[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5383]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN: 1018--AC10
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of
Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Flat-
tailed Horned Lizard
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed Rule, notice of reopening of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of
reopening of the comment period on proposed endangered status for the
flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcalli). The comment period has
been reopened to acquire additional information from interested
parties.
DATES: The public comment period closes May 9, 1997. Any comments
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision
on this proposal.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal
should be sent directly to the Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Field Office,
2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad California 92008. Comments and
materials received will be available for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Vissman at (619) 431-9440.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The flat-tailed horned lizard inhabits desert areas of southern
Riverside, eastern San Diego, and Imperial Counties in California;
southwestern Arizona; and adjacent regions of northwestern Sonora and
northeastern Baja California Norte, Mexico. Within the United States,
populations of the flat-tailed horned lizard are centered in portions
of the Coachella Valley, Ocotillo Wells, Anza Borrego Desert, West
Mesa, East Mesa and the Yuma Desert in California; and the area between
Yuma and the Gila Mountains in Arizona. The flat-tailed horned lizard
occurs on Federal, State, county, and privately owned lands.
This species may be threatened by one or more of the following:
commercial and residential development, agricultural development, off-
highway vehicle activity, energy developments, military activities, and
pesticide use.
On November 29, 1993, the Service published a rule proposing
threatened status for the flat-tailed horned lizard. The original
comment period closed on January 28, 1994. The Service was unable to
make a final listing determination on this species because of a limited
budget, other endangered species assignments driven by court orders,
and higher listing priorities. In addition, a moratorium on listing
actions (Public Law 104-6) that took effect April 10, 1995, stipulated
that no funds could be used to make final listing or critical habitat
determinations. Now that funding has been restored, the Service is
proceeding with a final determination for this species.
Due to the length of time that has elapsed since the close of the
initial comment period, changing procedural and biological
circumstances, and the need to review the best scientific information
available during the decision-making process, the comment period is
being reopened. Such changing circumstances include the recent (October
1996) draft Flat-tailed Horned lizard Rangewide Management Strategy,
which likely affect the threats facing the species.
The Service seeks information that has become available in the last
three years concerning:
(1) Biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any threat
(or lack thereof) to this species; and
(2) The size, number, or distribution of populations of this
species.
Written comments may be submitted until May 9, 1997 to the Carlsbad
Field Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Sandy Vissman.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
Dated: February 26, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-5383 Filed 3-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
