[Federal Register: June 9, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 110)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 32727-32728]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jn10-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2009-0077; 92220-1113-0000; ABC Code: C3]
RIN 1018-AW63
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a
Nonessential Experimental Population of Sonoran Pronghorn in
Southwestern Arizona
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule: reopening of the public comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
reopening of the public comment period on our February 4, 2010,
proposed rule to reestablish the Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra
americana sonoriensis) in southwestern Arizona. We proposed to
reestablish the Sonoran pronghorn under section 10(j) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to classify that
reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population
(NEP). The proposed rule provided a plan for establishing the NEP and
provided for allowable legal incidental taking of Sonoran pronghorn
within the defined NEP area. A draft environmental assessment (EA) on
this proposed action was also made available for comment. This action
will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to
submit comments on the proposed rule to reestablish Sonoran pronghorn
into southwest Arizona and its accompanying draft EA. Information
previously submitted need not be resubmitted as it has already been
incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the
final rule.
DATES: To allow us adequate time to consider and incorporate submitted
information into our review, comments and information must be submitted
on or before July 9, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing,
Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2009-0077; Division of Policy and Directives
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive,
Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curtis McCasland, Refuge Manager,
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, 1611 North Second Avenue, Ajo,
AZ 85321; by telephone (520-387-6483) or by facsimile (520-387-5359).
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 4, 2010, we published a proposed rule to reestablish
the Sonoran pronghorn, a federally listed endangered mammal, into its
historical habitat in King Valley, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Kofa
NWR), in Yuma County, and to the Barry M. Goldwater Range--East (BMGR-
E), in Maricopa County, in southwestern Arizona (75 FR 5732). At this
time, we are reopening the public comment period for the proposed NEP
and draft EA for a period of 30 days. For more information on the
biology, habitat, and range of the Sonoran pronghorn, please refer to
our previous proposed rule published in the Federal Register on
February 4, 2010 (75 FR 5732).
Public Comments
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), published a
proposed
[[Page 32728]]
rule to establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of
Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) in southwestern
Arizona in the Federal Register on February 4, 2010 (75 FR 5732). We
are continuing to ask for public comment during this reopened public
comment period on the proposed rule and draft environmental assessment
(EA). We want the final rule to be as effective as possible and the
final EA on the proposed action to evaluate all potential issues
associated with this action. We request information from the public,
other concerned governmental agencies, Native American Tribes, the
scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties
relevant to the proposed rule and draft EA. Comments should be as
specific as possible. If you submitted information previously on the
proposed rule and draft EA, please do not resubmit it. This information
has been incorporated into the public record and will be fully
considered in the preparation of the final rule. We will consider
information received from all interested parties.
To issue a final rule to implement this proposed action and to
determine whether to prepare a finding of no significant impact or an
environmental impact statement, we will take into consideration all
comments and any additional information we receive. Such communications
may lead to a final rule that differs from this proposal. All comments,
including commenters' names and addresses, if provided to us, will
become part of the supporting record.
You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed
rule and draft EA by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section. We will not accept comments sent by e-mail or fax or to an
address not listed in the ADDRESSES section. Finally, we will not
consider hand-delivered comments that we do not receive, or mailed
comments that are not postmarked, by the date specified in the DATES
section. Comments must be submitted to http://www.regulations.gov
before midnight (Eastern Time) on the date specified in the DATES
section.
We will post your entire comment--including your personal
identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. If your written
comment includes your street address, phone number, or e-mail address,
you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this
information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. Comments and materials we receive, as well as
supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will
be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, during normal business hours, at the Cabeza Prieta
National Wildlife Refuge (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Peer Review
In accordance with our joint policy published in the Federal
Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we will seek the expert
opinions of at least three appropriate and independent specialists
regarding this proposed rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure
that our proposed NEP designation is based on scientifically sound
data, assumptions, and analyses. We will invite these peer reviewers to
comment during this public comment period on our specific assumptions
and conclusions in this proposed NEP designation.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 10(j) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: May 26, 2010.
Thomas L. Strickland,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2010-13777 Filed 6-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P