[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 19, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 19567-19568] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-9642] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding for a Petition to List as Endangered or Threatened the Contiguous United States Population of the North American Wolverine AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces a 90- day finding for a petition to add the contiguous United States population of the North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) to the List of Threatened and Endangered Species. The Service finds the petition did not present substantial information indicating that listing the wolverine in the contiguous United States may be warranted. DATES: The finding announced in this document was made on March 31, 1995. ADDRESSES: Data, information, comments, or questions concerning this petition should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 100 North Park Avenue, Suite 320, Helena, Montana 59601. The petition, finding, and additional information are available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kemper McMaster, Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 406/449-5225). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 4(b)(3)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), requires that the Service make a finding on whether a petition to list, delist, or reclassify a species presents substantial scientific or commercial information to demonstrate that the petitioned act may be warranted. This finding is to be based on all information available to the Service at the time the finding is made. To the maximum extent practicable, this finding is to be made within 90 days of the date the petition was received, and a notice regarding the finding is to be published promptly in the Federal Register. This notice meets the latter requirement for the petition discussed below. The Service has made a 90-day finding on a petition to list the North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) in the contiguous United States. The petition, dated August 3, 1994, was submitted by the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, Boulder, Colorado, and the Predator Project, Bozeman, Montana, and was received by the Service on August 8, 1994. The petitioners requested that wolverine populations across their entire known historic range in the 48 contiguous United States be listed as threatened or endangered. The wolverine has a holarctic distribution. Historically, in North America, wolverines occurred in the boreal forests throughout Alaska and Canada with the southern protion of the range extending into the contiguous United States (Has 1987). The petitioners provided information (e.g., Wilson 1982; Hash 1987) suggesting that wolverines historically occupied an extensive range in the contiguous United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; and that it has been extirpated from all but 10 of these States. In making a finding as to whether a petition presents substantial commercial or scientific information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted, the Service must consider whether the petition contains detailed narrative justification for the petitioned measure, describing past and present numbers and distribution of the species. Information regarding the status of the species over all or a significant portion [[Page 19568]] of its range also is examined. Moreover, the Service must determine if the information presented in the petition and available in its files definitely documents threats under the following five listing factors: (1) Destruction, modification, or curtailment of habitat or range; (2) overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes; (3) disease or predation; (4) inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and (5) other man-made or natural factors affecting its continued existence. For most States, particularly those east of the Rocky Mountains, the petitioners only cited historic reports of wolverines to support their delineation of wolverine distribution in the contiguous United States. The petition provided no information to confirm the accuracy of these historic reports. The petition presented no empirical data to assist the Service in assessing the historic or present population status of wolverines in those States where it possibly occurs or throughout the historic range suggested by the petitioners. Additionally, the petition contained little documentation of threats to the wolverine over all or a significant portion of its contiguous United States range. No substantiating data was provided to demonstrate that the asserted threats had resulted in a significant decline in wolverine numbers. The Service reviewed the petition and the included information, as well as other information available in the Service's files. The Service has concluded that neither the petition nor the information available in the Service's files contained substantial information to indicate that listing of the wolverine as threatened or endangered in the contiguous United States may be warranted. The Service will continue to accept information on Gulo gulo luscus and Gulo gulo lutenus through the status review initiated in the September 18, 1985, Animal Notice of Review (50 FR 37958). Both subspecies will remain as category 2 candidates in the States shown in the November 15, 1994, Animal Notice of Review (59 FR 58982). References Cited Hash, H.S. 1987. Wolverine. In M. Novak, J.A. Baker, M.E. Obbard, and B. Malloch (eds.) Wild furbearer management and conservation in North America. Ontario Trappers Assoc., North Bay. pp. 575-584. Wilson, D.E. 1982. Wolverine. in J.A. Chapman and G.A. Feldhamer (eds.) Wild mammals of North America. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore, MD. pp. 644-652. The Service's 90-day finding contains more detailed information regarding the above decision. A copy may be obtained from the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section). Author This document was prepared by Lori H. Nordstrom (see ADDRESSES section). Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544). List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation. Dated: March 31, 1995. Mollie H. Beattie, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 95-9642 Filed 4-18-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M