[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38465-38466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18138]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Availability of Supplemental Information Regarding the Recovery
Plan for the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our finding on supplemental information relative to the
recovery plan for the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). Portions
of the information will be added to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan
after appropriate public notice and comment.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to receive a copy of the supplemental
information finding may obtain a copy by contacting the Grizzly Bear
Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Hall,
Room 309, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812. Comments and
materials received are available on request for public inspection, by
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher Servheen, Grizzly Bear
Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES above), at telephone (406) 243-
4903.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The primary goal of our endangered species program is to restore
endangered or threatened animals or plants to the point where they are
secure, self-sustaining members of their ecosystem. To help guide the
recovery effort, we prepare recovery plans for most of the listed
species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe actions
considered necessary for conservation of the species, establish
criteria for recovery levels for downlisting or delisting them, and
estimate time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
The grizzly bear was listed under the Act as a threatened species
in the 48 conterminous States on July 28, 1995 (40 FR 31734). Threats
to grizzly bear populations come primarily from habitat modification
caused by human activities and from direct bear/human conflicts
resulting from recreational and resource use activities, highway and
railroad corridors, and illegal mortality.
Under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act) as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we approved the revised Grizzly Bear
Recovery Plan on September 10, 1993.
[[Page 38466]]
In May 1994 The Fund For Animals, Inc., and 22 other organizations
and individuals filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District
of Columbia over the adequacy of the Plan approved in 1993. Later in
May 1994 the National Audubon Society and 19 other organizations and
individuals also filed suit in the same court. The two cases were
eventually consolidated. In September 1995 the court issued an opinion.
The motions for summary judgment of both the plaintiffs and the
defendants were granted in part and denied in part. The court ordered
us to reconsider certain portions of the Plan, and to provide
supplemental information. The court remanded five issues that might
affect grizzly bear recovery for our reconsideration. Those issues
were: disease and parasites; livestock interactions and mortality; the
effects of genetic isolation; population monitoring methods; and our
reliance on Canada for recovery of the grizzly bear.
On September 10, 1997, we published a Notice of Availability (62 FR
47677, Sept. 10, 1997) for the draft supplemental information on the
five remanded issues. We provided our final finding on the issues to
the court on May 15, 1999, and this notice announces that the document
is available for public distribution.
We are also in the process of developing draft grizzly bear
habitat-based recovery criteria, which are being made available for
public review and comment under a separate notice of availability.
Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988, requires that public
notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided
during recovery plan development. We will provide a public comment
period prior to approval of each new amendment to the recovery plan. We
and other Federal land management agencies also will take these
comments into account in the course of implementing approved recovery
plans.
Authority: The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: July 9, 1999.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 99-18138 Filed 7-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
