Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Status Reviews for the Alexander Archipelago Wolf and Queen Charlotte Goshawk

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Status

Reviews for the Alexander Archipelago Wolf and Queen Charlotte Goshawk

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that

the comment period on the rangewide status reviews for the Queen

Charlotte goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi) and the Alexander

Archipelago wolf (Canis lupus ligoni) is reopened. The Service solicits

any information, data, comments, and suggestions from the public, other

government agencies, the scientific community, industry, or other

interested parties concerning the status of these species. The notice

of the status reviews was published on December 5, 1996 (61 FR 64496),

and the extension of comment period was published December 31, 1996 (61

FR 69065).

DATES: The comment period, previously scheduled to close February 5,

1997, is extended and will now close on March 5, 1997. Any comments

received by the closing date will be considered in the findings.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials should be sent to Field Supervisor,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 3000 Vintage

Blvd., Suite 201, Juneau, Alaska 99801-7100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Lindell at the above address

(907/586-7240).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

The Service will issue separate findings on petitions to list the

Queen Charlotte goshawk and the Alexander Archipelago wolf under the

Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.).

Queen Charlotte Goshawk

The Queen Charlotte goshawk occurs in forested areas throughout

coastal mainland and insular areas of British Columbia, Canada, and

southeastern Alaska. On May 9, 1994, the Service received a petition to

list the Queen Charlotte goshawk as endangered under the Act, from Mr.

Peter Galvin of the Greater Gila Biodiversity Project, Silver City, New

Mexico, and nine copetitioners including, the Southwest Center for

Biological Diversity, the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Greater

Ecosystem Alliance, Save the West, Save America's Forests, Native

Forest Network, Native Forest Council, Eric Holle, and Don Muller. On

August 26, 1994, the Service announced a 90 day finding (59 FR 44124)

that the petition presented substantial information indicating that the

requested action may be warranted, and opened a public comment period

until November 25, 1994. The Service extended the public comment period

until February 28, 1995, through two subsequent Federal Register

notices on January 4, 1995 (60 FR 425), and February 24, 1995 (60 FR

10344). The Service issued its 12-month finding on June 29, 1995 (60 FR

33784), indicating that listing the Queen Charlotte goshawk under the

Act was not warranted.

On July 16, 1995, the petitioners filed a 60-day notice of intent

to sue the Service over its 12-month finding, and on November 17, 1995,

they filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of

Columbia challenging the not warranted finding made by the Service. As

a result of the court proceedings the Service is reevaluating the

status of the Queen Charlotte goshawk. The Service is requesting any

information, data, comments, and suggestions from the public, other

government agencies, the scientific community, industry, or other

interested parties concerning the status of this species.

Alexander Archipelago Wolf

The Alexander Archipelago wolf occurs in forested areas of insular

and mainland southeast Alaska, from Dixon Entrance (US/Canada border)

to Yakutat Bay, including all large islands of the Alexander

Archipelago except Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof islands. On

December 17, 1993, the Service received a petition to list the

Alexander Archipelago wolf as threatened under the Act, from the

Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Eric Holle and Martin J. Berghoffen. A

90-day finding was made by the Service that the petition presented

substantial information indicating that the requested action may be

warranted. The 90-day finding was announced (59 FR 26476) and a status

review was initiated on May 20, 1994. The public comment period was

open between May 20, and October 1, 1994 (59 FR 26476 and 59 FR 44122).

The Service announced its finding that listing the Alexander

Archipelago wolf was not warranted on February 23, 1995 (60 FR 10056).

The petitioners issued a 60-day notice of intent to sue over the

Service's not warranted finding on November 13, 1995. On February 7,

1996, they filed suit in the United States District Court for the

District of Columbia challenging the not-warranted finding made by the

Service. As a result of the court proceedings the Service is

reevaluating the status of the Alexander Archipelago wolf. The Service

is requesting any information, data, comments, and suggestions from the

public, other government agencies, the scientific community, industry,

or other interested parties concerning the status of this species.

Author

This primary author of this notice is Teresa Woods, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska

99503.

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, Export, Import, Reporting and

[[Page 6931]]

recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.

Dated: February 4, 1997.

David B. Allen,

Regional Director, Region 7, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97-3464 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P