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CFR Citation: 50 CFR Part 17

RIN ID: RIN 1080-AI82

NOTICE: PROPOSED RULES

ACTION: Endangered and threatened species:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Status for Scimitar-Horned Oryx, Addax, and Dama Gazelle

DATES: The most recent comment period for the proposed rule closed October 22, 2003. With this reopening notification, written comments may now be submitted until January 12, 2004.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), provide notice of the reopening of the comment period for the proposed rule to list three species of antelope: scimitarhorned oryx (Oryx dammah), addax (Addax nasomaculatus), and dama gazelle (Gazella dama), as endangered. The comment period is reopened to accommodate requests by two nongovernment organizations for additional time to provide information. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted because they will be incorporated into the public record as part of this comment period and will be fully considered in the final determination.

SUMMARY: Scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The scimitarhorned oryx (Oryx dammah), addax (Addax nasomaculatus), and dama gazelle (Gazella dama) originally occupied the same general region of North Africa. The reasons for the decline of all three antelope species are similar. Desertification, coupled with severe droughts, has dramatically reduced available habitat. The growth of permanent farming has brought additional pressures, such as human habitat disturbance and competition from domestic livestock, which have restricted these antelopes to marginal habitat. Additional pressures from the civil wars in Chad and the Sudan have resulted in increased military activity, construction, and uncontrolled hunting.

For further information regarding background biological information, factors affecting the species, and conservation measures available to scimitarhorned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle, please refer to the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on November 5, 1991 (56 FR 56491), and the notice to reopen the comment period published on July 24, 2003 (68 FR 43706).

Public Comments Solicited

We will accept written comments and information during this reopened comment period from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the
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scientific community, industry, or any other interested party. Comments particularly are sought concerning;
(1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning any threat (or lack thereof) to the scimitarhorned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle;
(2) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and population size of the scimitarhorned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle; (3) Current planned activities in the species' range and their possible impacts on the scimitarhorned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle; (4) Information on the validity of G. d. lozanoi as a subspecies; (5) Alternatives to the treatment of captive and nonnative free ranging populations of scimitarhorned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle; and
(6) Information on the genetic integrity of captive and nonnative freeranging populations of scimitarhorned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle, and particularly whether any captive or nonnative free ranging populations are likely to have been hybridized.

Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Any person commenting may request that we withhold their home address, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. In some circumstances, we may also withhold a commenter's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or address, you must state this request prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. To the extent consistent with applicable law, we will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Division of Scientific Authority (see ADDRESSES section).

Author

The primary author of this notice is Eleanora Babij, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 13611407; 16 U.S.C. 15311544; 16 U.S.C. 42014245; Pub. L. 99625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

Dated: November 14, 2003.
Steve Williams,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 0329533 Filed 112503; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 431055P

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Eleanora Babij at the above address, or by phone, 7033581708; fax, 7033582276; or email, ScientificAuthority@fws.gov.