[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24632-24633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11712]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018--AC10
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of
Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Flat-
tailed Horned Lizard
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule, notice of extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of an
extension of the comment period on the proposed threatened status for
the flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcalli). The comment period
has been extended at the request of an individual interested in
providing public comment.
DATES: The public comment period has been extended 30 days, and will
now close on June 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 the address listed
above (telephone 760/431-9440, facsimile 760/431-9618).
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 (Pub. L. 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.
In response to a request from a constituent of Senator Kyl of
Arizona, the Service is extending the comment period for 30 days. This
individual requested an extension to allow
[[Page 24633]]
sufficient time to review requested documents and prepare comments.
The Service continues to seek information that has become available
in the last 3 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 through June 9, 1997, to the
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Sandy Vissman (see
ADDRESSES section).
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
Dated: April 29, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-11712 Filed 5-5-97; 8:45 am]
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