Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 11, 2008 / Proposed Rules 12941 

redundancy that is important to the 

conservation of the species. In North 

America, wolverines occur within a 

wide variety of arctic, sub-arctic and 

alpine habitats, primarily boreal forests, 

tundra, and western mountains 

throughout Alaska and Canada, with 

two small peninsulas of habitat 

extending into the North Cascades and 

the Northern Rocky Mountains in the 

contiguous United States. The portion of 

the range that extends into the 

contiguous United States is small in 

relation to the entire range of the 

subspecies. Additionally, the actual area 

amount of habitat in the contiguous 

United States is more fragmented in 

nature than habitat found elsewhere 

throughout the range, which results in 

a smaller proportion of actual habitat in 

the contiguous U.S. portion than what is 

generally indicated on ‘‘range’’ maps 

(see ‘‘Habitat Availability and 

Connectivity’’ section above). Finally, a 

small proportion of the total wolverine 

population occurs in the contiguous 

United States. Assuming 8,333 

wolverine occur in Alaska (as described 

in the control of exploitation section 

above), 15,089 wolverine occur in 

Canada, and 500 wolverine occur in the 

contiguous United States, the 

contiguous United States portion 

accounts for only 2 percent of the entire 

G. g. luscus population. Thus, we 

determined that the contiguous U.S. 

wolverine population does not 

significantly contribute to the 

redundancy of G. g. luscus. 

In determining whether the 

contiguous U.S. wolverine population 

contributed to representation, we 

evaluated whether it contributes to the 

genetic diversity of the species. 

Adequate representation ensures that 

the species’ adaptive capabilities are 

conserved. Wolverines in the 

contiguous United States contain a 

subset of the genetic haplotypes found 

in the Canadian populations, and 

therefore do not represent a unique 

population. Thus, the species does not 

meaningfully contribute to 

representation of Gulo gulo luscus. The 

populations in Canada and Alaska are 

relatively large and contiguous, and are 

not dependent on connectivity to the 

contiguous U.S. population. 

Based on the discussion above, we 

determined that the contiguous United 

States portion of the current range of the 

North American wolverine is not 

significant to the Gulo gulo luscus 

subspecies, and therefore does not 

warrant further consideration to 

determine if it is a significant portion of 

the range that is threatened or 

endangered. In addition, we find that 

historical habitat in the contiguous 

United States that is no longer occupied 

would not raise the status of this portion 

of the range as being significant to the 

subspecies. 

Finding 

We have carefully assessed the best 

scientific and commercial information 

available regarding threats to the 

contiguous United States population of 

the wolverine. We reviewed the 

petition, and available published and 

unpublished scientific and commercial 

information. This 12-month finding 

reflects and incorporates information 

that we received during the public 

comment period or that we obtained 

through consultation, literature 

research, and field visits. 

On the basis of this review, we have 

determined that the contiguous United 

States population of the North American 

wolverine does not constitute a distinct 

population segment (DPS) under the Act 

and therefore a listable entity unto itself. 

We also find that the contiguous United 

States population of the North American 

wolverine is not a significant portion of 

the range of the North American 

subspecies and does not warrant further 

consideration under the Act. Therefore, 

we find that the petition to list the 

North American wolverine that occurs 

in the contiguous United States is not 

warranted for listing. 

References Cited 

A complete list of all references cited 

is available upon request from the 

Supervisor, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Montana Field Office (see 

ADDRESSES). 

Author 

The primary author of this document 

is staff of the Mountain-Prairie Region of 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 134 

Union Blvd., Ste. 145, Lakewood, 

Colorado 80228 (also see ADDRESSES). 

Authority 

The authority for this action is section 

4 of the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.). 

Dated: February 28, 2008. 

H. Dale Hall, 

Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–4197 Filed 3–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Parts 223 and 224 

RIN 0648–XF03 

Listing Endangered and Threatened 

Wildlife and Designating Critical 

Habitat; 90-day Finding for a Petition to 

Reclassify the Loggerhead Turtle in 

the Western North Atlantic Ocean 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: 90-day petition finding; request 

for information and comments; 

correction. 

SUMMARY: This document corrects the 

fax number in the ADDRESSES section of 

a proposed rule published in the 

Federal Register of March 5, 2008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marta Nammack at 301–713–1401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Correction 

In proposed rule FR Doc. E8–4231, 

beginning on page 11849 in the issue of 

March 5, 2008, make the following 

correction, in the Preamble. On page 

11849, column two, line 8 of the 

ADDRESSES section, replace ‘‘978–281–

9394’’ with ‘‘301–713–0376’’. 

Dated: March 6, 2008. 

John Oliver, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Operations, National Marine Fisheries 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 08–1000 Filed 3–6–08; 2:54 pm] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 648 

[Docket No. 071017601–7812–02] 

RIN 0648–AW17 

Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; 

Fisheries of the Northeastern United 

States; Northeast Multispecies 

Fishery; 2008 Georges Bank Cod Fixed 

Gear Sector Operations Plan and 

Agreement, and Allocation of Georges 

Bank Cod Total Allowable Catch 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with PROPOSALS