Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of Comment Period for Proposed Rule To List the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF03

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of

Comment Period for Proposed Rule To List the Contiguous United States

Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We are reopening the comment period on the proposal to list

the contiguous United States distinct population segment of the Canada

lynx to invite comment from all interested parties on new information

contained within a U.S. Forest Service science report that we are

accepting into the administrative report. This report contains new

information pertinent to our findings and conclusions of the proposed

rule of July 8, 1998. The information contained within available

chapters of this report and all comments received in response to this

information will be considered in our final decision on whether to list

the Canada lynx under the Endangered Species Act.

DATES: Comments must be postmarked or emailed by September 24, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal

should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Montana Field Office, 100 N. Park Avenue, Suite 320, Helena, Montana

59601; or email [email protected]>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kemper McMaster, Field Supervisor (see

ADDRESSES section) (telephone 406/449-5225, facsimile 406/449-5339).

The Internet is the fastest method for obtaining a copy of the report.

Finalized chapters from the report can be retrieved from the Internet

at http://www.fs.fed.us/rl>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 8, 1998 (63 FR 36994), we published a proposed rule to list

the contiguous United States distinct population of the Canada lynx

(Lynx canadensis) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended. As described in the proposed rule, the range of the

lynx included portions of States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana,

Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New

Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Threats

to this population segment of the Canada lynx were considered to be

human alteration of forests, low numbers as a result of past

overexploitation, expansion of the range of competitors (bobcats (Felis

rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans)), and elevated levels of human

access into lynx habitat. The rule also proposed to list the captive

population of Canada lynx within the coterminous United States (lower

48 States) as threatened due to similarity of appearance and permitted

the continued export of captive-bred Canada lynx.

We published notice of a 6-month extension on the proposed rule to

list the lynx on July 8, 1999 (64 FR 36836). The final decision on the

proposal is now due January 8, 2000.

Public Comments Solicited

We are reopening the comment period on our July 8, 1998, proposal

to list the contiguous United States distinct population segment of the

Canada lynx. We are seeking additional comment on our proposal based on

new information contained within a report, ``The scientific basis for

lynx conservation in the contiguous United States.'' This report is

being completed by a team led by Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S.

Forest Service. We are accepting finalized chapters of this report into

the administrative record. The report contains new information

pertinent to our findings and conclusions in the proposed rule. The

information contained within available chapters of this report and all

comments received in response to this information will be considered in

our final decision on whether to list the Canadian lynx under the

Endangered Species Act.

At this time, three chapters of the report are final and available

to the public. These three chapters represent substantive new

information pertinent to the scientific basis for our findings and

conclusion regarding our final decision on whether to list the Canadian

lynx under the Endangered Species Act. Additional chapters of the

report are expected to be finalized and released to the public

throughout the comment period. This will be the only notice of the

availability of chapters of this report.

Finalized chapters from the report can be retrieved from the

Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/rl>. The Internet is the best method

for making the report rapidly available. If you cannot get the report

through the Internet, please call the Montana Field Office (see

ADDRESSES section). Please check this website regularly or call the

Montana Field Office to obtain new chapters, which will be made

available as soon as they are finalized. Your written comments on the

proposal based on new information contained in this report must be

postmarked or e-mailed by September 24, 1999, to the Montana Office

(see ADDRESSES section above).

Author

The author of this notice is Lori Nordstrom (see ADDRESSES

section.)

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated August 12, 1999.

Mary L. Gessner,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 99-21391 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]

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