64800 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 236 / Tuesday, December 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

2. The petition misinterprets recent

DNA data as constituting conclusive

evidence of hybrid origin of the red

wolf.

The DNA studies referenced in the

petition support the hypothesis of past

hybridizations between the three Canis

species and that the extent of

hybridization between wolves and

coyotes in the southeastern United

States was extensive. However, the data

do not provide evidence of any

continuing coyote influence on nuclear

DNA in red wolves, and selective

captive breeding provides a likely

scenario for the possible elimination of

such coyote nuclear DNA from existing

red wolves. The data do not provide

conclusive evidence of the hybrid origin

of red wolves or any evidence of

phenotypic, morphological, or

behavioral traits of coyotes persisting in

red wolves.

3. The best scientific and commercial

data available support the continued

listing of the red wolf.

The Service is required to use the best

scientific and commercial data available

when making a decision regarding

listing or delisting. As discussed above,

the scientific data supporting

hybridization in red wolves came from

a few related studies. These studies

suggest past hybridization, but provide

no support for continuing hybridization

in the existing red wolf populations.

The remainder of the relevant scientific

data shows that historic and current red

wolves lack coyote, gray wolf, or hybrid

phenotypic and morphological traits.

Dowling et al. (1992) and Cronin (1993)

specifically address the fact that all

available data must be applied to the

question and that molecular characters

are only one piece of the puzzle and are

no more valid than other types of

scientific evidence, including

morphology, behavior, ecology,

ontogeny, and paleontology.

References Cited

A complete list of all references cited

herein, as well as others, is available

upon request from the Red Wolf

Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES

section).

Author. The primary author of this

document is V. Gary Henry, Red Wolf

Recovery Coordinator (see ADDRESSES

section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the

Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C 1531

et seq.).

Dated: August 28, 1997.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97–31837 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

and Plants: Reopening of Comment

Period on Status Review for Cheetah in

Namibia

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of status review;

reopening of comment period.

SUMMARY: The Service gives notice that

the comment period on the status

review of the Cheetah in Namibia, as

initiated in response to a petition to

reclassify the species in that country

from endangered to threatened, will be

reopened.

DATES: Comments and information may

be submitted through February 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments, information,

and questions should be submitted to

the Chief, Office of Scientific Authority;

Room 750, 4401 North Fairfax Drive;

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

Arlington, Virginia 22203 (Fax number

703–358–2276). The petition finding,

supporting data, and comments will be

available for public inspection, by

appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Charles W. Dane, Chief, Office of

Scientific Authority, at the above

address (phone 703–358–1708).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the

Federal Register of March 19, 1996 (61

FR 11181), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) announced the 90-day

finding that a petition to reclassify the

cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in Namibia

from endangered to threatened had

presented substantial information

indicating that the requested action may

be warranted. A status review was

initiated, with the original comment

period ending July 17, 1996.

Subsequently, the Service received two

new documents that may have major

relevance to this issue: a management

plan for the cheetah prepared by the

Government of Namibia and a final

report on a cheetah workshop held by

the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

In order to consider this new

information and any comments thereon,

the Service has decided to reopen the

comment period until February 1, 1998,

and will provide copies of the indicated

documents upon request. All comments

and information will be considered in

making a final decision on whether the

requested action is warranted, and will

be included in the administrative

record.

Authority: Endangered Species Act of 1973

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: November 19, 1997.

Jamie Rappaport Clark,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 97–31970 Filed 12–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M