The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has initiated a status review for the bald eagle in the Sonoran Desert area of central Arizona and northwest Mexico and is seeking information regarding the status of, and any potential threats to, the Sonoran Desert area bald eagle. The information will be assessed to determine whether continued Endangered Species Act protection is warranted for the eagle. Information must be submitted to the Service by July 7 to be considered in the final determination to be published in December 2008.
As a result of a recent court order, bald eagles in the Sonoran Desert of central Arizona are again protected as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The bald eagle in other parts of the United States has recovered sufficiently to no longer need protection under the ESA. The Service was ordered to: 1) conduct a status review to determine whether recognizing the Sonoran Desert bald eagle population as a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) is warranted, and if so, whether listing the DPS as threatened or endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act is warranted; and 2) issue by December 5, 2008, a 12-month finding on the results of the status review.
To decide whether the bald eagle in the Sonoran Desert area constitutes a DPS, the Service must determine whether the population may be discrete and significant and threatened with endangerment or extinction.
Scientific and commercial information that supports or refutes the appropriateness of considering the Sonoran Desert area bald eagle to be discrete (separated from other populations of bald eagles due to physical, physiological, ecological, or behavioral factors) or to be significant (such as persisting in an unusual or unique ecological setting or having unusual genetic characteristics) will help inform the Services determination. Additionally, the Service is seeking information regarding Sonoran Desert area bald eagles historical and current population status, distribution, and trends; present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of breeding habitat or range; inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence.
Information can be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov or by mail to Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket FWS-R2-ES-2008-0037; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste 222, Arlington, VA 22203. Requests for supporting documents can be submitted to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 W. Royal Palm Rd., Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; phone 602/242-0210 or fax 602/242-2513. Additional information is also available at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/BaldEagle.htm .
