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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public Hearings and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Extension of Endangered Status for the Jaguar in the United States

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 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Pub



[Federal Register: October 25, 1994]









DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR



Fish and Wildlife Service



50 CFR Part 17



RIN 1018-AC61

 


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearings and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Extension of 
Endangered Status for the Jaguar in the United States



AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.



ACTION: Notice of public hearings and reopening of comment period.






SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
three public hearings will be held, and the comment period reopened, 
regarding the proposed rule to extend endangered species status to the 
jaguar (Panthera onca) in the United States. These hearings and 
reopening of the comment period will allow all interested parties to 
submit oral or written comments on the proposal.



DATES: Three public hearings have been scheduled for the following 
dates and times: Tuesday, November 15, 1994, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., 
Thatcher, Arizona; Thursday, November 17, 1994, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 
p.m., in El Paso, Texas; and Tuesday, November 29, 1994, 7:00 p.m. to 
10:00 p.m., in Weslaco, Texas. The comment period for this proposal, 
which originally closed September 12, 1994, is now reopened from 
November 15, 1994, to December 14, 1994. Comments must be received by 
the closing date. Any comments that are received after the closing date 
may not be considered in the final decision on this proposal.



ADDRESSES: The November 15, 1994, public hearing will be held at Lee 
Little Theater, Eastern Arizona College, 600 Church Street, Thatcher, 
Arizona. The November 17, 1994, public hearing will be held at the 
North Hall room at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, 1 
Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, Texas. The November 29 public hearing will 
be held at Hoblitzelle Auditorium, Texas A&M Experimental Station, 2415 
East Highway 83, Weslaco, Texas. Written comments and materials should 
be sent to the State Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services State 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2321 West Palm Road, Suite 103, 
Phoenix, Arizona, 85021. Comments and materials received will be 
available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business 
hours, at the above address.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorena Wada or Timothy Tibbitts, at 
the above address, telephone (602) 379-4720.



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:



Background



    The jaguar is currently listed as endangered from the border 
between the United States and Mexico southward including Mexico, 
Central America, and South America. In the United States the primary 
threat to this species is from shooting. Loss and modification of the 
jaguar's habitat may have also contributed to their decline.
    While no breeding population of the jaguar is known to survive in 
the U.S., the species is present in northern Mexico, and wandering 
individuals occasionally cross the border. Jaguars historically 
occurred in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and possibly, Louisiana and 
California. A minimum of 64 jaguars were killed in Arizona since 1900. 
The most recent was in 1986. A proposed rule to extend endangered 
status to the jaguar in the U.S., without critical habitat, was 
published in the Federal Register on July 13, 1994 (59 FR 35674).
    Pursuant to 50 CFR 424.16(c)(2), the Service may extend or reopen a 
comment period upon finding that there is good cause to do so. The 
Service has determined that good cause exists, in that full 
participation of the affected public in the species listing process 
will allow the Service to consider the best scientific and commercial 
data available in making a final determination on the proposed action.
    Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that a public hearing be 
held if requested within 45 days of the publication of a proposed rule. 
In response to numerous requests, the Service is holding three 
hearings. The three public hearings will be held on the dates and at 
the addresses described above.

    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement and present it 
to the Service at the start of the hearing. In the event there is a 
large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may have to be 
limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There 
are no limits to the length of written comments presented at the 
hearings or mailed to the Service. To facilitate the uninhibited 
exchange of information, cameras and videotape recorders will not be 
allowed within the public hearing rooms. Legal notices announcing the 
dates, times, and locations of the hearings will be published in 
newspapers concurrently with this Federal Register notice.



Author



    The primary author of this notice is Lorena L.L. Wada (see 
ADDRESSES).



Authority



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



    Dated: October 18, 1994.

Lynn B. Starnes,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-26370 Filed 10-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

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