[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32727-32728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13777]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2009-0077; 92220-1113-0000; ABC Code: C3]
RIN 1018-AW63


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a 
Nonessential Experimental Population of Sonoran Pronghorn in 
Southwestern Arizona

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule: reopening of the public comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
reopening of the public comment period on our February 4, 2010, 
proposed rule to reestablish the Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra 
americana sonoriensis) in southwestern Arizona. We proposed to 
reestablish the Sonoran pronghorn under section 10(j) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to classify that 
reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population 
(NEP). The proposed rule provided a plan for establishing the NEP and 
provided for allowable legal incidental taking of Sonoran pronghorn 
within the defined NEP area. A draft environmental assessment (EA) on 
this proposed action was also made available for comment. This action 
will provide all interested parties with an additional opportunity to 
submit comments on the proposed rule to reestablish Sonoran pronghorn 
into southwest Arizona and its accompanying draft EA. Information 
previously submitted need not be resubmitted as it has already been 
incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the 
final rule.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to consider and incorporate submitted 
information into our review, comments and information must be submitted 
on or before July 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2009-0077; Division of Policy and Directives 
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, 
Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Curtis McCasland, Refuge Manager, 
Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, 1611 North Second Avenue, Ajo, 
AZ 85321; by telephone (520-387-6483) or by facsimile (520-387-5359). 
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On February 4, 2010, we published a proposed rule to reestablish 
the Sonoran pronghorn, a federally listed endangered mammal, into its 
historical habitat in King Valley, Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Kofa 
NWR), in Yuma County, and to the Barry M. Goldwater Range--East (BMGR-
E), in Maricopa County, in southwestern Arizona (75 FR 5732). At this 
time, we are reopening the public comment period for the proposed NEP 
and draft EA for a period of 30 days. For more information on the 
biology, habitat, and range of the Sonoran pronghorn, please refer to 
our previous proposed rule published in the Federal Register on 
February 4, 2010 (75 FR 5732).

Public Comments

    We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), published a 
proposed

[[Page 32728]]

rule to establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of 
Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) in southwestern 
Arizona in the Federal Register on February 4, 2010 (75 FR 5732). We 
are continuing to ask for public comment during this reopened public 
comment period on the proposed rule and draft environmental assessment 
(EA). We want the final rule to be as effective as possible and the 
final EA on the proposed action to evaluate all potential issues 
associated with this action. We request information from the public, 
other concerned governmental agencies, Native American Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties 
relevant to the proposed rule and draft EA. Comments should be as 
specific as possible. If you submitted information previously on the 
proposed rule and draft EA, please do not resubmit it. This information 
has been incorporated into the public record and will be fully 
considered in the preparation of the final rule. We will consider 
information received from all interested parties.
    To issue a final rule to implement this proposed action and to 
determine whether to prepare a finding of no significant impact or an 
environmental impact statement, we will take into consideration all 
comments and any additional information we receive. Such communications 
may lead to a final rule that differs from this proposal. All comments, 
including commenters' names and addresses, if provided to us, will 
become part of the supporting record.
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed 
rule and draft EA by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES 
section. We will not accept comments sent by e-mail or fax or to an 
address not listed in the ADDRESSES section. Finally, we will not 
consider hand-delivered comments that we do not receive, or mailed 
comments that are not postmarked, by the date specified in the DATES 
section. Comments must be submitted to http://www.regulations.gov 
before midnight (Eastern Time) on the date specified in the DATES 
section.
    We will post your entire comment--including your personal 
identifying information--on http://www.regulations.gov. If your written 
comment includes your street address, phone number, or e-mail address, 
you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this 
information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. Comments and materials we receive, as well as 
supporting documentation we used in preparing this proposed rule, will 
be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov, or by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the Cabeza Prieta 
National Wildlife Refuge (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Peer Review

    In accordance with our joint policy published in the Federal 
Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we will seek the expert 
opinions of at least three appropriate and independent specialists 
regarding this proposed rule. The purpose of peer review is to ensure 
that our proposed NEP designation is based on scientifically sound 
data, assumptions, and analyses. We will invite these peer reviewers to 
comment during this public comment period on our specific assumptions 
and conclusions in this proposed NEP designation.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 10(j) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: May 26, 2010.
Thomas L. Strickland,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2010-13777 Filed 6-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P