief, Office of Scientific Authority; Room 750, 4401 North Fairfax

Drive; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Arlington, Virginia 22203 (Fax

number 703-358-2276). The petition finding, supporting data, and

comments will be available for public inspection, by appointment, from

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Charles W. Dane, Chief, Office of Scientific Authority, at the

above address (phone 703-358-1708).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Federal Register of March 19, 1996

(61 FR 11181), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced

the 90-day finding that a petition to reclassify the cheetah (Acinonyx

jubatus) in Namibia from endangered to threatened had presented

substantial information indicating that the requested action may be

warranted. A status review was initiated, with the original comment

period ending July 17, 1996. Subsequently, the Service received two new

documents that may have major relevance to this issue: a management

plan for the cheetah prepared by the Government of Namibia and a final

report on a cheetah workshop held by the World Conservation Union

(IUCN). In order to consider this new information and any comments

thereon, the Service has decided to reopen the comment period until

February 1, 1998, and will provide copies of the indicated documents

upon request. All comments and information will be considered in making

a final decision on whether the requested action is warranted, and will

be included in the administrative record.

Authority: Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.).

Dated: November 19, 1997.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97-31970 Filed 12-8-97; 8:45 am]

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