[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4393-4394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2471]
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[[Page 4394]]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AD62
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of
Comment Period for Proposed Establishment of a Nonessential
Experimental Population of California Condors in Northern Arizona
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice
that the public comment period is reopened for the proposal to
designate a nonessential experimental population of California condors
(Gymnogyps californianus) in northern Arizona and southern Utah. This
population is proposed to be designated as a nonessential experimental
population in accordance with section 10(j) of the Endangered Species
Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The reopening of the comment period will
allow all interested parties to submit written comments on the
proposal.
DATES: The comment period which originally closed February 1, 1996, now
closes February 29, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the Supervisor,
Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321
W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, Arizona 85021. Comments and
materials received will be available for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the above Service
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey A. Humphrey, at the above
address, telephone 602/640-2720; facsimile 620/640-2730.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Service, in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish
Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, proposes to
reintroduce California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) into northern
Arizona. This reintroduction will achieve a primary recovery goal for
this endangered species, establishment of a second noncaptive
population, spatially disjunct from the noncaptive population in
southern California. Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (Act) enables the Service to designate certain populations of
federally-listed species that are released into the wild as
``experimental.`` This designation can increase the Service's
flexibility to manage a reintroduced population. Section 10(j) allows
an experimental population to be treated as a threatened species
regardless of its designation elsewhere in its range and under section
4(d) of the Act. The Service has greater discretion in developing
management programs for threatened species than it has for endangered
species. Nonessential experimental populations located outside National
Wildlife Refuges or National Park Service lands are treated, for the
purpose of section 7 of the Act, as if they are proposed for listing.
The area proposed for nonessential experimental designation occurs in
northern Arizona, southern Utah and southeastern Nevada.
A proposed rule to designate a nonessential experimental population
of California condors was published in the Federal Register (61 FR 35)
on January 2, 1996.
Pursuant to 50 CFR 424.16(c)(2), the Service may extend or reopen a
comment period upon finding that there is good cause to do so. Full
participation of the affected public in the species listing process,
allowing the Service to consider the best scientific and commercial
data available in making a final determination on the proposed action,
is deemed as sufficient cause.
The previous comment period on this proposal closed on February 1,
1996. With the publication of this notice, the Service reopens the
public comment period. Written comments may now be submitted until
February 29, 1996, to the Service office in the ADDRESSES section.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Jeffrey A. Humphrey (see
ADDRESSES).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).
Dated: January 30, 1996.
Lynn B. Starnes,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 96-2471 Filed 2-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
