[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 10016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5383]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN: 1018--AC10


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of 
Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Flat-
tailed Horned Lizard

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed Rule, notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of 
reopening of the comment period on proposed endangered status for the 
flat-tailed horned lizard (Phrynosoma mcalli). The comment period has 
been reopened to acquire additional information from interested 
parties.

DATES: The public comment period closes May 9, 1997. Any comments 
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision 
on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal 
should be sent directly to the Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Field Office, 
2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad California 92008. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Vissman at (619) 431-9440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The flat-tailed horned lizard inhabits desert areas of southern 
Riverside, eastern San Diego, and Imperial Counties in California; 
southwestern Arizona; and adjacent regions of northwestern Sonora and 
northeastern Baja California Norte, Mexico. Within the United States, 
populations of the flat-tailed horned lizard are centered in portions 
of the Coachella Valley, Ocotillo Wells, Anza Borrego Desert, West 
Mesa, East Mesa and the Yuma Desert in California; and the area between 
Yuma and the Gila Mountains in Arizona. The flat-tailed horned lizard 
occurs on Federal, State, county, and privately owned lands.
    This species may be threatened by one or more of the following: 
commercial and residential development, agricultural development, off-
highway vehicle activity, energy developments, military activities, and 
pesticide use.
    On November 29, 1993, the Service published a rule proposing 
threatened status for the flat-tailed horned lizard. The original 
comment period closed on January 28, 1994. The Service was unable to 
make a final listing determination on this species because of a limited 
budget, other endangered species assignments driven by court orders, 
and higher listing priorities. In addition, a moratorium on listing 
actions (Public Law 104-6) that took effect April 10, 1995, stipulated 
that no funds could be used to make final listing or critical habitat 
determinations. Now that funding has been restored, the Service is 
proceeding with a final determination for this species.
    Due to the length of time that has elapsed since the close of the 
initial comment period, changing procedural and biological 
circumstances, and the need to review the best scientific information 
available during the decision-making process, the comment period is 
being reopened. Such changing circumstances include the recent (October 
1996) draft Flat-tailed Horned lizard Rangewide Management Strategy, 
which likely affect the threats facing the species.
    The Service seeks information that has become available in the last 
three years concerning:
    (1) Biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any threat 
(or lack thereof) to this species; and
    (2) The size, number, or distribution of populations of this 
species.
    Written comments may be submitted until May 9, 1997 to the Carlsbad 
Field Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Sandy Vissman.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

    Dated: February 26, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-5383 Filed 3-4-97; 8:45 am]
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