Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 126 / Friday, June 30, 1995 / Proposed Rules 34225
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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 126 / Friday, June 30, 1995 / Proposed Rules 34225 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR northwest portion of the North Slope. ACTION: Notice of candidate species Recent surveys suggest the species no reclassification. Fish and Wildlife Service longer nests in certain areas in which it originally occurred on the North Slope. SUMMARY: In this document, the U.S. 50 CFR Part 17 Factors causing the decline of the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) RIN: 1018±AC19 species and the contraction of its provides explanation for changes in the breeding range in Alaska are not known. candidate status of 32 species of plants Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Due to the reduction in numbers and and animals that are under review for and Plants; Reopening of Comment contraction of the species' breeding possible addition to the List of Period on Proposed Threatened Status range in Alaska, the Service believes Endangered and Threatened Wildlife for the Alaska Breeding Population of that the remaining population of and Plants (List) under the Endangered the Steller's Eider Steller's eiders is increasingly Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. vulnerable to extirpation. The changes for which explanation is AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, provided in this document were Interior. On July 14, 1994, the Service published a proposed rule (59 FR 35896; previously published for 20 plants in ACTION: Extension of proposed rule; July 1, 1994) to list the Alaska breeding the 1993 Plant Notice of Review and for reopening of comment period. population of Steller's eiders as 12 animals in the 1994 Animal Notice of Review. SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife threatened under the Endangered FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E. Service (Service) provides notice that Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended LaVerne Smith, Chief, Division of the comment period on the proposal to (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Comments Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and classify the Alaska breeding population received during the initial public Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. of the Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri) comment period indicate scientific 20240 (703/358±2171). as threatened is extended until January controversy exists over the Service's 14, 1996, due to significant scientific technical interpretation of available SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: data. In order to insure that decisions on controversy over the species' status. In Background addition, the public comment period is endangered and threatened species are hereby reopened. based upon the best scientific and In December 1992, the Service commercial data available, the Service DATES: The comment period, which reached a settlement agreement now requires that listing proposals be originally closed on November 14, 1994, (agreement) with the plaintiffs in the reviewed by three appropriate is reopened effective immediately and Fund For Animals et al. v. Lujan et al. independent specialists (59 FR 34270). closes on January 14, 1996. case (Civ. No. 92±800) that provides for To comply with this recent policy and the Service to review the listing status ADDRESSES: Written comments and to adequately address the scientific of species regarded as Category 1 materials should be sent to Fairbanks controversy, the Service is reopening candidates as of September 1, 1992. The Ecological Services field Office, the comment period on the proposal to Service has historically classified Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and list the Alaska breeding population of species regarded as candidates for Wildlife Service, 1412 Airport Way, Steller's eiders and now solicits the listing under the Endangered Species Fairbanks, Alaska, 99701, telephone expert opinions of three independent Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 (907) 456±0427 or facsimile (907) 456± specialists. All interested parties are U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) into two primary 0346. Comments and materials received invited to comment on this proposal categories. Category 1 candidates are will be available for public inspection, during the comment period. Written those species for which the Service has by appointment, during normal business comments may now be submitted until on file sufficient information on hours at the above address. January 14, 1996, to the Service office in biological vulnerability and threat(s) to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the ADDRESSES section. support proposals to list them as Ted Swen at the above address Authors endangered or threatened species. (telephone 907/456±0427). Category 2 candidates are taxa for which SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary author of this notice is information now in the possession of Ted Swem (see ADDRESSES section). the Service indicates that proposing to Background Authority list as endangered or threatened is The smallest of four eider species, the possibly appropriate, but for which Steller's eider breeds in coastal areas of The authority for this action is the substantial data on biological arctic Alaska and Russia. Worldwide, Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 vulnerability and threat are not Steller's eiders still number over one U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). currently available to support a hundred thousand, with the vast Dated: June 20, 1995. proposed listing. Species classified as majority of individuals nesting in Asia John G. Rogers, Category 2* are those whose continued and wintering in Alaskan waters. A existence is in doubt. Species classified Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. small portion of the world's Steller's as Category 3 were once considered for eiders nest in Alaska and this nesting [FR Doc. 95±16075 Filed 6±29±95; 8:45 am] listing as threatened or endangered but population is being proposed for listing BILLING CODE 4310±55±M are no longer under such consideration. as a distinct vertebrate population under For any candidate species covered by the endangered Species Act. In recent 50 CFR Part 17 the agreement and removed from years the breeding range of the species Category 1 because listing is not in Alaska has contracted. The species, Endangered and Threatened Species; warranted, the Service must publish a which nests locally at several coastal Notice of Reclassification of 32 notice in the Federal Register that locations in the central Yukon- Candidate Species provides explanation for the removal Kuskokwim Delta, has now virtually from Category 1. disappeared from this region. In Alaska, AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, This notice provides explanations for the species currently nests only in the Interior. previously announced decisions to 34226 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 126 / Friday, June 30, 1995 / Proposed Rules remove candidate species from Category in the early 1900's; and Phyllostegia reproductive success, and trends in 1. The changes announced in this notice imminuta, last observed in 1980. abundance unknown, maintaining this reflect changes first published in the Abutilon virginianum (Indian mallow) species in Category 1 is not justified. 1993 Plant Notice of Review (58 FR was originally collected in Culebra, Conostegia hotteana is a small to 51444) or the 1994 Animal Notice of Puerto Rico, but according to a recent medium sized tree known only from the Review (59 FR 58982). This notice also status survey, has not been seen there island of Hispaniola and the eastern provides explanation for returning three since 1913. The species was removed mountains of Puerto Rico. There is no candidate species covered by the from Category 1 status because its current information on distribution or settlement agreement to Category 1 continued existence in the wild is in abundance of this plant and review of status. doubt. the file information indicates that Nelson's antelope ground squirrel classification as Category 1 was Findings (Ammospermophilus nelsoni) was premature. Additional information on Two species of animals that were historically found in the southern San biological distribution and abundance, removed from the Category 1 candidate Joaquin Valley of California. Presently habitat needs, and threats to the species list in the 1994 Animal Notice of the populations are more restricted and is needed before a proposal to list would Review are now returned to Category 1 are located in the San Joaquin area. The be justified. status. The northern Idaho ground species was removed from Category 1 Descurainia torulosa (Wyoming squirrel (Spermophilus brunneus) was status because its range is more tansymustard) is known only from the incorrectly placed in Category 2 status widespread on slopes and hillsides than high volcanic mountains in northwest in the 1994 Animal Notice of Review. originally thought. Also, the Wyoming and Pine Butte in southwest Wild specimens of the greenest tiger destruction, modification, or Wyoming. The species was removed beetle (Cicindella tranquebarica curtailment of the species' habitat or from Category 1 status primarily viridissima) were recently discovered range will be controlled by because of taxonomic questions and the near the Santa Ana River, California. implementation of the San Joaquin apparently large amount of suitable Based on this rediscovery and present Endangered Species Recovery Program, habitat that has not been searched for knowledge of threats, the species is now which will include setting aside foothill the species. Descurainia torulosa may in returned to Category 1 status. habitat for species such as the San fact be a minor variant of the common One plant species that was removed Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) D. incana. Successful searches for from the Category 1 candidate list in the and giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys additional populations were conducted 1993 Plant Notice of Review is being ingens). This will provide de facto in the 1980's by various investigators, returned to Category 1 status. Although protection for Nelson's antelope ground suggesting that additional searches in previously thought to be extinct, squirrel. suitable habitat will yield more Eragrostis fosbergii (Fosberg's love Aster avitus (Alexander's rock aster) populations. grass) has been rediscovered and is now was classified as a Category 1 species The short-nosed kangaroo rat classified as a Category 1 candidate.