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[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15280-15281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7205]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC48

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period on Proposed Rule to Reclassify the Bald Eagle From 
Endangered to Threatened

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the 
comment period on the bald eagle reclassification proposal for thirty 
days. On July 12, 1994, the Service proposed reclassifying the bald 
eagles of the lower 48 States as threatened, except those already 
listed as threatened and those of the Southwestern Recovery Region and 
Mexico. The bald eagles of the Southwestern Recovery Region were 
proposed to remain listed as [[Page 15281]] endangered. The Service 
also proposed classifying bald eagles in Mexico as endangered; they are 
not currently listed as endangered or threatened. Specific public 
comment was solicited on the status of bald eagles in the Southwest and 
Mexico and the distinctness of those eagles as a separate population. 
New information indicates that the Southwestern and Mexican bald eagles 
may not warrant a classification as endangered. The Service is making 
available for public review and comment information recently received 
about bald eagles of the Southwestern Recovery Region.

DATES: The comment period on the proposal is reopened, effective 
immediately, and will close on April 24, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may obtain copies of the comments and 
other information listed below from the Chief, Division of Endangered 
Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal 
Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056 (612/725-
3536; fax 612/725-3526). Copies may also be obtained from the State 
Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services State Office, 2321 W. Royal 
Palm Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85021 (602/640-2720; fax 602/640-2730).
    Send written comments and other materials to the above Ft. 
Snelling, Minnesota, Regional Office address. Comments and materials 
received will be available for public inspection during normal business 
hours, by appointment, at that address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle 
Recovery Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469-48th Avenue 
Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201 (309/793-5800; fax 309/793-5804).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is listed as endangered 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), in the 
lower 48 States except Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and 
Michigan, where it is listed as threatened. The bald eagle also occurs 
in Alaska and Canada, where it is not at risk and is not protected 
under the Act; and in small numbers in northern Mexico. The Service 
proposed in the July 12, 1994, Federal Register notice (59 FR 35584) to 
reclassify the bald eagle from endangered to threatened in the lower 48 
States except in certain portions of the American Southwest and to 
classify bald eagles in Mexico as endangered. That notice also stated 
that comments and other information received by the Service may lead to 
a final regulation that differs from the original proposal, including 
the possible complete reclassification to threatened status for all 
bald eagles south of Canada.
    The Service has received significant new information regarding 
Southwestern bald eagles and has re-examined other information. 
Existing information at the time of the proposed rule fails to identify 
any unique genetic characteristics possessed by the Southwestern bald 
eagles. New information indicates that the bald eagles of the 
Southwestern Recovery Region and Mexico are not likely to be 
reproductively isolated. Evidence of recruitment has recently been 
found from the Southeastern Recovery Region into the Southwestern 
Recovery Region and Mexico. Unique threats to Southwestern bald eagles 
remain, but their significance is diminished in light of immigration 
into the population segment.
    The Service is now considering reclassifying the eagles of the 
Southwestern Recovery Region as threatened, and classifying the bald 
eagles of Mexico as threatened. The bald eagle would remain threatened 
in the five States where it is currently listed as threatened. This 
modified action, if finalized, would not alter those conservation 
measures already in force to protect the species and its habitats.
    The Federal Register notice announcing the proposed rule opened a 
public comment period that ended on October 11, 1994; the deadline for 
receipt of public hearing requests was August 26, 1994. Public hearings 
were subsequently held, and the comment period was extended in a 
September 30, 1994 notice (59 FR 49908) to accommodate them. The 
extended comment period closed November 9, 1994. This notice reopens 
the comment period for 30 days to allow interested parties to obtain 
copies of the following documents and to submit additional comments on 
the proposed rule.

References

Driscoll, D.E., R.I. Mesta and J.T. Driscoll. 1993. Population 
ecology and demography of bald eagles in Arizona: 1991-1993. 
American Eagle Research Institute, Mesa, Arizona 74pp.
Driscoll, Dan (American Eagle Research Institute) 1995. Letter to 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Phoenix, Arizona.
Driscoll, Dan (American Eagle Research Institute) 1995. Letter to 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock Island, Illinois.
Mabie, D.W., M.T. Merendino and D.H Reid. 1994. Dispersal of bald 
eagles fledged in Texas. Journal of Raptor Research 28(4):213-219.
Montoya, Bill (Director, New Mexico Department of Game & Fish). 
1994. Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Shroufe, Duane. (Director, Arizona Game & Fish Department). 1994. 
Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Spiller, Sam. (State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Phoenix, Arizona). 1994. Memo to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Twin Cities, Minnesota.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald 
Eagle Recovery Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469-48th 
Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201.

Authority

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

    Dated: March 15, 1995.
Mollie H. Beattie,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 95-7205 Filed 3-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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