[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 23, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70779-70780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23032]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AT31


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition 
Finding and Proposed Rule To Delist the Mexican Bobcat (Lynx rufus 
escuinapae)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), give notice that 
we are reopening the comment period for the proposed rule to delist the 
Mexican bobcat (Lynx rufus escuinapae) under the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (Act), as amended. The proposed rule was published and the 
public comment period initially opened on May 19, 2005 and the comment 
period closed on August 17, 2005. We are now reopening the comment 
period so that we may obtain comments from additional peer reviewers 
and other interested persons. Comments previously submitted do not need 
to be resubmitted because they will be incorporated into the public 
record as part of this comment period and will be fully considered in 
the final determination.

DATES: Comments must be submitted directly to the Service (see 
ADDRESSES section) on or before December 23, 2005. Any comments 
received after the closing date may not be considered in the final 
determination on the proposal.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, information, and questions to the Chief, 
Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 
N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203, USA; or by fax (703-
358-2276); or by e-mail (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e291818b878c968b848b818397968a8d908b969ba2849591cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="addecec4c8c3d9c4cbc4ceccd8d9c5c2dfc4d9d4edcbdade83cac2db">[email protected]</span></a>). Comments and 
supporting information will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the above address. To obtain a 
copy of the May 19, 2005 proposed rule, you can download or print it 
from http://www.fws.gov/international/, or you can request a copy from 
the Division of Scientific Authority by writing to the above address or 
calling 703-358-1708.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Javier Alvarez at the above 
address; or by telephone (703-358-1708), fax (703-358-2276), or e-mail 
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3a0b0bab6bda7bab5bab0b2a6a7bbbca1baa7aa93b5a4a0fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6417070d010a100d020d070511100c0b160d101d240213174a030b12">[email protected]</span></a>).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 8, 1996, the Service received a petition dated June 30, 
1996, from the National Trappers Association, Inc., Bloomington, 
Illinois. The petition requested that we delist the Mexican bobcat 
under the Act. On July 2, 2003, we published in the Federal Register 
(68 FR 39590) a positive 90-day finding on the National Trappers 
Association petition, thereby initiating a public comment period and 
status review for the species. Based on the comments received and 
status review, on May 19, 2005, we published in the Federal Register 
(70 FR 28895) a rule proposing to delist the Mexican bobcat under the 
Act. The public comment period on that proposed rule closed on August 
17, 2005. In our final rule, we will address the comments received 
during that 90-day comment period as well as the comments received 
during the reopening of the comment period initiated by this document.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service intends that any final action resulting from the 
proposed rule will be based on the most accurate and up-to-date 
information possible. Therefore, comments or suggestions from the 
public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific 
community, industry, or any other interested party concerning the 
proposed rule are hereby solicited. Comments particularly are sought 
concerning the taxonomic validity and population status of the Mexican 
bobcat, specifically the putative subspecies Lynx rufus escuinapae and 
not other subspecies or populations of bobcat in Mexico. We request 
that you do not resubmit comments sent to us during the previous 
comment period. Comments previously submitted will be incorporated into 
the public record as part of this comment period and will be fully 
considered in the final determination. Final action on the proposed 
rule will take into consideration the comments and any additional 
information received by the Service, and such communications may lead 
to a final action that differs from the proposed rule.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Commenters may request that we withhold their home 
addresses, and we will honor these requests to the extent allowable by 
law. In some circumstances, we may also withhold a commenter's 
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your

[[Page 70780]]

name or address, you must state this request prominently at the 
beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous 
comments. To the extent consistent with applicable law, we will make 
all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public comment in their entirety. Comments 
and materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

Peer Review

    In accordance with our policy published on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 
34270), we are seeking expert opinions of at least three appropriate 
independent specialists regarding the proposed rule. The purpose of 
such review is to ensure that listing decisions are based on 
scientifically sound data, assumptions, and analysis. Two of the three 
invited peer reviewers submitted comments during the previous comment 
period, while the third submitted comments following the close of the 
comment period. Therefore, we are reopening the comment period to allow 
consideration of the existing peer reviews as well as the submission of 
comments by additional peer reviewers.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Dr. Javier Alvarez (see 
ADDRESSES section).

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

    Dated: October 27, 2005.
Marshall Jones,
Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-23032 Filed 11-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M


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