Rules and Regulations. Proposed rule; notice of availability and reopening of comment period

Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior
Action: Proposed rule; notice of availability and reopening of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2012-4348 · RIN 1018-AV97 · Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2010-004; 4500030113 · 50 CFR 17

Summary

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of the public comment period on our December 14, 2010, proposed endangered status for the dunes sagebrush lizard ( Sceloporus arenicolus ) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We also announce the availability of a signed conservation agreement for the dunes sagebrush lizard in Texas. We are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties an opportunity to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule, the new conservation agreement, and a previously completed conservation agreement for the dunes sagebrush lizard in New Mexico. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

Dates

The comment period end date is March 12, 2012. We request that comments be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.

Supplementary Information

Background On December 14, 2010, we published a proposed rule (75 FR 77801) to list the dunes sagebrush lizard, a lizard known from southeastern New Mexico and adjacent west Texas, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). For a description of previous Federal actions concerning the dunes sagebrush lizard (formerly known as the sand dunes lizard), please refer to the proposed rule. In addition to the original comment period associated with the publication of the proposed rule, we held two public meetings in April 2011 and reopened the comment period to accept additional public comments (76 FR 19304; April 7, 2011). On December 5, 2011, we provided notice of extension of our final determination pursuant to section 4(b)(6) of the Act and reopened the comment period a third time (76 FR 75858). That comment period closed on January 19, 2012. Since that time, the Texas Comptroller's Office, in coordination with industry, landowners, and agricultural interests, has prepared and finalized a conservation agreement for the lizard, titled the “Texas Conservation Plan for Dunes Sagebrush Lizard ( Sceloporus arenicolus )”. Additionally, the “Candidate Conservation Agreement for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken ( Tympanuchus pallidicinctus ) and Sand Dune Lizard ( Sceloporus arenicolus ) in New Mexico” was finalized in December 2008. The Service would like to consider the conservation measures in these agreements in its final listing determination. As such, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public an opportunity to provide comment on the likelihood of implementation and effectiveness of the conservation measures in the agreements pursuant to our Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts When Making Listing Decisions (68 FR 15100; March 28, 2003). Public Comments We will accept written comments and information during this reopened comment period on our proposed listing for the dunes sagebrush lizard that was published in the Federal Register on December 14, 2010 (75 FR 77801). We will consider information and recommendations from all interested parties. We intend that any final action resulting from this proposal be as accurate as possible and based on the best available scientific and commercial data. If you previously submitted comments or information on the proposed rule, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the public record, and we will fully consider them in the preparation of our final determination. Our final determination concerning this proposed listing will take into consideration all written comments and any additional information we received. You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed rule by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES . We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES . If you submit a comment via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. We will post all hardcopy comments on http://www.regulations.gov as well. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying information, 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 the proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2010-0041, or by appointment, during normal business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ). You may obtain copies of the proposed rule on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2010-0041, or by mail from the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ). Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). Dated: February 10, 2012. Daniel M. Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2012-4348 Filed 2-23-12; 8:45 am]