95-16075. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Alaska Breeding Population of the Steller's Eider

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34224-34225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16075]



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[[Page 34225]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN: 1018-AC19


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Alaska Breeding 
Population of the Steller's Eider

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice 
that the comment period on the proposal to classify the Alaska breeding 
population of the Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri) as threatened 
is extended until January 14, 1996, due to significant scientific 
controversy over the species' status. In addition, the public comment 
period is hereby reopened.

DATES: The comment period, which originally closed on November 14, 
1994, is reopened effective immediately and closes on January 14, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to Fairbanks 
Ecological Services field Office, Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1412 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99701, telephone 
[phone] or facsimile [phone]. Comments and materials 
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ted Swen at the above address (telephone [phone]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The smallest of four eider species, the Steller's eider breeds in 
coastal areas of arctic Alaska and Russia. Worldwide, Steller's eiders 
still number over one hundred thousand, with the vast majority of 
individuals nesting in Asia and wintering in Alaskan waters. A small 
portion of the world's Steller's eiders nest in Alaska and this nesting 
population is being proposed for listing as a distinct vertebrate 
population under the endangered Species Act. In recent years the 
breeding range of the species in Alaska has contracted. The species, 
which nests locally at several coastal locations in the central Yukon-
Kuskokwim Delta, has now virtually disappeared from this region. In 
Alaska, the species currently nests only in the northwest portion of 
the North Slope. Recent surveys suggest the species no longer nests in 
certain areas in which it originally occurred on the North Slope. 
Factors causing the decline of the species and the contraction of its 
breeding range in Alaska are not known. Due to the reduction in numbers 
and contraction of the species' breeding range in Alaska, the Service 
believes that the remaining population of Steller's eiders is 
increasingly vulnerable to extirpation.
    On July 14, 1994, the Service published a proposed rule (59 FR 
35896; July 1, 1994) to list the Alaska breeding population of 
Steller's eiders as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (Act) 
of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Comments received during 
the initial public comment period indicate scientific controversy 
exists over the Service's technical interpretation of available data. 
In order to insure that decisions on endangered and threatened species 
are based upon the best scientific and commercial data available, the 
Service now requires that listing proposals be reviewed by three 
appropriate independent specialists (59 FR 34270). To comply with this 
recent policy and to adequately address the scientific controversy, the 
Service is reopening the comment period on the proposal to list the 
Alaska breeding population of Steller's eiders and now solicits the 
expert opinions of three independent specialists. All interested 
parties are invited to comment on this proposal during the comment 
period. Written comments may now be submitted until January 14, 1996, 
to the Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Authors

    The primary author of this notice is Ted Swem (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: June 20, 1995.
John G. Rogers,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-16075 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
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