Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision, 40956-41008 [07-3591]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
(TDD), call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018–AV05
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Designation of Critical
Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana)
and Proposed Taxonomic Revision
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), propose to
designate critical habitat for the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis
californiana) under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
In total, approximately 417,577 acres
(ac) (168,992 hectares (ha)) fall within
the boundaries of the proposed critical
habitat designation. The proposed
critical habitat is located in Tuolumne,
Mono, Fresno, Inyo, and Tulare
counties, California. We also propose a
taxonomic revision of the listed entity
from distinct population segment (DPS)
to subspecies, Ovis canadensis sierrae,
based on recent published information.
DATES: We will accept comments from
all interested parties until September
24, 2007. We must receive requests for
public hearings, in writing, at the
address shown in the ADDRESSES section
by September 10, 2007.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on
this proposed rule, you may submit
your comments and materials by any
one of several methods:
1. By mail or hand-deliver to Robert
D. Williams, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and
Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial
Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502–
7147.
2. By electronic mail (e-mail) to
snbighorn@fws.gov. Please see the
Public Comments Solicited section
below for other information about
electronic filing.
3. By fax to the attention of Robert D.
Williams, Field Supervisor at 775–861–
6301.
4. Via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
at: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor,
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, at the
address or telephone number listed
under ADDRESSES. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
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Public Comments Solicited
We intend that any final action
resulting from this proposal will be as
accurate and as effective as possible.
Therefore, we seek comments or
suggestions on this proposed rule. We
particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) The reasons why we should or
should not designate habitat as ‘‘critical
habitat’’ under section 4 of the Act (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), including whether
the benefit of designation will outweigh
threats to the species caused by
designation such that the designation of
critical habitat is prudent;
(2) Specific information on:
• The amount and distribution of
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat,
• What areas should be included in
the designations that were occupied at
the time of listing that contain the
features that are essential for the
conservation of the subspecies and why,
and
• What areas not occupied at the
listing are essential to the conservation
of the subspecies and why;
(3) Any proposed critical habitat areas
covered by existing or proposed
conservation or management plans that
we should consider for exclusion from
the designation under section 4(b)(2) of
the Act. We specifically request
comment on the appropriateness of
including or excluding lands covered
by: (a) The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Recovery and Conservation Plan (Sierra
Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory
Group 1984); (b) the Bighorn Sheep
Management Plan (National Park
Service 1986); (c) the Inyo National
Forest Resource & Management Plan
(U.S. Forest Service 1988); and (d) the
Conservation Strategy for Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep (Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Interagency Advisory Group
1997). We request comment on how
these plans do or do not benefit or
protect the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep, or its primary constituent
elements, and if the benefit or
protection provided by these plans is
equal to or greater than the benefit that
would be provided by designation of
critical habitat;
(4) Land use designations and current
or planned activities in the subject areas
and their possible impacts on proposed
critical habitat;
(5) Any foreseeable economic,
national security, or other potential
impacts resulting from the proposed
designation and, in particular, any
impacts on small entities, and
information about the benefits of
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including or excluding any areas that
exhibit those impacts; and
(6) Whether we could improve or
modify our approach to designating
critical habitat in any way to provide for
greater public participation and
understanding, or to better
accommodate public concerns and
comments.
If you wish to comment, you may
submit your comments and materials
concerning this proposal by any one of
several methods (see ADDRESSES). If you
use e-mail to submit your comments,
please include ‘‘Attn: Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep’’ in your e-mail subject
header. If you do not receive a
confirmation from the system that we
have received your e-mail, contact us
directly by calling our Nevada Fish and
Wildlife Office at 775–861–6300. Please
note that comments must be received by
the date specified in the DATES section
in order to consider them in our final
determination and that the e-mail
address snbighorn@fws.gov will be
closed out at the termination of the
public comment period.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment—you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comments
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Background
It is our intent to discuss only those
topics directly relevant to the
designation of critical habitat in this
proposed rule. For more information on
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, refer
to the final listing rule published in the
Federal Register on January 3, 2000 (65
FR 20). However, some of this
information will need to be cited or
discussed in the substantive analyses
below, where appropriate, such as the
description of the primary constituent
elements (PCEs) and proposed critical
habitat units.
The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)
is a large mammal in the family Bovidae
described by Shaw in 1804 (Shackleton
1985, p. 1). Cowen (1940, pp. 519–569)
recognized several subspecies based on
geography and skull measurements.
Recent genetic (Ramey 1993, pp. 82–86;
1995, pp. 432–434; Boyce et al. 1996,
pp. 423–426, 429; Gutierrez-Espeleta et
al. 1998, pp. 7–9, 11) and morphological
data (Wehausen and Ramey 1993, pp. 4–
8; 2000, pp. 148–153), and review and
reanalysis of Cowan’s data (Ramey 1993,
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p. 83), do not support Cowan’s original
subspecies differentiation. Ramey (1993,
pp. 71–72; 1995, p. 432) found, based on
mitochondrial DNA, bighorn sheep from
the Sierra Nevada to be more allied with
sheep occupying the adjacent desert
area than those to the north. Ramey
(1993, pp. 67–68; 1995, pp. 433, 435)
also found Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
to be a distinctive group in the desert
region extending east to Utah and New
Mexico and south to northern Mexico.
Recent morphometric analyses of skull
shape confirm genetic results
(Wehausen and Ramey 2000, pp. 148–
153). Based on both genetic and
morphometric data, Wehausen and
Ramey (2000, p. 156) reassigned
California bighorn sheep populations
outside of the Sierra Nevada to other
subspecies, thus recognizing bighorn
sheep in the Sierra Nevada as its own
subspecies. In a recent investigation of
the taxonomy of Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep, Wehausen et al. (2005, p. 217)
reexamined the history of bighorn sheep
nomenclature and concluded, based on
the original type specimen, that the
correct nomenclature for native sheep in
the central and southern Sierra Nevada
mountains of California is Ovis
canadensis sierrae.
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit
portions of the Sierra Nevada located
along the eastern boundary of California
in Tuolumne, Mono, Fresno, Inyo, and
Tulare counties. Habitat occurs from the
eastern base of the range as low as 4,790
feet (ft) (1,460 meters (m)) to its peaks
above 14,100 ft (4,300 m) (Wehausen
1980, pp. 3, 82). Based on recent
modeling efforts, discussed further in
the Criteria Used To Identify Critical
Habitat section, Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep habitat, as well as areas necessary
to provide connectivity between winter
and summer ranges, occur as low as
4,000 ft (1,219 m) in the southern
portion of its range (Johnson et al. 2005).
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit
open areas where the land is rocky,
sparsely vegetated, and characterized by
steep slopes and canyons (Wehausen
1980, p. 81; Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Interagency Advisory Group
1997, p. 5). Wehausen (1980, pp. 18–25)
provides a detailed description of Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep habitat
throughout its range. They prefer open
ground to better detect predators and
allow enough time to reach steep, rocky
terrain (escape habitat) (Wehausen 1980,
p. 81). Forests and thick brush are
usually avoided if possible (65 FR 21;
January 3, 2000). Most of the sheep live
at higher elevations (10,000 to 14,000 ft
(3,050 to 4,270 m)) in the subalpine and
alpine areas during the summer (65 FR
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21; January 3, 2000). During winter,
these sheep occupy high elevation,
windswept ridges and tend to prefer
south-facing slopes where snow melts
more readily (Jones 1950, pp. 44–45;
McCullough and Schneegas 1966, p. 71;
Wehausen 1980, pp. 86–87) or migrate
to lower elevations (4,800 ft (1,460 m))
in the sagebrush-steppe areas to avoid
deep snow and to find forage.
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are
gregarious with group size and
composition depending on gender and
season. Spatial segregation by gender
occurs outside of the mating season.
Ewes generally remain with the same
band in which they were born (Cowan
and Geist 1971, pp. 80–81). Males older
than two years of age remain apart from
females and younger males for most of
the year (Jones 1950, p. 50; Cowan and
Geist 1971, p. 65; Wehausen 1980, p.
109). During the winter, the groups
come together and concentrate in
suitable winter habitat.
Breeding takes place in late fall,
generally November and December
(Jones 1950, pp. 63–64; Cowan and
Geist 1971, p. 64; Wishart 1978, p. 165).
Lambing occurs between late April and
early July (Wehausen 1996, p. 475), on
safe, precipitous, rocky slopes
(Wehausen 1980, p. 95); most lambs in
the Sierra Nevada are born in May and
June (Wehausen 1980, p. 94; 1996, p.
475). Ewes and lambs often occupy
steep terrain that provides a diversity of
exposures and slopes for escape cover
(65 FR 21; January 3, 2000). The average
lifespan is 9 to 11 years for both males
and females (Cowan and Geist 1971, p.
68; Wehausen 1980, p. 76).
Bighorn sheep are primarily diurnal
(Jones 1950, pp. 54–57). They are
primarily grazers; however, they may
browse woody vegetation at times.
Plants consumed include various
grasses, browse, and herbaceous plants,
depending on season and location
(Wehausen 1980, pp. 80–93). Naturally
occurring salt/mineral licks provide
necessary minerals for bone and muscle
growth.
While distribution of bighorn sheep is
naturally fragmented on the landscape,
the maintenance of migration corridors
(space) is important to allow genetic
exchange between Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep herds. The population
ecology of bighorn sheep has been
described as a metapopulation with
geographically distinct herds interacting
in a network (Schwartz et al. 1986, p.
184; Bleich et al. 1990, pp. 384–388).
The movements by rams between herds
can counteract the effects of inbreeding
that can develop with small, isolated
populations (Schwartz et al. 1986, pp.
182–185).
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Previous Federal Actions
On April 20, 1999, we published an
emergency rule listing the Sierra Nevada
DPS of the California bighorn sheep
(SNBS) as endangered (64 FR 19300)
providing emergency protections to the
DPS until such time that we could
complete the normal listing process. We
also published a proposed rule to list
the DPS on the same date (64 FR 19333).
On January 3, 2000, we published a
final rule listing the SNBS DPS as
endangered (65 FR 20). The emergency
rule stated that the designation of
critical habitat was not determinable
due to lack of information sufficient to
perform the required analysis of impacts
of the designation. In the final listing
rule we stated our revised
determination: That there is sufficient
information to perform the required
impact analysis and that the designation
of critical habitat is prudent. During our
current efforts to propose critical habitat
for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, we
noticed that the final listing rule
published in 2000 (65 FR 20)
inadvertently listed this entity as a
subspecies rather than as a DPS. While
the listing rule addressed the DPS
question, we failed to include the DPS
language in the table found in the
regulatory section of the rule. However,
as stated above, based on the work of
Wehausen and Ramey (2000, p. 156)
and Wehausen et al. (2005, p. 217), the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is
recognized as a subspecies, and the
correct nomenclature is Ovis canadensis
sierrae. Therefore, we are formally
proposing a taxonomic revision to
amend the final listing rule from DPS to
subspecies, Ovis canadensis sierrae.
Therefore, within this proposed critical
habitat designation rule we will refer to
the listed entity as a subspecies and not
as a DPS.
On July 30, 2003, we made available
the Service’s Draft Recovery Plan for the
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis
canadensis californiana) (68 FR 44808).
On October 9, 2003, we re-opened the
comment period for the draft Recovery
Plan (68 FR 58355). We are currently
working with land management
agencies and stakeholders to finalize the
Recovery Plan by the summer of 2007.
On December 8, 2005, the Center for
Biological Diversity filed a complaint
based on the Service’s failure to
designate critical habitat for this
subspecies within the time mandated
under the Act (Center for Biological
Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, et al. Case No. 2:05–CB–02492–
DFL–KJM). On June 6, 2006, the Service
entered into a settlement agreement
with the Center for Biological Diversity
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to submit a proposed critical habitat
designation for this subspecies for
publication in the Federal Register by
July 17, 2007, and to submit a final
determination on the proposed critical
habitat designation for publication by
July 17, 2008.
For more information on previous
Federal actions concerning Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, refer to the final
listing rule published in the Federal
Register on January 3, 2000 (65 FR 20).
Critical Habitat
Critical habitat is defined in section 3
of the Act as:
(1) The specific areas within the
geographical area occupied by a species,
at the time it is listed in accordance
with the Act, on which are found those
physical or biological features
(a) essential to the conservation of the
species and
(b) that may require special
management considerations or
protection; and
(2) specific areas outside the
geographical area occupied by a species
at the time it is listed, upon a
determination that such areas are
essential for the conservation of the
species.
Conservation, as defined under
section 3 of the Act, means to use and
the use of all methods and procedures
that are necessary to bring any
endangered species or threatened
species to the point at which the
measures provided under the Act are no
longer necessary.
Critical habitat receives protection
under section 7 of the Act through the
prohibition against Federal agencies
carrying out, funding, or authorizing the
destruction or adverse modification of
critical habitat. Section 7 of the Act
requires consultation on Federal actions
that may affect critical habitat. The
designation of critical habitat does not
affect land ownership or establish a
refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve, or
other conservation area. Such
designation does not allow government
or public access to private lands.
Section 7 of the Act is a purely
protective measure and does not require
implementation of restoration, recovery,
or enhancement measures.
For inclusion in a critical habitat
designation, the habitat within the
geographical area occupied by the
species at the time of listing must first
have features that are essential to the
conservation of the species. Critical
habitat designations identify, to the
extent known using the best scientific
data available, habitat areas that provide
essential life cycle needs of the species
(i.e., areas on which are found the
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primary constituent elements, as
defined at 50 CFR 424.12(b)).
Habitat within the geographical area
occupied by the species at the time of
listing may be included in critical
habitat only if the habitat has essential
features that may require special
management or protection. Thus, we do
not include areas where existing
management is sufficient to conserve
the PCEs and the species. (As discussed
below, such areas may also be excluded
from critical habitat under to section
4(b)(2) of the Act.)
We can designate unoccupied areas as
critical habitat. However, when the best
available scientific data do not
demonstrate that the conservation needs
of the species require additional areas,
we will not designate critical habitat in
areas outside the geographical area
occupied by the species at the time of
listing.
Section 4 of the Act requires that we
designate critical habitat on the basis of
the best scientific and commercial data
available. Further, our Policy on
Information Standards Under the
Endangered Species Act, published in
the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59
FR 34271), the Information Quality Act
(section 515 of the Treasury and General
Government Appropriations Act for
Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L. 106–554; H.R.
5658)), and our associated Information
Quality Guidelines provide criteria,
establish procedures, and provide
guidance to ensure that our decisions
represent the best scientific data
available. They require our biologists, to
the extent consistent with the Act and
with the use of the best scientific data
available, to use primary and original
sources of information as the basis for
recommendations to designate critical
habitat. When determining which areas
may be designated as critical habitat, a
primary source of information is
generally the listing package for the
species. Additional information sources
include the recovery plan for the
species, articles in peer-reviewed
journals, conservation plans developed
by States and counties, scientific status
surveys and studies, biological
assessments, or other unpublished
materials and expert opinion or
personal knowledge. All information is
used in accordance with the provisions
of the Information Quality Act and the
associated Information Quality
Guidelines issued by the Service.
Habitat is often dynamic, and species
may move from one area to another over
time. Furthermore, we recognize that
designation of critical habitat may not
include all of the habitat areas that we
may eventually determine are necessary
for the recovery of the species. For these
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reasons, a critical habitat designation
does not signal that habitat outside the
designation is unimportant or may not
be required for recovery.
Areas that support populations of
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but are
outside the critical habitat designation,
will continue to be subject to
conservation actions we implement
under section 7(a)(1) of the Act. They
are also subject to the regulatory
protections afforded by the section
7(a)(2) jeopardy standard, as determined
on the basis of the best available
information at the time of the agency
action. Federally funded or permitted
projects affecting listed species outside
their designated critical habitat areas
may still result in jeopardy findings in
some cases. Similarly, critical habitat
designations made on the basis of the
best available information at the time of
designation will not control the
direction and substance of future
recovery plans, habitat conservation
plans (HCPs), or other species
conservation planning efforts if new
information available to these planning
efforts calls for a different outcome.
Methods
As required by section 4(b) of the Act,
we used the best scientific data
available in determining areas occupied
at the time of listing that contain the
features essential to the conservation of
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, and areas
unoccupied at the time of listing that are
essential to the conservation of the
subspecies. We have also reviewed
available information pertaining to the
habitat requirements of this subspecies.
These data include: information from
the final listing rule (65 FR 20, January
3, 2000); information published in peerreviewed literature, provided in
academic theses and agency reports, and
published in a Resource Selection
Probability Functions model; location
data and survey information provided in
agency status and monitoring reports
and on Geographic Information System
(GIS) maps; information provided in the
subspecies’ draft recovery plan (Service
2003); material submitted during section
7 consultations; discussions with
members of California Department of
Fish and Game’s (CDFG’s) Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery
Program and the Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Recovery Team; and regional GIS
coverages.
Primary Constituent Elements
In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i)
of the Act and regulations at 50 CFR
424.12, in determining which areas to
propose as critical habitat within
geographical areas occupied by the
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Nevada provide large expanses of
habitat broken by canyons containing
forests and willow stands. These areas
of forests and willow stands are unlikely
to be used by bighorn sheep. In contrast,
low elevation winter habitat has been
limited to small areas where
topographic and visual features are
suitable (Riegelhuth 1965, pp. 34–38;
McCullough and Schneegas 1966, pp.
71–72, 74–75; Wehausen 1979, pp. 36–
53; 1980, pp. 81–88). Large expanses
lacking precipitous escape terrain can
represent substantial barriers to
movement (Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Interagency Advisory Group
1997, p. 5).
Male and female bighorn sheep
commonly live in separate groups
during much of the year, and often
occupy different habitats (Geist and
Petocz 1977, pp. 1802–1803; Bleich et
al. 1997, pp. 7–14, 22–34, 36–42;
Wehausen 1980, p. 109). In the Sierra
Nevada, both sexes may share common
winter ranges, but they become more
segregated as spring nears (Wehausen
Space for Individual and Population
1980, pp. 112–113). During winter,
Growth and for Normal Behavior
bighorn sheep occupy high, windswept
In general, Sierra Nevada bighorn
ridges if forage is available or move to
sheep inhabit open areas where the land lower elevation sagebrush-steppe
is rocky, sparsely vegetated, and
habitat (as low as 4,790 ft (1,460 m)) to
characterized by steep slopes and
escape deep winter snows and find
canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra
nutritious forage. In winter, they show
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency
a preference for south-facing slopes
Advisory Group 1997, p. 5). In the
where snow melts more readily (Jones
Sierra Nevada, these bighorn sheep
1950, pp. 44–45; McCullough and
occur within a wide range of elevations, Schneegas 1966, p. 71; Wehausen 1980,
from alpine peaks in excess of 14,100 ft
pp. 86–87). During summer, the two
(4,300 m) to the base of the eastern
sexes utilize different habitats, with
escarpment as low as 4,790 ft (1,460 m)
females restricted largely to alpine
(Wehausen 1980, pp. 3 and 82). Recent
environments along the crest and males
modeling efforts have clarified and
often at somewhat lower elevations in
supported our knowledge that Sierra
subalpine habitats (Wehausen 1980, pp.
Nevada bighorn sheep habitat occurs as
112–113). Males again join females
low as 4,000 ft (1,219 m) in the southern during the breeding season in late fall.
portion of its range (Johnson et al. 2005). Both males and females will inhabit
Within this elevational range, a variety
open slopes where the area is rough,
of vegetation communities exists,
rocky, sparsely vegetated, and
including: (1) Great Basin sagebrushcharacterized by steep slopes and
bitterbrush-bunchgrass scrub; (2)
canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra
pinyon-juniper woodland and mountain Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency
mahogany scrub; (3) mid-elevation and
Advisory Group 1997, p. 5).
subalpine forests, woodlands, and
An indication of winter and summer
meadows; and (4) alpine meadows and
range size for male and female Sierra
other alpine habitats varying from cliffs
Nevada bighorn sheep was provided by
to plateaus (Service 2003, p. 3). Sierra
Wehausen (1980) and Chow (1992).
Nevada bighorn sheep prefer Great
Wehausen (1980, p. 84) determined
Basin scrub and alpine communities
winter and summer range sizes for the
due to their visual openness. Because of Baxter and Williamson herds. He
the aridity of the eastern slope of the
estimated that total winter range was
Sierra Nevada, many of the mid2,632 ac (10.65 square kilometers (km2))
elevation vegetation communities have
and 3,291 ac (13.32 km2), respectively.
some locations near precipitous rocks
Summer range for ewes, lambs, and
with sparse plant cover that allow use
yearlings was estimated at 13,005 ac
by bighorn sheep (Wehausen 1980, pp.
(52.63 km2) and 3,808 ac (15.41 km2),
18–25, 80–100). The extreme visual
respectively. Fall range was estimated at
openness and the steep, rocky nature of
11,073 ac (44.81 km2) and 3,242 ac
alpine environments in the Sierra
(13.12 km2), respectively. Chow (1992,
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species at the time of listing, we
consider the primary constituent
elements to be those physical and
biological features that are essential to
the conservation of the species and
which may require special management
considerations and protection. These
include, but are not limited to:
(1) Space for individual and
population growth and for normal
behavior;
(2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or
other nutritional or physiological
requirements;
(3) Cover or shelter;
(4) Sites for breeding, reproduction,
and rearing (or development) of
offspring; and
(5) Habitats that are protected from
disturbance or are representative of the
historic geographical and ecological
distributions of a species.
We derive the specific primary
constituent elements required for Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep from its
biological needs.
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p. 37) estimated home range size for the
Lee Vining herd (winter/spring and
summer/fall for rams and ewes) using
the minimum convex polygon method
(completely enclose all data points by
connecting the outer locations in such a
way as to create a convex polygon)
during 1986 to 1989. During this period,
ewes covered an area of 1,038 to 4,473
ac (4.2 to 18.1 km2) during winter/
spring, and rams covered an area of
2,941 to 6,919 ac (11.9 to 28.0 km2).
During this same period, ewes covered
2,347 ac to 5,535 (9.5 to 22.4 km2)
during summer/fall while rams covered
3,623 to 8,747 ac (14.7 to 35.4 km2). The
mean minimum convex polygon home
range was 7,759 ac (31.4 km2) for ewes
and 20,979 ac (84.9 km2) for rams from
Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler,
Sawmill, and Baxter herds (Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery
Program 2004, pp. 9, 17).
Bighorn sheep have developed
philopatric behaviors (reluctance to
disperse from their home range) such
that they are slow to colonize
unoccupied habitat (Geist 1971, pp. 98–
99; Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 81). This
is likely an adaptation to the naturally
fragmented habitats that bighorn sheep
occupy. Both male and female Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep demonstrate
seasonal philopatry (Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004,
p. 7). While both males and females
show a tendency to use the same ranges
year after year, males show exceptions
and demonstrate long-distance
movements (Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Recovery Program 2004, p. 7).
Annual home range diameter provides
an indication of the extreme distances
the bighorn sheep can travel. Maximum
diameters for home ranges for female
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep from the
Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler,
and Baxter herds ranged from 3.95 to
10.41 mi (6.35 to 16.75 km); males from
the Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs,
Wheeler, and Sawmill herds ranged
from 5.5 to 36.9 mi (8.9 to 59.4 km)
(Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery
Program 2004, pp. 9, 17).
Bighorn sheep exhibit a variety of
behavioral adaptations to avoid
predation. Bighorn sheep are primarily
diurnal (Jones 1950, pp. 54–57;
Krausman et al. 1985, pp. 24–26).
Coupled with their strong reliance on
keen eyesight to detect predators,
diurnal behavior minimizes predation
risks. Due to their keen eyesight and
agility on rocky slopes, bighorn sheep in
general select open habitats that allow
predator detection at distances great
enough to allow time to reach steep,
rocky terrain (escape habitat)
(Wehausen 1980, p. 81). This
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precipitous, rocky terrain is generally
near foraging and resting areas. Bedding
areas are needed for resting or sleeping
purposes. During the day, bedding areas
are generally wherever the individual is
feeding. Bedding areas are made in the
open but not necessarily in a place with
a view of the surrounding area; during
the night, bedding areas are generally
among or near rugged, chuted cliffs
(Jones 1950, p. 49). Bighorn sheep may
venture a short distance away from
rocky escape terrain to feed; the
distance they venture from safer habitat
varies and is apparently influenced by
visual openness, wind, gender, season,
and abundance of predators (Service
2003, p. 6).
Sites for Breeding, Reproduction, and
Rearing of Offspring
In the Sierra Nevada, ewes and rams
come together in late fall or early winter
(November and December) (Jones 1950,
pp. 63–64; Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 64;
Wishart 1978, p. 165) to breed, usually
at high elevations. Bighorn sheep
generally give birth to single young
(Wishart 1978, p. 165). Most bighorn
sheep births in the Sierra Nevada occur
in May and June (Wehausen 1980, p. 94;
1996, p. 475). Lambing habitat is in
areas of precipitous rocks away from
trees (Wehausen 1980, p. 95), providing
safe areas from predators. Ewes with
newborn lambs are solitary for a short
period of time before joining nursery
groups (65 FR 21; January 3, 2000).
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Mortality Factors
Bighorn sheep die from a variety of
causes including predation, disease, and
accidents. Various predators, including
wolves (Canis lupus), mountain lions
(Felis concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans),
bobcats (Lynx rufus), and golden eagles
(Aquila chrysaetos) kill wild sheep in
North America (Cowan and Geist 1971,
p. 75; Bleich 1999, p. 283). Jones (1950,
pp. 67–68) listed golden eagles,
mountain lions, coyotes, wolverines
(Gulo luscus), bobcats, and ravens
(Corvus corax) as likely predators of
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but
thought none of these predators caused
anything but small losses on the
population under normal
circumstances. He thought predation
overall was thought to be light except
during abnormally unfavorable winters.
In recent years in the Sierra Nevada,
mountain lions have been the primary
predator of bighorn sheep, accounting
for 96 percent of losses attributed to
predation (Service 2003, p. 10). Of 147
bighorn sheep deaths recorded in the
Sierra Nevada during 1975 to 2000, a
minimum of 54.5 percent could be
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attributed to predation (Service 2003, p.
10).
Numerous diseases of bighorn sheep
have been documented (Bunch et al.
1999, pp. 209–237). Bighorn sheep show
a high susceptibility to pneumonia,
usually caused by bacteria of the genus
Pasteurella (some species now called
Mannheimia) (Post 1971, pp. 98–101).
Pneumonia caused by Pasturella alone,
or with other pathogens, is an important
disease threat for bighorn sheep (Bunch
et al. 1999, p. 210). Lungworms of the
genus Protostrongylus can be important
contributors to pneumonia and
mortality in bighorn sheep in the Rocky
Mountains (Forrester 1971, p. 158;
Woodard et al. 1974, pp. 773–774).
Bighorn in the Sierra Nevada carry
Protostrongylus lungworms, but parasite
loads have been too low to be
considered a management concern
(Wehausen 1980, p. 191).
Although die-offs of bighorn sheep
due to disease have occurred unrelated
to domestic sheep (Miller et al. 1991,
pp. 534–540), a substantial amount of
circumstantial evidence is available that
indicates that contact with domestic
sheep is associated with respiratory
disease outbreaks resulting in
significant morbidity and mortality in
wild bighorn sheep (Martin et al. 1996,
pp. 72, 74). The history of bighorn sheep
in the United States provides numerous
examples of major die-offs following
believed contact with domestic sheep
(Foreyt and Jessup 1982, pp. 163–164,
166; Singer et al. 2001, p. 1352; Coggins
2002, pp. 166–170), and these
pneumonia epizootics can extirpate
entire populations (Martin et al. 1996,
pp. 72, 75). Diseases transferred through
contact with domestic sheep are
suspected to have played a major role in
the disappearance of certain bighorn
sheep herds in the Sierra Nevada
beginning about 1870 (Wehausen 1988b,
p. 100).
Many early die-offs of bighorn sheep,
including some in the Sierra Nevada,
were attributed to scabies contracted
from domestic sheep (Jones 1950, p. 69;
Buechner 1960, p. 111). In 1987, Clark
et al. (1988, p. 13) found scabies in three
desert bighorn sheep in California east
of the Sierra Nevada. In a large sampling
of 50 populations of bighorn sheep in
California between 1980 and 1990, 25
populations were designated as scabiespositive because at least 1 seropositive
animal occurred at the low or high
cutoff values, though no clinical
evidence of scabies was noted (Mazat et
al. 1992, pp. 543–545).
Other infectious diseases may be of
concern for bighorn sheep in selected
instances. Domestic goats are
occasionally used as pack animals in the
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back country or for brush control. This
use could cause concern if it occurs in
or near bighorn sheep habitat. For
example, a recent outbreak of infectious
keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of
the eye) linked to domestic goats
resulted in blindness and several deaths
(exacerbated by the blindness) in
bighorn sheep in Arizona,
demonstrating the risk of disease
outbreak in bighorn sheep from
interactions with domestic goats
(Heffelfinger 2004, cited in Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery
Program 2004, p. 2).
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
remaining at high elevations year-round
likely contributed to population losses
over winter (Wehausen 1996, pp. 474–
477). Those losses included reduced
lamb survival over winter and losses of
all sex and age classes in snow
avalanches (Service 2003, pp. 10–11). A
survey of the Wheeler Ridge herd during
the heavy winter of 1995 found 12
sheep had died in a single snow
avalanche (Torres et al. 1996, p. 28).
Metapopulation Structure
Within mountain ranges like the
Sierra Nevada, bighorn sheep habitat is
patchy and the population structure is
one of natural fragmentation (Bleich et
al. 1990, p. 384). This fragmentation has
led to the application of a broad
landscape approach to their population
ecology which groups geographically
distinct herds into metapopulations,
which are networks of interacting herds
(Schwartz et al. 1986, pp. 182–183;
Bleich et al. 1990, p. 386). This
approach considers long-term viability
not of individual herds but rather of
entire metapopulations; thus both
genetic and demographic factors are
considered. Decreasing population
sizes, over time, can lead to decreasing
levels of heterozygosity (presence of
different forms of a gene at a particular
location on a chromosome) that may
have negative demographic effects
through inbreeding depression (Lande
1988, p. 1456) and loss of adaptability.
A small amount of genetic exchange
among herds by movements of males
can counteract inbreeding and
associated increases in homozygosity
(presence of identical forms of a gene at
a particular location on a chromosome)
that might otherwise develop within
small, isolated populations (Schwartz et
al. 1986, p. 185). Males have a much
greater tendency than females to explore
new ranges, which males may do in
search of other females with which they
will breed. If geographic distances
between female groups within
metapopulations are not great, gene
migration by males occurs readily. In
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the absence of such a metapopulation
structure, populations will be isolated.
Because the distribution of bighorn
sheep in the Sierra Nevada, is naturally
fragmented, maintenance of migration
corridors is important to allow for
genetic exchange between herd units. In
the Sierra Nevada this exchange may be
more difficult because the
metapopulations occur mostly in a
linear geographic distribution pattern;
thus fewer populations may have
provided sources of colonists (Service
2003, p. 40).
Substructuring also can occur within
what are often thought of as single herds
of bighorn sheep (Festa-Bianchet 1986,
pp. 327–330; Andrew et al. 1997, pp.
74–75; Rubin et al. 1998, pp. 543–548).
Such substructuring is defined by
separate home range patterns. Although
demonstrated more with females, it can
occur in both sexes. For example, what
was once considered the Mount Baxter
herd is now recognized as two herds,
the Mount Baxter and Sawmill Canyon
herds.
Another important long-term process
in metapopulation dynamics is the
balance between rates of natural
extinction and colonization among
populations. Colonization rates must
exceed extinction rates for a
metapopulation to persist (Hanski and
Gilpin 1991, pp. 8–9). This balance has
not occurred for Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep since about 1850 due to the high
rate of local extinctions resulting in an
increasingly fragmented distribution. In
addition to fragmentation from past
extinctions, remaining herds are small,
isolated groups of bighorn sheep.
Because of their small population size,
these small groups are more vulnerable
to extirpation due to random naturally
occurring events, disease, or predation
(Shaffer 1987, pp. 71–73; Meffe and
Carroll 1994, pp. 190–197; Service 2003,
p. 8).
Food and Nutritional Requirements
Bighorn sheep are ungulates that
consume a wide variety of plant species.
Due to a large rumen and reticulum
relative to body size, they are able to
have flexibility in the plants they
consume which includes graminoids
(grasses, sedges, and rushes) in different
phenological stages (Hanley 1982, p.
148). Bighorn sheep consume a wide
variety of plant species. While they
prefer grasses, sedges, and forbs,
different browse species become
important food during the fall and
winter (Wishart 1978, p. 167).
Bighorn sheep exhibit seasonal
changes in habitat use due to seasonal
changes in resource availability, habitat
and resource requirements. Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep rarely utilize
surface water; instead, these bighorn
sheep generally obtain moisture from
their forage or the occasional
consumption of snow. Altitudinal
migration by Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep allows them to maximize nutrient
intake during the year (Wehausen and
Hansen 1988, pp. 256–257, 265–267;
Wehausen 1996, pp. 476–477), as the
relationship between elevation and
temperature (Major 1977, pp. 44–45)
influences plant growth (Wehausen
1980, p. 86–91, 133–135). In general,
temperatures decrease with increasing
altitude (Major 1977, p. 44). In the
Sierra Nevada, every 56 ft (17 m) of
elevation gain causes 1 day delay in the
onset of plant growth (Wehausen and
40961
Hansen 1988, p. 257). Bighorn sheep are
able to take advantage of early spring
growth (usually cold-season grasses)
and then later change their diet to
include warm-season plants that may
have higher nutrient concentrations
than grasses (Wehausen and Hansen
1988, p. 257). Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep use low-elevation ranges
extensively in winter and early spring,
alpine ranges in summer and fall, and
some intermediate ranges during
transition periods (Wehausen 1980, pp.
80–100).
In the following section plant
nomenclature has been updated to
conform to treatments in Hickman
(1993). Common names generally
conform to those given in Hickman
(1993) and/or Abrams et al. (1923–
1960). Cited scientific names are
retained in brackets for ease of
reference. The following plant species
were found to be important winter/
spring forage for Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep: Achnatherum speciosum [Stipa
speciosa] (desert needlegrass),
Eriogonum fasciculatum (California
buckwheat), Artemisia tridentata
(sagebrush), Ephedra viridis (green
ephedra), Keckiella breviflora (gaping
keckiella), Purshia glandulosa (Mojave
antelope bush), P. tridentata (northern
antelope bush), and Ceanothus
cordulatus (mountain whitethorn)
(Wehausen 1980, p. 87). McCullough
and Schneegas (1966, p. 72) and
Riegelhuth (1965, p. 38) provide similar
lists of plant species observed
consumed by Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep during winter and/or summer
(TABLE 1). Wehausen (1980, pp. 124–
126) provides a list of plants consumed
by both sexes in summer (TABLE 1).
TABLE 1.—PLANT SPECIES OBSERVED CONSUMED BY SIERRA NEVADA BIGHORN SHEEP DURING SUMMER AND FALL
MONTHS (MCCULLOUGH AND SCHNEEGAS (1966, P. 72); RIEGELHUTH (1965, P. 38); WEHAUSEN 1980, P. 124–126).
Season
Scientific name
Ewes and Lambs ...
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Sex
Summer and fall ....
Polemonium eximium ...........................................................
Hulsea algida ........................................................................
Carex helleri .........................................................................
C. rossii ................................................................................
C. leporinella ........................................................................
Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides [Sitanion hystrix] ...........
Phacelia hastata [frigida] ......................................................
Silene sargentii .....................................................................
Aquilegia pubescens ............................................................
Ivesia pygmaea ....................................................................
Juncus parryi ........................................................................
Achnatherum [Stipa] pinetorum ............................................
Lupinus formosus .................................................................
sky pilot.
alpine hulsea.
Heller’s sedge.
Ross’ sedge.
Sierra hare sedge.
bottlebrush squirreltail.
timberline phacelia.
Sargent’s campion.
Coville’s columbine.
dwarf ivesia.
Parry’s rush.
pine needlegrass.
summer lupine.
Rams .....................
Summer and fall ....
Juncus parryi ........................................................................
Carex filifolia var. erostrata [exserta] ...................................
C. rossi .................................................................................
C. aurea ................................................................................
Luzula comosa .....................................................................
Poa cusickii ssp. epilis [epilis] ..............................................
Elymus elymoides ssp. elymoides [Sitanion hystrix] ...........
Parry’s rush.
(no common name).
(no common name).
golden-fruited sedge.
hairy wood rush.
mountain bluegrass.
(no common name).
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TABLE 1.—PLANT SPECIES OBSERVED CONSUMED BY SIERRA NEVADA BIGHORN SHEEP DURING SUMMER AND FALL
MONTHS (MCCULLOUGH AND SCHNEEGAS (1966, P. 72); RIEGELHUTH (1965, P. 38); WEHAUSEN 1980, P. 124–
126).—Continued
Sex
Season
Scientific name
Common name
Danthonia intermedia ...........................................................
Achnatherum lemmonii [Stipa columbiana] ..........................
Eriogonum latens .................................................................
Trifolium monanthum ............................................................
Both sexes .............
Summer .................
mountain oatgrass.
Lemmon’s stipa.
onion-flowered eriogonum.
carpet clover.
Holodiscus microphyllus .......................................................
Jamesia americana ..............................................................
Ribes montigenum ...............................................................
Potentilla fruticosa ................................................................
small-leaved cream bush.
cliff bush.
alpine prickly currant.
shrubby cinquefoil.
In addition to forage needs, salt/
mineral licks are specific sites where
bighorn sheep have access to important
minerals to meet nutritional needs.
These licks contain minerals such as
sodium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus.
Sites are generally found in granite rock
outcroppings in the Sierra Nevada.
Some known areas occur in the vicinity
of Gilcrest Peak and Tioga Road (Chow
1992, p. 52), Baxter Pass (Jones 1950, p.
63; Hicks and Elder 1979, p. 911;
Wehausen 1980, p. 151), and Mayfield
Canyon (Stephenson 2007).
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Historical and Geographic Distribution
of the Species
Historically, the range of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep included the
eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, and
for at least one subpopulation, a portion
of the western slope, from Sonora Pass
in Mono County to Walker Pass in Kern
County, a total distance of
approximately 346 km (215 miles (mi))
(Jones 1950, pp. 33–35; Wehausen 1979,
p. 1). The extant range of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep begins in the Lee
Vining area in Mono County and
extends south to the Mount Langley area
in Inyo County. This is a linear distance
of approximately 110 mi (177 km).
All currently occupied units that are
proposed for designation were occupied
at the time of listing and contain the
physical and biological features
essential to the conservation of the
subspecies and may require special
management considerations or
protection. The areas proposed for
designation that are currently
unoccupied were also not occupied at
the time of listing, however these areas
are representative of the historical and
geographical distribution of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep and were all
historically occupied (Ober 1914, p.
125; Ober 1931, p. 32; Jones 1950, pp.
35, 38–40; Buechner 1960, p. 69; Barrett
1965, p. 43; Riegelhuth 1965, p. 35;
Dunaway 1971, p. 19; Wehausen et al.
1987, p. 66; Wehausen 1988a, pp.100–
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101; Wehausen 1988b, p. 100; Berger
1990, p. 94). Furthermore, we have
determined that all proposed
unoccupied habitat is essential for the
conservation of the subspecies and will
decrease the degree of fragmentation
within the current geographic
distribution of the subspecies. For
further information on occupancy status
see Table 3 and the Unit Description
sections below.
Primary Constituent Elements for Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Under the Act and its implementing
regulations, we are required to identify
the known physical and biological
features (primary constituent elements
or PCEs) within the geographical area
occupied, which may require special
management considerations or
protection. All areas proposed as critical
habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
are within the subspecies’ historical
geographic range, and contain sufficient
PCEs to support at least one life history
function.
Based on the above needs and our
current knowledge of the life history,
biology, and ecology of the subspecies,
we have determined that the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep’s PCEs are:
(1) Non-forested habitats or forest
openings within the Sierra Nevada from
4,000 ft (1,219 m) to 14,500 ft (4,420 m)
in elevation with steep (greater than or
equal to 60 percent slope), rocky slopes
that provide for foraging, mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allow for seasonal
elevational movements between these
areas.
(2) Presence of a variety of forage
plants as indicated by the presence of
grasses (e.g., Achnanthera spp.; Elymus
spp.) and browse (e.g., Ribes spp.;
Artemisia spp., Purshia spp.) in winter,
and grasses, browse, sedges (e.g., Carex
spp.) and forbs (e.g., Eriogonum spp.) in
summer.
(3) Presence of granite rock
outcroppings containing minerals such
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as sodium, calcium, iron, and
phosphorus that could be used as salt
licks/mineral licks in order to meet
nutritional needs.
We determined that these PCEs
contained within the proposed critical
habitat units discussed below provide
for the physiological, behavioral, and
ecological requirements of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep. The first PCE
provides for the general biotic
communities that are known to support
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat in
the Sierra Nevada of California. Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep are not known to
occur outside of the communities/
elevations described in this PCE. This
PCE further provides the components
necessary for foraging (summer and
winter), breeding, lambing, predator
avoidance, and bedding, and allows for
seasonal elevational movements among
these areas.
The second PCE describes the types of
food necessary to meet the biological
needs of the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep related to seasonal range
movements. Altitudinal migration by
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep allows
them to maximize nutrient consumption
during the year (Wehausen and Hansen
1988, pp. 256–257, 265–267; Wehausen
1996, pp. 476–477), as the relationship
between elevation and temperature
(Major 1977, pp. 44–45) influences plant
growth (Wehausen 1980, pp. 86–91,
133–135), as discussed earlier.
Wehausen (1980, p. 86) found winter
diet quality was improved with warmer
winter temperatures that aided plant
growth; he found summer diet quality
was improved, apparently, by the
amount of snowfall the previous winter,
which may influence soil moisture for
alpine plants (Wehausen 1980, p. 133).
The third primary constituent element
provides for additional nutritional
needs. Mineral licks provide necessary
nutrients, important in meeting dietary
requirements.
We have designed this proposed
designation for the conservation of PCEs
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necessary to support the life history
functions that were the basis for our
proposal and the areas containing those
PCEs. Because not all life history
functions require all the PCEs, not all
areas proposed as critical habitat will
contain all the PCEs.
We propose units for designation
based on sufficient PCEs being present
to support one or more of the
subspecies’ life history functions. Some
units contain all PCEs and support
multiple life processes, while some
units contain only a portion of the PCEs
necessary to support the subspecies’
particular use of that habitat. This
applies to both occupied and
unoccupied units proposed in this
designation.
Criteria Used To Identify Critical
Habitat
We propose to designate critical
habitat in areas that we have determined
were occupied at the time of listing and
that contain sufficient PCEs to support
life history functions essential for the
conservation of the subspecies and may
require special management
considerations or protection. Some
lands contain only a portion of the PCEs
necessary to support the particular use
of that habitat during that portion of the
life process. We propose to designate
critical habitat on some specific
unoccupied areas outside of the
geographical area occupied by the
subspecies at the time of listing, but
these areas were historically occupied,
and we have determined that they are
essential for the conservation of the
subspecies.
In our analysis, we reviewed existing
data to determine the distribution of
areas occupied by the subspecies at the
time of listing. We also reviewed
available information related to the
habitat requirements of the subspecies.
We used information from literature
cited in the final listing rule (65 FR 20;
January 3, 2000), the recovery plan, site
records, reports prepared by CDFG, and
other published scientific literature.
We used the following criteria to
select areas occupied by the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep at the time of
listing for inclusion in critical habitat:
(a) Those areas occupied by the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep at the time of
listing (1999–2000) as indicated in the
final listing rule (65 FR 20; January 3,
2000). In the final rule, we identified
five subpopulations of Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep that existed: (1) Lee
Vining Canyon (=Mount Warren, Mt.
Gibbs Herd Units), (2) Wheeler Crest
(=Wheeler Ridge Herd Unit), (3) Mount
Baxter (=Sawmill Canyon, Mount Baxter
Herd Units), (4) Mount Williamson
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(=Mount Williamson Herd Unit), and (5)
Mount Langley (=Mount Langley Herd
Unit) in Mono and Inyo counties,
California (Wehausen 1999, pp. 1–7;
2000, pp. 1–6);
(b) areas that are representative of the
distribution of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep throughout the
geographical range occupied at the time
of listing with the goal of maintaining
the subspecies’ range of habitat and
genetic variability; and
(c) areas that allow for the continued
existence of viable subpopulations
under varying environmental conditions
and that can serve as locations for
source populations. The locations of all
five subpopulations identified in the
original listing rule continue to remain
occupied today.
Current population estimates of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in 2006
indicate 350 to 400 individuals occur
throughout its range (Wehausen and
Stephenson 2006, p. 7); this is an
increase from the 125 individuals
estimated at the time of listing (65 FR
20; January 3, 2000). Current individual
herd numbers in the different
subpopulations range from 8 to 113
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson
2006, p. 7). Current occupancy of these
herd units is supported by agency
reports (Wehausen and Stephenson
2004, pp. 2–10; 2005, pp. 2–6; 2006, pp.
2–6), status reports (Wehausen 1999, pp.
1–7; 2000, pp. 1–6), and monthly CDFG
monitoring reports based on GPS/
telemetry/monitoring data collected
during 2001 through 2006. We have
determined that the areas occupied at
the time of listing continue to be
occupied, contain features essential to
the conservation of the subspecies
(possess one or more PCEs such that the
area supports one or more of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep’s life processes),
and provide sufficient habitat to protect
these populations.
We further propose to designate
critical habitat on lands that were
historically occupied by the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, but were not
occupied at the time of listing and are
not currently occupied. These areas
were all historically occupied within
the past 90 years (Jones 1950, pp. 33–
35) and are essential to the conservation
of the subspecies. Based on the best
available information, we have
determined that without protection and
management of these unoccupied areas,
conservation of the subspecies will not
be possible.
We applied each of the following
criteria to select areas historically
occupied, but not known to be occupied
at the time of listing by the Sierra
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Nevada bighorn sheep, for inclusion in
critical habitat:
(1) Areas where habitat contains
sufficient PCEs (e.g, characteristics such
as non-forested, steep, rocky slopes and
foraging areas) to support life history
functions;
(2) Areas where habitat has been
known to have been occupied by the
subspecies. In some areas this was as
long ago as 90 years (Jones 1950, pp. 33–
35). In all of the areas the habitat has not
changed appreciably in size or quality
during that time;
(3) Areas where appropriate habitat
for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep has
been predicted by CDFG based on
Resource Selection Probability
Functions modeling (Johnson et al.
2005) (i.e., contains habitat with the
PCEs and additional, more specific
characteristics that allow for a range of
the subspecies’ biological needs, such as
sites for feeding);
(4) Areas where there is potential for
reoccupation by the subspecies, either
through natural means of dispersal from
currently occupied areas or by future reintroduction efforts; and
(5) Areas that are geographically
separated from currently occupied units
by approximately 0.5 to 8 mi (0.8 to 12.9
km) to provide redundancy of habitat in
the event of a natural catastrophe
removing habitat (PCEs) from currently
occupied units.
The designation of these unoccupied
areas would decrease the degree of
fragmentation within the current
geographic distribution of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep. We believe that
the designation of these additional areas
is essential for the conservation of the
subspecies because:
(1) Population increases, either
through natural means or
reintroductions into the additional
units, are expected to increase the
viability of the herds within occupied
areas as well as the existence of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep as a whole
(i.e., increase the likelihood of
persistence at the local population level
and of this subspecies rangewide);
(2) The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
is recognized as a unique subspecies
(Wehausen and Ramey 2000, p. 156;
Wehausen et al. 2005, p. 217), and the
additional units will serve to decrease
the degree of fragmentation of the
current geographic distribution of the
sheep (i.e., increase connectivity
between areas known to be currently
occupied). Fragmented distribution
across the landscape reduces the
connectivity between subpopulations. If
small populations are isolated and
remain small, there is an increased risk
of genetic drift and risk to persistence
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due to naturally occurring events
(Gilpin and Soule 1986, pp. 25, 33).
Maintenance of genetic variation is
important in reducing inbreeding
depression and the ability to respond to
environmental changes over time
especially in small populations
(Schwartz et al. 1986, pp. 180–186;
Lande 1988, pp. 1456–1457).
Establishing additional units/
subpopulations in unoccupied areas
would fill in range gaps between the
other occupied units/subpopulations.
All of the unoccupied units lie within
8 mi (12.9 km) of an occupied area. This
would reduce migration distances and
increase the opportunity for genetic
exchange between the subpopulations.
The addition of these unoccupied units
would ensure the full geographic
distribution of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep is represented; and
(3) The current overall population
size of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
is small, and it must increase to insure
the long-term survival of this subspecies
in the Sierra Nevada, as small
populations are more vulnerable to
extinction (Meffe and Carroll 1994, pp.
190–197; Shaffer 1987, pp. 71–73).
While the occupied units provide
habitat for current populations,
additional units would provide habitat
for population growth either through
natural means or through reintroductions. Population increase in
the additional units would assist in
reducing the risk of extinction of the
subspecies through stochastic events,
such as wildfire, disease (Miller et al.
1991, pp. 534–540; Martin et al. 1996,
pp. 72, 74; Bunch et al. 1999, pp. 209–
237), or avalanches (Torres et al. 1996,
p. 28), as the current isolated
populations are few in number and
small in size and at risk from such
stochastic events. Establishing
additional subpopulations, increasing a
subpopulation’s size, and increasing the
overall distribution of subpopulations
across the landscape are fundamental in
reducing the significance of losing any
single subpopulation.
We have determined that the
proposed but unoccupied Twin Lakes,
Green Creek, and Coyote Ridge Herd
Unit areas, as identified in the draft
recovery plan (Service 2003), are not
essential for the conservation of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. During the
recovery team’s continuing efforts to
finalize the draft recovery plan, an
additional herd unit, Bubbs Creek, is to
be included in the recovery plan due to
bighorn sheep occupying this area
(Wehausen and Stephenson 2004, p. 5;
Benz 2007, p. 1). These four herd units
are considered not essential for the
following reasons:
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(1) We believe that the 12 units we
propose for critical habitat would
provide the necessary habitat and area
to insure the viability and long-term
survival of the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep at the local and subspecies levels
as well as provide for sufficient
resiliency, representation and
redundancy;
(2) There is uncertainty whether
viable Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
herds can become established in the
proposed Twin Lakes, Green Creek, and
Coyote Ridge Herd Unit areas due to the
lack of historic evidence regarding the
number of animals that may have
occurred in these areas and/or our
limited understanding of the availability
and connectivity between foraging
habitats in these areas. Thus, there is a
question as to whether there is a
potential for reoccupation by the
subspecies, either through natural
means of dispersal or by future reintroduction efforts. As a result, the
three proposed herd unit areas do not
meet our criteria number 4 for
identification of critical habitat outlined
above. Therefore, the proposed Twin
Lakes, Green Creek, and Coyote Ridge
Herd Unit areas are not considered
essential for recovery; and
(3) Bighorn sheep were discovered in
the Bubbs Creek Herd Unit in 2001 and
were likely a result of a recent
colonization. That herd unit is west of
the crest of the Sierra Nevada where
snowfall is much greater than the east
side of the range. Because there are no
historical records of bighorn sheep
winter ranges in the Bubbs Creek area,
there is uncertainty as to the long-term
viability of this herd unit. Consequently
the Bubbs Creek Herd Unit is not
considered essential for recovery.
Further, the concern for disease
transmission from domestic sheep to
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is reduced
by not including the unoccupied herd
units as essential to the recovery of the
subspecies. Twin Lakes and Green
Creek overlap with portions of a few
currently active domestic sheep
allotment boundaries. Bubbs Creek and
Coyote Ridge Herd Units do not occur
near any domestic sheep allotments.
We delineated polygon boundaries for
each unit proposed for critical habitat
designation within the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep’s historic range and
around areas occupied at the time of
listing, or known to have been
historically occupied and considered
essential for the conservation of the
subspecies. We based our consideration
of boundary delineation on the
knowledge that bighorn sheep are
naturally philopatric and fit a
metapopulation model. Separate female
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groups tend to be geographically
segregated, and these groups can be
defined by separate home range
patterns. The existing herds provided
information related to home range and
habitat use patterns. Low elevation
winter range habitat is an important,
and an apparently limiting, factor in the
Sierra Nevada that occurs in disjunct
patches. We defined unit boundaries
around those patches and
geographically connected habitat that
provides visually open habitat on
steeper slopes (Wehausen 2006, p.1).
We also considered, factors such as
knowledge of the range of elevations
used by Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep,
topographic features known to be
needed by the subspecies, sighting
records, published literature, and the
expertise of bighorn sheep biologists of
the local conditions (high elevation,
snow-free winter habitat; lower
elevation, south or east-facing habitat;
visual openness; and high elevation,
summer habitat) during boundary
delineation. In addition, a Resource
Selection Probability Functions model
for winter and summer habitat was
developed that can quantitatively
evaluate habitat conditions (Johnson et
al. 2005). This modeling effort was used
to support and refine unit boundaries
(Wehausen 2006, p. 2) which contain
the PCEs and additional, more specific
characteristics. The model included
variables such as: elevation, slope,
aspect, hillshade, terrain ruggedness,
distance to escape terrain, and
vegetation to determine visibility
(Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 8–9). Pixels
(smallest element of an image that can
be individually processed in a video
display system) in the study area that
received a relative winter and summer
probability of use value in the 90–100
percent quartile were considered winter
and summer ranges. Each unit boundary
surrounds the areas we consider to be
winter and summer range, as well as
areas necessary to provide connectivity
between these ranges. These boundary
lines translate onto the ground by
roughly following elevation and
geomorphic features. As one progresses
from south to north along the Sierra
Nevada, the low elevation of the units
increases. The elevation of the boundary
lines begins at a low of 4,000 ft (1,219
m) for Unit 12 (Olancha Peak) at the
southern end of the Sierra Nevada. From
this unit northward, the remaining units
begin at a low elevation of 4,500 ft
(1,372 m) or higher.
When determining proposed critical
habitat boundaries for this proposed
rule, we made every effort to avoid
including developed areas such as lands
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covered by buildings, paved areas, and
other structures that lack PCEs for the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The scale
of the maps prepared under the
parameters for publication within the
Code of Federal Regulations may not
reflect the exclusion of such developed
areas. Any such structures and the land
under them inadvertently left inside
critical habitat boundaries shown on the
maps of this proposed rule have been
excluded by text in the proposed rule
and are not proposed for designation as
critical habitat. Therefore, Federal
actions limited to these areas would not
trigger section 7 consultation, unless
they may affect the species or primary
constituent elements in adjacent critical
habitat.
We propose to designate critical
habitat on lands that we have
determined were occupied at the time of
listing that contain the primary
constituent elements that support life
history functions essential for the
conservation of the subspecies (7 units)
that may require special management
considerations or protection, and
additional areas not occupied at the
time of listing that we have determined
to be essential to the conservation of the
subspecies (5 units). The 12 units that
we propose as critical habitat
encompass about 417,577 ac (168,992
ha) within Tuolumne, Mono, Fresno,
Inyo, and Tulare counties, California.
The proposed units contain habitat that
supports biological and population-level
functions of the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep. A brief discussion of each unit
proposed as critical habitat is provided
in the unit descriptions below.
Units both occupied and unoccupied
at the time of listing are proposed for
designation based on sufficient PCEs
being present to support Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep life processes. Some units
contain all PCEs and support multiple
life processes. Some units contain only
a portion of the PCEs necessary to
support the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep’s particular use of that habitat.
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act
authorizes us to issue permits for the
take of listed species incidental to
otherwise lawful activities. An
incidental take permit application must
be supported by a habitat conservation
plan (HCP) that identifies conservation
measures that the permittee agrees to
implement to minimize and mitigate the
impacts of the taking on the species. We
often exclude from designated critical
habitat, under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Act, non-Federal public lands and
private lands that are covered by an
existing operative HCP and executed
implementation agreement (IA) because
the benefits of exclusion outweigh the
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benefits of inclusion as discussed in
section 4(b)(2) of the Act. There are no
existing operative HCPs that meet our
issuance criteria within the areas
proposed for designation as critical
habitat.
Special Management Considerations or
Protections
When designating critical habitat, we
assess whether the areas that we
determined to be occupied at the time
of listing and that contain the features
that are essential to the conservation of
the subspecies and which may require
special management considerations or
protection. As described in more detail
in the unit descriptions below, we find
that the PCEs within the units occupied
at the time of listing (Units 1, 2, 4, 6,
7, 8, and 10) may require special
management considerations or
protection due to threats to the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep or its habitat. All
of these units occur almost exclusively
on Federal lands managed by the Forest
Service, National Park Service, and the
Bureau of Land Management.
Management considerations and
protection may include review of
various activities proposed in Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep habitat requiring
a permit from these agencies. These
activities can include habitat
enhancement projects to reverse fire
suppression effects, development
activities, livestock grazing, mining
actions, and recreational activities. In
addition, because all of the herds are
relatively small, management actions to
protect Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
habitat from catastrophic, naturally
occurring events (e.g., wildfires, disease,
avalanches) may be necessary.
Fire suppression can modify the
structure of Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep habitat by allowing taller
vegetation, such as trees, to become
established, resulting in cover for
predators. Mountain lions, a primary
predator of Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep, use vegetative cover and terrain
to conceal themselves prior to attacks.
Fires may have burned more frequently
in the past in bighorn sheep habitat. Old
ground and aerial photographs show
habitats in the eastern Sierra Nevada
had little vegetation tall enough to
obstruct the vision of bighorn sheep;
pinyon pine woodlands have mostly
developed since 1860 (Miller and
Tausch 2001, pp. 15–16). Continued
suppression of fires in Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep range is a threat, as
habitat succession alters the abundance
of suitable bighorn sheep habitat and
increases bighorn sheep vulnerability to
mountain lion predation (Torres et al.
1996, p. 29). Performing habitat
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enhancements, such as prescribed
burning, or enabling ‘‘let burn’’ policies,
helps to provide open habitats. Opening
up habitat will help to reduce predation
by decreasing the effectiveness of
ambushing from predators (such as
mountain lions) from cover. Providing
more open habitat will allow more
opportunity for connectivity among
herd units and likely promote greater
gene flow to conserve genetic diversity.
According to Johnson et al. (2005, p.
34), all of the herd units would benefit
from forest reduction in winter range;
those units that would benefit the most
are Units 8 and 10. Thus, the PCEs in
all of the units occupied at the time of
listing (Units 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10) may
require special management
considerations or protection to reverse
the impacts of fire suppression.
There is limited development within
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat
because most habitat occurs on Federal
lands; however, there is some
recreational development (e.g., resorts).
There are several paved and unpaved
roads that access Federal lands within
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat.
For example, State Highway 120 is
located primarily between Units 1 and
2, but some sections lie within Unit 1.
Bighorn sheep have been killed due to
collisions with vehicles on this road (65
FR 28; January 3, 2000). State Routes
158 and 190 occur in or adjacent to
portions of Unit 2 and Unit 10,
respectively. The PCE’s in Units 1, 2, 4,
and 10 require special management
considerations or protection to address
the impacts from development
activities, including road construction
and maintenance within Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep habitat.
Management of domestic sheep and
goat grazing practices that result in
overgrazing or allow for contact between
these domestic species and Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep is a threat.
Although die-offs of bighorn sheep due
to disease have occurred unrelated to
domestic sheep (Miller et al. 1991, pp.
534–540), a major contributing factor
responsible for the decline of Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep populations over
the years is thought to be the
introduction of diseases by domestic
livestock (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5;
65 FR 25, January 3, 2000). Clifford et
al. (2007, p. 18) indicate concern for the
probability of a respiratory disease case
occurring from disease transmission
between domestic sheep and Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, especially in the
northern part of bighorn sheep range.
Grazing allotments within the vicinity
of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat
should be reviewed and activities
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modified as necessary to prevent
competition and contact between the
two species. These modifications could
include such variables as the number of
domestic sheep allowed on an
allotment, where the domestic sheep
may graze on an allotment, and the
length and timing of the grazing period.
These variables can assist in reducing
resource competition as well as a means
to reduce contact between the two
species. The PCEs within Units 1, 2, and
4 may require special management
considerations or protection to address
the potential impacts of sheep and goat
grazing within Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep habitat.
Patented mining claims occur within
habitat used by the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep, but the acreage is small.
Mining activities and associated
facilities threaten bighorn sheep by
causing the loss of vegetation structure
required for foraging activities; the
destruction of habitats used for escape,
bedding, lambing, or connectivity
between ranges; or the possible
disturbance of due to ongoing mining
activities. Disturbance could modify
bighorn sheep behavior or cause them to
flee an area. Mining occurs within the
habitat of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
in Unit 4. These mines are underground,
thus reducing some impacts of habitat
loss. PCEs within this unit may require
special management considerations or
protection to address mining and
associated facility development impacts
within Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
habitat.
It remains unclear how significantly
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep may be
affected by human disturbance (Jones
1950, pp. 71–72; Dunaway 1971, p. 19;
Wehausen et al. 1977, p. 31; Hicks and
Elder 1979, p. 914; Wehausen 1980, pp.
200–201; MacArthur et al. 1982, p. 356;
Papouchis et al. 2001, pp. 579–580).
Additional investigations are needed to
identify areas of conflict as situations
arise where the increased presence of
humans could be detrimental to the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep or its
habitat. These areas of use could be
displacing Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
from important habitats.
Increases in human uses of bighorn
sheep habitat, including recreational
activities such as rock and ice climbing,
mountaineering, ski touring, hiking,
camping, and pack station
establishment, may disturb Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep in key areas. This
could result in abandonment of these
areas or disruption of feeding and cause
reduced nutrient intake. A cost in
biological energetics could also occur
due to flight. These losses could
translate into reduced reproductive
success. Impacts to the habitat could
occur through trampling and reduced
vegetation structure due to grazing by
pack animals. The presence of dogs
accompanying recreationists is also a
concern in bighorn sheep habitat as
dogs may cause strong alarm reactions
by bighorn sheep (MacArthur et al.
1982, p. 356).
The PCEs within the units occupied at
the time of listing (Units 1, 2, 4, 6, 7,
8, and 10) may require special
management considerations or
protection to protect Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep and its habitats from
recreational activities. While recreation
could be a threat factor throughout an
occupied herd unit, it is more likely in
some portions of units due to their
inclusion of these higher use areas or
their proximity to these areas. These
areas include the Virginia Lakes, Lundy
Lake, Saddlebag Lake, and Lee Vining
Canyon recreational areas associated
with Unit 1; Lee Vining Canyon
associated with Unit 2; the Rock Creek
recreational area associated with Unit 4;
Baxter Pass and Onion Valley
recreational area associated with Unit 7;
and the Whitney Portal and Trailhead
and the Cottonwood Lakes recreational
areas associated with Units 8 and 10.
Management actions to protect Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep habitat from
catastrophic, naturally occurring events
may be necessary. Events such as
wildfire and avalanches could
temporarily destroy large areas that
provide summer or winter foraging
habitat.
Proposed Critical Habitat Designation
We are proposing 12 units as critical
habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep. The critical habitat areas
described below constitute our best
current assessment of areas determined
to be occupied at the time of listing, that
meet the definition of critical habitat for
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, and
those additional areas that were not
occupied at the time of listing but were
found to be essential to the conservation
of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The
12 areas designated as critical habitat
are: Mount Warren, Mount Gibbs,
Convict Creek, Wheeler Ridge, Taboose
Creek, Sawmill Canyon, Mount Baxter,
Mount Williamson, Big Arroyo, Mount
Langley, Laurel Creek, and Olancha
Peak.
The approximate area encompassed
within each proposed critical habitat
unit is shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2.—PROPOSED CRITICAL HABITAT UNITS FOR SIERRA NEVADA BIGHORN SHEEP
[Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit boundaries]
Size of unit in acres
(Hectares)
Critical habitat unit
Land ownership by type
1. Mount Warren ...................................................................
8. Mount Williamson .............................................................
9. Big Arroyo .........................................................................
10. Mount Langley ................................................................
11. Laurel Creek ...................................................................
12. Olancha Peak .................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Private ..................................................................................
Local Government ................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Private ..................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Private ..................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Private ..................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
35,279 (14,277)
568 (230)
165 (67)
29,702 (12,020)
36,497 (14,770)
17 (7)
80,568 (32,605)
398 (161)
28,805 (11,657)
30,508 (12,346)
32,198 (13,030)
22 (9)
32,560 (13,177)
24,987 (10,112)
32,845 (13,292)
22,037 (8,918)
30,421 (12,311)
Subtotal ..........................................................................
Federal .................................................................................
416,407 (168,518)
2. Mount Gibbs .....................................................................
3. Convict Creek ...................................................................
4. Wheeler Ridge ..................................................................
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5. Taboose Creek .................................................................
6. Sawmill Canyon ................................................................
7. Mount Baxter ....................................................................
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TABLE 2.—PROPOSED CRITICAL HABITAT UNITS FOR SIERRA NEVADA BIGHORN SHEEP—Continued
[Area estimates reflect all land within critical habitat unit boundaries]
Critical habitat unit
Size of unit in acres
(Hectares)
Land ownership by type
Private ..................................................................................
Local Gov’t ...........................................................................
Grand Total* ...........................................................
1,005 (407)
165 (67)
...............................................................................................
417,577 (168,992)
*Columns may not sum exactly due to rounding of values.
TABLE 3.—OCCUPANCY OF SIERRA NEVADA BIGHORN SHEEP BY PROPOSED CRITICAL HABITAT UNITS.
Unit
Occupied at time of
listing?
Currently occupied?
Size of unit in acres
(Hectares)
1. Mount Warren ....................................................................................
2. Mount Gibbs ......................................................................................
3. Convict Creek ....................................................................................
4. Wheeler Ridge ...................................................................................
5. Taboose Creek ..................................................................................
6. Sawmill Canyon .................................................................................
7. Mount Baxter .....................................................................................
8. Mount Williamson ..............................................................................
9. Big Arroyo ..........................................................................................
10. Mount Langley .................................................................................
11. Laurel Creek ....................................................................................
12. Olancha Peak ..................................................................................
Yes .............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
Yes .............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
Yes .............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
Yes .............................
No ...............................
No ...............................
36,013 (14,574)
29,702 (12,020)
36,514 (14,777)
80,966 (32,766)
28,805 (11,657)
30,508 (12,346)
32,220 (13,039)
32,560 (13,177)
24,987 (10,112)
32,845 (13,292)
22,037 (8,918)
30,421 (12,311)
*Total ..............................................................................................
.....................................
.....................................
417,578 (168,992)
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*Columns may not sum exactly due to rounding of values.
We present brief descriptions of all
units, and reasons why they meet the
definition of critical habitat for Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, below.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
coordinates and more precise legal
descriptions of each unit are provided
in the Proposed Regulation
Promulgation section.
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
throughout their range utilize a range of
elevations from about 4,790 ft (1,460 m)
to above 14,100 ft (4,300 m) (Wehausen
1980, pp. 3, 82). As described in the
‘‘Criteria Used To Identify Critical
Habitat’’ section above, the Service used
modeling to further refine and clarify
our knowledge of those areas that may
be essential to the conservation of the
subspecies. Based on these modeling
efforts, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
habitat is known to be available as low
as elevation 4,000 ft (1,219 m) in the
southern portion of its range (Johnson et
al. 2005). Within this elevational range,
a variety of vegetation communities
occur including from lowest to highest,
sagebrush-bitterbrush-bunchgrass scrub;
pinyon-juniper woodland and mountain
mahogany scrub; mid-elevation and
subalpine, meadows, forests, and
woodlands; and alpine meadows and
other habitats from cliffs to plateaus
(Service 2003, p. 3). All units contain
one or more of these habitat types in
varying amounts.
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Unit 1: Mount Warren
Unit 1 consists of approximately
36,013 ac (14,574 ha) in Tuolumne and
Mono Counties. Unit 1 is generally
located within an area bounded on the
east by U.S. Highway 395 (located about
1 mi (1.6 km) away), on the south by
State Route 120, on the north by Green
Creek and on the west by the ridge
connecting Ragged Peak in the south to
Camiaca Peak in the north. It is located
northwest of the town of Lee Vining.
Land ownership within the unit
includes approximately 35,279 ac
(14,277 ha) of Federal land, 165 ac (67
ha) of Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power lands, and 568 ac (230 ha)
of other private land. The Federal land
is administered by the HumboldtToiyabe and Inyo National Forests,
Yosemite National Park, and Bureau of
Land Management.
Unit 1 begins at a low elevation of
about 7,500 ft (2,286 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to about 12,000 ft (3,658
m) on the west. It encompasses some
areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft
(3,658 to 4,267 m). It is the
northernmost unit proposed for critical
habitat designation for the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep. This unit was
occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20,
January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477;
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp.
6–7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 6, 8; 2000, pp.
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5–7) and is currently occupied with a
minimum population estimate of 26
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson
2006, p. 7). Unit 1 contains all of the
features essential to the conservation of
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. It
contains a range of vegetation types, and
steep, rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38) and
mineral licks (PCE 3) (Chow 1992, p.
52). This unit has good high-and-low
elevation winter habitat in the area
north of Lee Vining Canyon. Mount
Warren has a minimum winter range
elevation of about 7,546 ft (2,300 m),
while Tioga Crest has this type of
habitat at 9,515 ft (2,900 m). In the
Lundy Canyon area there is good lowelevation south-facing winter range near
8,038 ft (2,450 m). Dunderberg Peak can
provide large areas free of snow in the
winter. It does not connect to lowelevation winter range but does connect
to summer range in Lundy Canyon;
visual winter range condition is mixed
to open (Service 2003, pp. 112, 114).
PCEs within unit 1 may require
special management considerations or
protection to ameliorate the threats of
overgrazing and the possible occurrence
of disease transmission due to the
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proximity of this unit to Forest Service
grazing allotments (Clifford et al. 2007,
pp. 13–14). Additionally, the PCEs
within this unit may require special
management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
open habitat and potentially reduce
predation, and for recreation (e.g.,
Virginia Lakes, Lundy Lake, Lee Vining
Canyon) and development activities
(Sections of State Highway 120 are
located in this unit). Furthermore, PCEs
within unit 1 may require special
management considerations or
protection in the form of avalanche
control to protect against catastrophic
events.
Unit 2: Mount Gibbs
Unit 2 consists of approximately
29,702 ac (12,020 ha) in Tuolumne and
Mono Counties. Unit 2 is generally
bounded on the north by State Route
120 with U.S. Highway 395 located
approximately 4 mi (6.4 km) to the east.
Route 158 lies along a portion of the
southeastern boundary of this unit. The
unit is bounded on the west, in part, by
Lyell Canyon. It is immediately south of
Unit 1 (Mount Warren) and is located
southwest of the town of Lee Vining.
Land ownership within the unit
includes approximately 29,702 ac
(12,020 ha) of Federal land. Federal land
is administered by the Inyo National
Forest and Yosemite National Park.
Unit 2 begins at a low elevation of
about 7,500 ft (2,286 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to 9,000 to 12,000 ft
(2,743–3,658 m) on the west. It
encompasses areas from 12,000 to over
14,000 ft (3,658–4,267 m). Unit 2 was
occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20,
January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477;
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp.
6–7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 7–8; 2000, pp.
6–7) and is currently occupied, with a
minimum population estimate of 8
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson
2006, p. 7). Unit 2 contains all of the
features essential to the conservation of
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. It
contains a range of vegetation types, and
steep, rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38) and
mineral licks (PCE 3) (Chow 1992, p.
52). An area between Mount Dana and
Mount Wood provides considerable
high-elevation habitat that is blown free
of snow in the winter and connects to
south-facing slopes that decline to lower
elevations. Winter habitat occurs at a
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minimum elevation of 2,775 m (9,105 ft)
around Mount Gibbs, 8,859 ft (2,700 m)
around Mount Lewis, and 7,546 ft
(2,300 m) around Mount Wood; visual
winter range condition is open (Service
2003, p. 112). The south-facing side of
Mount Lewis is steep and supports little
snow in winter. The slopes above Silver
Lake offer low-elevation east-facing
winter range to 7,599 ft (2,316 m). This
area may provide birthing habitat in
spring during some years (Service 2003,
p. 115).
PCEs within unit 2 may require
special management considerations or
protection to ameliorate the threats of
overgrazing and the possible occurrence
of disease transmission due to the
proximity of this unit to Forest Service
grazing allotments (Clifford et al. 2007,
pp. 13–14). Additionally, PCEs within
this unit may require special
management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
open habitat and potentially reduce
predation, and for recreation (e.g., Lee
Vining Canyon) and development
activities (Sections of State Highway
120 is located along the northern
boundary of this unit; Route 158 lies
along a portion of the southeastern
boundary of this unit). Furthermore,
PCEs within unit 2 may require special
management considerations or
protection in the form of avalanche
control to protect against catastrophic
events.
Unit 3: Convict Creek
Unit 3 consists of approximately
36,514 ac (14,777 ha) in Mono and
Fresno Counties. Unit 3 is generally
located within an area bounded on the
northeast by U.S. Highway 395 (located
about 2 mi (3.2 km) away), by Fish
Creek and the boundary between Inyo
and Sierra National Forests on the west,
and by Mono Creek on the south. This
unit is located about 3 mi (4.8 km) south
of the town of Mammoth Lakes. Land
ownership within the unit includes
approximately 36,497 ac (14,770 ha) of
Federal land and 17 ac (7 ha) of private
land. Federal land is administered by
the Inyo and Sierra National Forests.
Unit 3 begins at a low elevation of
about 7,500 ft (2,286 m) and rises to
about 10,500 to 12,000 ft (3,200–3,658
m). The unit encompasses areas from
12,000 to over 14,000 ft (3,658–4,267
m). This unit was not occupied at the
time of listing and is not currently
occupied, but is essential to the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep. The unit contains a
range of vegetation types, and steep,
rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
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Sfmt 4702
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38).
Mineral licks (PCE 3) may or may not
occur in this unit. This unit contains
south-facing winter habitat above
Convict Lake that descends down to
7,874 ft (2,400 m). This habitat is
connected to high-elevation windswept
patches on Laurel and Bloody
Mountains. McGee Mountain has southfacing winter habitat down to about
8,005 ft (2,440 m) but only a small
amount of high-elevation habitat.
Nevahbe Ridge has windblown habitat
but it is east-facing and occurs down to
8,530 ft (2,600 m) (Service 2003, pp.
112, 116). Visual winter range condition
is open (Service 2003, p. 112).
While this unit was not occupied at
the time of listing, Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep occupied the area
historically (Ober 1931, p. 32; Jones
1950, p. 40; Buechner 1960, p. 69;
Barrett 1965, p. 43; Dunaway 1971, p 19;
Wehausen et al. 1987 p.66; Wehausen
1988a, p. 100). This unit is essential to
the conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep for, increasing the
number of herds to reduce the
significance of losing any particular
herd, increasing population viability,
decreasing the degree of fragmentation
of the current geographic distribution
between this unit and Units 4 (Wheeler
Ridge) and 2 (Mount Gibbs), increasing
opportunities for genetic exchange
between these units, and increasing
overall herd numbers to reduce
extinction risk from stochastic events.
Conservation of this unit is necessary to
achieve the long-term viability of this
subspecies within its range.
Unit 4: Wheeler Ridge
Unit 4 consists of approximately
80,966 ac (32,766 ha) in Fresno, Inyo,
and Mono Counties. Unit 4 is generally
located within an area bounded by U.S.
Highway 395 (located about 5 to 17 mi
(8 to 27.4 km) to the east), by Evolution
Creek on the south, by Pavilion Dome,
Pilot Nob, and Mills Creek on the west,
and by Mono Creek on the north. This
unit is located about 12 mi (19.3 km)
west of the town of Bishop. Land
ownership within the unit includes
approximately 80,568 ac (32,605 ha) of
Federal land and 398 ac (161 ha) of
private land. Federal land is
administered by the Inyo and Sierra
National Forests, Kings Canyon National
Park, and the Bureau of Land
Management.
Unit 4 begins at a low elevation of
about 5,500 ft (1,676 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to about 12,000 ft (3,658
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m) on the west. It encompasses
numerous areas from 12,000 to over
14,000 ft (3,658–4,267 m). This unit was
occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20,
January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477;
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp.
6–7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 5–6, 8; 2000,
pp. 3–5, 7) and is currently occupied
with a minimum population estimate of
113 individuals (Wehausen and
Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 4 contains
features that are essential to the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep. The unit contains a
range of vegetation types, and steep,
rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38) and
mineral licks (PCE 3, Stephenson 2007,
p.1). The area around Wheeler Ridge
provides minimum winter habitat at
5,578 ft (1,700 m) and is visually open
(Service 2003, p. 112). Mount Tom is
located south of Wheeler Ridge and
provides an open winter visual
condition and winter habitat at a
minimum elevation of 6,398 ft (1,950 m)
in Elderberry Canyon (Service 2003, p.
112, 115–116). High-elevation winter
habitat is extensive on the west side of
Mount Tom’s north ridge. Narrow ridges
on the south side can be snow free.
Between Basin Mountain and Mount
Humphreys, the plateau remains snow
free and is accessible to sheep traveling
ridge lines from Mount Tom by Four
Gables and along the crest.
PCEs within unit 4 may require
special management considerations or
protection to ameliorate the threats of
overgrazing and the possible occurrence
of disease transmission due to the
proximity of this unit to Forest Service
grazing allotments (Clifford et al. 2007,
pp. 13–14). Additionally, PCEs within
this unit may require special
management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
open habitat and potentially reduce
predation. Finally, PCEs within unit 4
may require special management
considerations or protection for the
threats due to mining, development, and
recreation (e.g., Pine Creek area) and
avalanche control may be needed to
protect against catastrophic events.
Unit 5: Taboose Creek
Unit 5 consists of approximately
28,805 ac (11,657 ha) in Inyo and Fresno
Counties. Unit 5 is generally located
within an area bounded on the north by
Big Pine Creek and on the south by
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Taboose Creek. U.S. Highway 395 is
about 8.5 mi (13.7 km) to the east, and
Marion and Observation Peaks are
located to the west. This unit is located
about 5 mi (8 km) southwest of the town
of Big Pine. Land ownership within the
unit includes approximately 28,805 ac
(11,657 ha) of Federal land. Federal land
is administered by the Inyo National
Forest and Kings Canyon National Park.
Unit 5 begins at a low elevation of
about 6,000 ft (1,829 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to 12,000 to over 14,000
ft (3,658–4,267 m) on the west. This unit
was not occupied at the time of listing
and is not currently occupied, but is
essential to the conservation of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit
contains a range of vegetation types, and
steep, rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38).
Mineral licks (PCE 3) may or may not
occur in this unit. High windblown
areas (9,187 ft (2,800 m)) occur on Birch
and Kid Mountains that may support
bighorn sheep. There appears to be
limited low-elevation south- or eastfacing habitat unless animals move
south to Red Mountain or Taboose
Creeks. Taboose Creek offers patches of
high-elevation winter habitat and southfacing low-elevation habitat where it
occurs as low as 6,398 ft (1,950 m). The
northeast side of Kid Mountain provides
some low habitat near 7,218 ft (2,200 m)
(Service 2003, pp. 113, 118). The winter
range visual condition is open in these
areas (Service 2003, p. 113).
While this unit was not occupied at
the time of listing, Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep occupied the area
historically (Ober 1914, p. 125; Jones
1950, p. 38; Buechner 1960, 69;
Dunaway 1971 p. 19; Wehausen et al.
1987 p.66; Wehausen 1988a, p. 101;
Berger 1990, p.94). This unit is essential
to the conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep for increasing the number
of herds to reduce the significance of
losing any particular herd, increasing
population viability, decreasing the
degree of fragmentation of the current
geographic distribution between this
unit and Units 6 (Sawmill Canyon) and
4 (Wheeler Ridge), increasing
opportunities for genetic exchange
between these units, and increasing
overall herd numbers to reduce
extinction risk from stochastic events.
Conservation of this unit is necessary to
achieve the long-term viability of this
subspecies within its range.
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40969
Unit 6: Sawmill Canyon
Unit 6 consists of about 30,508 ac
(12,346 ha) in Fresno and Inyo Counties.
Unit 6 is generally located within an
area bounded on the east by U.S.
Highway 395 (located about 3 mi (4.8
km) away), on the south by Unit 7
(Mount Baxter) and Sawmill Pass and
Creek, on the west by Woods Creek and
the South Fork of Woods Creek, and on
the north by Taboose Creek. Land
ownership within the unit includes
approximately 30,508 ac (12,346 ha) of
Federal land. Federal land is
administered by the Inyo National
Forest and Kings Canyon National Park.
Unit 6 begins at a low elevation of
about 4,500 ft (1,372 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to about 10,500 to 12,000
ft (3,200–3,658 m). It encompasses a few
areas from 12,000 to over 14,000 ft
(3,658–4,267 m). Unit 6 was occupied at
the time of listing (65 FR 20, January 3,
2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477; Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency
Advisory Group 1997, pp. 6–7;
Wehausen 1999, pp. 4–5, 8; 2000, pp. 3,
7) and is currently occupied with a
minimum population estimate of 36
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson
2006, p. 7). Unit 6 has features that are
essential to the conservation of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. It contains
a range of vegetation types, and steep,
rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38). It is
not known if mineral licks (PCE 3) occur
on this unit. Unit 6 provides foraging
habitat at the northern boundary near
Mount Pinchot (Service 2003, p. 118). In
addition, minimum elevations of winter
habitat occur in the Goodale Creek area
at 6,890 ft (2,100 m) and in the Sawmill
Creek area at 4,922 ft (1,500 m); winter
visual condition is open (Service 2003,
p. 113).
PCEs within unit 6 may require
special management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
open habitat and potentially reduce
predation. Unit 6 PCEs also may require
special management considerations or
protection for threats due to recreation,
and avalanche control may be needed to
protect against catastrophic events.
Unit 7: Mount Baxter
Unit 7 consists of approximately
32,220 ac (13,039 ha) in Fresno and Inyo
Counties. Unit 7 is generally located
within an area bounded on the east by
U.S. Highway 395 (located about 3 mi
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(4.8 km) away), on the south by Bubbs
Creek and the Road 13S17 to
Independence, on the west by Mount
Bago, Gardiner Lakes, and Mount
Clarence King, and on the north by Unit
6 (Sawmill Canyon) and Sawmill Pass
and Creek. This unit is located about 6
mi (9.7 km) west of the town of
Independence. Land ownership within
the unit includes approximately 32,198
ac (13,030 ha) of Federal land and 22 ac
(9 ha) of private land. Federal land is
administered by the Inyo National
Forest and Kings Canyon National Park.
Unit 7 begins at a low elevation of
about 4,500 ft (1,372 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to about 10,500 to 12,000
ft (3,200–3,658 m) on the west. It
encompasses areas from 12,000 to over
14,000 ft (3,658–4,267 m). Unit 7 was
occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20,
January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477;
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp.
6–7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 3–4, 8; 2000,
pp. 2–3, 7) and is currently occupied
with a minimum population estimate of
69 individuals (Wehausen and
Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 7 contains
features that are essential to the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep. It contains a range of
vegetation types, and steep, rocky
terrain which provides for foraging
(summer and winter), mating, lambing,
predator avoidance, and bedding and
allows for seasonal elevational
movements (PCE 1 and PCE 2) (Service
2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al. 2005, pp.
4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38) and mineral
licks (PCE 3) (Jones 1950, p. 63; Hicks
and Elder 1979, p. 911). This unit
provides foraging habitat along the
ridges and in drainages of Mount Baxter.
Minimum elevations of winter habitat in
the Thibaut-Sand Mountain area occur
at 5,003 ft (1,525 m), and in the Onion
Valley area at 7,546 ft (2,300 m); winter
visual condition is open (Service 2003,
p. 113).
In addition to containing the features
essential to the conservation of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, Unit 7 has
additional conservation value as it
served as a source population, due to its
size and productivity, for
reintroductions to the Wheeler Crest
area (1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988),
Mount Langley (1980 and 1982), and
Lee Vining Canyon area (1986, 1988)
(Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 6).
Individuals from this population may be
used for future translocations within the
range.
PCEs within unit 7 may require
special management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
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open habitat and potentially reduce
predation. PCEs within unit 7 also may
require special management
considerations or protection for threats
due to recreation (e.g., Baxter Pass and
Onion Valley), and avalanche control
may be needed to protect against
catastrophic events.
Unit 8: Mount Williamson
Unit 8 consists of about 32,560 ac
(13,177 ha) in Inyo and Tulare Counties.
Unit 8 is generally located within an
area bounded on the east by U.S. 395
(located about 9 mi (14.5 km) away), on
the south by Tulainyo Lake, on the west
by the Kern River (located about 3.5
miles (5.6 km) away), and on the north
by Road 13S17 to Independence about
1.5 mi (2.4 km) away. This unit is
located southwest of the town of
Independence and northwest of the
town of Lone Pine. Land ownership
within the unit includes approximately
32,560 ac (13,177 ha) of Federal land.
Federal land is administered by the Inyo
National Forest and Sequoia and Kings
Canyon National Parks.
Unit 8 begins at a low elevation of
about 6,000 ft (1,829 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to 12,000 to over 14,000
ft (3,658–4,267 m) on the west. Unit 8
was occupied at the time of listing (65
FR 20, January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996,
p. 477; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp.
6–7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 2–3, 8; 2000,
pp. 1–2, 7) and is currently occupied
with a minimum population estimate of
20 individuals (Wehausen and
Stephenson 2006, p. 7). Unit 8 contains
features that are essential to the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep. The unit contains a
range of vegetation types, and steep,
rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38). It is
not known if mineral licks (PCE 3) occur
in this unit. The Shepherd Creek-Pinyon
Creek area in this unit offers winter
habitat at a minimum elevation of 6,808
ft (2,075 m); the George Creek-North
Bairs Creek provides this habitat at
6,234 ft (1,900 m) (Service 2003, p. 113).
The winter visual condition is mixed
(Service 2003, p. 113).
PCEs within unit 8 may require
special management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
open habitat and potentially reduce
predation. This unit could provide an
estimated additional 1,433 ac (5.8 km2)
of winter range with a relative
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probability of equal to or greater than 10
percent use if forests were reduced by
burning (Johnson et al. 2005, p. 34).
Furthermore, PCEs within unit 8 also
may require special management
considerations or protection for threats
due to recreation (e.g., Whitney Portal
and Trailhead), and avalanche control
may be needed to protect against
catastrophic events.
Unit 9: Big Arroyo
Unit 9 consists of approximately
24,987 ac (10,112 ha) in Tulare County.
Unit 9 is generally located within an
area bounded on the east by the Kern
River, on the north by Kern-Kaweah
River, Junction Meadow, and Wallace
Creek area, and on the west and south
by the Big Arroyo Creek. Land
ownership within the unit includes
approximately 24,987 ac (10,112 ha) of
Federal land. Federal land is
administered by Sequoia National Park.
Unit 9 begins at a low elevation of
about 6,500 ft (1,981 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to about 12,000 ft (3,658
m) on the west. The northern boundary
encompasses areas from 12,000 to over
14,000 ft (3,658–4,267 m). This unit was
not occupied at the time of listing and
is not currently occupied, but is
essential to the conservation of Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit
contains a range of vegetation types, and
steep, rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38). It is
not known if mineral licks (PCE 3) are
located within this unit. This unit
contains no high-elevation wind-swept
areas (Service 2003, p. 121). Winter
habitat is provided at a minimum
elevation of 6,890 ft (2,100 m) with a
mixed visual condition due to scattered
trees (Service 2003, pp. 113, 121). From
the upper end of the Big Arroyo
drainage, sheep could find access to
alpine habitat on Kaweah Peaks.
While this unit was not occupied at
the time of listing, Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep occupied the area
historically (Jones 1950, p 35; Buecher
1960, p. 69; Barrett 1965, p. 43;
Riegelhuth 1965, p. 35; Wehausen
1988b, p. 100). This unit is essential to
the conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep for increasing the number
of herds to reduce the significance of
losing any particular herd, increasing
population viability, decreasing the
degree of fragmentation of the current
geographic distribution between this
unit and Units 10 (Mount Langley) and
8 (Mount Williamson), increasing
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opportunities for genetic exchange
between these units, and increasing
overall herd numbers to reduce
extinction risk from stochastic events.
Conservation of this unit is necessary to
achieve the long-term viability of this
subspecies within its range.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Unit 10: Mount Langley
Unit 10 consists of approximately
32,845 ac (13,292 ha) in Inyo and Tulare
Counties. Unit 10 is generally located
within an area bounded on the east by
Route 190 located from immediately
adjacent to the unit to 7 mi (11.3 km)
away, on the south by Muah Mountain,
on the west by Cirque Peak and Perrin
Creek area, and on the north by Lone
Pine Creek. This unit is located about 7
mi (11.3 km) southwest of the town of
Lone Pine. Land ownership within the
unit includes approximately 32,845 ac
(13,292 ha) of Federal land. Federal land
is administered by the Inyo National
Forest, Sequoia National Park, and
Bureau of Land Management.
Unit 10 begins at a low elevation of
about 4,500 ft (1,372 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to 9,000 to 12,000 ft
(2,743–3,658 m) on the west side. It
encompasses areas between 12,000 and
14,000 ft (3,658–4,267 m). Unit 10 was
occupied at the time of listing (65 FR 20,
January 3, 2000; Wehausen 1996, p. 477;
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, pp.
6–7; Wehausen 1999, pp. 1–2, 8; 2000,
pp. 1, 7) and is currently occupied with
a minimum population estimate of 90
individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson
2006, p. 7). Unit 10 contains features
that are essential to the conservation of
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The
unit contains a range of vegetation
types, and steep, rocky terrain which
provides for foraging (summer and
winter), mating, lambing, predator
avoidance, and bedding and allows for
seasonal elevational movements (PCE 1
and PCE 2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7;
Johnson et al. 2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34,
37–38). It is not known if mineral licks
(PCE 3) occur in this unit. The unit
provides low elevation (5,742 ft (1,750
m)) mixed winter range in the Carroll
Creek-Turtle Creek area. It also provides
low-elevation (4,757 ft) (1,450 m), open
winter range in the Slide CanyonCottonwood Creek area (Service 2003,
pp. 113, 119). From this area it is
thought bighorn sheep could cross a
short distance of the open south-facing
forest by Wonoga Peak to access the
large open plateau country. It is also
possible that bighorn sheep using the
Cottonwood Creek area use summer
range to the southeast of the Kern
Plateau where elevations are about
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10,000 ft (3,048 m) (Service 2003, pp.
119–120).
PCEs within unit 10 may require
special management considerations or
protection to reverse the impacts of fire
suppression which would provide more
open habitat and potentially reduce
predation. This unit could provide an
estimated additional 1,161 ac) (4.7 km 2)
of winter range with a relative
probability of equal to or greater than 10
percent use if forests were reduced by
burning (Johnson et al. 2005, p. 34).
PCEs within unit 10 also may require
special management considerations or
protection for threats due to recreation
(e.g., Whitney Portal and Trailhead),
and development (Route 190 crosses a
portion of this unit). Furthermore, PCEs
within unit 10 may require special
management considerations or
protection in the form of avalanche
control to protect against catastrophic
events.
Unit 11: Laurel Creek
Unit 11 consists of approximately
22,037 ac (8,918 ha) in Tulare County.
Unit 11 is generally located within an
area bounded on the east by the Kern
River, on the south by Pistol, Laurel,
and Golden Trout Creeks, on the west
by a portion of Little Kern River, and on
the north by Soda Creek. Land
ownership within the unit includes
approximately 22,037 ac (8,918 ha) of
Federal land. Federal land is
administered by the Sequoia National
Forest and Sequoia National Park.
Unit 11 begins at a low elevation of
about 6,500 ft (1,981 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to 10,500 to 12,000 ft
(3,200–3,658 m) on the west. It includes
a few small areas from 12,000 to over
14,000 ft (3,658–4,267 m). This unit was
not occupied at the time of listing and
is not currently occupied, but is
essential to the conservation of Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit
contains a range of vegetation types, and
steep, rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38). It is
unknown whether mineral licks (PCE 3)
occur in this unit. This unit contains no
high-elevation wind-swept areas
(Service 2003, p. 121). Winter habitat is
provided at a minimum elevation of
6,808 ft (2,075 m) with a mixed visual
condition due to scattered trees (Service
2003, pp. 113, 121). Laurel Creek
provides access to summer range.
While this unit was not occupied at
the time of listing, Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep occupied the area
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historically (Buechner 1960 p. 69;
Barrett 1965, p. 43; Wehausen 1988b, p.
100). This unit is essential to the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep for increasing the number
of herds to reduce the significance of
losing any particular herd, increasing
population viability, decreasing the
degree of fragmentation of the current
geographic distribution between this
unit and Unit 10 (Mount Langley),
increasing opportunities for genetic
exchange between these units, and
increasing overall herd numbers to
reduce extinction risk from stochastic
events. Conservation of this unit is
necessary to achieve the long-term
viability of this subspecies within its
range.
Unit 12: Olancha Peak
Unit 12 consists of approximately
30,421 ac (12,311 ha) in Tulare and Inyo
Counties. Unit 12 is generally located
within an area bounded on the east by
U.S. Highway 395, on the south by Falls
and Walker Creeks, on the west by
portions of the Pacific Crest National
Scenic Trail, and on the north by Muah
Mountain. This unit is located west of
the towns of Cartago and Olancha. Land
ownership within the unit includes
approximately 30,421 ac (12,311 ha) of
Federal land. Federal land is
administered by the Inyo National
Forest and Bureau of Land Management.
Unit 12 begins at a low elevation of
about 4,000 ft (1,219 m) on the eastern
slope and rises to about 9,000 to 10,500
ft (2,743–3,200 m) on the west. It is the
southernmost unit proposed for critical
habitat designation for the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep. This unit was
not occupied at the time of listing and
is not currently occupied, but is
essential to the conservation of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. The unit
contains a range of vegetation types, and
steep, rocky terrain which provides for
foraging (summer and winter), mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allows for seasonal
elevational movements (PCE 1 and PCE
2) (Service 2003, pp. 3–7; Johnson et al.
2005, pp. 4–14, 31–32, 34, 37–38). It is
not known if mineral licks (PCE 3) occur
within this unit. This unit provides
bighorn sheep habitat in the areas of
Ash, Braley, Cartago, Olancha, and Falls
Creeks. Carago, Olancha and Falls
Creeks connect by Olancha Canyon to
Olancha Peak (12,123 ft) (3,695 m)
which provides some alpine summer
habitat (southernmost in the Sierra
Nevada) (Service 2003, p. 120). Winter
range occurs as open, low-elevation
(4,757 ft (1,450 m)), south-facing slopes
(Service 2003, pp. 113, 120).
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While this unit was not occupied at
the time of listing, Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep occupied the area
historically (Jones 1950, p. 39;
Wehausen et al. 1987, p. 66; Wehausen
1988a, p. 101). This unit is essential to
the conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep for increasing the number
of herds to reduce the significance of
losing any particular herd, increasing
population viability, decreasing the
degree of fragmentation of the current
geographic distribution between this
unit and Unit 10 (Mount Langley),
increasing opportunities for genetic
exchange between these units, and
increasing overall herd numbers to
reduce extinction risk from stochastic
events. Conservation of this unit is
necessary to achieve the long-term
viability of this subspecies within its
range.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Effects of Critical Habitat Designation
Section 7 Consultation
Section 7 of the Act requires Federal
agencies, including the Service, to
ensure that actions they fund, authorize,
or carry out are not likely to destroy or
adversely modify critical habitat.
Decisions by the 5th and 9th Circuit
Court of Appeals have invalidated our
definition of ‘‘destruction or adverse
modification’’ (50 CFR 402.02) (see
Gifford Pinchot Task Force v. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 378 F.3d 1059 (9th
Cir. 2004) and Sierra Club v. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service et al., 245 F.3d 434,
442F (5th Cir. 2001)), and we do not rely
on this regulatory definition when
analyzing whether an action is likely to
destroy or adversely modify critical
habitat. Under current national policy
and the statutory provisions of the Act,
we determine destruction or adverse
modification on the basis of whether,
with implementation of the proposed
Federal action, the affected critical
habitat would remain functional (or
retain the current ability for the primary
constituent elements to be functionally
established) to serve the intended
conservation role for the species.
Section 7(a)(4) of the Act requires
Federal agencies to confer with us on
any action that is likely to jeopardize
the continued existence of a species
proposed for listing under the Act or
result in destruction or adverse
modification of proposed critical
habitat. This is a procedural
requirement only. However, once a
species proposed for listing becomes
listed, or proposed critical habitat is
designated as final, the full prohibitions
of section 7(a)(2) apply to any Federal
action. The primary utility of the
conference procedures is to allow a
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Federal agency to maximize its
opportunity to adequately consider
species proposed for listing and
proposed critical habitat and to avoid
potential delays in implementing the
proposed action because of the section
7(a)(2) compliance process, should we
list those species or designate the
critical habitat.
We may provide advisory
conservation recommendations to assist
the agency in eliminating conflicts that
the proposed action may cause. We may
conduct either an informal or a formal
conference. We typically use an
informal conference if the proposed
action is not likely to have any adverse
effects to the species proposed for
listing or proposed critical habitat. We
typically use formal conferences when
we or the Federal agency believes the
proposed action is likely to cause
adverse effects to species proposed for
listing or proposed critical habitat,
inclusive of those that may cause
jeopardy or adverse modification.
We generally provide the results of an
informal conference in a conference
report, while we provide the results of
a formal conference in a conference
opinion. We typically prepare
conference opinions on proposed
critical habitat according to 50 CFR
402.14, as if the proposed critical
habitat were already designated. We
may adopt the conference opinion as the
biological opinion when the critical
habitat is designated, if no substantial
new information or changes in the
action alter the content of the opinion
(see 50 CFR 402.10(d)). As noted above,
any conservation recommendations in a
conference report or opinion are strictly
advisory.
If a species is listed or critical habitat
is designated, section 7(a)(2) of the Act
requires Federal agencies to ensure that
activities they authorize, fund, or carry
out are not likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of the species or to
destroy or adversely modify its critical
habitat. If a Federal action may affect a
listed species or its critical habitat, the
responsible Federal agency (action
agency) must enter into consultation
with us. As a result of this consultation,
we document compliance with the
requirements of section 7(a)(2) through
our issuance of:
(1) A concurrence letter for Federal
actions that may affect, but are not
likely to adversely affect, listed species
or critical habitat; or
(2) A biological opinion for Federal
actions that are likely to adversely affect
listed species or critical habitat.
When we issue a biological opinion
concluding that a project is likely to
result in jeopardy to a listed species or
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the destruction or adverse modification
of critical habitat, we also provide
reasonable and prudent alternatives to
the project, if any are identifiable. We
define ‘‘Reasonable and prudent
alternatives’’ at 50 CFR 402.02 as
alternative actions identified during
consultation that:
• Can be implemented in a manner
consistent with the intended purpose of
the action,
• Can be implemented consistent
with the scope of the Federal agency’s
legal authority and jurisdiction,
• Are economically and
technologically feasible, and
• Would, in the Director’s opinion,
avoid jeopardy to the listed species or
destruction or adverse modification of
critical habitat.
Reasonable and prudent alternatives can
vary from slight project modifications to
extensive redesign or relocation of the
project. Costs associated with
implementing a reasonable and prudent
alternative are similarly variable.
Regulations at 50 CFR 402.16 require
Federal agencies to reinitiate
consultation on previously reviewed
actions in instances where we have
listed a new species or subsequently
designated critical habitat that may be
affected and the Federal agency has
retained discretionary involvement or
control over the action (or the agency’s
discretionary involvement or control is
authorized by law). Consequently, some
Federal agencies may request
reinitiation of consultation with us on
actions for which formal consultation
has been completed, if those actions
may affect subsequently listed species
or designated critical habitat or
adversely modify or destroy proposed
critical habitat.
Federal activities that may affect the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep or its
designated critical habitat will require
section 7 consultation under the Act.
Activities on state, tribal, local or
private lands requiring a Federal permit
(such as a permit from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers under section 404 of
the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et
seq.) or a permit from us under section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act) or involving some
other Federal action (such as funding
from the Federal Highway
Administration, Federal Aviation
Administration, or the Federal
Emergency Management Agency) are
also subject to the section 7 consultation
process. Federal actions not affecting
listed species or critical habitat, and
actions on State, Tribal, local or private
lands that are not federally funded,
authorized, or permitted, do not require
section 7 consultations.
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Application of the ‘‘Adverse
Modification’’ Standard
The analytical framework described
in the Director’s December 9, 2004,
memorandum will be used to complete
section 7(a)(2) analysis for Federal
actions affecting Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep critical habitat. The key factor
related to the adverse modification
determination is whether, with
implementation of the proposed Federal
action, the affected critical habitat
would continue to serve its intended
conservation role for the species, or
would retain its current ability for the
primary constituent elements to be
functionally established. Activities that
may destroy or adversely modify critical
habitat are those that alter the PCEs to
an extent that appreciably reduces the
conservation value of critical habitat for
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Generally,
the conservation role of Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep critical habitat units is to
support viable core area populations.
Section 4(b)(8) of the Act requires us
to briefly evaluate and describe in any
proposed or final regulation that
designates critical habitat, those
activities involving a Federal action that
may destroy or adversely modify such
habitat, or that may be affected by such
designation.
Activities that, when carried out,
funded, or authorized by a Federal
agency, may affect critical habitat and
therefore should result in consultation
for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
include, but are not limited to:
(1) Actions that would significantly
reduce ongoing management and
conservation efforts that benefit the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep on public
lands. Such activities could include, but
are not limited to, the sale, exchange, or
lease of lands managed by the United
States Forest Service (USFS) or other
Federal agency. These activities could
reduce the amount of space that is
available for individual and population
growth and normal behavior, as well as
reduce or eliminate the number and
extent of sites for foraging, breeding,
reproduction, and rearing of offspring.
These activities could also reduce the
opportunities available to Federal
agencies to exercise their section 7(a)(1)
responsibilities to carry out programs to
conserve listed species.
(2) Actions that would significantly
reduce the availability of or accessibility
to summer and winter ranges. Such
activities could include, but are not
limited to, grazing, mining, and road
construction activities. These activities
could degrade, reduce, fragment or
eliminate available foraging resources or
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alter current foraging activities of Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep.
(3) Actions that would result in the
significant expansion of tall, dense
vegetation such as timber within
bighorn sheep habitat. Such activities
could include, but are not limited to,
fire suppression. These activities could
allow expansion of vegetation cover
such that movement patterns of bighorn
sheep are altered by avoidance of these
areas. Tall, dense vegetation provides
cover for predators such as the
mountain lion, a common predator of
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
(4) Actions that would create
significant barriers to movement. Such
activities could include, but are not
limited to, road construction, and resort
or campground facility development or
expansion. These activities could
interfere with movement within and
between habitats reducing the
availability of habitat for foraging,
breeding, reproduction, sheltering, and
rearing of offspring. These activities
could also reduce opportunities for
movement between existing
populations. Dispersal and interaction
between populations could be affected,
restricting gene flow and jeopardizing
the integrity of the gene pool. Road
construction can result in the direct
mortality of individuals through
collisions with vehicles.
(5) Actions that would significantly
degrade habitat or cause a disturbance
to Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. Such
activities could include, but are not
limited to, recreational activities, such
as off-road vehicle use, hiking, camping,
rock climbing, and outfitter guides and
pack animal expeditions. These
activities could impact the quality and
quantity of forage across landscape or
displace animals from key foraging
areas. These activities could also impact
the accessibility to key habitats such as
escape terrain, breeding sites, or
lambing areas. If animals flee these areas
as a result of these activities, energy is
expended which can negatively impact
the animal’s body condition, resulting
in possible reduced reproductive
success.
We consider all of the units proposed
as critical habitat to contain features
essential to the conservation of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, including
those units which were not occupied at
the time of listing. All units are within
the historic geographic range of the
subspecies, and those units which were
not occupied at the time of listing have
been determined to be essential for the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep. Detailed descriptions of
the units and their occupancy status can
be found in each of the Unit
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40973
descriptions or within Table 3. Under
section 7 of the Act, Federal agencies
already consult with us on activities in
areas currently occupied by the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, or if the
subspecies may be affected by the
action, to ensure that their actions do
not jeopardize the continued existence
of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
Application of Section 4(b)(2) of the Act
Section 4(b)(2) of the Act states that
the Secretary must designate and revise
critical habitat on the basis of the best
available scientific data after taking into
consideration the economic impact,
impact on national security, and any
other relevant impact, of specifying any
particular area as critical habitat. The
Secretary may exclude an area from
critical habitat if he determines that the
benefits of such exclusion outweigh the
benefits of specifying such area as part
of the critical habitat, unless he
determines, based on the best scientific
data available, that the failure to
designate such area as critical habitat
will result in the extinction of the
species. In making that determination,
the Congressional record is clear that
the Secretary has broad discretion
regarding which factor(s) to use and
how much weight to give to any factor.
Under section 4(b)(2) of the Act, in
considering whether to exclude a
particular area from the designation, we
must identify the benefits of including
the area in the designation, identify the
benefits of excluding the area from the
designation, and determine whether the
benefits of exclusion outweigh the
benefits of inclusion. If we consider an
exclusion then we must determine
whether excluding the area would result
in the extinction of the species.
In the following sections, we address
a number of general issues that are
relevant to the exclusions we are
considering. In addition, we are
conducting an economic analysis of the
impacts of the proposed critical habitat
designation and related factors, which
will be available for public review and
comment when it is complete. Based on
public comment on that document, the
proposed designation itself, and the
information in the final economic
analysis, the Secretary may exclude
from critical habitat additional areas
beyond those identified in this
assessment under the provisions of
section 4(b)(2) of the Act. This is also
addressed in our implementing
regulations at 50 CFR 242.19.
Currently, we are aware of four
documents related to the conservation
and recovery of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep. We reviewed these
documents, but we are not currently
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proposing the exclusion of lands
covered by them for reasons indicated
below. These documents include the
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery
and Conservation Plan (Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory
Group 1984), the Bighorn Sheep
Management Plan (National Park
Service 1986), the Inyo National Forest
Resource & Management Plan (U.S.
Forest Service 1988), and A
Conservation Strategy for Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep (Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Interagency Advisory Group
1997). All of these documents were
prepared prior to the emergency listing
of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in
1999.
The goal of the Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Recovery and Conservation Plan
(Sierra Bighorn Sheep Interagency
Advisory Group 1984, pp. 1–2) was to
improve the status of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep by (1) maintaining the
health and viability of existing
populations, and by promoting the
establishment of at least 3 populations
that exceeded 100 animals and were
geographically distant from one another;
(2) restoring bighorn sheep to former
ranges within the Sierra Nevada where
ecologically, economically, and
politically feasible and where favorable
to their success; and (3) ensuring genetic
integrity by using only bighorn from
existing Sierra Nevada populations to
restock historic ranges. Conservation
recommendations made in A
Conservation Strategy for Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep (Sierra Nevada Bighorn
Sheep Interagency Advisory Group
1997, pp. 11–14) related to restoration of
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in a
distribution that assures long-term
viability and reestablishment
throughout its native range and
included preservation of current
populations, predator control, fire (let
burn policy), grazing by domestic sheep
and goats, genetic diversity,
reintroductions and augmentations, and
research and monitoring. The goal of the
Bighorn Sheep Management Plan
(National Park Service 1986, pp. 1–2)
was to restore and perpetuate bighorn
sheep and to protect the integrity of the
ecosystem. Management was directed
toward restoring and maintaining
populations of bighorn sheep for
ecological, scientific, educational,
aesthetic, and recreational values. The
Inyo National Forest’s Land & Resource
Management Plan (U.S. Forest Service
1988, pp. 101–102) provided guidance
to maintain existing sheep habitat,
expand the range of bighorn sheep by
transplanting animals into suitable
unoccupied habitats within the historic
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range, maintain the health of existing
herds by not allowing an increase in
livestock use if disease transmission
was shown to be harmful to bighorn
sheep, and prohibit the conversion of
livestock type from cattle to sheep on or
adjacent to existing or approved
reintroduction sites for the bighorn
sheep.
The Inyo National Forest also
established two California Bighorn
Sheep Zoological Areas for the Mount
Baxter and Mount Williamson herds.
These areas totaled 4,505 acres (1,823
hectares) in addition to existing
wilderness lands (36,235 acres (14,664
hectares)) occupied by bighorn sheep. In
1981, forest officials issued Order No.
04–81–3, which prohibited entrance
into these areas without a valid visitor
use permit, and restricted entrance into
closed portions of the zoological areas
during certain time periods, and the
presence of dogs, or the discharge of
firearms unless taking a game animal
legally permitted by the State of
California (U.S. Forest Service 1981, p.
1). Exemptions were allowed for certain
individuals and duties/activities. This
order was issued during a time when
recreational use was thought to be
having a detrimental impact on the
Mount Baxter and Mount Williamson
herds.
While these plans were prepared to
assist in the restoration and recovery
and habitat protection of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, they were
written prior to the listing of this
subspecies, which occurred in 1999 and
2000, and they generally offer only
guidance and recommendations related
to translocations, research, monitoring,
education, and habitat management
with little specificity of actions to be
implemented. The guidance provided in
these documents and the recreational
prohibitions in the California Bighorn
Sheep Zoological Areas did not provide
sufficient, nor necessarily appropriate,
protections, to the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep or its habitat to prevent
its listing under the Act.
Economic Analysis
We are preparing an analysis of the
economic impacts of proposing critical
habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep. We will announce the
availability of the draft economic
analysis as soon as it is completed, at
which time we will seek public review
and comment. At that time, copies of
the draft economic analysis will be
available for downloading from the
Internet at https://www.fws.gov/nevada,
or by contacting the Nevada Fish and
Wildlife Office directly (see ADDRESSES
section). We may exclude areas from the
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final rule based on the information in
the economic analysis.
Peer Review
In accordance with our joint policy
published in the Federal Register on
July 1, 1994 (59 FR 34270), we are
obtaining the expert opinions of at least
three appropriate and independent
specialists regarding this proposed rule.
The purpose of peer review is to ensure
that our critical habitat designation is
based on scientifically sound data,
assumptions, and analyses. We have
invited these peer reviewers to comment
during this public comment period on
our specific assumptions and
conclusions in this proposed
designation of critical habitat.
We will consider all comments and
information we receive during this
comment period on this proposed rule
during our preparation of a final
determination. Accordingly, our final
decision may differ from this proposal.
Public Hearings
The Act provides for one or more
public hearings on this proposal, if we
receive any requests for hearings. Per
4(b)(5)(e), a request for hearing must be
received within 45 days of publication
of the proposal. We will schedule public
hearings on this proposal, if any are
requested, and announce the dates,
times, and places of those hearings in
the Federal Register and local
newspapers at least 15 days before the
first hearing.
Required Determinations
Clarity of the Rule
Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory
Planning and Review) requires each
agency to write regulations and notices
that are easy to understand. We invite
your comments on how to make this
proposed rule easier to understand,
including answers to questions such as
the following: (1) Are the requirements
in the proposed rule clearly stated? (2)
Does the proposed rule contain
technical jargon that interferes with the
clarity? (3) Does the format of the
proposed rule (grouping and order of
the sections, use of headings,
paragraphing, and so forth) aid or
reduce its clarity? (4) Is the description
of the notice in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of the preamble
helpful in understanding the proposed
rule? (5) What else could we do to make
this proposed rule easier to understand?
Send a copy of any comments on how
we could make this proposed rule easier
to understand to: Office of Regulatory
Affairs, Department of the Interior,
Room 7229, 1849 C Street, NW.,
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Washington, DC 20240. You may e-mail
your comments to this address:
Exsec@ios.doi.gov.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Regulatory Planning and Review
In accordance with Executive Order
(E.O.) 12866, this document is a
significant rule in that it may raise novel
legal and policy issues, but we do not
anticipate that it will have an annual
effect on the economy of $100 million
or more or affect the economy in a
material way. Due to the tight timeline
for publication in the Federal Register,
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) has not formally reviewed this
rule. In order to determine the economic
consequences of designating the specific
area as critical habitat we are preparing
a draft economic analysis of this
proposed action, which will be available
for public comment. This economic
analysis also will be used to determine
compliance with E.O. 12866, the
Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Small
Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act, E.O. 12630, E.O. 13211,
and E.O. 12875.
Further, E.O. 12866 directs Federal
agencies promulgating regulations to
evaluate regulatory alternatives (OMB,
Circular A–4, September 17, 2003).
Under Circular A–4, once an agency
determines that the Federal regulatory
action is appropriate, the agency must
consider alternative regulatory
approaches. Since the determination of
critical habitat is a statutory
requirement under the Act we must
then evaluate alternative regulatory
approaches, where feasible, when
promulgating a designation of critical
habitat.
In developing our designations of
critical habitat, we consider economic
impacts, impacts to national security,
and other relevant impacts pursuant to
section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Based on the
discretion allowable under this
provision, we may exclude any
particular area from the designation of
critical habitat providing that the
benefits of such exclusion outweigh the
benefits of specifying the area as critical
habitat and that such exclusion would
not result in the extinction of the
species. As such, we believe that the
evaluation of the inclusion or exclusion
of particular areas, or a combination of
both constitutes our regulatory
alternative analysis for designations.
We will announce the availability of
the draft economic analysis in the
Federal Register and in local
newspapers so that it is available for
public review and comments. The draft
economic analysis will also be available
on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/
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nevada, or at the Nevada Fish and
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., as amended
by the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) of
1996), whenever an agency must
publish a notice of rulemaking for any
proposed or final rule, it must prepare
and make available for public comment
a regulatory flexibility analysis that
describes the effects of the rule on small
entities (small businesses, small
organizations, and small government
jurisdictions). However, no regulatory
flexibility analysis is required if the
head of the agency certifies the rule will
not have a significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small
entities. SBREFA amended RFA to
require Federal agencies to provide a
statement of the factual basis for
certifying that the rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
At this time, we lack the available
economic information necessary to
provide an adequate factual basis for the
required RFA finding. Therefore, we
defer the RFA finding until completion
of the draft economic analysis prepared
under section 4(b)(2) of the Act and E.O.
12866. This draft economic analysis will
provide the required factual basis for the
RFA finding. Upon completion of the
draft economic analysis, we will
announce availability of the draft
economic analysis of the proposed
designation in the Federal Register and
reopen the public comment period for
the proposed designation. We will
include with this announcement, as
appropriate, an initial regulatory
flexibility analysis or a certification that
the rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities accompanied
by the factual basis for that
determination. We have concluded that
deferring the RFA finding until
completion of the draft economic
analysis is necessary to meet the
purposes and requirements of the RFA.
Deferring the RFA finding in this
manner will ensure that we make a
sufficiently informed determination
based on adequate economic
information and provide the necessary
opportunity for public comment.
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
On May 18, 2001, the President issued
an Executive Order (E.O. 13211;
‘‘Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’) on regulations
that significantly affect energy supply,
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40975
distribution, and use. E.O. 13211
requires agencies to prepare Statements
of Energy Effects when undertaking
certain actions. While this proposed
rule to designate critical habitat for the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is a
significant regulatory action under E.O.
12866 in that it may raise novel legal
and policy issues, we do not expected
it to significantly affect energy supplies,
distribution, or use. Therefore, this
action is not a significant energy action,
and no Statement of Energy Effects is
required. However, we will further
evaluate this issue as we conduct our
economic analysis, and review and
revise this assessment as warranted.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)
In accordance with the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et
seq.), we make the following findings:
(a) This rule will not produce a
Federal mandate. In general, a Federal
mandate is a provision in legislation,
statute, or regulation that would impose
an enforceable duty upon State, local, or
Tribal governments, or the private
sector, and includes both ‘‘Federal
intergovernmental mandates’’ and
‘‘Federal private sector mandates.’’
These terms are defined in 2 U.S.C.
658(5)–(7). ‘‘Federal intergovernmental
mandate’’ includes a regulation that
‘‘would impose an enforceable duty
upon State, local, or tribal governments’’
with two exceptions. It excludes ‘‘a
condition of Federal assistance.’’ It also
excludes ‘‘a duty arising from
participation in a voluntary Federal
program,’’ unless the regulation ‘‘relates
to a then-existing Federal program
under which $500,000,000 or more is
provided annually to State, local, and
tribal governments under entitlement
authority,’’ if the provision would
‘‘increase the stringency of conditions of
assistance’’ or ‘‘place caps upon, or
otherwise decrease, the Federal
Government’s responsibility to provide
funding,’’ and the State, local, or Tribal
governments ‘‘lack authority’’ to adjust
accordingly. At the time of enactment,
these entitlement programs were:
Medicaid; AFDC work programs; Child
Nutrition; Food Stamps; Social Services
Block Grants; Vocational Rehabilitation
State Grants; Foster Care, Adoption
Assistance, and Independent Living;
Family Support Welfare Services; and
Child Support Enforcement. ‘‘Federal
private sector mandate’’ includes a
regulation that ‘‘would impose an
enforceable duty upon the private
sector, except (i) a condition of Federal
assistance or (ii) a duty arising from
participation in a voluntary Federal
program.’’
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The designation of critical habitat
does not impose a legally binding duty
on non-Federal Government entities or
private parties. Under the Act, the only
regulatory effect is that Federal agencies
must ensure that their actions do not
destroy or adversely modify critical
habitat under section 7. While nonFederal entities that receive Federal
funding, assistance, or permits, or that
otherwise require approval or
authorization from a Federal agency for
an action, may be indirectly impacted
by the designation of critical habitat, the
legally binding duty to avoid
destruction or adverse modification of
critical habitat rests squarely on the
Federal agency. Furthermore, to the
extent that non-Federal entities are
indirectly impacted because they
receive Federal assistance or participate
in a voluntary Federal aid program, the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act would
not apply, nor would critical habitat
shift the costs of the large entitlement
programs listed above onto State
governments.
(b) We do not believe that this rule
will significantly or uniquely affect
small governments because the vast
majority of the lands involved in the
proposed designation are Federal (e.g.,
U.S. Forest Service, National Park
Service, and Bureau of Land
Management). As such, a Small
Government Agency Plan is not
required. However, as we conduct our
economic analysis, we will further
evaluate this issue and revise this
assessment if appropriate.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Takings
In accordance with E.O. 12630
(‘‘Government Actions and Interference
with Constitutionally Protected Private
Property Rights’’), we have analyzed the
potential takings implications of
designating critical habitat for the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep in a takings
implications assessment. The takings
implications assessment concludes that
this designation of critical habitat for
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep does
not pose significant takings
implications. However, we will, further
evaluate this issue as we conduct our
economic analysis and review and
revise this assessment as warranted.
Federalism
In accordance with E.O. 13132
(Federalism), this rule does not have
significant Federalism effects. A
Federalism assessment is not required.
In keeping with Department of the
Interior and Department of Commerce
policy, we requested information from,
and coordinated development of, this
proposed critical habitat designation
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with appropriate State resource agencies
in California. The designation of critical
habitat in areas currently occupied by
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
imposes no additional restrictions to
those currently in place and, therefore,
has little incremental impact on State
and local governments and their
activities. The designation may have
some benefit to these governments in
that the areas that contain the features
essential to the conservation of the
subspecies are more clearly defined, and
the primary constituent elements of the
habitat necessary to the conservation of
the subspecies are specifically
identified. This information does not
alter where and what federally
sponsored activities may occur.
However, it may assist local
governments in long-range planning
(rather than having them wait for caseby-case section 7 consultations to
occur).
Civil Justice Reform
In accordance with E.O. 12988 (Civil
Justice Reform), the Office of the
Solicitor has determined that the rule
does not unduly burden the judicial
system and that it meets the
requirements of sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2)
of the Order. We have proposed
designating critical habitat in
accordance with the provisions of the
Act. This proposed rule uses standard
property descriptions and identifies the
primary constituent elements within the
designated areas to assist the public in
understanding the habitat needs of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
This rule does not contain any new
collections of information that require
approval by OMB under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.). This rule will not impose
recordkeeping or reporting requirements
on State or local governments,
individuals, businesses, or
organizations. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of
information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)
It is our position that, outside the
jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of the
United States for the Tenth Circuit, we
do not need to prepare environmental
analyses as defined by the NEPA (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) in connection with
designating critical habitat under the
Act. We published a notice outlining
our reasons for this determination in the
Federal Register on October 25, 1983
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4701
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(48 FR 49244). This assertion was
upheld by the Circuit Court of the
United States for the Ninth Circuit
(Douglas County v. Babbitt, 48 F.3d
1495 (9th Cir. 1995), cert. denied 516
U.S. 1042 (1996)).
Government-to-Government
Relationship with Tribes
In accordance with the President’s
memorandum of April 29, 1994,
‘‘Government-to-Government Relations
with Native American Tribal
Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), E.O.
13175, and the Department of the
Interior’s manual at 512 DM 2, we
readily acknowledge our responsibility
to communicate meaningfully with
recognized Federal Tribes on a
government-to-government basis. In
accordance with Secretarial Order 3206
of June 5, 1997, ‘‘American Indian
Tribal Rights, Federal-Tribal Trust
Responsibilities, and the Endangered
Species Act,’’ we readily acknowledge
our responsibilities to work directly
with tribes in developing programs for
healthy ecosystems, to acknowledge that
tribal lands are not subject to the same
controls as Federal public lands, to
remain sensitive to Indian culture, and
to make information available to tribes.
We have determined that there are no
tribal lands occupied at the time of
listing that contain the features essential
for the conservation, and no tribal lands
that are essential for the conservation of
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.
Therefore, we have not proposed
designation of critical habitat for the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep on Tribal
lands.
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited
in this rulemaking is available upon
request from the Field Supervisor,
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office (see
ADDRESSES section).
Author(s)
The primary authors of this package
are staff from the Nevada Fish and
Wildlife and the Ventura Fish and
Wildlife Offices.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and threatened species,
Exports, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements,
Transportation.
Proposed Regulation Promulgation
Accordingly, we propose to amend
part 17, subchapter B of chapter I, title
50 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
as set forth below:
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
PART 17—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 17
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361–1407; 16 U.S.C.
1531–1544; 16 U.S.C. 4201–4245; Pub. L. 99–
625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.
2. In § 17.11(h), revise the entry for
‘‘Sheep, Sierra Nevada bighorn’’ under
‘‘MAMMALS’’ in the List of Endangered
and Threatened Wildlife to read as
follows:
Species
Vertebrate population where endangered or threatened
Historic range
Common name
Scientific name
§ 17.11 Endangered and threatened
wildlife.
*
*
*
(h) * * *
*
When
listed
Status
*
Critical
habitat
Special
rules
MAMMALS
*
Sheep, Sierra
Nevada bighorn.
*
Ovis canadensis
sierrae.
*
*
*
*
U.S.A. (western conterminous U.S.A. (CA)—Sierra E ............
States), Canada, (south-west),
Nevada.
Mexico (north).
*
*
3. In § 17.95(a), add an entry for
‘‘Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis
canadensis sierrae)’’ in the same
alphabetical order in which the
subspecies appears in the table in
§ 17.11(h) to read as follows:
§ 17.95
Critical habitat—fish and wildlife.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
(a) Mammals.
*
*
*
*
*
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis
Canadensis Sierrae)
(1) Critical habitat units are depicted
for Mono, Fresno, Inyo, Tulare, and
Tuolumne counties, California, on the
maps below.
(2) The primary constituent elements
of critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep are the habitat
components that provide:
(i) Non-forested habitats or forest
openings within the Sierra Nevada from
4,000 ft (1,219 m) to 14,500 ft (4,420 m)
in elevation with steep (greater than or
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*
*
equal to 60 percent slope), rocky slopes
that provide for foraging, mating,
lambing, predator avoidance, and
bedding and allow for seasonal
elevational movements between these
areas.
(ii) Presence of a variety of forage
plants as indicated by the presence of
grasses (e.g., Achnanthera spp.; Elymus
spp.) and browse (e.g., Ribes spp.;
Artemisia spp., Purshia spp.) in winter,
and grasses, browse, sedges (e.g., Carex
spp.) and forbs (e.g., Eriogonum spp.) in
summer.
(iii) Presence of granite rock
outcroppings containing minerals such
as sodium, calcium, iron, and
phosphorus that could be used as salt
licks/mineral licks in order to meet
nutritional needs.
(3) Critical habitat does not include
manmade structures (such as buildings,
aqueducts, airports, roads, and other
paved areas) and the land on which they
PO 00000
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*
660E, 675
Sfmt 4702
*
17.95(a)
*
NA
*
are located existing on the effective date
of this rule and not containing one or
more of the primary constituent
elements.
(4) Critical Habitat Map Units—
Boundaries of proposed critical habitat
were derived from Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep Herd Units developed by
the California Department of Fish and
Game for the final Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep (SNBS) recovery plan.
The proposed critical habitat unit
boundaries differ from SNBS Herd Unit
polygons by the removal of developed
areas and private parcels that are
unlikely to contain the primary
constituent elements. The data were
projected to Universal Transverse
Mercator (UTM), zone 11, on the North
American Datum of 1983.
(5) Note: Index map of Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep critical habitat (Map 1)
follows:
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BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
(6) Unit 1 (Mount Warren); Mono and
Tuolumne Counties, California.
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(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Dunderberg Peak, Lundy,
Tioga Pass, and Mount Dana. Land
bounded by the following UTM zone 11
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NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 300786,
4215918; 301348, 4215650; 301467,
4215784; 302384, 4216077; 303459,
4215689; 303626, 4215452; 303452,
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EP25JY07.001</GPH>
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4215254; 303072, 4215278; 302764,
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4210776; 295765, 4210618; 295898,
4210485; 296215, 4210416; 296297,
4210232; 296335, 4209954; 296436,
4209682; 296866, 4209384; 296923,
4209043; 297113, 4208904; 297160,
4209239; 296945, 4210163; 296926,
4210220; 296964, 4210511; 296838,
4210852; 296699, 4211542; 296578,
4211789; 296411, 4212206; 296316,
4212814; 296202, 4213219; 296316,
4213693; 296664, 4213959; 297094,
4213826; 297372, 4213535; 297676,
4213402; 297942, 4213301; 298157,
4213320; 298429, 4213434; 298625,
4213769; 298517, 4214085; 298464,
4214465; 298666, 4214705; 298919,
4214819; 299122, 4214832; 299267,
4214857; 299368, 4215136; 299027,
4215585; 299033, 4215781; 299210,
4215926; 299533, 4215711; 299988,
4215528; 300071, 4215756; 300090,
4215983; 299697, 4216559; 299546,
4216654; 299410, 4216907; 299359,
4217034; 299416, 4217413; 299454,
4217729; 299391, 4218002; 299410,
4218318; 299479, 4218577; 299529,
4218766; 299885, 4218821; 300296,
4218734; 300755, 4218505; 300865,
4218101; 300858, 4217690; 300731,
4217445; 300525, 4217247; 300446,
4216796; 300470, 4216409; returning to
300786, 4215918; excluding land
bounded by 304870, 4211718; 304755,
4211663; 304590, 4211666; 304426,
4211699; 304273, 4211615; 304237,
4211614; 304100, 4211575; 304119,
4211576; 304068, 4211562; 304036,
4211567; 303925, 4211593; 303824,
4211552; 303714, 4211495; 303668,
4211501; 303558, 4211486; 303473,
4211423; 303421, 4211366; 303381,
4211308; 303223, 4211322; 303176,
4211295; 303181, 4211202; 303103,
4211161; 303208, 4210962; 303418,
4211073; 303481, 4211022; 303500,
4211020; 303617, 4211098; 303675,
4211109; 303894, 4211096; 303983,
4211127; 304053, 4211125; 304053,
4211124; 304106, 4211121; 304460,
4211207; 304518, 4211250; 304590,
4211261; 304644, 4211303; 304747,
4211336; 304863, 4211395; 304882,
4211457; 305018, 4211524; 305128,
4211543; 305289, 4211677; 305397,
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
4211739; 305477, 4211807; 305515,
4211863; 305405, 4211903; 305374,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4211907; 305176, 4211813; 305029,
4211770; returning to 304870, 4211718.
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4725
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 1 Mount
Warren for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 2) follows:
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.002</GPH>
40980
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
(7) Unit 2 (Mount Gibbs); Mono and
Tuolumne Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Mount Dana, Vogelsang
Peak, Kiop Peak, and June Lake. Land
bounded by the following UTM zone 11
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 305185,
4201586; 305855, 4201263; 306124,
4201406; 306203, 4201516; 306615,
4201390; 307214, 4201220; 307539,
4200758; 307946, 4200481; 308191,
4199870; 308255, 4199529; 308437,
4199297; 308728, 4198949; 308679,
4198612; 308778, 4198157; 309188,
4197993; 309259, 4197840; 308990,
4197698; 308498, 4197676; 308268,
4197570; 308079, 4197576; 307891,
4197582; 307737, 4197512; 307657,
4197364; 307500, 4197181; 307271,
4197113; 307075, 4196893; 307221,
4196737; 307673, 4196685; 308081,
4196446; 308575, 4196543; 308912,
4196457; 309062, 4196415; 309890,
4196313; 309934, 4195897; 309443,
4195913; 309141, 4195923; 308877,
4195931; 308572, 4195866; 308570,
4195790; 308525, 4195566; 308481,
4195379; 308053, 4194978; 307970,
4194755; 308120, 4194712; 308418,
4194590; 308675, 4194356; 308668,
4194130; 308697, 4193865; 308613,
4193604; 308382, 4193461; 308112,
4193281; 307734, 4193293; 307728,
4193105; 307761, 4192953; 308063,
4192944; 308472, 4192742; 308775,
4192770; 308930, 4192878; 309271,
4192905; 309416, 4192712; 309403,
4192298; 309382, 4191659; 309372,
4191358; 309323, 4190983; 309238,
4190684; 309151, 4190348; 308920,
4190204; 308879, 4190093; 309026,
4189975; 309327, 4189928; 309478,
4189923; 309626, 4189843; 309582,
4189656; 309389, 4189511; 309271,
4189365; 309114, 4189181; 308699,
4189195; 308470, 4189127; 308167,
4189099; 308163, 4188986; 308347,
4188829; 308683, 4188705; 308907,
4188623; 309244, 4188537; 309241,
4188424; 309232, 4188161; 309187,
4187936; 309219, 4187747; 309325,
4187517; 309475, 4187475; 309740,
4187504; 309966, 4187459; 310116,
4187454; 310418, 4187445; 310796,
4187433; 310981, 4187314; 311089,
4187160; 311233, 4186929; 311450,
4186621; 311820, 4186383; 312166,
4186560; 312582, 4186585; 312850,
4186689; 313267, 4186713; 313537,
4186893; 313956, 4186993; 314142,
4186911; 314210, 4186683; 313896,
4186317; 313515, 4186216; 313165,
4185888; 312814, 4185560; 312729,
4185262; 312376, 4184859; 312069,
4184718; 312061, 4184454; 312163,
4184112; 312082, 4183926; 312340,
4183730; 312407, 4183464; 312433,
4183087; 312500, 4182821; 312680,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4182551; 312860, 4182282; 312892,
4182093; 312627, 4182063; 312476,
4182068; 312249, 4182075; 312208,
4182071; 311998, 4182077; 311586,
4182088; 311587, 4181967; 311448,
4181837; 311217, 4181694; 310862,
4181818; 310494, 4182132; 310199,
4182367; 310100, 4182822; 309769,
4183096; 309149, 4183794; 308929,
4183989; 308630, 4184112; 308254,
4184162; 307917, 4184248; 307768,
4184328; 307399, 4184603; 307064,
4184765; 306876, 4184771; 306831,
4184546; 306859, 4184244; 307079,
4184049; 307309, 4184154; 307832,
4183949; 307980, 4183869; 308206,
4183824; 308386, 4183555; 308415,
4183290; 308521, 4183061; 308890,
4182785; 309001, 4182707; 309101,
4182289; 309206, 4182022; 309387,
4181790; 309493, 4181561; 309480,
4181147; 309469, 4180808; 309422,
4180509; 309346, 4180511; 308934,
4180599; 308710, 4180682; 308336,
4180807; 307916, 4180670; 307577,
4180718; 307056, 4180961; 307062,
4181149; 307103, 4181261; 307594,
4181245; 307821, 4181238; 307972,
4181233; 308421, 4181105; 308651,
4181211; 308583, 4181439; 308513,
4181630; 308597, 4181891; 308640,
4182040; 308456, 4182197; 308228,
4182166; 308186, 4182017; 308104,
4181831; 307987, 4181722; 307724,
4181768; 307615, 4181885; 307621,
4182073; 307627, 4182261; 307712,
4182559; 307685, 4182899; 307543,
4183205; 307282, 4183289; 307129,
4183256; 307044, 4182957; 306921,
4182660; 306760, 4182326; 306600,
4182068; 306519, 4181882; 306400,
4181697; 306253, 4181853; 306186,
4182118; 306269, 4182342; 306507,
4182711; 306589, 4182897; 306638,
4183234; 306530, 4183426; 306339,
4183357; 306140, 4183024; 306019,
4182802; 305780, 4182395; 305402,
4182407; 304992, 4182571; 304691,
4182618; 304390, 4182666; 304162,
4182635; 303858, 4182570; 303478,
4182506; 303058, 4182369; 302790,
4182265; 302558, 4182084; 302321,
4181752; 302167, 4181682; 302174,
4181908; 302245, 4182357; 302609,
4183099; 303409, 4183300; 303569,
4183558; 303767, 4183853; 303915,
4183773; 304140, 4183691; 304291,
4183686; 304371, 4183834; 304419,
4184171; 304505, 4184470; 304744,
4184876; 305210, 4185276; 305624,
4185225; 305819, 4185407; 305910,
4185894; 305808, 4186236; 305819,
4186575; 305677, 4186881; 305456,
4187038; 305266, 4187007; 305033,
4186826; 304725, 4186647; 304426,
4186732; 304291, 4186912; 304361,
4187073; 304630, 4187215; 304639,
4187479; 304380, 4187675; 303774,
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40981
4187619; 303538, 4187326; 303336,
4186918; 302983, 4186515; 302551,
4186001; 302008, 4185567; 301544,
4185242; 301242, 4185252; 301103,
4185633; 301045, 4186162; 301023,
4186653; 300708, 4187454; 300429,
4188178; 300069, 4188717; 299821,
4189253; 299469, 4190055; 299301,
4190701; 299206, 4191269; 298879,
4191693; 298557, 4192269; 298227,
4192581; 297610, 4193354; 297507,
4193696; 297853, 4193873; 298117,
4193865; 298670, 4193433; 299225,
4193038; 299810, 4192455; 300248,
4191951; 300500, 4191566; 300693,
4191711; 300702, 4191974; 300710,
4192237; 300763, 4192688; 301153,
4193090; 301573, 4193227; 301797,
4193144; 301901, 4192840; 301743,
4192619; 301656, 4192283; 301725,
4192054; 301910, 4191935; 301638,
4191718; 301556, 4191495; 301664,
4191341; 301928, 4191332; 301999,
4191179; 301875, 4190844; 301831,
4190657; 301974, 4190389; 302007,
4190237; 302072, 4189934; 302332,
4189775; 302708, 4189725; 302857,
4189645; 302775, 4189459; 302842,
4189194; 303031, 4189188; 303109,
4189260; 303151, 4189410; 303419,
4189514; 303412, 4189288; 303441,
4189024; 303428, 4188610; 303908,
4188255; 304058, 4188213; 304396,
4188165; 304735, 4188116; 304855,
4188338; 304939, 4188599; 304950,
4188938; 304957, 4189164; 305187,
4189269; 305269, 4189455; 305127,
4189761; 305504, 4189711; 305763,
4189552; 305714, 4189215; 305825,
4189136; 305907, 4189322; 306137,
4189427; 306323, 4189346; 306553,
4189452; 306809, 4189180; 306998,
4189174; 307228, 4189279; 307030,
4189587; 307033, 4189700; 307043,
4190001; 306899, 4190231; 306523,
4190281; 306299, 4190364; 306043,
4190635; 305976, 4190901; 306020,
4191088; 306175, 4191196; 306371,
4191416; 306346, 4191831; 306166,
4192101; 306021, 4192293; 305873,
4192411; 305718, 4192266; 305637,
4192117; 305145, 4192096; 304781,
4192521; 304448, 4192720; 304155,
4193031; 303859, 4193229; 303716,
4193460; 303612, 4193764; 303468,
4193995; 303328, 4194338; 303076,
4194723; 302596, 4195078; 302527,
4195268; 302718, 4195337; 303205,
4195209; 303469, 4195200; 303808,
4195152; 304074, 4195219; 304642,
4195238; 304872, 4195344; 304913,
4195455; 304954, 4195567; 304921,
4195719; 304545, 4195768; 304283,
4195852; 304096, 4195896; 303835,
4196017; 303572, 4196063; 302817,
4196087; 302749, 4196316; 302916,
4196800; 303270, 4197241; 303129,
4197546; 302755, 4197671; 302575,
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
40982
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
4197941; 302696, 4198201; 302856,
4198459; 302985, 4198945; 303114,
4199430; 303351, 4199762; 303767,
4199786; 304175, 4199547; 304351,
4199127; 304677, 4198702; 305313,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4198494; 305467, 4198602; 305372,
4199170; 305153, 4199403; 304741,
4199529; 304600, 4199835; 304504,
4200365; 304630, 4200775; 304836,
4201296; returning to 305185, 4201586.
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 2 (Mount Gibbs)
for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Map 3)
follows:
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(8) Unit 3 (Convict Creek); Fresno and
Mono Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Crystal Crag, Bloody
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Mountain, Convict Lake, Graveyard
Peak, and Mount Abbot. Land bounded
by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83
coordinates (E, N): 327481, 4161516;
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40983
327397, 4161255; 327279, 4161108;
327082, 4160851; 327076, 4160663;
327184, 4160508; 327409, 4160464;
327720, 4160717; 327917, 4160975;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.003</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
40984
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
328080, 4161346; 328312, 4161527;
328424, 4161486; 328373, 4161073;
328322, 4160660; 328009, 4160294;
327814, 4160112; 327619, 4159930;
327573, 4159668; 327755, 4159436;
327980, 4159391; 328058, 4159464;
328100, 4159613; 328112, 4159989;
328455, 4160091; 328333, 4159794;
328366, 4159642; 328515, 4159600;
329004, 4159509; 329304, 4159462;
329223, 4159276; 329061, 4158942;
329089, 4158640; 329077, 4158264;
329260, 4158070; 329631, 4157870;
329891, 4157711; 330272, 4157812;
330655, 4157988; 330812, 4158171;
330677, 4158665; 330869, 4158772;
330951, 4158957; 330667, 4159531;
330492, 4159989; 330469, 4160441;
330231, 4160072; 329887, 4159970;
329706, 4160202; 329604, 4160582;
329624, 4161184; 329708, 4161445;
329829, 4161705; 329701, 4162424;
329860, 4162683; 330161, 4162636;
330229, 4162605; 330305, 4162536;
330367, 4162498; 330436, 4162454;
330524, 4162442; 330650, 4162448;
330788, 4162473; 330908, 4162473;
331083, 4162492; 331140, 4162504;
331203, 4162517; 331272, 4162523;
331366, 4162555; 331511, 4162561;
331699, 4162599; 331781, 4162643;
331938, 4162661; 332095, 4162680;
332208, 4162712; 332277, 4162768;
332465, 4162862; 332534, 4162913;
332635, 4162969; 332817, 4163076;
333112, 4163170; 333338, 4163252;
333477, 4163271; 333769, 4163236;
333886, 4163345; 333999, 4163342;
334489, 4163289; 334674, 4163170;
334896, 4163012; 335120, 4162930;
335271, 4162925; 335385, 4162959;
335499, 4162993; 335873, 4162868;
335986, 4162864; 336135, 4162784;
336130, 4162634; 336050, 4162486;
335971, 4162375; 335815, 4162230;
335736, 4162119; 335467, 4161977;
335312, 4161869; 335113, 4161536;
335031, 4161351; 334948, 4161090;
334944, 4160977; 334971, 4160637;
335037, 4160334; 335176, 4159953;
335396, 4159757; 335442, 4160020;
335634, 4160089; 335816, 4159895;
336039, 4159775; 336234, 4159957;
336206, 4160259; 336107, 4160714;
336230, 4161011; 336572, 4161076;
336860, 4160652; 337102, 4159929;
337085, 4159402; 336881, 4158919;
336718, 4158548; 336744, 4158170;
336769, 4157793; 336716, 4157305;
336743, 4156965; 336896, 4157036;
337058, 4157370; 337147, 4157781;
337196, 4158156; 337552, 4158634;
337948, 4159224; 338069, 4159446;
338416, 4159661; 338643, 4159692;
339127, 4159450; 339575, 4159285;
339958, 4159462; 340015, 4160062;
339770, 4160673; 339893, 4160970;
340382, 4160917; 340644, 4160833;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
340942, 4160711; 341461, 4160393;
341779, 4159705; 341840, 4159251;
341780, 4158537; 341470, 4158284;
340960, 4157697; 340383, 4157377;
339777, 4157321; 339130, 4157191;
338931, 4156858; 339034, 4156553;
339306, 4156771; 339537, 4156914;
340337, 4157115; 340640, 4157143;
341134, 4157240; 341505, 4157040;
341686, 4156770; 341995, 4156987;
342165, 4157584; 342517, 4157949;
342774, 4157715; 342913, 4157334;
343193, 4156647; 343330, 4156191;
343594, 4155015; 343725, 4154371;
343966, 4153647; 343986, 4153082;
344111, 4152249; 343944, 4151765;
343522, 4151553; 343113, 4151754;
342857, 4152026; 342402, 4151965;
342317, 4151666; 342226, 4151180;
342065, 4150883; 341869, 4150664;
341671, 4150369; 341818, 4150251;
341851, 4150099; 341956, 4149833;
342177, 4149637; 342286, 4149521;
342403, 4149630; 342560, 4149813;
342900, 4149803; 343043, 4149572;
342844, 4149239; 342499, 4149100;
342680, 4148830; 342942, 4148747;
343179, 4149078; 343456, 4149484;
343790, 4149285; 343627, 4148913;
343392, 4148657; 343149, 4148138;
343258, 4148021; 343285, 4147681;
343274, 4147305; 343051, 4147425;
342828, 4147545; 342597, 4147402;
342331, 4147373; 342146, 4147492;
341968, 4147836; 341938, 4148063;
342128, 4148095; 342311, 4147938;
342503, 4148008; 342621, 4148154;
342698, 4148227; 342665, 4148379;
342076, 4148850; 341633, 4149165;
341530, 4149507; 341467, 4149886;
340838, 4150320; 340536, 4150330;
340193, 4150228; 339889, 4150162;
339587, 4150171; 339398, 4150177;
339018, 4150114; 338825, 4149970;
338896, 4149817; 339009, 4149813;
339161, 4149846; 339187, 4149469;
339290, 4149164; 339520, 4149270;
339943, 4149482; 339780, 4149111;
339617, 4148739; 339785, 4148094;
339553, 4147913; 339226, 4148338;
339052, 4148795; 338679, 4148958;
338273, 4149234; 338126, 4149389;
337938, 4149395; 337855, 4149172;
337743, 4149213; 337593, 4149256;
337372, 4149413; 337145, 4149421;
336956, 4149427; 336767, 4149395;
336649, 4149248; 336606, 4149099;
336751, 4148906; 336861, 4148789;
337006, 4148597; 336889, 4148487;
336627, 4148571; 336405, 4148729;
336376, 4148993; 336231, 4149186;
335967, 4149194; 335890, 4149159;
335775, 4149088; 335555, 4149321;
335298, 4149555; 335219, 4149444;
335214, 4149294; 335317, 4148952;
335422, 4148685; 335343, 4148574;
335155, 4148618; 334974, 4148849;
334791, 4149044; 334636, 4148935;
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
334377, 4149094; 334726, 4149385;
334810, 4149646; 335042, 4149826;
335274, 4149970; 335582, 4150148;
335517, 4150489; 335252, 4150460;
334801, 4150550; 334430, 4150750;
334326, 4151054; 334556, 4151160;
334815, 4151001; 335077, 4150917;
335122, 4151142; 335386, 4151134;
335508, 4151393; 335481, 4151733;
335604, 4152030; 335946, 4152095;
335919, 4152435; 335770, 4152515;
335428, 4152450; 335229, 4152118;
334800, 4151717; 334460, 4151690;
334193, 4151623; 333778, 4151637;
333556, 4151794; 333602, 4152057;
333834, 4152200; 334068, 4152456;
333925, 4152686; 333513, 4152813;
333101, 4152939; 332646, 4152878;
332309, 4152964; 332579, 4153144;
332958, 4153169; 332736, 4153327;
332481, 4153636; 332603, 4153896;
332905, 4153886; 333240, 4153725;
333470, 4153831; 333326, 4154061;
332997, 4154411; 332816, 4154642;
332323, 4154583; 331984, 4154631;
331786, 4154336; 331739, 4154036;
331544, 4153854; 331056, 4153945;
330870, 4154064; 330929, 4153535;
330955, 4153158; 330490, 4152796;
330298, 4152689; 329759, 4152367;
329452, 4152226; 328877, 4151981;
328610, 4151876; 328051, 4152120;
327499, 4152590; 327096, 4152979;
326655, 4153370; 326660, 4153520;
326891, 4153664; 327222, 4153389;
327255, 4153238; 327701, 4152997;
328038, 4152911; 328485, 4152709;
328936, 4152619; 329510, 4152865;
329784, 4153157; 330092, 4153336;
330406, 4153702; 330418, 4154079;
330544, 4154489; 330398, 4154644;
330064, 4154843; 329848, 4155189;
329897, 4155526; 330114, 4155218;
330372, 4155021; 330745, 4154859;
330825, 4155007; 330829, 4155120;
330800, 4155422; 330658, 4155690;
330699, 4155802; 330882, 4155608;
331136, 4155298; 331392, 4155027;
331581, 4155021; 331776, 4155203;
331783, 4155428; 331529, 4155775;
331387, 4156044; 331135, 4156428;
331029, 4156658; 330886, 4156926;
330742, 4157156; 330441, 4157204;
330252, 4157172; 329987, 4157180;
329609, 4157155; 329273, 4157278;
329088, 4157397; 328941, 4157553;
328787, 4157445; 328668, 4157260;
328468, 4156927; 328161, 4156787;
328003, 4156566; 327921, 4156342;
327877, 4156155; 327758, 4155971;
327559, 4155676; 327286, 4155383;
327201, 4155085; 327007, 4154940;
326815, 4154833; 326772, 4154684;
326727, 4154460; 326612, 4154388;
326271, 4154361; 326126, 4154554;
325531, 4154874; 325086, 4155114;
324787, 4155237; 324378, 4155438;
324118, 4155560; 323895, 4155680;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
323635, 4155838; 323259, 4155888;
322877, 4155750; 322732, 4155943;
322737, 4156093; 322896, 4156352;
323125, 4156420; 323018, 4156611;
322684, 4156810; 322343, 4156783;
321782, 4156952; 321290, 4156930;
320875, 4156943; 320497, 4156955;
320162, 4157117; 319826, 4157240;
319673, 4157170; 319511, 4156836;
319276, 4156580; 319088, 4156586;
318974, 4156589; 318478, 4156417;
318176, 4156426; 317723, 4156441;
317349, 4156566; 317047, 4156575;
316698, 4156285; 316351, 4156070;
316118, 4155889; 315930, 4155895;
315745, 4156014; 315795, 4156427;
316149, 4156868; 316383, 4157086;
316545, 4157420; 317188, 4157437;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
317494, 4157578; 318140, 4157670;
318786, 4157801; 319280, 4157898;
319619, 4157849; 320036, 4157911;
320491, 4157935; 321164, 4157725;
322066, 4157583; 322813, 4157296;
323329, 4156903; 323662, 4156666;
324374, 4156493; 324515, 4156187;
324658, 4155919; 325033, 4155832;
325413, 4155895; 325671, 4155698;
325961, 4155313; 326257, 4155115;
326599, 4155179; 326800, 4155549;
327035, 4155806; 327234, 4156138;
327403, 4156698; 327602, 4157030;
327877, 4157361; 328071, 4157505;
328272, 4157875; 328618, 4158090;
328548, 4158243; 328136, 4158369;
328410, 4158662; 328343, 4158927;
328427, 4159188; 328470, 4159375;
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40985
328242, 4159307; 328161, 4159159;
327707, 4159136; 327489, 4159407;
327232, 4159641; 327165, 4159906;
327061, 4160211; 326614, 4160414;
326550, 4160755; 326336, 4161176;
326306, 4161403; 326647, 4161429;
326949, 4161420; 326992, 4161607;
327347, 4162047; 327465, 4162194;
327587, 4162492; 327642, 4163017;
327766, 4163352; 328145, 4163378;
328207, 4162961; 328235, 4162659;
328223, 4162283; 328027, 4162063;
327795, 4161882; 327560, 4161626;
returning to 327481, 4161516.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 3 (Convict
Creek) for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 4) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
(9) Unit 4 (Wheeler Ridge); Fresno,
Inyo and Mono Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Mount Abbot, Mount
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Morgan, Mount Hilgard, Mount Tom,
Tungsten Hills, Mount Henry, Mount
Darwin and Mount Thompson. Land
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
bounded by the following UTM zone 11
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 351676,
4150867; 352490, 4150441; 352738,
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.004</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
40986
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
4150510; 353065, 4150282; 353442,
4150500; 353779, 4150847; 354294,
4150817; 354552, 4150341; 354641,
4149994; 354681, 4149558; 354453,
4149439; 354245, 4149221; 354463,
4148953; 354522, 4148735; 354413,
4148398; 354532, 4148140; 354493,
4147862; 354909, 4147912; 354711,
4147119; 355098, 4146296; 355132,
4146201; 355158, 4146034; 355162,
4145681; 355123, 4145288; 355123,
4144981; 355035, 4144787; 354974,
4144489; 354895, 4144120; 354745,
4143840; 354537, 4143588; 354359,
4143519; 354349, 4143132; 354329,
4142934; 354141, 4142686; 353967,
4141942; 353729, 4141853; 353600,
4141804; 353610, 4141566; 353729,
4141328; 353610, 4141219; 353600,
4141000; 354066, 4140584; 354463,
4140584; 354780, 4140286; 355068,
4140019; 355256, 4139642; 355425,
4139136; 355395, 4138799; 355489,
4138412; 355499, 4138254; 355618,
4138144; 355737, 4137748; 356035,
4137639; 356560, 4137272; 356818,
4136984; 356828, 4136617; 356996,
4136211; 357016, 4135715; 356649,
4135477; 356243, 4135299; 356084,
4135239; 356144, 4135011; 356491,
4135090; 356848, 4134892; 357046,
4134614; 357140, 4134515; 356932,
4134019; 356714, 4133771; 356476,
4133652; 356357, 4133405; 356486,
4133216; 356535, 4132839; 356307,
4132740; 355990, 4132611; 355782,
4132542; 355583, 4132294; 355197,
4132125; 355038, 4131907; 354671,
4131709; 354265, 4131739; 353898,
4131778; 353590, 4131719; 352817,
4131709; 352688, 4131421; 352787,
4131223; 353283, 4131263; 354235,
4131382; 354473, 4131253; 354721,
4131233; 355018, 4131144; 355157,
4131025; 355068, 4130757; 354721,
4130450; 354656, 4130281; 354746,
4130241; 354835, 4130132; 355103,
4130063; 355202, 4129944; 354934,
4129488; 354755, 4129111; 354865,
4128556; 355103, 4128189; 355222,
4127842; 355202, 4127385; 354993,
4127247; 354795, 4127544; 354458,
4127822; 354240, 4128020; 354081,
4128010; 353922, 4127792; 353893,
4127584; 354369, 4127524; 354398,
4127247; 354508, 4127038; 354438,
4126612; 354508, 4126443; 354364,
4126196; 354106, 4126086; 353888,
4125670; 353898, 4125491; 354215,
4125402; 354334, 4125204; 354721,
4124956; 355960, 4125313; 355940,
4125095; 355603, 4124926; 355197,
4124619; 354701, 4124411; 354126,
4123994; 353808, 4123806; 353828,
4123707; 354156, 4123508; 354661,
4123627; 354453, 4123449; 354354,
4123122; 353967, 4123042; 354512,
4122715; 355613, 4122546; 356089,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4122675; 356416, 4122497; 356501,
4122179; 356431, 4121832; 356035,
4121713; 355846, 4121644; 355638,
4121406; 355291, 4121436; 354835,
4121644; 354567, 4121674; 354160,
4121793; 353932, 4121862; 353843,
4121753; 353794, 4121406; 354527,
4120970; 355013, 4120742; 354954,
4120305; 354270, 4119691; 354022,
4119770; 353675, 4119730; 353357,
4119562; 353169, 4119413; 353159,
4119224; 352792, 4119304; 352653,
4119215; 352217, 4119224; 351553,
4119334; 351280, 4119026; 351250,
4118679; 351389, 4118570; 351617,
4118649; 351766, 4118471; 351914,
4118193; 352024, 4117945; 351984,
4117132; 351776, 4117013; 351468,
4116845; 350576, 4117102; 350080,
4117271; 349971, 4117152; 349406,
4117102; 349644, 4117549; 349911,
4117747; 350645, 4117618; 350982,
4117638; 351012, 4117945; 350725,
4118511; 350100, 4118600; 349545,
4118332; 349178, 4118342; 348712,
4117787; 348464, 4117142; 348196,
4116884; 348077, 4116914; 348057,
4117122; 347819, 4117142; 347750,
4117370; 347908, 4117737; 348156,
4117836; 348325, 4118154; 348176,
4118332; 347879, 4118352; 347175,
4118570; 346798, 4118848; 346937,
4119096; 347651, 4119294; 347482,
4119572; 346847, 4119532; 346728,
4119572; 346748, 4119750; 347165,
4120057; 347065, 4120295; 347065,
4120494; 346946, 4120583; 346788,
4120345; 346599, 4119998; 346461,
4119958; 346153, 4120256; 345801,
4120038; 345682, 4119661; 345414,
4119581; 345206, 4119373; 345018,
4119334; 344601, 4119026; 344403,
4118996; 344086, 4118610; 343848,
4118689; 343243, 4118877; 342846,
4118947; 342767, 4119096; 342836,
4119383; 343223, 4119691; 343620,
4119740; 344006, 4119899; 344343,
4120077; 344224, 4120256; 343887,
4120305; 343630, 4120414; 343798,
4120761; 343580, 4120890; 343064,
4120811; 342757, 4120910; 342678,
4120990; 342628, 4121366; 342886,
4121813; 342816, 4121912; 342549,
4121892; 342410, 4121991; 342122,
4122160; 341934, 4122209; 341825,
4121951; 342033, 4121753; 342043,
4121396; 341736, 4121198; 341755,
4120791; 341438, 4120424; 341150,
4120514; 341150, 4120752; 341061,
4120900; 340992, 4121366; 340541,
4121684; 340273, 4121654; 339757,
4121644; 339648, 4121505; 339351,
4121475; 339222, 4121555; 339222,
4121922; 339361, 4122298; 339787,
4122338; 340065, 4122249; 340263,
4122110; 340630, 4122070; 340987,
4121872; 341245, 4121743; 341384,
4121783; 341473, 4121942; 341324,
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40987
4122061; 341403, 4122417; 341284,
4122646; 341403, 4122854; 341691,
4122725; 341820, 4122774; 341859,
4122983; 341701, 4123241; 341542,
4123290; 341215, 4123161; 340947,
4123151; 340620, 4123211; 340313,
4123340; 340104, 4123538; 340164,
4123677; 340600, 4123657; 340937,
4123756; 341235, 4123816; 341354,
4124262; 341651, 4124192; 341790,
4123994; 341800, 4123707; 341969,
4123498; 342137, 4123389; 342355,
4123241; 342445, 4123022; 342564,
4122963; 342564, 4123290; 342425,
4123945; 342534, 4124252; 342831,
4124391; 342930, 4124500; 343208,
4124401; 342950, 4123915; 343020,
4123558; 342891, 4123022; 342901,
4122784; 343258, 4122616; 343387,
4122675; 343565, 4123191; 343555,
4123746; 343644, 4124083; 343773,
4124163; 343952, 4124034; 343962,
4123667; 344319, 4123746; 344269,
4123528; 343942, 4123300; 343922,
4122844; 343664, 4122298; 343506,
4122070; 343674, 4121832; 343922,
4121634; 344200, 4121614; 344497,
4121813; 344755, 4121882; 344775,
4122606; 344943, 4123241; 345241,
4123687; 345409, 4123161; 345350,
4122497; 345261, 4121664; 345340,
4121307; 345920, 4121237; 346416,
4121158; 346694, 4121128; 346912,
4121327; 346961, 4121604; 346832,
4121872; 346644, 4122120; 346446,
4122398; 346495, 4122546; 346743,
4122427; 347150, 4122239; 347368,
4121912; 347507, 4121991; 347665,
4122229; 347834, 4122189; 347675,
4121783; 347725, 4121585; 347388,
4121466; 347239, 4121099; 347417,
4120851; 347437, 4120623; 347576,
4120385; 347755, 4120206; 347953,
4120186; 348151, 4120305; 348102,
4120523; 348558, 4121456; 348667,
4121416; 348657, 4120434; 348697,
4120256; 348568, 4119978; 348300,
4119938; 348012, 4119938; 347923,
4119800; 348231, 4119472; 348488,
4119324; 348637, 4119145; 348786,
4119016; 349292, 4119423; 349242,
4119780; 349510, 4120038; 349530,
4120295; 349877, 4120295; 350244,
4120236; 350095, 4120028; 349827,
4119978; 349659, 4119810; 349659,
4119502; 349768, 4119234; 349817,
4118897; 350283, 4118907; 350710,
4119036; 350992, 4119552; 351141,
4119810; 350883, 4120434; 350814,
4120950; 350943, 4121426; 351091,
4121892; 350834, 4122328; 350596,
4122765; 350576, 4123003; 350655,
4123181; 350987, 4123112; 351592,
4123250; 351919, 4123746; 352088,
4124192; 352405, 4124678; 352286,
4125095; 351800, 4125372; 351463,
4125650; 351057, 4125888; 350700,
4126017; 350491, 4125868; 350194,
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
40988
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
4126007; 350333, 4126255; 350660,
4126245; 350868, 4126414; 350819,
4126701; 350472, 4126850; 349986,
4126820; 349827, 4126662; 349629,
4126493; 349510, 4126652; 349371,
4127068; 349292, 4127227; 349113,
4127435; 348320, 4126840; 348161,
4126681; 347884, 4126681; 347794,
4126781; 347636, 4126751; 347536,
4126523; 347368, 4126295; 346912,
4126037; 346604, 4125769; 346545,
4125521; 346356, 4125333; 346029,
4125353; 345598, 4124986; 344963,
4124906; 344348, 4125115; 343962,
4125412; 343515, 4125809; 342891,
4125958; 342673, 4126156; 342722,
4126315; 343109, 4126562; 344110,
4126840; 344696, 4126949; 345538,
4127038; 346381, 4126999; 347046,
4127078; 347611, 4127247; 348057,
4127614; 348156, 4128090; 348275,
4128328; 348622, 4128447; 348969,
4128774; 349069, 4129200; 348945,
4129577; 348726, 4129736; 348350,
4129964; 348032, 4130003; 348350,
4130142; 348855, 4129914; 349153,
4129904; 349153, 4130261; 348984,
4130380; 348518, 4131035; 348231,
4131649; 348001, 4131812; 347610,
4131751; 346976, 4131497; 346488,
4131121; 345930, 4130538; 345600,
4130086; 344777, 4129685; 344366,
4129451; 343719, 4129106; 342627,
4129131; 341637, 4129314; 340922,
4129396; 340478, 4129563; 340320,
4129769; 340454, 4130269; 340201,
4130832; 340772, 4130769; 340978,
4130872; 341105, 4131166; 341113,
4131411; 341390, 4131760; 341494,
4132244; 341565, 4132387; 341763,
4132292; 341787, 4132165; 341985,
4132236; 342021, 4132578; 341902,
4132847; 341617, 4133117; 341371,
4133276; 340918, 4133339; 340696,
4133307; 340101, 4133347; 339586,
4133101; 339284, 4133061; 338737,
4133014; 338253, 4132800; 337650,
4132816; 337448, 4132887; 337432,
4133196; 337345, 4133442; 337392,
4133656; 337916, 4133775; 338027,
4134132; 338249, 4134339; 338360,
4134315; 338479, 4134132; 338328,
4133966; 338305, 4133736; 338400,
4133664; 338662, 4133736; 338939,
4133783; 339114, 4134005; 339106,
4134474; 339368, 4134688; 339439,
4134513; 339439, 4134243; 339606,
4134045; 340010, 4133910; 340177,
4133887; 340335, 4134132; 340288,
4134378; 340097, 4134719; 339883,
4134910; 339463, 4135053; 339375,
4135140; 339344, 4135529; 339399,
4135640; 339621, 4135759; 340177,
4135592; 340581, 4135061; 340883,
4134973; 340922, 4134831; 340851,
4134569; 340788, 4134442; 340859,
4134362; 341176, 4134513; 341462,
4134656; 341668, 4134664; 341775,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4135219; 341886, 4135624; 342053,
4135862; 342116, 4136068; 342410,
4136235; 343163, 4136211; 343290,
4136433; 343275, 4136576; 343052,
4136719; 342751, 4136687; 342529,
4136933; 342204, 4137234; 342283,
4137440; 342648, 4137440; 342973,
4137210; 343084, 4137298; 343060,
4137472; 342902, 4137631; 342616,
4137750; 342418, 4137948; 342398,
4138361; 342009, 4138670; 341652,
4138472; 341605, 4138242; 341375,
4138020; 341359, 4137837; 341145,
4137615; 340970, 4137298; 340891,
4137147; 340669, 4137012; 340312,
4136980; 340208, 4137052; 340034,
4137020; 339780, 4136695; 339709,
4136520; 339439, 4136385; 339320,
4136251; 339233, 4136028; 339130,
4135830; 338519, 4135830; 338419,
4135487; 338438, 4135279; 338210,
4134912; 337943, 4134872; 337397,
4134803; 337199, 4134803; 336852,
4134912; 336495, 4135408; 336247,
4135765; 336059, 4135903; 335632,
4135933; 335236, 4135775; 334898,
4135537; 334571, 4135338; 334125,
4135338; 334095, 4135884; 334482,
4136568; 334700, 4136845; 335216,
4137242; 335751, 4137718; 336019,
4137956; 336039, 4138174; 335771,
4138313; 335513, 4138571; 335513,
4138948; 335920, 4139245; 336168,
4139444; 336148, 4139672; 335930,
4139959; 335617, 4140653; 335548,
4141228; 335310, 4141357; 334953,
4141942; 334943, 4142200; 335379,
4142399; 335766, 4142389; 336113,
4142200; 336480, 4141417; 336599,
4141109; 336986, 4140752; 337105,
4140455; 337630, 4140197; 337948,
4139473; 338453, 4138601; 338543,
4138214; 338473, 4137817; 338275,
4137550; 338334, 4137391; 338632,
4137341; 338860, 4137490; 338900,
4137797; 339128, 4137847; 339266,
4137470; 339257, 4137321; 339623,
4137202; 339772, 4137510; 339723,
4138035; 340060, 4138333; 340357,
4138402; 340972, 4138690; 340947,
4139037; 340957, 4139265; 341265,
4139265; 341384, 4139106; 341731,
4139136; 341701, 4139354; 341463,
4139533; 341304, 4139701; 340917,
4139850; 340818, 4140138; 340412,
4140534; 339807, 4141040; 339252,
4141347; 338795, 4141615; 338627,
4141744; 338141, 4141734; 337943,
4141595; 337665, 4141675; 337239,
4141942; 337040, 4142190; 336792,
4142488; 336505, 4142875; 336321,
4143360; 337382, 4143261; 337521,
4143668; 337680, 4143797; 337729,
4143559; 337710, 4143033; 337789,
4142835; 338086, 4142666; 338205,
4142765; 338265, 4142944; 338047,
4143142; 338186, 4143390; 338652,
4142894; 338622, 4142468; 339465,
PO 00000
Frm 00034
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
4142200; 339485, 4142537; 339108,
4142706; 339009, 4142984; 339157,
4143370; 339465, 4143549; 339812,
4143767; 340109, 4143965; 340228,
4144302; 340496, 4144372; 340585,
4143777; 340109, 4142706; 340208,
4142289; 340288, 4142180; 340278,
4141714; 340456, 4141516; 340655,
4141893; 340556, 4142280; 340922,
4142736; 341041, 4143112; 341022,
4143906; 340942, 4144441; 340873,
4144937; 341190, 4145334; 341458,
4145235; 341557, 4145512; 341666,
4145532; 341924, 4145264; 341825,
4144620; 341914, 4144015; 341626,
4143479; 341825, 4143132; 341329,
4142557; 341428, 4141893; 341200,
4141675; 340962, 4141199; 340903,
4141060; 341041, 4141040; 341170,
4141060; 341141, 4140852; 341210,
4140643; 341398, 4140663; 341537,
4140514; 341696, 4140842; 341874,
4141179; 342038, 4141694; 342058,
4142349; 342127, 4143093; 342445,
4143291; 342306, 4143856; 342564,
4144511; 342752, 4144481; 343218,
4144025; 343287, 4143757; 343059,
4143499; 342772, 4142974; 342802,
4142835; 342970, 4142815; 343010,
4142448; 342980, 4142200; 342990,
4142042; 343238, 4141833; 343783,
4142101; 343922, 4142309; 344130,
4142458; 344606, 4142428; 344557,
4142151; 344408, 4141764; 344180,
4141347; 344041, 4140941; 344081,
4140554; 344497, 4140157; 344596,
4139721; 344626, 4139394; 344715,
4139245; 344973, 4139374; 344943,
4140058; 345171, 4140157; 345598,
4140386; 345727, 4140673; 345697,
4141080; 345568, 4141417; 345647,
4142002; 345717, 4142607; 345955,
4142785; 346133, 4143073; 346342,
4143698; 346550, 4144243; 346639,
4144808; 346847, 4145235; 347001,
4145631; 347298, 4145929; 347447,
4145879; 347586, 4145562; 347546,
4145135; 347556, 4144699; 347725,
4144174; 347715, 4143846; 347586,
4143539; 347527, 4143172; 347874,
4143598; 348211, 4143817; 348201,
4144084; 348449, 4144382; 348548,
4144419; 348838, 4144480; 348970,
4144480; 349110, 4144489; 349189,
4144489; 349295, 4144480; 349374,
4144498; 349461, 4144489; 349549,
4144489; 349602, 4144471; 349698,
4144436; 349795, 4144445; 349979,
4144471; 350190, 4144550; 350321,
4144594; 350453, 4144673; 350452,
4144878; 350432, 4145562; 350442,
4146236; 350551, 4146672; 350501,
4147158; 350670, 4147436; 350878,
4147664; 350591, 4148061; 350283,
4148229; 350353, 4148933; 350402,
4149459; 350348, 4150371; 350606,
4150788; 350992, 4151016; returning to
351676, 4150867; excluding land
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
bounded by 352666, 4139452; 352330,
4139197; 352261, 4139018; 352280,
4139004; 352300, 4138988; 352332,
4138964; 352634, 4139235; 352732,
4139417; 352718, 4139424; 352718,
4139425; 352694, 4139437; 352694,
4139437; 352690, 4139439; 352687,
4139441; 352687, 4139441; returning to
352666, 4139452; excluding land
bounded by 350254, 4136280; 350216,
4136187; 350216, 4136187; 350178,
4136094; 350363, 4136018; 350402,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:27 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4136111; 350402, 4136111; 350440,
4136204; 350478, 4136296; 350305,
4136368; 350300, 4136361; 350295,
4136351; 350293, 4136348; 350287,
4136341; 350283, 4136338; 350280,
4136335; 350276, 4136333; 350276,
4136333; returning to 350254, 4136280;
excluding land bounded by 349527,
4136002; 349500, 4136201; 349450,
4136194; 349408, 4136200; 349404,
4136201; 349391, 4136206; 349321,
4136238; 349317, 4136223; 349126,
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40989
4136278; 349099, 4136181; 349045,
4135990; 349139, 4135963; 349138,
4135962; 349235, 4135934; 349212,
4135851; 349308, 4135823; 349406,
4135799; 349478, 4135988; 349478,
4135995; returning to 349527, 4136002.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 4 (Wheeler
Ridge) for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 5) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
(10) Unit 5 (Taboose Creek); Fresno
and Inyo Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Coyote Flat, North Palisade,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Split Mountain, Fish Springs, Mount
Pinchot, and Aberdeen. Land bounded
by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
coordinates (E, N): 376756, 4109414;
376837, 4109413; 376838, 4109467;
376865, 4109466; 377166, 4109426;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.005</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
40990
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
377588, 4109383; 377647, 4109351;
377738, 4109348; 377949, 4109341;
378189, 4109273; 378307, 4109179;
378423, 4109025; 378417, 4108844;
378288, 4108608; 378131, 4108402;
377943, 4108197; 377878, 4108048;
377872, 4107868; 377869, 4107777;
378016, 4107622; 378227, 4107615;
378408, 4107610; 378649, 4107602;
378949, 4107502; 378970, 4107230;
378903, 4107022; 378751, 4106996;
378625, 4106820; 378498, 4106643;
378218, 4106381; 378030, 4106176;
377814, 4106032; 377809, 4105881;
377958, 4105817; 378200, 4105809;
378319, 4105745; 378467, 4105650;
378524, 4105558; 378552, 4105466;
378547, 4105316; 378483, 4105198;
378299, 4105113; 378206, 4105056;
378232, 4104904; 378410, 4104808;
378404, 4104628; 378341, 4104539;
378248, 4104452; 378126, 4104426;
378006, 4104459; 377826, 4104495;
377612, 4104412; 377461, 4104416;
377400, 4104418; 377007, 4104401;
376822, 4104286; 376728, 4104169;
376786, 4104106; 377240, 4104122;
377424, 4104207; 377787, 4104225;
378148, 4104184; 378360, 4104177;
378631, 4104169; 378992, 4104097;
379233, 4104089; 379320, 4103966;
379283, 4103756; 378943, 4103526;
378788, 4103380; 378511, 4103239;
378355, 4103063; 378316, 4102793;
378220, 4102615; 378126, 4102528;
377794, 4102538; 377432, 4102550;
377312, 4102584; 377221, 4102587;
376947, 4102505; 376851, 4102327;
376876, 4102176; 376992, 4102021;
377135, 4101776; 377222, 4101653;
377248, 4101531; 377278, 4101500;
377365, 4101407; 377570, 4101190;
377685, 4101005; 377766, 4100702;
377727, 4100432; 377722, 4100251;
377713, 4099980; 377856, 4099735;
377972, 4099581; 378422, 4099476;
378659, 4099318; 378563, 4099140;
378468, 4099023; 378282, 4098848;
378125, 4098672; 377937, 4098467;
377751, 4098322; 377623, 4098085;
377528, 4097938; 377462, 4097789;
377306, 4097614; 377026, 4097381;
376873, 4097296; 376869, 4097175;
377043, 4096959; 377279, 4096771;
377430, 4096766; 377522, 4096793;
377673, 4096819; 377887, 4096872;
378039, 4096898; 378249, 4096861;
378578, 4096760; 378698, 4096726;
378967, 4096627; 379089, 4096684;
379571, 4096608; 379781, 4096571;
380053, 4096563; 380202, 4096498;
380257, 4096346; 380221, 4096166;
380069, 4096111; 379856, 4096087;
379613, 4096035; 379459, 4095949;
379305, 4095864; 379182, 4095777;
378998, 4095692; 378874, 4095606;
378844, 4095607; 378751, 4095550;
378627, 4095433; 378532, 4095316;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
378350, 4095291; 378168, 4095267;
377956, 4095243; 377831, 4095127;
377766, 4094978; 377722, 4095010;
377686, 4094830; 377563, 4094744;
377407, 4094598; 377257, 4094633;
377106, 4094638; 376865, 4094675;
376779, 4094799; 376630, 4094894;
376207, 4094877; 375932, 4094795;
375628, 4094714; 375475, 4094659;
374990, 4094614; 374778, 4094621;
374629, 4094656; 374445, 4094571;
374327, 4094665; 374149, 4094791;
374001, 4094886; 373852, 4094951;
373761, 4094924; 373728, 4094835;
373783, 4094682; 373748, 4094533;
373656, 4094475; 373477, 4094541;
373359, 4094635; 373150, 4094732;
373059, 4094705; 372935, 4094619;
372930, 4094468; 373017, 4094345;
372984, 4094256; 372949, 4094106;
372732, 4093932; 372517, 4093818;
372366, 4093823; 372188, 4093919;
372167, 4094221; 372117, 4094554;
372151, 4094673; 372216, 4094822;
372313, 4095030; 372682, 4095229;
372838, 4095375; 373206, 4095544;
373388, 4095568; 373626, 4095440;
373747, 4095436; 373900, 4095522;
373933, 4095581; 373906, 4095703;
373849, 4095795; 373820, 4095856;
373676, 4096071; 373527, 4096136;
373351, 4096292; 373142, 4096389;
372962, 4096425; 372841, 4096429;
372626, 4096315; 372446, 4096351;
372387, 4096383; 372332, 4096566;
372306, 4096717; 372068, 4096815;
371887, 4096821; 371648, 4096919;
371440, 4097015; 371287, 4096960;
371191, 4096812; 371041, 4096847;
371079, 4097087; 371235, 4097233;
371298, 4097321; 371571, 4097343;
371661, 4097340; 371963, 4097330;
372056, 4097388; 372059, 4097478;
372062, 4097598; 372068, 4097779;
372131, 4097867; 372278, 4097742;
372485, 4097585; 372753, 4097456;
372962, 4097389; 373146, 4097474;
373153, 4097684; 373065, 4097777;
372952, 4098022; 372899, 4098265;
373024, 4098381; 373145, 4098377;
373387, 4098400; 373391, 4098520;
373396, 4098671; 373283, 4098915;
373167, 4099070; 373018, 4099135;
372559, 4098968; 372437, 4098942;
372349, 4099005; 372291, 4099097;
372174, 4099221; 372026, 4099316;
371875, 4099321; 371785, 4099324;
371695, 4099357; 371515, 4099393;
371363, 4099368; 371240, 4099311;
371118, 4099285; 370871, 4099112;
370782, 4099145; 370755, 4099266;
370452, 4099246; 370267, 4099131;
370291, 4098919; 370103, 4098714;
369949, 4098629; 369733, 4098485;
369636, 4098277; 369478, 4098071;
369421, 4098164; 369397, 4098375;
369247, 4098410; 368883, 4098361;
368578, 4098251; 368421, 4098075;
PO 00000
Frm 00037
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40991
368236, 4097960; 368408, 4097683;
368555, 4097528; 368516, 4097258;
368782, 4097069; 368900, 4096975;
368983, 4096732; 369070, 4096608;
369216, 4096453; 369333, 4096329;
369664, 4096288; 369960, 4096098;
370169, 4096031; 370227, 4095939;
370311, 4095726; 370395, 4095512;
370478, 4095268; 370471, 4095058;
370317, 4094972; 370228, 4095005;
370143, 4095189; 370086, 4095311;
370033, 4095554; 369852, 4095559;
369759, 4095472; 369754, 4095321;
369931, 4095195; 370052, 4095192;
369896, 4095046; 369683, 4094992;
369532, 4094997; 369377, 4094851;
369310, 4094673; 369183, 4094466;
369211, 4094405; 369359, 4094310;
369449, 4094277; 369688, 4094179;
370050, 4094167; 370288, 4094039;
370281, 4093829; 370067, 4093745;
369857, 4093812; 369530, 4093973;
369319, 4093980; 369109, 4094046;
368894, 4093933; 368830, 4093814;
368917, 4093691; 369065, 4093596;
369099, 4093715; 369248, 4093650;
369486, 4093522; 369694, 4093425;
369843, 4093361; 369959, 4093206;
369715, 4093124; 369443, 4093132;
369292, 4093137; 369229, 4093049;
369285, 4092926; 369737, 4092882;
370010, 4092903; 370348, 4093074;
370470, 4093130; 370718, 4093303;
370874, 4093479; 370969, 4093596;
371087, 4093502; 371205, 4093408;
371198, 4093197; 371193, 4093047;
371183, 4092716; 370931, 4092392;
370682, 4092159; 370465, 4092015;
370342, 4091929; 370126, 4091785;
369852, 4091734; 369636, 4091590;
369421, 4091476; 369237, 4091391;
368843, 4091344; 368665, 4091470;
368548, 4091594; 368360, 4091841;
368334, 4091992; 368373, 4092262;
368409, 4092442; 368479, 4092741;
368637, 4092977; 368673, 4093156;
368709, 4093336; 368531, 4093432;
368410, 4093436; 368414, 4093556;
368453, 4093826; 368457, 4093977;
368495, 4094216; 368565, 4094515;
368542, 4094727; 368574, 4094786;
368698, 4094903; 368789, 4094900;
368883, 4095018; 368919, 4095197;
368924, 4095348; 368868, 4095500;
368715, 4095445; 368595, 4095448;
368472, 4095392; 368227, 4095279;
368044, 4095225; 368078, 4095344;
368205, 4095551; 368331, 4095698;
368364, 4095787; 368307, 4095909;
368194, 4096154; 368168, 4096305;
368052, 4096430; 367957, 4096312;
367742, 4096198; 367646, 4096021;
367429, 4095847; 367213, 4095703;
367067, 4095888; 367194, 4096065;
367350, 4096211; 367413, 4096299;
367418, 4096450; 367606, 4096685;
367759, 4096740; 367882, 4096796;
368006, 4096913; 368070, 4097001;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
40992
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
368013, 4097124; 367892, 4097127;
367710, 4097103; 367467, 4097050;
367410, 4097173; 367536, 4097319;
367660, 4097436; 367724, 4097524;
367728, 4097675; 367734, 4097855;
367741, 4098066; 367655, 4098219;
367475, 4098255; 367205, 4098324;
366941, 4098573; 366794, 4098698;
366678, 4098853; 366739, 4098881;
366947, 4098784; 367216, 4098685;
367456, 4098617; 367575, 4098553;
367756, 4098548; 367879, 4098604;
368093, 4098688; 368185, 4098745;
368340, 4098860; 368404, 4098979;
368408, 4099099; 368413, 4099250;
368295, 4099344; 368022, 4099322;
367900, 4099296; 367718, 4099272;
367507, 4099278; 367328, 4099344;
367241, 4099468; 367424, 4099522;
367668, 4099605; 367791, 4099661;
367824, 4099750; 367735, 4099813;
367676, 4099845; 367556, 4099879;
367347, 4099946; 367135, 4099923;
367103, 4099894; 366918, 4099779;
366800, 4099843; 366619, 4099879;
366379, 4099916; 366200, 4099982;
366106, 4099895; 365983, 4099809;
366017, 4099928; 366051, 4100077;
366055, 4100198; 365817, 4100296;
365759, 4100388; 365764, 4100538;
365707, 4100661; 365468, 4100728;
365289, 4100825; 365262, 4100916;
365238, 4101097; 365242, 4101248;
365305, 4101306; 365338, 4101395;
365461, 4101482; 365583, 4101508;
365707, 4101595; 365977, 4101556;
366008, 4101555; 366064, 4101433;
366149, 4101249; 366112, 4101040;
366107, 4100889; 366194, 4100766;
366281, 4100643; 366337, 4100520;
366394, 4100398; 366634, 4100330;
366906, 4100352; 367057, 4100347;
367270, 4100370; 367542, 4100392;
367636, 4100479; 367759, 4100566;
367793, 4100685; 367768, 4100837;
367771, 4100927; 367534, 4101085;
367235, 4101185; 367092, 4101430;
367124, 4101490; 367185, 4101518;
367366, 4101512; 367606, 4101444;
367787, 4101438; 367910, 4101525;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
368004, 4101612; 367978, 4101764;
367950, 4101825; 367743, 4101952;
367539, 4102199; 367574, 4102349;
367786, 4102372; 367993, 4102215;
368261, 4102086; 368496, 4101868;
368612, 4101714; 368728, 4101559;
368932, 4101342; 369076, 4101127;
369126, 4100794; 369116, 4100463;
368958, 4100257; 368834, 4100140;
368738, 4099993; 368643, 4099845;
368729, 4099692; 368852, 4099748;
369094, 4099771; 369240, 4099615;
369508, 4099486; 369412, 4099309;
369169, 4099286; 368986, 4099232;
368953, 4099142; 369102, 4099077;
369344, 4099070; 369771, 4099207;
369894, 4099263; 369926, 4099323;
370111, 4099437; 370208, 4099645;
370427, 4099879; 370519, 4099906;
370610, 4099934; 370672, 4099992;
370707, 4100141; 370743, 4100321;
370868, 4100437; 371083, 4100551;
371115, 4100610; 371028, 4100734;
370728, 4100803; 370514, 4100720;
370122, 4100732; 370126, 4100883;
370163, 4101092; 370288, 4101209;
370533, 4101322; 370744, 4101285;
370922, 4101189; 371195, 4101240;
371378, 4101265; 371409, 4101294;
371412, 4101414; 371358, 4101597;
371421, 4101685; 371541, 4101651;
371686, 4101466; 371830, 4101251;
371977, 4101125; 372163, 4101270;
372198, 4101420; 372147, 4101692;
372058, 4101755; 371972, 4101909;
372009, 4102119; 372133, 4102235;
372138, 4102386; 372050, 4102449;
371932, 4102543; 371809, 4102486;
371747, 4102428; 371629, 4102522;
371477, 4102497; 371327, 4102532;
371331, 4102652; 371182, 4102717;
371001, 4102723; 370879, 4102696;
370699, 4102732; 370400, 4102832;
370157, 4102810; 370092, 4102661;
370179, 4102538; 370358, 4102472;
370384, 4102351; 370381, 4102230;
370284, 4102052; 370043, 4102060;
369801, 4102068; 369442, 4102169;
369050, 4102212; 368692, 4102344;
368607, 4102527; 368855, 4102730;
PO 00000
Frm 00038
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
369133, 4102902; 369262, 4103169;
369148, 4103384; 369067, 4103687;
369165, 4103925; 369441, 4104037;
369619, 4103941; 369732, 4103697;
369879, 4103571; 370210, 4103531;
370366, 4103677; 370400, 4103796;
370434, 4103915; 370500, 4104094;
370416, 4104308; 370421, 4104458;
370544, 4104545; 370549, 4104695;
370497, 4104968; 370506, 4105239;
370688, 4105263; 370743, 4105080;
370857, 4104866; 370970, 4104621;
370933, 4104412; 370928, 4104261;
370924, 4104111; 370982, 4104049;
371073, 4104046; 371227, 4104161;
371263, 4104341; 371360, 4104519;
371490, 4104816; 371501, 4105177;
371446, 4105329; 371364, 4105603;
371340, 4105815; 371315, 4105966;
371229, 4106119; 371082, 4106245;
371001, 4106548; 370978, 4106790;
370984, 4106971; 370989, 4107121;
371055, 4107300; 371210, 4107415;
371395, 4107530; 371668, 4107582;
371718, 4107249; 371740, 4106977;
371758, 4106615; 371873, 4106430;
372109, 4106242; 372322, 4106266;
372390, 4106505; 372276, 4106749;
372192, 4106963; 371960, 4107271;
371880, 4107605; 371891, 4107936;
371868, 4108178; 371847, 4108450;
371856, 4108751; 371860, 4108871;
371957, 4109079; 372145, 4109284;
372207, 4109342; 372301, 4109429;
372518, 4109603; 372702, 4109688;
373006, 4109738; 373158, 4109764;
373430, 4109785; 373856, 4109862;
374282, 4109969; 374583, 4109930;
375005, 4109886; 375212, 4109759;
375603, 4109686; 375630, 4109681;
375627, 4109522; 376032, 4109425;
376434, 4109419; 376474, 4109418;
376515, 4109417; 376595, 4109416;
376635, 4109416; 376676, 4109415;
376716, 4109414; returning to 376756,
4109414.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 5 (Taboose
Creek) for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 6) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(11) Unit 6 (Sawmill Canyon); Fresno
and Inyo Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Mount Pinchot, Aberdeen,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Mount Clarence King and Kearsarge
Peak. Land bounded by the following
UTM zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N):
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40993
380512, 4083384; 380416, 4083207;
380321, 4083059; 380256, 4082940;
380133, 4082854; 379980, 4082799;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.006</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
40994
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
379859, 4082802; 379709, 4082837;
379527, 4082813; 379374, 4082757;
379265, 4082696; 379160, 4082674;
379038, 4082647; 378867, 4082568;
378795, 4082595; 378516, 4082363;
378327, 4082128; 378166, 4081831;
378065, 4081503; 377933, 4081146;
377834, 4080878; 377738, 4080700;
377610, 4080493; 377442, 4080457;
377339, 4080502; 377219, 4080536;
376984, 4080754; 376746, 4080882;
376628, 4080946; 376239, 4081079;
376030, 4081176; 375641, 4081278;
375519, 4081252; 375032, 4081147;
374788, 4081064; 374635, 4081009;
374295, 4080749; 373983, 4080457;
374028, 4080221; 373860, 4080371;
373684, 4080557; 373540, 4080772;
373455, 4080956; 373288, 4081413;
373050, 4081541; 372934, 4081695;
372606, 4081826; 372340, 4082015;
372244, 4082045; 372121, 4082062;
371940, 4082079; 371706, 4082035;
371156, 4081842; 370857, 4081941;
370503, 4082224; 370199, 4082263;
369698, 4082060; 368468, 4081749;
367602, 4081695; 367089, 4081384;
366778, 4081235; 366399, 4081303;
366264, 4081871; 366778, 4082344;
367143, 4082763; 367427, 4083358;
367548, 4083750; 367616, 4084237;
367778, 4084629; 367995, 4084724;
368279, 4084669; 368495, 4084764;
368738, 4084940; 368968, 4085237;
369198, 4085400; 369536, 4085481;
369769, 4085771; 369933, 4086158;
370188, 4086602; 370528, 4086832;
370742, 4086916; 370782, 4087216;
370816, 4087335; 370850, 4087454;
370978, 4087691; 371016, 4087931;
371050, 4088051; 371089, 4088321;
371394, 4088401; 371664, 4088363;
371848, 4088447; 371973, 4088564;
372034, 4088592; 372340, 4088703;
372640, 4088633; 372970, 4088562;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
373118, 4088467; 373447, 4088367;
373629, 4088361; 373659, 4088360;
373750, 4088387; 373842, 4088414;
373968, 4088591; 373971, 4088682;
374007, 4088861; 374100, 4088949;
374253, 4089004; 374464, 4088967;
374645, 4088962; 374768, 4089048;
374801, 4089137; 374776, 4089289;
374686, 4089322; 374443, 4089269;
374323, 4089303; 374265, 4089365;
374147, 4089459; 374089, 4089551;
374033, 4089674; 374071, 4089913;
374164, 4090001; 374256, 4090058;
374379, 4090115; 374439, 4090113;
374535, 4090260; 374479, 4090413;
374486, 4090623; 374585, 4090891;
374648, 4090980; 374742, 4091067;
374806, 4091186; 374869, 4091274;
374873, 4091394; 374944, 4091724;
375104, 4092020; 375353, 4092253;
375506, 4092308; 375784, 4092480;
376026, 4092503; 376146, 4092469;
376298, 4092494; 376391, 4092582;
376454, 4092670; 376548, 4092757;
376700, 4092783; 376851, 4092778;
377125, 4092860; 377249, 4092946;
377375, 4093123; 377410, 4093272;
377564, 4093358; 377719, 4093474;
378147, 4093641; 378302, 4093756;
378486, 4093841; 378704, 4094045;
378951, 4094218; 379315, 4094267;
379468, 4094322; 379649, 4094316;
379894, 4094399; 380136, 4094421;
380289, 4094477; 380473, 4094561;
380690, 4094735; 380873, 4094790;
381053, 4094754; 381294, 4094716;
381411, 4094592; 381403, 4094351;
381394, 4094081; 381389, 4093900;
381322, 4093691; 381288, 4093572;
381041, 4093429; 380797, 4093346;
380552, 4093234; 380575, 4093022;
380630, 4092839; 380441, 4092604;
380495, 4092392; 380611, 4092238;
380818, 4092111; 380998, 4092045;
381116, 4091981; 381142, 4091829;
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
381107, 4091680; 380983, 4091593;
380798, 4091479; 380494, 4091398;
380431, 4091340; 380366, 4091191;
380361, 4091041; 380386, 4090859;
380532, 4090704; 380796, 4090454;
381061, 4090235; 381269, 4090108;
381504, 4089920; 381771, 4089761;
381913, 4089455; 381966, 4089213;
381956, 4088912; 381975, 4088550;
382088, 4088305; 382178, 4088272;
382237, 4088240; 382297, 4088238;
382537, 4088170; 382775, 4088042;
383039, 4087793; 383123, 4087580;
383323, 4087242; 383434, 4086907;
383638, 4086690; 383908, 4086621;
384089, 4086615; 384330, 4086578;
384450, 4086544; 384718, 4086445;
384987, 4086346; 385137, 4086311;
385317, 4086245; 385466, 4086180;
385554, 4086117; 385552, 4086057;
385399, 4085971; 385278, 4085975;
385186, 4085948; 385065, 4085922;
384944, 4085926; 384792, 4085900;
384672, 4085934; 384490, 4085910;
384369, 4085914; 384277, 4085856;
384185, 4085829; 384094, 4085802;
383696, 4085634; 383574, 4085607;
383452, 4085581; 383330, 4085525;
383178, 4085499; 383086, 4085472;
382963, 4085386; 382749, 4085332;
382537, 4085309; 382385, 4085283;
382231, 4085198; 381960, 4085206;
381842, 4085300; 381721, 4085304;
381628, 4085217; 381595, 4085127;
381529, 4084949; 381466, 4084890;
381429, 4084681; 381331, 4084443;
381176, 4084297; 381080, 4084150;
381016, 4084031; 380956, 4084033;
380773, 4083979; 380619, 4083893;
380582, 4083683; 380513, 4083414;
returning to 380512, 4083384.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 6 (Sawmill
Canyon) for Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep (Map 7) follows:
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(12) Unit 7 (Mount Baxter); Fresno
and Inyo Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Aberdeen, Mount Clarence
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
King and Kearsarge Peak. Land bounded
by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83
coordinates (E, N): 374028, 4080221;
373983, 4080457; 374295, 4080749;
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40995
374635, 4081009; 374788, 4081064;
375032, 4081147; 375519, 4081252;
375641, 4081278; 376030, 4081176;
376239, 4081079; 376628, 4080946;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.007</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
40996
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
376746, 4080882; 376984, 4080754;
377219, 4080536; 377339, 4080502;
377442, 4080457; 377610, 4080493;
377738, 4080700; 377834, 4080878;
377933, 4081146; 378065, 4081503;
378166, 4081831; 378327, 4082128;
378516, 4082363; 378795, 4082595;
378867, 4082568; 379038, 4082647;
379160, 4082674; 379265, 4082696;
379374, 4082757; 379527, 4082813;
379709, 4082837; 379859, 4082802;
379980, 4082799; 380133, 4082854;
380256, 4082940; 380321, 4083059;
380416, 4083207; 380512, 4083384;
380727, 4083498; 380880, 4083553;
381125, 4083666; 381307, 4083660;
381760, 4083676; 382157, 4083814;
382374, 4083988; 382561, 4084163;
382902, 4084423; 382969, 4084632;
383097, 4084869; 383261, 4085256;
383416, 4085401; 383537, 4085398;
383692, 4085513; 383967, 4085625;
384119, 4085650; 384182, 4085709;
384213, 4085738; 384244, 4085767;
384367, 4085853; 384670, 4085874;
384852, 4085898; 385092, 4085830;
385213, 4085827; 385396, 4085881;
385515, 4085817; 385631, 4085663;
385715, 4085479; 385770, 4085297;
385765, 4085147; 385729, 4084967;
385662, 4084758; 385564, 4084520;
385498, 4084342; 385402, 4084164;
385277, 4084047; 385184, 4083960;
385117, 4083751; 385113, 4083631;
385078, 4083481; 385073, 4083331;
385069, 4083210; 385124, 4083028;
385088, 4082848; 385084, 4082728;
385114, 4082697; 385234, 4082693;
385384, 4082658; 385383, 4082598;
385318, 4082480; 385255, 4082391;
385162, 4082304; 385128, 4082184;
385124, 4082064; 385023, 4081736;
384960, 4081647; 384898, 4081619;
384777, 4081593; 384649, 4081386;
384581, 4081147; 384392, 4080912;
384386, 4080702; 384320, 4080523;
384199, 4080527; 384108, 4080530;
383867, 4080537; 383745, 4080511;
383682, 4080423; 383584, 4080185;
383519, 4080036; 383422, 4079858;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:27 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
383385, 4079619; 383318, 4079410;
383126, 4079084; 382787, 4078884;
382573, 4078801; 382268, 4078720;
382054, 4078636; 381899, 4078491;
381864, 4078341; 381857, 4078130;
382123, 4077941; 382299, 4077785;
382598, 4077685; 382685, 4077562;
382772, 4077439; 382798, 4077317;
382762, 4077138; 382693, 4076869;
382628, 4076720; 382592, 4076541;
382467, 4076394; 382431, 4076214;
382422, 4075944; 382420, 4075853;
382415, 4075703; 382411, 4075582;
382376, 4075433; 382219, 4075257;
382127, 4075200; 382006, 4075204;
381917, 4075237; 381828, 4075300;
381588, 4075367; 381498, 4075370;
381257, 4075408; 380982, 4075296;
380831, 4075301; 380799, 4075242;
380856, 4075149; 381004, 4075054;
381064, 4075022; 381215, 4075018;
381455, 4074980; 381605, 4074945;
381725, 4074911; 381844, 4074847;
382054, 4074810; 382239, 4074925;
382392, 4074981; 382544, 4075006;
382632, 4074913; 382593, 4074643;
382436, 4074467; 382281, 4074351;
382129, 4074296; 382216, 4074203;
382393, 4074047; 382659, 4073858;
382774, 4073673; 382858, 4073460;
382822, 4073280; 382787, 4073131;
382753, 4073011; 382778, 4072860;
382835, 4072737; 382895, 4072736;
383014, 4072672; 383010, 4072551;
382977, 4072462; 382885, 4072404;
382761, 4072318; 382640, 4072322;
382489, 4072327; 382488, 4072266;
382575, 4072173; 382694, 4072109;
382968, 4072161; 382965, 4072071;
382933, 4072011; 382902, 4071982;
382839, 4071924; 382810, 4071955;
382750, 4071957; 382686, 4071869;
382565, 4071842; 382502, 4071754;
382409, 4071696; 382314, 4071549;
382310, 4071428; 382273, 4071219;
382268, 4071068; 382264, 4070918;
382141, 4070861; 381900, 4070869;
381691, 4070966; 381361, 4071037;
381238, 4070980; 380965, 4070929;
380812, 4070873; 380627, 4070759;
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
380476, 4070763; 380386, 4070796;
380329, 4070888; 380183, 4071044;
380004, 4071140; 379946, 4071202;
379823, 4071145; 379698, 4070999;
379600, 4070761; 379445, 4070645;
379050, 4070567; 378715, 4070487;
378534, 4070493; 378263, 4070532;
378142, 4070536; 377869, 4070514;
377753, 4070668; 377635, 4070762;
377516, 4070796; 377272, 4070744;
377151, 4070717; 376969, 4070723;
376700, 4070792; 376551, 4070857;
376068, 4070872; 375768, 4070942;
375405, 4070953; 375071, 4070903;
374892, 4070969; 374774, 4071063;
374477, 4071223; 374114, 4071205;
373869, 4071092; 373301, 4071291;
373065, 4071479; 372945, 4071628;
373168, 4071877; 373380, 4072302;
373305, 4073027; 373293, 4073252;
373093, 4073577; 372943, 4073790;
372693, 4073852; 372480, 4073752;
372330, 4073514; 372255, 4073289;
371993, 4073327; 371693, 4073689;
371543, 4074102; 371843, 4074765;
372030, 4075127; 372243, 4075427;
372205, 4075727; 371980, 4075927;
371824, 4076302; 371812, 4077578;
371661, 4078453; 371486, 4078640;
371024, 4078703; 370743, 4078628;
370443, 4078490; 370226, 4078314;
370197, 4078295; 370023, 4078503;
370037, 4078955; 369931, 4079410;
369948, 4079952; 370023, 4080401;
370216, 4080787; 370463, 4080930;
370861, 4081098; 371163, 4081088;
371407, 4081171; 371836, 4081368;
372051, 4081482; 372322, 4081443;
372676, 4081161; 372814, 4080765;
372865, 4080462; 373090, 4079913;
373259, 4079546; 373580, 4079174;
373739, 4079410; 373866, 4079617;
374025, 4079883; 374061, 4080063;
374035, 4080184; returning to 374028,
4080221.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 7 (Mount
Baxter) for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 8) follows:
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(13) Unit 8 (Mount Williamson); Inyo
and Tulare Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangle Kearsarge Peak, Mount
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Brewer, Mount Williamson, Manzanar,
Mount Whitney and Mount Langley.
Land bounded by the following UTM
zone 11 NAD83 coordinates (E, N):
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40997
384282, 4069770; 384492, 4069703;
384612, 4069699; 384763, 4069694;
384974, 4069658; 385152, 4069562;
385148, 4069441; 384994, 4069356;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.008</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
40998
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
384934, 4069358; 384840, 4069270;
384627, 4069217; 384623, 4069096;
384617, 4068886; 384580, 4068676;
384570, 4068345; 384463, 4067836;
384390, 4067447; 384376, 4066995;
384334, 4066635; 384385, 4066332;
384439, 4066120; 384495, 4065998;
384611, 4065813; 384637, 4065692;
384753, 4065538; 384810, 4065445;
384959, 4065380; 385077, 4065286;
384980, 4065079; 384910, 4064780;
384839, 4064450; 384862, 4064209;
384918, 4064056; 385100, 4064081;
385438, 4064281; 385590, 4064306;
385804, 4064360; 386017, 4064413;
386229, 4064437; 386532, 4064457;
386649, 4064333; 386769, 4064299;
386886, 4064205; 387004, 4064111;
387091, 4063988; 387176, 4063804;
387171, 4063654; 387194, 4063412;
387310, 4063258; 387397, 4063135;
387484, 4063042; 387660, 4062855;
387746, 4062702; 387828, 4062458;
387887, 4062396; 387883, 4062276;
387817, 4062097; 387843, 4061976;
387870, 4061855; 387898, 4061794;
387989, 4061791; 388140, 4061786;
388260, 4061782; 388319, 4061720;
388316, 4061630; 388344, 4061569;
388460, 4061414; 388579, 4061350;
388606, 4061229; 388631, 4061078;
388595, 4060898; 388555, 4060598;
388580, 4060417; 388546, 4060297;
388542, 4060177; 388630, 4060084;
388839, 4060017; 388928, 4059954;
388773, 4059838; 388618, 4059722;
388402, 4059579; 388397, 4059398;
388391, 4059217; 388447, 4059065;
388594, 4058940; 388774, 4058904;
388864, 4058871; 389100, 4058713;
389155, 4058531; 389363, 4058404;
389540, 4058278; 389596, 4058155;
389626, 4058124; 389745, 4058090;
389835, 4058057; 389834, 4058027;
389832, 4057967; 389829, 4057877;
389793, 4057697; 389668, 4057551;
389602, 4057372; 389476, 4057225;
389472, 4057075; 389497, 4056923;
389524, 4056832; 389490, 4056683;
389393, 4056505; 389239, 4056419;
389119, 4056423; 388970, 4056488;
388908, 4056460; 388935, 4056339;
388928, 4056128; 388917, 4055767;
388912, 4055616; 388873, 4055346;
388742, 4055019; 388615, 4054812;
388579, 4054633; 388511, 4054394;
388566, 4054241; 388716, 4054177;
388927, 4054170; 388956, 4054139;
389047, 4054136; 389195, 4054041;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
389404, 4053974; 389523, 4053910;
389613, 4053877; 389637, 4053696;
389606, 4053667; 389515, 4053669;
389362, 4053584; 389208, 4053498;
388962, 4053355; 388780, 4053331;
388597, 4053277; 388261, 4053167;
388014, 4053024; 387829, 4052879;
387458, 4052620; 387303, 4052504;
387118, 4052389; 386845, 4052338;
386600, 4052255; 386356, 4052172;
386230, 4052026; 385918, 4051704;
385734, 4051619; 385550, 4051535;
385187, 4051516; 385006, 4051522;
384674, 4051532; 384346, 4051663;
384167, 4051759; 383870, 4051919;
383573, 4052079; 383456, 4052203;
383402, 4052416; 383346, 4052538;
383319, 4052629; 383116, 4052907;
382907, 4053004; 382548, 4053105;
382245, 4053085; 382121, 4052998;
381970, 4052973; 381696, 4052921;
381422, 4052870; 381087, 4052760;
380627, 4052563; 380323, 4052513;
380085, 4052610; 380029, 4052763;
379974, 4052945; 380013, 4053215;
380141, 4053422; 380360, 4053686;
380609, 4053919; 380948, 4054120;
381137, 4054355; 381414, 4054527;
381478, 4054645; 381571, 4054703;
381610, 4054972; 381611, 4055033;
381616, 4055183; 381592, 4055365;
381537, 4055547; 381513, 4055759;
381430, 4055972; 381345, 4056156;
381109, 4056344; 380873, 4056532;
380604, 4056631; 380274, 4056701;
380091, 4056647; 379968, 4056560;
379993, 4056409; 380049, 4056257;
380102, 4056044; 380036, 4055865;
379851, 4055751; 379547, 4055670;
379304, 4055647; 378973, 4055688;
378731, 4055665; 378518, 4055642;
378304, 4055558; 378158, 4055714;
378223, 4055862; 378114, 4056227;
377969, 4056443; 377946, 4056654;
378101, 4056770; 378405, 4056851;
378590, 4056965; 378715, 4057082;
378841, 4057259; 378934, 4057316;
379088, 4057402; 379180, 4057459;
379273, 4057546; 379521, 4057719;
379646, 4057866; 379741, 4058014;
379896, 4058129; 380108, 4058153;
380260, 4058178; 380561, 4058138;
380806, 4058251; 380993, 4058426;
380972, 4058698; 380976, 4058848;
380712, 4059098; 380536, 4059254;
380206, 4059324; 379996, 4059391;
379902, 4059274; 379722, 4059310;
379631, 4059312; 379453, 4059408;
379369, 4059622; 379312, 4059744;
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
379080, 4060053; 378929, 4060027;
378803, 4059881; 378768, 4059731;
378794, 4059580; 378759, 4059430;
378755, 4059310; 378691, 4059191;
378537, 4059106; 378325, 4059082;
378175, 4059117; 378049, 4058971;
377834, 4058857; 377650, 4058772;
377526, 4058656; 377492, 4058536;
377306, 4058391; 377186, 4058425;
377161, 4058607; 377077, 4058790;
377052, 4058972; 376908, 4059187;
376820, 4059280; 376702, 4059374;
376581, 4059378; 376525, 4059501;
376711, 4059645; 376924, 4059699;
377053, 4059966; 377151, 4060204;
377277, 4060350; 377435, 4060587;
377600, 4061003; 377637, 4061243;
377703, 4061422; 377738, 4061571;
377771, 4061660; 377898, 4061837;
377992, 4061955; 378115, 4062011;
378327, 4062035; 378478, 4062030;
378900, 4061986; 379110, 4061950;
379325, 4062063; 379420, 4062181;
379485, 4062329; 379672, 4062534;
379860, 4062739; 380015, 4062855;
380292, 4063027; 380417, 4063144;
380483, 4063322; 380579, 4063500;
380562, 4063922; 380460, 4064498;
380261, 4064896; 380149, 4065201;
379947, 4065478; 379629, 4065940;
379428, 4066278; 379342, 4066431;
379258, 4066644; 379299, 4066975;
379427, 4067211; 379584, 4067387;
379680, 4067565; 379718, 4067805;
379784, 4067983; 379940, 4068159;
380098, 4068365; 380252, 4068451;
380591, 4068651; 380653, 4068709;
380777, 4068826; 380840, 4068884;
380901, 4068912; 380964, 4069001;
381026, 4069059; 381120, 4069146;
381180, 4069144; 381242, 4069173;
381362, 4069169; 381453, 4069166;
381543, 4069163; 381785, 4069156;
381935, 4069121; 382146, 4069114;
382297, 4069109; 382358, 4069107;
382478, 4069104; 382539, 4069102;
382572, 4069191; 382725, 4069246;
382815, 4069244; 382906, 4069241;
383119, 4069294; 383210, 4069322;
383243, 4069411; 383310, 4069590;
383403, 4069677; 383616, 4069731;
383828, 4069754; 383919, 4069751;
384010, 4069748; returning to 384282,
4069770.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 8 (Mount
Williamson) for Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep (Map 9) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(14) Unit 9 (Big Arroyo); Tulare
County, California.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Triple Divide Peak, Mount
Kaweah, and Chagoopa Falls. Land
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
40999
bounded by the following UTM zone 11
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 367856,
4049078; 368038, 4049073; 368311,
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.009</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
41000
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
4049124; 368644, 4049144; 368824,
4049108; 369090, 4048919; 369207,
4048795; 369203, 4048644; 369201,
4048584; 369169, 4048525; 369072,
4048347; 368645, 4048210; 368224,
4048284; 367925, 4048383; 367593,
4048394; 367503, 4048397; 367260,
4048374; 366955, 4048293; 366591,
4048244; 366345, 4048102; 365916,
4047904; 365549, 4047765; 365361,
4047560; 364989, 4047270; 364864,
4047124; 364797, 4046915; 364973,
4046759; 365395, 4046715; 365735,
4046946; 366102, 4047085; 366467,
4047164; 366891, 4047211; 367465,
4047193; 367920, 4047269; 368407,
4047374; 368560, 4047429; 369013,
4047415; 368911, 4047057; 368632,
4046825; 368322, 4046593; 367802,
4046399; 367406, 4046291; 366767,
4046130; 366404, 4046141; 366068,
4046031; 365913, 4045886; 365868,
4045435; 366038, 4045068; 366392,
4044786; 366506, 4044572; 367012,
4044315; 366916, 4044167; 366999,
4043924; 367179, 4043858; 367575,
4043966; 367970, 4044044; 368277,
4044185; 368402, 4044331; 368714,
4044653; 369028, 4045005; 369348,
4045597; 369454, 4046076; 369830,
4046486; 370175, 4046897; 370518,
4047247; 370783, 4047028; 370644,
4046430; 370695, 4046127; 370690,
4045977; 370534, 4045831; 370317,
4045657; 370041, 4045515; 369914,
4045338; 369817, 4045130; 369781,
4044951; 369897, 4044797; 370077,
4044731; 370292, 4044844; 370507,
4044958; 370665, 4045194; 370946,
4045487; 371279, 4045506; 371607,
4045345; 372024, 4045152; 372379,
4044929; 372551, 4044623; 372817,
4044434; 373092, 4044546; 373223,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
4044843; 373304, 4045503; 373323,
4046105; 373219, 4046650; 372992,
4047109; 372919, 4047684; 372692,
4048143; 372701, 4048414; 373011,
4048675; 373283, 4048667; 373432,
4048602; 373602, 4048265; 373805,
4047988; 373975, 4047621; 374080,
4047105; 374277, 4046647; 374322,
4046164; 374308, 4045712; 374200,
4045174; 374158, 4044783; 374181,
4044572; 374200, 4044210; 374217,
4043787; 374236, 4043425; 374288,
4043152; 374391, 4042607; 374467,
4042122; 374516, 4041759; 374537,
4041488; 374470, 4041279; 374347,
4041192; 374136, 4041229; 374014,
4041173; 373950, 4041054; 373904,
4040574; 373897, 4040333; 373915,
4039971; 373903, 4039579; 373888,
4039098; 373877, 4038737; 373895,
4038375; 373915, 4038043; 373877,
4037773; 373839, 4037533; 373619,
4037269; 373549, 4036970; 373479,
4036670; 373530, 4036368; 373518,
4035976; 373478, 4035676; 373263,
4035563; 373112, 4035567; 373019,
4035480; 373040, 4035208; 373120,
4034844; 373172, 4034601; 373171,
4034571; 373195, 4034360; 373188,
4034149; 373125, 4034061; 373093,
4034001; 372881, 4033978; 372671,
4034015; 372489, 4034020; 372278,
4034027; 372096, 4034002; 372005,
4034005; 371642, 4033987; 371403,
4034054; 371161, 4034062; 371012,
4034127; 370652, 4034198; 370474,
4034294; 370386, 4034387; 369997,
4034520; 369847, 4034555; 369670,
4034681; 369253, 4034875; 368900,
4035187; 368785, 4035372; 368611,
4035588; 368408, 4035866; 368444,
4036045; 368544, 4036343; 368613,
4036612; 368531, 4036916; 368483,
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
4037309; 368432, 4037582; 368318,
4037827; 368114, 4038044; 367910,
4038291; 367764, 4038447; 367616,
4038542; 367411, 4038759; 367265,
4038914; 366971, 4039194; 366588,
4039508; 366295, 4039788; 366005,
4040159; 365710, 4040409; 365323,
4040602; 364940, 4040885; 364704,
4041073; 364407, 4041233; 364172,
4041451; 363937, 4041670; 363675,
4041979; 363294, 4042383; 363033,
4042722; 362830, 4043000; 362598,
4043309; 362513, 4043462; 362550,
4043702; 362773, 4044056; 362873,
4044354; 362976, 4044743; 362987,
4045104; 362907, 4045438; 362796,
4045743; 362624, 4046049; 362419,
4046267; 362243, 4046423; 362434,
4046718; 362771, 4046888; 363048,
4047030; 363355, 4047201; 363540,
4047316; 363809, 4047217; 363990,
4047211; 364085, 4047329; 364213,
4047566; 364430, 4047740; 364638,
4047643; 364880, 4047635; 364946,
4047814; 364918, 4047875; 364772,
4048061; 364751, 4048332; 364757,
4048543; 364885, 4048750; 365096,
4048743; 365274, 4048647; 365419,
4048432; 365540, 4048458; 365753,
4048482; 365964, 4048475; 366116,
4048500; 366302, 4048645; 366454,
4048671; 366638, 4048755; 366736,
4048993; 366926, 4049288; 367023,
4049466; 367148, 4049613; 367333,
4049727; 367635, 4049718; 367747,
4049443; 367652, 4049296; 367648,
4049175; 367736, 4049082; returning to
367856, 4049078.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 9 (Big Arroyo)
for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Map
10) follows:
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(15) Unit 10 (Mount Langley); Inyo
and Tulare Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Mount Whitney, Mount
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Langley, Lone Pine, Johnson Peak,
Cirque Peak, and Bartlett. Land bounded
by the following UTM zone 11 NAD83
coordinates (E, N): 391201, 4048676;
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
41001
391835, 4048656; 392289, 4048672;
392648, 4048570; 393008, 4048499;
393517, 4048332; 393840, 4048051;
393861, 4047749; 393701, 4047453;
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.010</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
41002
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
393997, 4047263; 394301, 4047313;
394691, 4047241; 394959, 4047112;
394980, 4046810; 394761, 4046576;
394545, 4046432; 394209, 4046322;
393872, 4046182; 393805, 4045973;
393952, 4045848; 394346, 4045866;
394557, 4045859; 394797, 4045822;
394914, 4045698; 395096, 4045722;
395312, 4045836; 395435, 4045922;
395609, 4045676; 395357, 4045352;
395142, 4045239; 394955, 4045064;
394737, 4044860; 394607, 4044562;
394630, 4044351; 394785, 4044466;
394972, 4044641; 395189, 4044815;
395465, 4044957; 395741, 4045069;
396017, 4045211; 396292, 4045323;
396624, 4045312; 396865, 4045275;
397011, 4045120; 396916, 4044972;
396912, 4044852; 396906, 4044671;
396989, 4044427; 397139, 4044392;
397225, 4044239; 397130, 4044092;
397004, 4043945; 396941, 4043856;
396910, 4043827; 396816, 4043710;
396872, 4043588; 397085, 4043611;
397269, 4043726; 397424, 4043841;
397610, 4043986; 397705, 4044134;
397826, 4044130; 397974, 4044035;
397988, 4043910; 398032, 4043812;
398101, 4043709; 398135, 4043591;
398258, 4043464; 398459, 4043386;
398630, 4043312; 398832, 4043175;
399028, 4043028; 399145, 4042939;
399209, 4042895; 399312, 4042807;
399366, 4042758; 399410, 4042704;
399454, 4042670; 399582, 4042567;
399694, 4042459; 399758, 4042385;
399846, 4042312; 399944, 4042199;
400033, 4042101; 400096, 4041978;
400219, 4041836; 400286, 4041643;
400252, 4041523; 400128, 4041437;
400005, 4041380; 399883, 4041324;
399698, 4041209; 399455, 4041157;
399327, 4040950; 399383, 4040797;
399592, 4040731; 399927, 4040810;
400292, 4040889; 400718, 4040966;
401019, 4040957; 401230, 4040920;
401313, 4040742; 401218, 4040743;
401216, 4040470; 401215, 4040469;
401123, 4040411; 400849, 4040330;
400699, 4040395; 400579, 4040398;
400425, 4040313; 400272, 4040257;
400151, 4040261; 399969, 4040237;
399818, 4040242; 399727, 4040214;
399573, 4040129; 399364, 4040196;
399184, 4040231; 399001, 4040177;
398875, 4040030; 398718, 4039824;
398769, 4039552; 398794, 4039370;
398816, 4039098; 398776, 4038798;
398854, 4038404; 398936, 4038130;
399265, 4038030; 399537, 4038021;
399838, 4037982; 400353, 4038026;
400864, 4037949; 401406, 4037902;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
402036, 4037732; 402453, 4037568;
403052, 4037399; 403265, 4037370;
403437, 4037350; 403454, 4037349;
403451, 4037001; 403437, 4037001;
402801, 4037105; 402468, 4037086;
401954, 4037072; 401743, 4037078;
401474, 4037177; 401200, 4037095;
400986, 4037012; 400832, 4036926;
400587, 4036813; 400582, 4036663;
400580, 4036603; 400666, 4036449;
400841, 4036263; 401078, 4036105;
401286, 4036008; 401736, 4035904;
402332, 4035644; 402478, 4035459;
402592, 4035244; 402736, 4035029;
402939, 4034751; 403054, 4034567;
403316, 4034257; 403521, 4034040;
403693, 4033764; 403840, 4033638;
403988, 4033543; 404106, 4033449;
404311, 4033232; 404456, 4033047;
404629, 4032770; 404746, 4032646;
404742, 4032526; 404646, 4032378;
404481, 4032210; 404371, 4031974;
404270, 4031915; 404169, 4031814;
404034, 4031695; 403840, 4031602;
403679, 4031476; 403510, 4031223;
403325, 4031113; 403114, 4030986;
402911, 4030843; 402683, 4030682;
402455, 4030471; 402345, 4030421;
402016, 4030302; 401797, 4030311;
401611, 4030311; 401256, 4030370;
401079, 4030370; 400767, 4030328;
400404, 4030286; 400100, 4030159;
399880, 4030100; 399745, 4030286;
399661, 4030640; 399568, 4030868;
399652, 4031501; 399492, 4031881;
399323, 4032202; 399070, 4032464;
398876, 4032742; 398758, 4033029;
398606, 4033527; 398766, 4033823;
398859, 4034354; 398867, 4034473;
398867, 4034574; 398867, 4034692;
398859, 4034768; 398867, 4034878;
398859, 4034962; 398842, 4035047;
398817, 4035156; 398825, 4035292;
398817, 4035418; 398783, 4035553;
398775, 4035671; 398741, 4035787;
398591, 4035822; 398442, 4035887;
398294, 4035982; 398026, 4036080;
397844, 4036086; 397727, 4036104;
397729, 4036166; 397321, 4036177;
397117, 4036180; 397065, 4036291;
397073, 4036532; 397229, 4036678;
397565, 4036818; 397899, 4036868;
398144, 4036950; 398575, 4037208;
398760, 4037323; 398826, 4037501;
398587, 4037599; 398285, 4037609;
398074, 4037615; 397779, 4037835;
397573, 4038023; 397247, 4038214;
396925, 4038555; 396808, 4038679;
396694, 4038894; 396521, 4039140;
396440, 4039474; 396020, 4039548;
395687, 4039528; 395353, 4039478;
395015, 4039308; 394354, 4039419;
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
393996, 4039551; 393553, 4039896;
393199, 4040148; 392841, 4040310;
392599, 4040288; 392388, 4040324;
392208, 4040360; 392026, 4040336;
391845, 4040341; 391695, 4040376;
391607, 4040469; 391464, 4040715;
391168, 4040905; 391019, 4040970;
390717, 4040979; 390615, 4040870;
390526, 4040776; 390443, 4040719;
390324, 4040646; 390241, 4040657;
390158, 4040641; 390080, 4040574;
390002, 4040480; 389955, 4040018;
390023, 4039509; 389862, 4039176;
389441, 4038958; 389108, 4038818;
389015, 4038797; 388682, 4038673;
388527, 4038553; 388246, 4038309;
388225, 4038111; 388142, 4038091;
388054, 4038169; 387992, 4038413;
387898, 4039083; 387695, 4039478;
387443, 4039666; 387108, 4039586;
386653, 4039541; 386445, 4039637;
386479, 4039787; 386788, 4039988;
387154, 4040097; 387492, 4040267;
387587, 4040415; 387626, 4040685;
387539, 4040808; 387242, 4040968;
387030, 4040945; 386663, 4040805;
386571, 4040778; 386423, 4040873;
386520, 4041081; 386706, 4041226;
386895, 4041461; 387083, 4041696;
387183, 4041994; 387197, 4042415;
387266, 4042684; 387125, 4043020;
387068, 4043112; 386891, 4043269;
386710, 4043274; 386617, 4043187;
386370, 4043014; 386328, 4042654;
386323, 4042503; 386227, 4042325;
386193, 4042206; 386187, 4042025;
386181, 4041815; 386147, 4041695;
385866, 4041403; 385677, 4041168;
385489, 4040963; 385424, 4040814;
385175, 4040581; 384687, 4040446;
384085, 4040495; 383395, 4040667;
382950, 4040922; 382597, 4041234;
382557, 4041868; 382965, 4042368;
383585, 4042860; 383899, 4043242;
383974, 4043692; 384083, 4044291;
384064, 4044653; 384347, 4045005;
384752, 4045384; 385209, 4045490;
385338, 4045757; 385674, 4045867;
386068, 4045915; 386432, 4045964;
386733, 4045925; 387003, 4045856;
387456, 4045842; 387935, 4045706;
388454, 4045870; 388701, 4046043;
388853, 4046069; 389062, 4046002;
389305, 4046024; 389585, 4046287;
389713, 4046524; 389873, 4046790;
390029, 4046966; 390102, 4047355;
390199, 4047563; 390149, 4047896;
390462, 4048217; 390866, 4048596;
returning to 391201, 4048676.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 10 (Mount
Langley) for Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep (Map 11) follows:
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
(16) Unit 11 (Laurel Creek); Tulare
County, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Mineral King, Chagoopa
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:39 Jul 24, 2007
Jkt 211001
Falls, Quinn Peak, and Kern Lake. Land
bounded by the following UTM zone 11
NAD83 coordinates (E, N): 373174,
4031891; 373186, 4031558; 373154,
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4702
41003
4031248; 373234, 4030979; 373246,
4030646; 373240, 4030446; 373299,
4030200; 373294, 4030045; 373311,
4029867; 373368, 4029577; 373315,
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
25JYP2
EP25JY07.011</GPH>
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
41004
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with PROPOSALS2
4029290; 373265, 4029114; 373238,
4028981; 373232, 4028782; 373228,
4028671; 373244, 4028471; 373261,
4028292; 373235, 4028160; 373118,
4027986; 373114, 4027853; 373201,
4027784; 373307, 4027625; 373303,
4027492; 373295, 4027248; 373288,
4027026; 373370, 4026802; 373343,
4026647; 373335, 4026403; 373361,
4025803; 373349, 4025426; 373426,
4025046; 373542, 4024488; 373421,
4024158; 373270, 4024319; 373084,
4024791; 372982, 4025082; 372972,
4025460; 373002, 4025726; 372967,
4026015; 372813, 4026087; 372622,
4026381; 372567, 4026738; 372492,
4027184; 372494, 4027251; 372544,
4027449; 372683, 4027600; 372797,
4027685; 372844, 4027773; 372868,
4027839; 372850, 4027950; 372627,
4027957; 372493, 4027939; 372334,
4027833; 372088, 4027819; 371867,
4027848; 371735, 4027896; 371467,
4027883; 371376, 4027819; 371153,
4027804; 370951, 4027743; 370794,
4027704; 370614, 4027665; 370368,
4027628; 370167, 4027590; 369942,
4027531; 369740, 4027471; 369540,
4027477; 369315, 4027417; 369225,
4027376; 369088, 4027291; 368842,
4027232; 368686, 4027237; 368416,
4027135; 368191, 4027075; 368057,
4027057; 367878, 4027018; 367675,
4026936; 367474, 4026920; 367297,
4026970; 367076, 4027021; 366900,
4027093; 366656, 4027101; 366475,
4027018; 366339, 4026933; 366202,
4026827; 366128, 4026607; 365901,
4026481; 365715, 4026220; 365708,
4025999; 365794, 4025885; 366031,
4025655; 366097, 4025609; 366225,
4025450; 366418, 4025199; 366479,
4025020; 366407, 4024844; 366270,
4024760; 366159, 4024741; 365979,
4024680; 365753, 4024599; 365468,
4024718; 365362, 4024899; 365163,
4024950; 365047, 4024798; 365032,
4024310; 364847, 4024094; 364692,
4024121; 364515, 4024171; 364294,
4024222; 364143, 4024360; 363697,
4024352; 363475, 4024359; 363204,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
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4024257; 362979, 4024175; 362728,
4023983; 362562, 4023655; 362372,
4023284; 362190, 4023156; 361949,
4023275; 361734, 4023526; 361439,
4024046; 361355, 4024226; 361276,
4024539; 361283, 4024739; 361287,
4024894; 361272, 4025116; 361278,
4025294; 361376, 4025579; 361426,
4025778; 361250, 4025827; 361010,
4025990; 360838, 4026196; 360688,
4026378; 360408, 4026675; 360260,
4026924; 360046, 4027197; 359897,
4027402; 359791, 4027583; 359529,
4027746; 359063, 4027783; 358774,
4027814; 358531, 4027866; 358309,
4027895; 358180, 4028033; 358116,
4028124; 358009, 4028282; 357927,
4028485; 357931, 4028618; 358005,
4028837; 358096, 4028901; 358170,
4029143; 358309, 4029316; 358871,
4029476; 359141, 4029579; 359257,
4029708; 359484, 4029857; 359667,
4030028; 359672, 4030184; 359521,
4030322; 359325, 4030483; 359243,
4030686; 359295, 4030928; 359325,
4031171; 359351, 4031282; 359270,
4031551; 359321, 4031749; 359261,
4031973; 359113, 4032221; 358851,
4032407; 358587, 4032504; 358259,
4032692; 358269, 4033003; 358344,
4033267; 358592, 4033348; 358837,
4033362; 358952, 4033470; 359201,
4033617; 359530, 4033452; 359660,
4033336; 359907, 4033395; 359976,
4033482; 360158, 4033587; 360425,
4033579; 360624, 4033550; 360800,
4033478; 361106, 4033313; 361280,
4033175; 361405, 4032904; 361468,
4032769; 361508, 4032613; 361594,
4032521; 361719, 4032251; 361664,
4031919; 361657, 4031698; 361918,
4031512; 362074, 4031507; 362141,
4031505; 362367, 4031609; 362415,
4031740; 362396, 4031852; 362578,
4031957; 362711, 4031931; 362842,
4031860; 362907, 4031814; 363107,
4031785; 363177, 4031894; 363224,
4031959; 363248, 4032025; 363250,
4032092; 363320, 4032178; 363564,
4032148; 363742, 4032143; 363940,
4032092; 364228, 4032039; 364294,
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4032015; 364472, 4032009; 364583,
4032005; 364830, 4032064; 364966,
4032127; 365212, 4032186; 365326,
4032249; 365371, 4032269; 365553,
4032397; 365712, 4032503; 365780,
4032523; 365916, 4032607; 366029,
4032671; 366122, 4032779; 366147,
4032889; 366152, 4033022; 366154,
4033088; 366317, 4033327; 366406,
4033325; 366516, 4033277; 366602,
4033185; 366665, 4033072; 366816,
4032912; 366948, 4032864; 367016,
4032884; 367175, 4032990; 367310,
4033030; 367512, 4033090; 367623,
4033087; 367799, 4033015; 367930,
4032944; 367993, 4032809; 367812,
4032726; 367632, 4032665; 367429,
4032582; 367248, 4032477; 367132,
4032325; 366969, 4032108; 366718,
4031916; 366739, 4031871; 366849,
4031823; 366916, 4031844; 367049,
4031839; 367250, 4031833; 367384,
4031851; 367499, 4031958; 367588,
4031978; 367634, 4032021; 367749,
4032128; 367815, 4032126; 367880,
4032057; 367852, 4031859; 367892,
4031724; 367957, 4031678; 368048,
4031741; 368183, 4031782; 368397,
4031508; 368486, 4031506; 368664,
4031500; 368891, 4031626; 368958,
4031646; 369050, 4031732; 369297,
4031791; 369564, 4031783; 369809,
4031797; 370121, 4031810; 370520,
4031753; 370984, 4031649; 371185,
4031643; 371741, 4031626; 372030,
4031617; 372432, 4031648; 372543,
4031667; 372702, 4031751; 372753,
4031949; 372714, 4032150; 372652,
4032285; 372548, 4032533; 372578,
4032776; 372564, 4033021; 372571,
4033264; 372624, 4033507; 372783,
4033635; 372942, 4033719; 373052,
4033671; 373028, 4033628; 373070,
4033537; 373088, 4033404; 373101,
4033115; 373095, 4032937; 373087,
4032671; 373125, 4032470; 373138,
4032159; returning to 373174, 4031891.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 11 (Laurel
Creek) for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 12) follows:
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
E:\FR\FM\25JYP2.SGM
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(17) Unit 12 (Olancha Peak); Inyo and
Tulare Counties, California.
(i) From USGS 1:24,000 scale
quadrangles Cirque Peak, Bartlett,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
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Templeton Mountain, Olancha, and
Haiwee Pass. Land bounded by the
following UTM zone 11 NAD83
coordinates (E, N): 403133, 4029453;
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405620, 4028065; 405682, 4027932;
405805, 4027666; 405734, 4027504;
405863, 4027434; 406060, 4027428;
406290, 4027421; 406385, 4027320;
406479, 4027153; 406544, 4027151;
406674, 4027081; 406738, 4027046;
406835, 4026978; 406993, 4026776;
407086, 4026610; 407116, 4026510;
407176, 4026345; 407206, 4026245;
407201, 4026082; 407131, 4025953;
407161, 4025854; 407158, 4025755;
407190, 4025722; 407251, 4025589;
407282, 4025522; 407279, 4025424;
407210, 4025328; 407206, 4025197;
407203, 4025099; 407234, 4025032;
407263, 4024933; 407291, 4024768;
407287, 4024637; 407250, 4024507;
407178, 4024313; 407042, 4024153;
406975, 4024123; 406909, 4024125;
406811, 4024128; 406841, 4024061;
406903, 4023928; 406933, 4023829;
406963, 4023763; 407057, 4023596;
407118, 4023463; 407282, 4023458;
407411, 4023355; 407439, 4023223;
407499, 4023025; 407524, 4022795;
407487, 4022632; 407350, 4022473;
407214, 4022313; 407044, 4022154;
407010, 4022123; 406941, 4021994;
406870, 4021832; 406765, 4021639;
406663, 4021511; 406627, 4021414;
406622, 4021283; 406686, 4021215;
406682, 4021085; 406739, 4020821;
406701, 4020658; 406634, 4020595;
406565, 4020498; 406562, 4020400;
406557, 4020237; 406553, 4020106;
406515, 4019943; 406508, 4019747;
406537, 4019615; 406434, 4019487;
406336, 4019490; 406301, 4019425;
406296, 4019262; 406194, 4019167;
406127, 4019103; 406121, 4018939;
406086, 4018842; 405983, 4018714;
405817, 4018654; 405649, 4018561;
405584, 4018563; 405583, 4018530;
405611, 4018398; 405572, 4018203;
405538, 4018139; 405435, 4018011;
405400, 4017946; 405332, 4017883;
405395, 4017783; 405428, 4017782;
405460, 4017748; 405620, 4017612;
405779, 4017443; 405875, 4017374;
405935, 4017209; 405999, 4017141;
405962, 4017011; 405959, 4016913;
405955, 4016782; 405919, 4016685;
405885, 4016653; 405816, 4016557;
405749, 4016494; 405747, 4016428;
405843, 4016360; 405942, 4016356;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
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406040, 4016353; 406104, 4016286;
406134, 4016219; 406131, 4016121;
406063, 4016025; 406026, 4015895;
405988, 4015732; 406018, 4015666;
406016, 4015600; 406108, 4015368;
406101, 4015172; 406062, 4014976;
406055, 4014747; 405918, 4014555;
405816, 4014460; 405812, 4014329;
405703, 4014005; 405598, 4013811;
405530, 4013715; 405491, 4013520;
405488, 4013422; 405480, 4013192;
405405, 4012900; 405336, 4012771;
405329, 4012542; 405353, 4012279;
405416, 4012179; 405313, 4012051;
405109, 4011828; 404843, 4011738;
404673, 4011547; 404541, 4011551;
404414, 4011686; 404316, 4011689;
404187, 4011758; 404086, 4011696;
403921, 4011668; 403724, 4011675;
403625, 4011678; 403527, 4011681;
403365, 4011751; 403199, 4011691;
403002, 4011697; 402935, 4011667;
402706, 4011707; 402610, 4011775;
402480, 4011845; 402250, 4011819;
402186, 4011887; 401989, 4011893;
401860, 4011962; 401729, 4011999;
401598, 4012003; 401366, 4011945;
401165, 4011820; 401032, 4011759;
400764, 4011604; 400498, 4011514;
400367, 4011518; 400040, 4011561;
399878, 4011631; 399816, 4011764;
399787, 4011896; 399790, 4011995;
399794, 4012093; 399732, 4012226;
399669, 4012326; 399540, 4012396;
399444, 4012464; 399349, 4012598;
399327, 4012927; 399402, 4013219;
399406, 4013350; 399445, 4013546;
399515, 4013674; 399520, 4013838;
399557, 4013968; 399563, 4014164;
399600, 4014294; 399608, 4014556;
399611, 4014654; 399615, 4014785;
399590, 4015016; 399595, 4015179;
399404, 4015382; 399177, 4015487;
399182, 4015618; 399286, 4015812;
399294, 4016073; 399398, 4016234;
399566, 4016360; 399635, 4016456;
399737, 4016551; 399901, 4016546;
399960, 4016347; 400087, 4016212;
400183, 4016111; 400341, 4015910;
400463, 4015611; 400557, 4015477;
400849, 4015337; 400916, 4015400;
401120, 4015590; 401351, 4015648;
401360, 4015910; 401368, 4016172;
401440, 4016367; 401443, 4016465;
401381, 4016598; 401321, 4016764;
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401067, 4017066; 400906, 4017170;
400742, 4017175; 400640, 4017047;
400342, 4016991; 400311, 4017057;
400313, 4017123; 400383, 4017252;
400419, 4017349; 400455, 4017446;
400490, 4017511; 400525, 4017575;
400592, 4017638; 400597, 4017769;
400471, 4017970; 400179, 4018077;
399917, 4018118; 399692, 4018256;
399663, 4018388; 399666, 4018487;
399735, 4018583; 399935, 4018675;
399939, 4018806; 399745, 4018910;
399617, 4019012; 399357, 4019119;
398800, 4019169; 398672, 4019272;
398480, 4019441; 398298, 4019906;
398237, 4020072; 398082, 4020371;
397992, 4020636; 397996, 4020767;
398000, 4020898; 398005, 4021062;
398011, 4021226; 398122, 4021648;
398191, 4021744; 398332, 4022035;
398442, 4022392; 398584, 4022748;
398657, 4022975; 398663, 4023171;
398935, 4023458; 399006, 4023619;
399074, 4023683; 399072, 4023617;
399110, 4023780; 399181, 4023941;
399119, 4024074; 399094, 4024337;
399000, 4024471; 398813, 4024805;
398716, 4024841; 398527, 4025109;
398467, 4025275; 398472, 4025438;
398510, 4025601; 398514, 4025732;
398553, 4025927; 398622, 4026023;
398722, 4026086; 398791, 4026182;
398928, 4026341; 399031, 4026502;
399002, 4026634; 398945, 4026898;
399113, 4027024; 399214, 4027086;
399283, 4027182; 399254, 4027314;
399194, 4027513; 399136, 4027744;
399140, 4027875; 399143, 4027973;
399180, 4028103; 399218, 4028266;
399226, 4028527; 399329, 4028655;
399466, 4028815; 399568, 4028943;
399902, 4029096; 399971, 4029225;
400106, 4029319; 400270, 4029314;
400401, 4029310; 400666, 4029367;
400864, 4029393; 400930, 4029391;
400995, 4029389; 401356, 4029378;
401586, 4029371; 401783, 4029365;
402145, 4029386; 402443, 4029442;
402676, 4029533; 403004, 4029523;
returning to 403133, 4029453.
(ii) Note: Map of Unit 12 (Olancha
Peak) for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
(Map 13) follows:
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*
*
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / Proposed Rules
*
*
Dated: July 17, 2007.
Todd Willens,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and
Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 07–3591 Filed 7–24–07; 8:45 am]
*
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40956-41008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3591]
[[Page 40955]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Part III
Department of the Interior
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fish and Wildlife Service
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical
Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis
californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 40956]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AV05
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of
Critical Habitat for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis
californiana) and Proposed Taxonomic Revision
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to
designate critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis
canadensis californiana) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). In total, approximately 417,577 acres (ac) (168,992
hectares (ha)) fall within the boundaries of the proposed critical
habitat designation. The proposed critical habitat is located in
Tuolumne, Mono, Fresno, Inyo, and Tulare counties, California. We also
propose a taxonomic revision of the listed entity from distinct
population segment (DPS) to subspecies, Ovis canadensis sierrae, based
on recent published information.
DATES: We will accept comments from all interested parties until
September 24, 2007. We must receive requests for public hearings, in
writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by September 10,
2007.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on this proposed rule, you may submit
your comments and materials by any one of several methods:
1. By mail or hand-deliver to Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340
Financial Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502-7147.
2. By electronic mail (e-mail) to snbighorn@fws.gov. Please see the
Public Comments Solicited section below for other information about
electronic filing.
3. By fax to the attention of Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor
at 775-861-6301.
4. Via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor,
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, at the address or telephone number
listed under ADDRESSES. If you use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-
877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comments Solicited
We intend that any final action resulting from this proposal will
be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we seek
comments or suggestions on this proposed rule. We particularly seek
comments concerning:
(1) The reasons why we should or should not designate habitat as
``critical habitat'' under section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), including whether the benefit of designation will outweigh
threats to the species caused by designation such that the designation
of critical habitat is prudent;
(2) Specific information on:
The amount and distribution of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
habitat,
What areas should be included in the designations that
were occupied at the time of listing that contain the features that are
essential for the conservation of the subspecies and why, and
What areas not occupied at the listing are essential to
the conservation of the subspecies and why;
(3) Any proposed critical habitat areas covered by existing or
proposed conservation or management plans that we should consider for
exclusion from the designation under section 4(b)(2) of the Act. We
specifically request comment on the appropriateness of including or
excluding lands covered by: (a) The Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Recovery and Conservation Plan (Sierra Bighorn Sheep Interagency
Advisory Group 1984); (b) the Bighorn Sheep Management Plan (National
Park Service 1986); (c) the Inyo National Forest Resource & Management
Plan (U.S. Forest Service 1988); and (d) the Conservation Strategy for
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency
Advisory Group 1997). We request comment on how these plans do or do
not benefit or protect the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, or its primary
constituent elements, and if the benefit or protection provided by
these plans is equal to or greater than the benefit that would be
provided by designation of critical habitat;
(4) Land use designations and current or planned activities in the
subject areas and their possible impacts on proposed critical habitat;
(5) Any foreseeable economic, national security, or other potential
impacts resulting from the proposed designation and, in particular, any
impacts on small entities, and information about the benefits of
including or excluding any areas that exhibit those impacts; and
(6) Whether we could improve or modify our approach to designating
critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public participation
and understanding, or to better accommodate public concerns and
comments.
If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments and materials
concerning this proposal by any one of several methods (see ADDRESSES).
If you use e-mail to submit your comments, please include ``Attn:
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep'' in your e-mail subject header. If you do
not receive a confirmation from the system that we have received your
e-mail, contact us directly by calling our Nevada Fish and Wildlife
Office at 775-861-6300. Please note that comments must be received by
the date specified in the DATES section in order to consider them in
our final determination and that the e-mail address snbighorn@fws.gov
will be closed out at the termination of the public comment period.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment--you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Background
It is our intent to discuss only those topics directly relevant to
the designation of critical habitat in this proposed rule. For more
information on the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, refer to the final
listing rule published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2000 (65
FR 20). However, some of this information will need to be cited or
discussed in the substantive analyses below, where appropriate, such as
the description of the primary constituent elements (PCEs) and proposed
critical habitat units.
The bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a large mammal in the family
Bovidae described by Shaw in 1804 (Shackleton 1985, p. 1). Cowen (1940,
pp. 519-569) recognized several subspecies based on geography and skull
measurements. Recent genetic (Ramey 1993, pp. 82-86; 1995, pp. 432-434;
Boyce et al. 1996, pp. 423-426, 429; Gutierrez-Espeleta et al. 1998,
pp. 7-9, 11) and morphological data (Wehausen and Ramey 1993, pp. 4-8;
2000, pp. 148-153), and review and reanalysis of Cowan's data (Ramey
1993,
[[Page 40957]]
p. 83), do not support Cowan's original subspecies differentiation.
Ramey (1993, pp. 71-72; 1995, p. 432) found, based on mitochondrial
DNA, bighorn sheep from the Sierra Nevada to be more allied with sheep
occupying the adjacent desert area than those to the north. Ramey
(1993, pp. 67-68; 1995, pp. 433, 435) also found Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep to be a distinctive group in the desert region extending east to
Utah and New Mexico and south to northern Mexico. Recent morphometric
analyses of skull shape confirm genetic results (Wehausen and Ramey
2000, pp. 148-153). Based on both genetic and morphometric data,
Wehausen and Ramey (2000, p. 156) reassigned California bighorn sheep
populations outside of the Sierra Nevada to other subspecies, thus
recognizing bighorn sheep in the Sierra Nevada as its own subspecies.
In a recent investigation of the taxonomy of Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep, Wehausen et al. (2005, p. 217) reexamined the history of bighorn
sheep nomenclature and concluded, based on the original type specimen,
that the correct nomenclature for native sheep in the central and
southern Sierra Nevada mountains of California is Ovis canadensis
sierrae.
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit portions of the Sierra Nevada
located along the eastern boundary of California in Tuolumne, Mono,
Fresno, Inyo, and Tulare counties. Habitat occurs from the eastern base
of the range as low as 4,790 feet (ft) (1,460 meters (m)) to its peaks
above 14,100 ft (4,300 m) (Wehausen 1980, pp. 3, 82). Based on recent
modeling efforts, discussed further in the Criteria Used To Identify
Critical Habitat section, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat, as well
as areas necessary to provide connectivity between winter and summer
ranges, occur as low as 4,000 ft (1,219 m) in the southern portion of
its range (Johnson et al. 2005). Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit
open areas where the land is rocky, sparsely vegetated, and
characterized by steep slopes and canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5). Wehausen
(1980, pp. 18-25) provides a detailed description of Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep habitat throughout its range. They prefer open ground to
better detect predators and allow enough time to reach steep, rocky
terrain (escape habitat) (Wehausen 1980, p. 81). Forests and thick
brush are usually avoided if possible (65 FR 21; January 3, 2000). Most
of the sheep live at higher elevations (10,000 to 14,000 ft (3,050 to
4,270 m)) in the subalpine and alpine areas during the summer (65 FR
21; January 3, 2000). During winter, these sheep occupy high elevation,
windswept ridges and tend to prefer south-facing slopes where snow
melts more readily (Jones 1950, pp. 44-45; McCullough and Schneegas
1966, p. 71; Wehausen 1980, pp. 86-87) or migrate to lower elevations
(4,800 ft (1,460 m)) in the sagebrush-steppe areas to avoid deep snow
and to find forage.
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are gregarious with group size and
composition depending on gender and season. Spatial segregation by
gender occurs outside of the mating season. Ewes generally remain with
the same band in which they were born (Cowan and Geist 1971, pp. 80-
81). Males older than two years of age remain apart from females and
younger males for most of the year (Jones 1950, p. 50; Cowan and Geist
1971, p. 65; Wehausen 1980, p. 109). During the winter, the groups come
together and concentrate in suitable winter habitat.
Breeding takes place in late fall, generally November and December
(Jones 1950, pp. 63-64; Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 64; Wishart 1978, p.
165). Lambing occurs between late April and early July (Wehausen 1996,
p. 475), on safe, precipitous, rocky slopes (Wehausen 1980, p. 95);
most lambs in the Sierra Nevada are born in May and June (Wehausen
1980, p. 94; 1996, p. 475). Ewes and lambs often occupy steep terrain
that provides a diversity of exposures and slopes for escape cover (65
FR 21; January 3, 2000). The average lifespan is 9 to 11 years for both
males and females (Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 68; Wehausen 1980, p. 76).
Bighorn sheep are primarily diurnal (Jones 1950, pp. 54-57). They
are primarily grazers; however, they may browse woody vegetation at
times. Plants consumed include various grasses, browse, and herbaceous
plants, depending on season and location (Wehausen 1980, pp. 80-93).
Naturally occurring salt/mineral licks provide necessary minerals for
bone and muscle growth.
While distribution of bighorn sheep is naturally fragmented on the
landscape, the maintenance of migration corridors (space) is important
to allow genetic exchange between Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep herds.
The population ecology of bighorn sheep has been described as a
metapopulation with geographically distinct herds interacting in a
network (Schwartz et al. 1986, p. 184; Bleich et al. 1990, pp. 384-
388). The movements by rams between herds can counteract the effects of
inbreeding that can develop with small, isolated populations (Schwartz
et al. 1986, pp. 182-185).
Previous Federal Actions
On April 20, 1999, we published an emergency rule listing the
Sierra Nevada DPS of the California bighorn sheep (SNBS) as endangered
(64 FR 19300) providing emergency protections to the DPS until such
time that we could complete the normal listing process. We also
published a proposed rule to list the DPS on the same date (64 FR
19333). On January 3, 2000, we published a final rule listing the SNBS
DPS as endangered (65 FR 20). The emergency rule stated that the
designation of critical habitat was not determinable due to lack of
information sufficient to perform the required analysis of impacts of
the designation. In the final listing rule we stated our revised
determination: That there is sufficient information to perform the
required impact analysis and that the designation of critical habitat
is prudent. During our current efforts to propose critical habitat for
the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, we noticed that the final listing rule
published in 2000 (65 FR 20) inadvertently listed this entity as a
subspecies rather than as a DPS. While the listing rule addressed the
DPS question, we failed to include the DPS language in the table found
in the regulatory section of the rule. However, as stated above, based
on the work of Wehausen and Ramey (2000, p. 156) and Wehausen et al.
(2005, p. 217), the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is recognized as a
subspecies, and the correct nomenclature is Ovis canadensis sierrae.
Therefore, we are formally proposing a taxonomic revision to amend the
final listing rule from DPS to subspecies, Ovis canadensis sierrae.
Therefore, within this proposed critical habitat designation rule we
will refer to the listed entity as a subspecies and not as a DPS.
On July 30, 2003, we made available the Service's Draft Recovery
Plan for the Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana)
(68 FR 44808). On October 9, 2003, we re-opened the comment period for
the draft Recovery Plan (68 FR 58355). We are currently working with
land management agencies and stakeholders to finalize the Recovery Plan
by the summer of 2007.
On December 8, 2005, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a
complaint based on the Service's failure to designate critical habitat
for this subspecies within the time mandated under the Act (Center for
Biological Diversity v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, et al. Case No.
2:05-CB-02492-DFL-KJM). On June 6, 2006, the Service entered into a
settlement agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity
[[Page 40958]]
to submit a proposed critical habitat designation for this subspecies
for publication in the Federal Register by July 17, 2007, and to submit
a final determination on the proposed critical habitat designation for
publication by July 17, 2008.
For more information on previous Federal actions concerning Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, refer to the final listing rule published in the
Federal Register on January 3, 2000 (65 FR 20).
Critical Habitat
Critical habitat is defined in section 3 of the Act as:
(1) The specific areas within the geographical area occupied by a
species, at the time it is listed in accordance with the Act, on which
are found those physical or biological features
(a) essential to the conservation of the species and
(b) that may require special management considerations or
protection; and
(2) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by a
species at the time it is listed, upon a determination that such areas
are essential for the conservation of the species.
Conservation, as defined under section 3 of the Act, means to use
and the use of all methods and procedures that are necessary to bring
any endangered species or threatened species to the point at which the
measures provided under the Act are no longer necessary.
Critical habitat receives protection under section 7 of the Act
through the prohibition against Federal agencies carrying out, funding,
or authorizing the destruction or adverse modification of critical
habitat. Section 7 of the Act requires consultation on Federal actions
that may affect critical habitat. The designation of critical habitat
does not affect land ownership or establish a refuge, wilderness,
reserve, preserve, or other conservation area. Such designation does
not allow government or public access to private lands. Section 7 of
the Act is a purely protective measure and does not require
implementation of restoration, recovery, or enhancement measures.
For inclusion in a critical habitat designation, the habitat within
the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing
must first have features that are essential to the conservation of the
species. Critical habitat designations identify, to the extent known
using the best scientific data available, habitat areas that provide
essential life cycle needs of the species (i.e., areas on which are
found the primary constituent elements, as defined at 50 CFR
424.12(b)).
Habitat within the geographical area occupied by the species at the
time of listing may be included in critical habitat only if the habitat
has essential features that may require special management or
protection. Thus, we do not include areas where existing management is
sufficient to conserve the PCEs and the species. (As discussed below,
such areas may also be excluded from critical habitat under to section
4(b)(2) of the Act.)
We can designate unoccupied areas as critical habitat. However,
when the best available scientific data do not demonstrate that the
conservation needs of the species require additional areas, we will not
designate critical habitat in areas outside the geographical area
occupied by the species at the time of listing.
Section 4 of the Act requires that we designate critical habitat on
the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.
Further, our Policy on Information Standards Under the Endangered
Species Act, published in the Federal Register on July 1, 1994 (59 FR
34271), the Information Quality Act (section 515 of the Treasury and
General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (Pub. L.
106-554; H.R. 5658)), and our associated Information Quality Guidelines
provide criteria, establish procedures, and provide guidance to ensure
that our decisions represent the best scientific data available. They
require our biologists, to the extent consistent with the Act and with
the use of the best scientific data available, to use primary and
original sources of information as the basis for recommendations to
designate critical habitat. When determining which areas may be
designated as critical habitat, a primary source of information is
generally the listing package for the species. Additional information
sources include the recovery plan for the species, articles in peer-
reviewed journals, conservation plans developed by States and counties,
scientific status surveys and studies, biological assessments, or other
unpublished materials and expert opinion or personal knowledge. All
information is used in accordance with the provisions of the
Information Quality Act and the associated Information Quality
Guidelines issued by the Service.
Habitat is often dynamic, and species may move from one area to
another over time. Furthermore, we recognize that designation of
critical habitat may not include all of the habitat areas that we may
eventually determine are necessary for the recovery of the species. For
these reasons, a critical habitat designation does not signal that
habitat outside the designation is unimportant or may not be required
for recovery.
Areas that support populations of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but
are outside the critical habitat designation, will continue to be
subject to conservation actions we implement under section 7(a)(1) of
the Act. They are also subject to the regulatory protections afforded
by the section 7(a)(2) jeopardy standard, as determined on the basis of
the best available information at the time of the agency action.
Federally funded or permitted projects affecting listed species outside
their designated critical habitat areas may still result in jeopardy
findings in some cases. Similarly, critical habitat designations made
on the basis of the best available information at the time of
designation will not control the direction and substance of future
recovery plans, habitat conservation plans (HCPs), or other species
conservation planning efforts if new information available to these
planning efforts calls for a different outcome.
Methods
As required by section 4(b) of the Act, we used the best scientific
data available in determining areas occupied at the time of listing
that contain the features essential to the conservation of Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep, and areas unoccupied at the time of listing that
are essential to the conservation of the subspecies. We have also
reviewed available information pertaining to the habitat requirements
of this subspecies. These data include: information from the final
listing rule (65 FR 20, January 3, 2000); information published in
peer-reviewed literature, provided in academic theses and agency
reports, and published in a Resource Selection Probability Functions
model; location data and survey information provided in agency status
and monitoring reports and on Geographic Information System (GIS) maps;
information provided in the subspecies' draft recovery plan (Service
2003); material submitted during section 7 consultations; discussions
with members of California Department of Fish and Game's (CDFG's)
Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program and the Sierra Nevada
Bighorn Sheep Recovery Team; and regional GIS coverages.
Primary Constituent Elements
In accordance with section 3(5)(A)(i) of the Act and regulations at
50 CFR 424.12, in determining which areas to propose as critical
habitat within geographical areas occupied by the
[[Page 40959]]
species at the time of listing, we consider the primary constituent
elements to be those physical and biological features that are
essential to the conservation of the species and which may require
special management considerations and protection. These include, but
are not limited to:
(1) Space for individual and population growth and for normal
behavior;
(2) Food, water, air, light, minerals, or other nutritional or
physiological requirements;
(3) Cover or shelter;
(4) Sites for breeding, reproduction, and rearing (or development)
of offspring; and
(5) Habitats that are protected from disturbance or are
representative of the historic geographical and ecological
distributions of a species.
We derive the specific primary constituent elements required for
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep from its biological needs.
Space for Individual and Population Growth and for Normal Behavior
In general, Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep inhabit open areas where
the land is rocky, sparsely vegetated, and characterized by steep
slopes and canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5). In the Sierra Nevada, these
bighorn sheep occur within a wide range of elevations, from alpine
peaks in excess of 14,100 ft (4,300 m) to the base of the eastern
escarpment as low as 4,790 ft (1,460 m) (Wehausen 1980, pp. 3 and 82).
Recent modeling efforts have clarified and supported our knowledge that
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat occurs as low as 4,000 ft (1,219 m)
in the southern portion of its range (Johnson et al. 2005). Within this
elevational range, a variety of vegetation communities exists,
including: (1) Great Basin sagebrush-bitterbrush-bunchgrass scrub; (2)
pinyon-juniper woodland and mountain mahogany scrub; (3) mid-elevation
and subalpine forests, woodlands, and meadows; and (4) alpine meadows
and other alpine habitats varying from cliffs to plateaus (Service
2003, p. 3). Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep prefer Great Basin scrub and
alpine communities due to their visual openness. Because of the aridity
of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, many of the mid-elevation
vegetation communities have some locations near precipitous rocks with
sparse plant cover that allow use by bighorn sheep (Wehausen 1980, pp.
18-25, 80-100). The extreme visual openness and the steep, rocky nature
of alpine environments in the Sierra Nevada provide large expanses of
habitat broken by canyons containing forests and willow stands. These
areas of forests and willow stands are unlikely to be used by bighorn
sheep. In contrast, low elevation winter habitat has been limited to
small areas where topographic and visual features are suitable
(Riegelhuth 1965, pp. 34-38; McCullough and Schneegas 1966, pp. 71-72,
74-75; Wehausen 1979, pp. 36-53; 1980, pp. 81-88). Large expanses
lacking precipitous escape terrain can represent substantial barriers
to movement (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group
1997, p. 5).
Male and female bighorn sheep commonly live in separate groups
during much of the year, and often occupy different habitats (Geist and
Petocz 1977, pp. 1802-1803; Bleich et al. 1997, pp. 7-14, 22-34, 36-42;
Wehausen 1980, p. 109). In the Sierra Nevada, both sexes may share
common winter ranges, but they become more segregated as spring nears
(Wehausen 1980, pp. 112-113). During winter, bighorn sheep occupy high,
windswept ridges if forage is available or move to lower elevation
sagebrush-steppe habitat (as low as 4,790 ft (1,460 m)) to escape deep
winter snows and find nutritious forage. In winter, they show a
preference for south-facing slopes where snow melts more readily (Jones
1950, pp. 44-45; McCullough and Schneegas 1966, p. 71; Wehausen 1980,
pp. 86-87). During summer, the two sexes utilize different habitats,
with females restricted largely to alpine environments along the crest
and males often at somewhat lower elevations in subalpine habitats
(Wehausen 1980, pp. 112-113). Males again join females during the
breeding season in late fall. Both males and females will inhabit open
slopes where the area is rough, rocky, sparsely vegetated, and
characterized by steep slopes and canyons (Wehausen 1980, p. 81; Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group 1997, p. 5).
An indication of winter and summer range size for male and female
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep was provided by Wehausen (1980) and Chow
(1992). Wehausen (1980, p. 84) determined winter and summer range sizes
for the Baxter and Williamson herds. He estimated that total winter
range was 2,632 ac (10.65 square kilometers (km\2\)) and 3,291 ac
(13.32 km\2\), respectively. Summer range for ewes, lambs, and
yearlings was estimated at 13,005 ac (52.63 km\2\) and 3,808 ac (15.41
km\2\), respectively. Fall range was estimated at 11,073 ac (44.81
km\2\) and 3,242 ac (13.12 km\2\), respectively. Chow (1992, p. 37)
estimated home range size for the Lee Vining herd (winter/spring and
summer/fall for rams and ewes) using the minimum convex polygon method
(completely enclose all data points by connecting the outer locations
in such a way as to create a convex polygon) during 1986 to 1989.
During this period, ewes covered an area of 1,038 to 4,473 ac (4.2 to
18.1 km\2\) during winter/spring, and rams covered an area of 2,941 to
6,919 ac (11.9 to 28.0 km\2\). During this same period, ewes covered
2,347 ac to 5,535 (9.5 to 22.4 km\2\) during summer/fall while rams
covered 3,623 to 8,747 ac (14.7 to 35.4 km\2\). The mean minimum convex
polygon home range was 7,759 ac (31.4 km\2\) for ewes and 20,979 ac
(84.9 km\2\) for rams from Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler, Sawmill,
and Baxter herds (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004,
pp. 9, 17).
Bighorn sheep have developed philopatric behaviors (reluctance to
disperse from their home range) such that they are slow to colonize
unoccupied habitat (Geist 1971, pp. 98-99; Cowan and Geist 1971, p.
81). This is likely an adaptation to the naturally fragmented habitats
that bighorn sheep occupy. Both male and female Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep demonstrate seasonal philopatry (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Recovery Program 2004, p. 7). While both males and females show a
tendency to use the same ranges year after year, males show exceptions
and demonstrate long-distance movements (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Recovery Program 2004, p. 7). Annual home range diameter provides an
indication of the extreme distances the bighorn sheep can travel.
Maximum diameters for home ranges for female Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep from the Mount Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler, and Baxter herds
ranged from 3.95 to 10.41 mi (6.35 to 16.75 km); males from the Mount
Warren/Mount Gibbs, Wheeler, and Sawmill herds ranged from 5.5 to 36.9
mi (8.9 to 59.4 km) (Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004,
pp. 9, 17).
Bighorn sheep exhibit a variety of behavioral adaptations to avoid
predation. Bighorn sheep are primarily diurnal (Jones 1950, pp. 54-57;
Krausman et al. 1985, pp. 24-26). Coupled with their strong reliance on
keen eyesight to detect predators, diurnal behavior minimizes predation
risks. Due to their keen eyesight and agility on rocky slopes, bighorn
sheep in general select open habitats that allow predator detection at
distances great enough to allow time to reach steep, rocky terrain
(escape habitat) (Wehausen 1980, p. 81). This
[[Page 40960]]
precipitous, rocky terrain is generally near foraging and resting
areas. Bedding areas are needed for resting or sleeping purposes.
During the day, bedding areas are generally wherever the individual is
feeding. Bedding areas are made in the open but not necessarily in a
place with a view of the surrounding area; during the night, bedding
areas are generally among or near rugged, chuted cliffs (Jones 1950, p.
49). Bighorn sheep may venture a short distance away from rocky escape
terrain to feed; the distance they venture from safer habitat varies
and is apparently influenced by visual openness, wind, gender, season,
and abundance of predators (Service 2003, p. 6).
Sites for Breeding, Reproduction, and Rearing of Offspring
In the Sierra Nevada, ewes and rams come together in late fall or
early winter (November and December) (Jones 1950, pp. 63-64; Cowan and
Geist 1971, p. 64; Wishart 1978, p. 165) to breed, usually at high
elevations. Bighorn sheep generally give birth to single young (Wishart
1978, p. 165). Most bighorn sheep births in the Sierra Nevada occur in
May and June (Wehausen 1980, p. 94; 1996, p. 475). Lambing habitat is
in areas of precipitous rocks away from trees (Wehausen 1980, p. 95),
providing safe areas from predators. Ewes with newborn lambs are
solitary for a short period of time before joining nursery groups (65
FR 21; January 3, 2000).
Mortality Factors
Bighorn sheep die from a variety of causes including predation,
disease, and accidents. Various predators, including wolves (Canis
lupus), mountain lions (Felis concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans),
bobcats (Lynx rufus), and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) kill wild
sheep in North America (Cowan and Geist 1971, p. 75; Bleich 1999, p.
283). Jones (1950, pp. 67-68) listed golden eagles, mountain lions,
coyotes, wolverines (Gulo luscus), bobcats, and ravens (Corvus corax)
as likely predators of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but thought none of
these predators caused anything but small losses on the population
under normal circumstances. He thought predation overall was thought to
be light except during abnormally unfavorable winters. In recent years
in the Sierra Nevada, mountain lions have been the primary predator of
bighorn sheep, accounting for 96 percent of losses attributed to
predation (Service 2003, p. 10). Of 147 bighorn sheep deaths recorded
in the Sierra Nevada during 1975 to 2000, a minimum of 54.5 percent
could be attributed to predation (Service 2003, p. 10).
Numerous diseases of bighorn sheep have been documented (Bunch et
al. 1999, pp. 209-237). Bighorn sheep show a high susceptibility to
pneumonia, usually caused by bacteria of the genus Pasteurella (some
species now called Mannheimia) (Post 1971, pp. 98-101). Pneumonia
caused by Pasturella alone, or with other pathogens, is an important
disease threat for bighorn sheep (Bunch et al. 1999, p. 210). Lungworms
of the genus Protostrongylus can be important contributors to pneumonia
and mortality in bighorn sheep in the Rocky Mountains (Forrester 1971,
p. 158; Woodard et al. 1974, pp. 773-774). Bighorn in the Sierra Nevada
carry Protostrongylus lungworms, but parasite loads have been too low
to be considered a management concern (Wehausen 1980, p. 191).
Although die-offs of bighorn sheep due to disease have occurred
unrelated to domestic sheep (Miller et al. 1991, pp. 534-540), a
substantial amount of circumstantial evidence is available that
indicates that contact with domestic sheep is associated with
respiratory disease outbreaks resulting in significant morbidity and
mortality in wild bighorn sheep (Martin et al. 1996, pp. 72, 74). The
history of bighorn sheep in the United States provides numerous
examples of major die-offs following believed contact with domestic
sheep (Foreyt and Jessup 1982, pp. 163-164, 166; Singer et al. 2001, p.
1352; Coggins 2002, pp. 166-170), and these pneumonia epizootics can
extirpate entire populations (Martin et al. 1996, pp. 72, 75). Diseases
transferred through contact with domestic sheep are suspected to have
played a major role in the disappearance of certain bighorn sheep herds
in the Sierra Nevada beginning about 1870 (Wehausen 1988b, p. 100).
Many early die-offs of bighorn sheep, including some in the Sierra
Nevada, were attributed to scabies contracted from domestic sheep
(Jones 1950, p. 69; Buechner 1960, p. 111). In 1987, Clark et al.
(1988, p. 13) found scabies in three desert bighorn sheep in California
east of the Sierra Nevada. In a large sampling of 50 populations of
bighorn sheep in California between 1980 and 1990, 25 populations were
designated as scabies-positive because at least 1 seropositive animal
occurred at the low or high cutoff values, though no clinical evidence
of scabies was noted (Mazat et al. 1992, pp. 543-545).
Other infectious diseases may be of concern for bighorn sheep in
selected instances. Domestic goats are occasionally used as pack
animals in the back country or for brush control. This use could cause
concern if it occurs in or near bighorn sheep habitat. For example, a
recent outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the
eye) linked to domestic goats resulted in blindness and several deaths
(exacerbated by the blindness) in bighorn sheep in Arizona,
demonstrating the risk of disease outbreak in bighorn sheep from
interactions with domestic goats (Heffelfinger 2004, cited in Sierra
Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program 2004, p. 2).
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep remaining at high elevations year-round
likely contributed to population losses over winter (Wehausen 1996, pp.
474-477). Those losses included reduced lamb survival over winter and
losses of all sex and age classes in snow avalanches (Service 2003, pp.
10-11). A survey of the Wheeler Ridge herd during the heavy winter of
1995 found 12 sheep had died in a single snow avalanche (Torres et al.
1996, p. 28).
Metapopulation Structure
Within mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada, bighorn sheep
habitat is patchy and the population structure is one of natural
fragmentation (Bleich et al. 1990, p. 384). This fragmentation has led
to the application of a broad landscape approach to their population
ecology which groups geographically distinct herds into
metapopulations, which are networks of interacting herds (Schwartz et
al. 1986, pp. 182-183; Bleich et al. 1990, p. 386). This approach
considers long-term viability not of individual herds but rather of
entire metapopulations; thus both genetic and demographic factors are
considered. Decreasing population sizes, over time, can lead to
decreasing levels of heterozygosity (presence of different forms of a
gene at a particular location on a chromosome) that may have negative
demographic effects through inbreeding depression (Lande 1988, p. 1456)
and loss of adaptability. A small amount of genetic exchange among
herds by movements of males can counteract inbreeding and associated
increases in homozygosity (presence of identical forms of a gene at a
particular location on a chromosome) that might otherwise develop
within small, isolated populations (Schwartz et al. 1986, p. 185).
Males have a much greater tendency than females to explore new ranges,
which males may do in search of other females with which they will
breed. If geographic distances between female groups within
metapopulations are not great, gene migration by males occurs readily.
In
[[Page 40961]]
the absence of such a metapopulation structure, populations will be
isolated. Because the distribution of bighorn sheep in the Sierra
Nevada, is naturally fragmented, maintenance of migration corridors is
important to allow for genetic exchange between herd units. In the
Sierra Nevada this exchange may be more difficult because the
metapopulations occur mostly in a linear geographic distribution
pattern; thus fewer populations may have provided sources of colonists
(Service 2003, p. 40).
Substructuring also can occur within what are often thought of as
single herds of bighorn sheep (Festa-Bianchet 1986, pp. 327-330; Andrew
et al. 1997, pp. 74-75; Rubin et al. 1998, pp. 543-548). Such
substructuring is defined by separate home range patterns. Although
demonstrated more with females, it can occur in both sexes. For
example, what was once considered the Mount Baxter herd is now
recognized as two herds, the Mount Baxter and Sawmill Canyon herds.
Another important long-term process in metapopulation dynamics is
the balance between rates of natural extinction and colonization among
populations. Colonization rates must exceed extinction rates for a
metapopulation to persist (Hanski and Gilpin 1991, pp. 8-9). This
balance has not occurred for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep since about
1850 due to the high rate of local extinctions resulting in an
increasingly fragmented distribution. In addition to fragmentation from
past extinctions, remaining herds are small, isolated groups of bighorn
sheep. Because of their small population size, these small groups are
more vulnerable to extirpation due to random naturally occurring
events, disease, or predation (Shaffer 1987, pp. 71-73; Meffe and
Carroll 1994, pp. 190-197; Service 2003, p. 8).
Food and Nutritional Requirements
Bighorn sheep are ungulates that consume a wide variety of plant
species. Due to a large rumen and reticulum relative to body size, they
are able to have flexibility in the plants they consume which includes
graminoids (grasses, sedges, and rushes) in different phenological
stages (Hanley 1982, p. 148). Bighorn sheep consume a wide variety of
plant species. While they prefer grasses, sedges, and forbs, different
browse species become important food during the fall and winter
(Wishart 1978, p. 167).
Bighorn sheep exhibit seasonal changes in habitat use due to
seasonal changes in resource availability, habitat and resource
requirements. Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep rarely utilize surface water;
instead, these bighorn sheep generally obtain moisture from their
forage or the occasional consumption of snow. Altitudinal migration by
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep allows them to maximize nutrient intake
during the year (Wehausen and Hansen 1988, pp. 256-257, 265-267;
Wehausen 1996, pp. 476-477), as the relationship between elevation and
temperature (Major 1977, pp. 44-45) influences plant growth (Wehausen
1980, p. 86-91, 133-135). In general, temperatures decrease with
increasing altitude (Major 1977, p. 44). In the Sierra Nevada, every 56
ft (17 m) of elevation gain causes 1 day delay in the onset of plant
growth (Wehausen and Hansen 1988, p. 257). Bighorn sheep are able to
take advantage of early spring growth (usually cold-season grasses) and
then later change their diet to include warm-season plants that may
have higher nutrient concentrations than grasses (Wehausen and Hansen
1988, p. 257). Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep use low-elevation ranges
extensively in winter and early spring, alpine ranges in summer and
fall, and some intermediate ranges during transition periods (Wehausen
1980, pp. 80-100).
In the following section plant nomenclature has been updated to
conform to treatments in Hickman (1993). Common names generally conform
to those given in Hickman (1993) and/or Abrams et al. (1923-1960).
Cited scientific names are retained in brackets for ease of reference.
The following plant species were found to be important winter/spring
forage for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep: Achnatherum speciosum [Stipa
speciosa] (desert needlegrass), Eriogonum fasciculatum (California
buckwheat), Artemisia tridentata (sagebrush), Ephedra viridis (green
ephedra), Keckiella breviflora (gaping keckiella), Purshia glandulosa
(Mojave antelope bush), P. tridentata (northern antelope bush), and
Ceanothus cordulatus (mountain whitethorn) (Wehausen 1980, p. 87).
McCullough and Schneegas (1966, p. 72) and Riegelhuth (1965, p. 38)
provide similar lists of plant species observed consumed by Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep during winter and/or summer (TABLE 1). Wehausen
(1980, pp. 124-126) provides a list of plants consumed by both sexes in
summer (TABLE 1).
Table 1.--Plant Species Observed Consumed by Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep During Summer and Fall Months
(McCullough and Schneegas (1966, p. 72); Riegelhuth (1965, p. 38); Wehausen 1980, p. 124-126).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sex Season Scientific name Common name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ewes and Lambs....................... Summer and fall........ Polemonium eximium..... sky pilot.
Hulsea algida.......... alpine hulsea.
Carex helleri.......... Heller's sedge.
C. rossii.............. Ross' sedge.
C. leporinella......... Sierra hare sedge.
Elymus elymoides ssp. bottlebrush
elymoides [Sitanion squirreltail.
hystrix].
Phacelia hastata timberline phacelia.
[frigida].
Silene sargentii....... Sargent's campion.
Aquilegia pubescens.... Coville's columbine.
Ivesia pygmaea......... dwarf ivesia.
Juncus parryi.......... Parry's rush.
Achnatherum [Stipa] pine needlegrass.
pinetorum.
Lupinus formosus....... summer lupine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rams................................. Summer and fall........ Juncus parryi.......... Parry's rush.
Carex filifolia var. (no common name).
erostrata [exserta].
C. rossi............... (no common name).
C. aurea............... golden-fruited sedge.
Luzula comosa.......... hairy wood rush.
Poa cusickii ssp. mountain bluegrass.
epilis [epilis].
Elymus elymoides ssp. (no common name).
elymoides [Sitanion
hystrix].
[[Page 40962]]
Danthonia intermedia... mountain oatgrass.
Achnatherum lemmonii Lemmon's stipa.
[Stipa columbiana].
Eriogonum latens....... onion-flowered
eriogonum.
Trifolium monanthum.... carpet clover.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Both sexes........................... Summer................. Holodiscus microphyllus small-leaved cream
bush.
Jamesia americana...... cliff bush.
Ribes montigenum....... alpine prickly currant.
Potentilla fruticosa... shrubby cinquefoil.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to forage needs, salt/mineral licks are specific sites
where bighorn sheep have access to important minerals to meet
nutritional needs. These licks contain minerals such as sodium,
calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Sites are generally found in granite
rock outcroppings in the Sierra Nevada. Some known areas occur in the
vicinity of Gilcrest Peak and Tioga Road (Chow 1992, p. 52), Baxter
Pass (Jones 1950, p. 63; Hicks and Elder 1979, p. 911; Wehausen 1980,
p. 151), and Mayfield Canyon (Stephenson 2007).
Historical and Geographic Distribution of the Species
Historically, the range of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep included
the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, and for at least one
subpopulation, a portion of the western slope, from Sonora Pass in Mono
County to Walker Pass in Kern County, a total distance of approximately
346 km (215 miles (mi)) (Jones 1950, pp. 33-35; Wehausen 1979, p. 1).
The extant range of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep begins in the Lee
Vining area in Mono County and extends south to the Mount Langley area
in Inyo County. This is a linear distance of approximately 110 mi (177
km).
All currently occupied units that are proposed for designation were
occupied at the time of listing and contain the physical and biological
features essential to the conservation of the subspecies and may
require special management considerations or protection. The areas
proposed for designation that are currently unoccupied were also not
occupied at the time of listing, however these areas are representative
of the historical and geographical distribution of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep and were all historically occupied (Ober 1914, p. 125;
Ober 1931, p. 32; Jones 1950, pp. 35, 38-40; Buechner 1960, p. 69;
Barrett 1965, p. 43; Riegelhuth 1965, p. 35; Dunaway 1971, p. 19;
Wehausen et al. 1987, p. 66; Wehausen 1988a, pp.100-101; Wehausen
1988b, p. 100; Berger 1990, p. 94). Furthermore, we have determined
that all proposed unoccupied habitat is essential for the conservation
of the subspecies and will decrease the degree of fragmentation within
the current geographic distribution of the subspecies. For further
information on occupancy status see Table 3 and the Unit Description
sections below.
Primary Constituent Elements for Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep
Under the Act and its implementing regulations, we are required to
identify the known physical and biological features (primary
constituent elements or PCEs) within the geographical area occupied,
which may require special management considerations or protection. All
areas proposed as critical habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are
within the subspecies' historical geographic range, and contain
sufficient PCEs to support at least one life history function.
Based on the above needs and our current knowledge of the life
history, biology, and ecology of the subspecies, we have determined
that the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep's PCEs are:
(1) Non-forested habitats or forest openings within the Sierra
Nevada from 4,000 ft (1,219 m) to 14,500 ft (4,420 m) in elevation with
steep (greater than or equal to 60 percent slope), rocky slopes that
provide for foraging, mating, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding
and allow for seasonal elevational movements between these areas.
(2) Presence of a variety of forage plants as indicated by the
presence of grasses (e.g., Achnanthera spp.; Elymus spp.) and browse
(e.g., Ribes spp.; Artemisia spp., Purshia spp.) in winter, and
grasses, browse, sedges (e.g., Carex spp.) and forbs (e.g., Eriogonum
spp.) in summer.
(3) Presence of granite rock outcroppings containing minerals such
as sodium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus that could be used as salt
licks/mineral licks in order to meet nutritional needs.
We determined that these PCEs contained within the proposed
critical habitat units discussed below provide for the physiological,
behavioral, and ecological requirements of the Sierra Nevada bighorn
sheep. The first PCE provides for the general biotic communities that
are known to support Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep habitat in the Sierra
Nevada of California. Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are not known to
occur outside of the communities/elevations described in this PCE. This
PCE further provides the components necessary for foraging (summer and
winter), breeding, lambing, predator avoidance, and bedding, and allows
for seasonal elevational movements among these areas.
The second PCE describes the types of food necessary to meet the
biological needs of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep related to seasonal
range movements. Altitudinal migration by Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
allows them to maximize nutrient consumption during the year (Wehausen
and Hansen 1988, pp. 256-257, 265-267; Wehausen 1996, pp. 476-477), as
the relationship between elevation and temperature (Major 1977, pp. 44-
45) influences plant growth (Wehausen 1980, pp. 86-91, 133-135), as
discussed earlier. Wehausen (1980, p. 86) found winter diet quality was
improved with warmer winter temperatures that aided plant growth; he
found summer diet quality was improved, apparently, by the amount of
snowfall the previous winter, which may influence soil moisture for
alpine plants (Wehausen 1980, p. 133).
The third primary constituent element provides for additional
nutritional needs. Mineral licks provide necessary nutrients, important
in meeting dietary requirements.
We have designed this proposed designation for the conservation of
PCEs
[[Page 40963]]
necessary to support the life history functions that were the basis for
our proposal and the areas containing those PCEs. Because not all life
history functions require all the PCEs, not all areas proposed as
critical habitat will contain all the PCEs.
We propose units for designation based on sufficient PCEs being
present to support one or more of the subspecies' life history
functions. Some units contain all PCEs and support multiple life
processes, while some units contain only a portion of the PCEs
necessary to support the subspecies' particular use of that habitat.
This applies to both occupied and unoccupied units proposed in this
designation.
Criteria Used To Identify Critical Habitat
We propose to designate critical habitat in areas that we have
determined were occupied at the time of listing and that contain
sufficient PCEs to support life history functions essential for the
conservation of the subspecies and may require special management
considerations or protection. Some lands contain only a portion of the
PCEs necessary to support the particular use of that habitat during
that portion of the life process. We propose to designate critical
habitat on some specific unoccupied areas outside of the geographical
area occupied by the subspecies at the time of listing, but these areas
were historically occupied, and we have determined that they are
essential for the conservation of the subspecies.
In our analysis, we reviewed existing data to determine the
distribution of areas occupied by the subspecies at the time of
listing. We also reviewed available information related to the habitat
requirements of the subspecies. We used information from literature
cited in the final listing rule (65 FR 20; January 3, 2000), the
recovery plan, site records, reports prepared by CDFG, and other
published scientific literature.
We used the following criteria to select areas occupied by the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep at the time of listing for inclusion in
critical habitat:
(a) Those areas occupied by the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep at the
time of listing (1999-2000) as indicated in the final listing rule (65
FR 20; January 3, 2000). In the final rule, we identified five
subpopulations of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep that existed: (1) Lee
Vining Canyon (=Mount Warren, Mt. Gibbs Herd Units), (2) Wheeler Crest
(=Wheeler Ridge Herd Unit), (3) Mount Baxter (=Sawmill Canyon, Mount
Baxter Herd Units), (4) Mount Williamson (=Mount Williamson Herd Unit),
and (5) Mount Langley (=Mount Langley Herd Unit) in Mono and Inyo
counties, California (Wehausen 1999, pp. 1-7; 2000, pp. 1-6);
(b) areas that are representative of the distribution of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep throughout the geographical range occupied at the
time of listing with the goal of maintaining the subspecies' range of
habitat and genetic variability; and
(c) areas that allow for the continued existence of viable
subpopulations under varying environmental conditions and that can
serve as locations for source populations. The locations of all five
subpopulations identified in the original listing rule continue to
remain occupied today.
Current population estimates of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep in
2006 indicate 350 to 400 individuals occur throughout its range
(Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7); this is an increase from the 125
individuals estimated at the time of listing (65 FR 20; January 3,
2000). Current individual herd numbers in the different subpopulations
range from 8 to 113 individuals (Wehausen and Stephenson 2006, p. 7).
Current occupancy of these herd units is supported by agency reports
(Wehausen and Stephenson 2004, pp. 2-10; 2005, pp. 2-6; 2006, pp. 2-6),
status reports (Wehausen 1999, pp. 1-7; 2000, pp. 1-6), and monthly
CDFG monitoring reports based on GPS/telemetry/monitoring data
collected during 2001 through 2006. We have determined that the areas
occupied at the time of listing continue to be occupied, contain
features essential to the conservation of the subspecies (possess one
or more PCEs such that the area supports one or more of the Sierra
Nevada bighorn sheep's life processes), and provide sufficient habitat
to protect these populations.
We further propose to designate critical habitat on lands that were
historically occupied by the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, but were not
occupied at the time of listing and are not currently occupied. These
areas were all historically occupied within the past 90 years (Jones
1950, pp. 33-35) and are essential to the conservation of the
subspecies. Based on the best available information, we have determined
that without protection and management of these unoccupied areas,
conservation of the subspecies will not be possible.
We applied each of the following criteria to select areas
historically occupied, but not known to be occupied at the time of
listing by the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep, for inclusion in critical
habitat:
(1) Areas where habitat contains sufficient PCEs (e.g,
characteristics such as non-forested, steep, rocky slopes and foraging
areas) to support life history functions;
(2) Areas where habitat has been known to have been occupied by the
subspecies. In some areas this was as long ago as 90 years (Jones 1950,
pp. 33-35). In all of the areas the habitat has not changed appreciably
in size or quality during that time;
(3) Areas where appropriate habitat for Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
has been predicted by CDFG based on Resource Selection Probability
Functions modeling (Johnson et al. 2005) (i.e., contains habitat with
the PCEs and additional, more specific characteristics that allow for a
range of the subspecies' biological needs, such as sites for feeding);
(4) Areas where there is potential for reoccupation by the
subspecies, either through natural means of dispersal from currently
occupied areas or by future re-introduction efforts; and
(5) Areas that are geographically separated from currently occupied
units by approximately 0.5 to 8 mi (0.8 to 12.9 km) to provide
redundancy of habitat in the event of a natural catastrophe removing
habitat (PCEs) from currently occupied units.
The designation of these unoccupied areas would decrease the degree
of fragmentation within the current geographic distribution of the
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. We believe that the designation of these
additional areas is essential for the conservation of the subspecies
because:
(1) Population increases, either through natural means or
reintroductions into the additional units, are expected to increase the
viability of the herds within occupied areas as well as the existence
of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep as a whole (i.e., increase the
likelihood of persistence at the local population level and of this
subspecies rangewide);
(2) The Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is recognized as a unique
subspecies (Wehausen and Ramey 2000, p. 156; Wehausen et al. 2005, p.
217), and the additional units will serve to decrease the degree of
fragmentation of the current geographic distribution of the sheep
(i.e., increase connectivity between areas known to be currently
occupied). Fragmented distribution across the landscape reduces the
connectivity between subpopulations. If small populations are isolated
and remain small, there is an increased risk of genetic drift and risk
to persistence
[[Page 40964]]
due to naturally occurring events (Gilpin and Soule 1986, pp. 25, 33).
Maintenance of genetic variation is important in reducing inbreeding
depression and the ability to respond to environmental changes over
time especially in small populations (Schwartz et al. 1986, pp. 180-
186; Lande 1988, pp. 1456-1457). Establishing additional units/
subpopulations in unoccupied areas would fill in range gaps between the
other occupied units/subpopulations. All of the unoccupied units lie
within 8 mi (12.9 km) of an occupied area. This would reduce migration
distances and increase the opportunity for genetic exchange between the
subpopulations. The addition of these unoccupied units would ensure the
full geographic distribution of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep is
represented; and
(3) The current overall population size of the Sierra Nevada
bighorn sheep is small, and it must increase to insure the long-term
survival of this subspecies in the Sierra Nevada, as small populations
are more vulnerable to extinction (Meffe and Carroll 1994, pp. 190-197;
Shaffer 1987, pp. 71-73). While the occupied units provide habitat for
current populations, additional units would provide habitat for
population growth either through natural means or through re-
introductions. Population increase in the additional units would assist
in reducing the risk of extinction of the subspecies through stochastic
events, such as wildfire, disease (Miller et al. 1991, pp. 534-540;
Martin et al. 1996, pp. 72, 74; Bunch et al. 1999, pp. 209-237), or
avalanches (Torres et al. 1996, p. 28), as the current isolated
populations are few in number and small in size and at risk from such
stochastic events. Establishing additional subpopulations, increasing a
subpopulation's size, and increasing the overall distribution of
subpopulations across the landscape are fundamental in reducing the
significance of losing any single subpopulation.
We have determined that the proposed but unoccupied Twin Lakes,
Green Creek, and Coyote Ridge Herd Unit areas, as identified in the
draft recovery plan (Service 2003), are not essential for the
conservation of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. During the recovery
team's continuing efforts to finalize the draft recovery plan, an
additional herd unit, Bubbs Creek, is to be included in the recovery
plan due to bighorn sheep occupying this area (Wehausen and Stephenson
2004, p. 5; Benz 2007, p. 1). These four herd units are considered not
essential for the following reasons:
(1) We believe that the 12 units we propose for critical habitat
would provide the necessary habitat and area to insure the viability
and long-term survival of the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep at the local
and subspecies levels as well as provide for sufficient resiliency,
representation and redundancy;
(2) There is uncertainty whether viable Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep
herds can become established in the proposed Twin Lakes, Green Creek,
and Coyote Ridge Herd Unit areas due to the lack of historic evidence
regarding the number of animals that may have occurred in these areas
and/or our limited understanding of the availability and connectivity
between foraging habitats in these areas. Thus, there is a question as
to whether there is a potential for reoccupation by the subspecies,
either through natural means of dispersal or by future re-introduction
efforts. As a result, the three proposed herd unit areas do not meet
our criteria number 4 for identification of critical habitat outlined
above. Therefore, the proposed Twin Lakes, Green Creek, and Coyote
Ridge Herd Unit areas are not considered essential for recovery; and
(3) Bighorn sheep were discovered in the Bubbs Creek Herd Unit in
2001 and were likely a result of a recent colonization. That herd unit
is west of the crest of the Sierra Nevada where snowfall is much
greater than the east side of the range. Because there are no
historical records of bighorn sheep winter ranges in the Bubbs Creek
area, there is uncertainty as to the long-term viability of this herd
unit. Consequently the Bubbs Creek Herd Unit is not considered
