[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 43 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10817-10818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5666]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AE52
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public
Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status
for Howell's Spectacular Thelypody
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and reopening of
comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of a
public hearing on the proposed threatened status for Thelypodium
howellii ssp. spectabilis (Howell's spectacular thelypody). In
addition, the Service has reopened the comment period to accommodate a
public hearing that was requested by the Oregon Cattlemen's
Association. All parties are invited to submit comments on this
proposal.
DATES: The comment period now closes on April 20, 1998. Any comments
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision
on this proposal. The public hearing will be held on April 9, 1998,
from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Geiser Grand Hotel,
1996 Main Street, Baker City, Oregon. Comments and materials concerning
this proposal should be sent to the Supervisor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Snake River Basin Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368,
Boise, Idaho 83709. Comments and materials received will be available
for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at
the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Ruesink, Supervisor, at the
above address (see ADDRESSES section) or (208) 378-5243.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 10818]]
Background
Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis is known from 11 sites in
Baker and Union counties, Oregon. This taxon is threatened by a variety
of factors including habitat destruction and fragmentation from
agricultural and urban development, grazing by domestic livestock,
competition from non-native vegetation, and alterations of wetland
hydrology.
Comments from the public regarding the accuracy of this proposed
rule are sought, especially regarding:
(1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning
any threat (or lack thereof) to the species listed above;
(2) The location of any additional populations of the species and
the reasons why any habitat should or should not be determined to be
critical habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act;
(3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and
population sizes of the species; and
(4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their
possible impacts on the species.
On January 13, 1998, the Service published a rule proposing
threatened status for Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis in the
Federal Register (63 FR 1948). The original comment period was to close
on March 16, 1998. Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) requires that a public hearing be held if it is requested within
45 days of the publication of the proposed rule. A public hearing
request from Mr. Rod Dowse of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association in
Portland, Oregon, was received within the allotted time period. The
Service has scheduled a public hearing to be held on April 9, 1998, at
the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Oregon.
Parties wishing to make statements for the record should bring a
copy of their statements to the hearing. Oral statements may be limited
in length, if the number of parties present at the hearing necessitates
such a limitation. There are no limits to the length of written
comments or materials presented at the hearing or mailed to the
Service. Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments. The
comment period now closes on April 20, 1998. Written comments should be
submitted to the Service office listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Author: The primary author of this notice is Edna Rey-Vizgirdas
(see ADDRESSES section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: February 26, 1998.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 98-5666 Filed 3-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
