Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Public Comment Period for Status Review of the Northern Goshawk in the Contiguous United States West of the 100th Meridian

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of

Public Comment Period for Status Review of the Northern Goshawk in the

Contiguous United States West of the 100th Meridian

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior

ACTION: Notice of the reopening of public comment period

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

SUMMARY: On September 29, 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) announced a 90-day finding for a petition to list the

northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) in the contiguous United States

west of the 100th meridian under the Endangered Species Act (62 FR

50892). In that finding, the Service found that the petition presented

substantial information indicating that the listing of the northern

goshawk as a threatened or endangered species in the contiguous United

States west of the 100th meridian may be warranted. At that time, the

Service initiated a status review for the northern goshawk and

announced that a 12-month finding will be prepared at the conclusion of

the review. The previous comment period for this action closed on

December 29, 1997.

DATES: Comments and materials related to this petition must be received

on or before March 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this petition finding and

status review should be sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office

of Technical Support, 333 S.W. 1st Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204,

ATTN: Goshawk Status Review Team. The petition, finding, supporting

data and comments will be available for public inspection by

appointment, during normal business hours at the following address:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Technical Support for Forest

Resources, 333 S.W. 1st Avenue, 4th Floor, Portland, Oregon 97204,

(503/808-2565).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monty Knudsen, Office of Technical

Support for Forest Resources, 333 S.W. 1st Avenue, Portland, Oregon

97232-4181, (503/808-2564).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act) requires that

the Service make a finding 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. To

the maximum extent practicable, this finding is to be made within 90

days of the receipt of the petition (90-day finding), and notice of the

finding is to be published promptly in the Federal Register. If a

finding is made that substantial information was presented the Service

is required to promptly commence a status review of the species and

determine whether the petitioned action is warranted. The Act requires

the Service to make this finding within 12-months of the receipt of the

petition.

On September 29, 1997, the Service announced a 90-day finding for a

petition to list the northern goshawk in the contiguous United States

west of the 100th meridian under the Endangered Species Act (62 FR

50892). In that finding, the Service found that the petition presented

substantial information indicating that the listing of the northern

goshawk as a threatened or endangered species in the contiguous United

States west of the 100th meridian may be warranted. At that time, the

Service initiated a status review for the northern goshawk and

announced that a 12-month finding will be prepared at the conclusion of

the review.

At this time, the Service continues to seek additional data,

information or comments from the public, other concerned government

agencies, the scientific community, industry or any other interested

party concerning the status of the northern goshawk in the western U.S.

The Service is interested in information from throughout the species

range in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Public Comments Solicited

The following issues are of particular interest to the Service:

1. Genetic, morphological and ecological differences, including

variations or intergradation of the subspecies Accipiter gentilis

atricapillus and Accipiter gentilis apache within their range;

2. Data on historic and current population trends and dynamics, and

documented or suspected influencing factors that may affect these

population trends, and may, therefore, assist in determining population

trends;

3. Reproductive trends and documented or suspected influencing

factors that may affect reproduction in goshawks;

4. Trends in loss, modification and recovery of the forested

habitat occupied by the two subspecies, and the extent to which habitat

conversion and fragmentation affects goshawks and their prey;

5. Taxonomic clarification of North American goshawk subspecies;

6. Information on migration and dispersal patterns; and

7. Information on the goshawk in Canada and Mexico, as well as

information on management and relevant regulatory mechanisms in Canada

and Mexico.

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered

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

Dated: February 5, 1998.

Bill Shake,

Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1,

Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 98-3411 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P