[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33033-33034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15929]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AE85
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of
Reopening of Public Comment Period on the Proposed Rule to List the
Cowhead Lake Tui Chub as Endangered
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; 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
the reopening of the comment period for the proposed endangered status
for the Cowhead Lake tui chub (Gila bicolor vaccaceps). The comment
period has been reopened to acquire additional information on the
[[Page 33034]]
biology, distribution, and status of the Cowhead Lake tui chub in
northeastern California.
DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by August
3, 1998. All comments received by the closing date will be considered
in the final decision on this proposal.
ADDRESSES: Written comments, materials and data, and available reports
and articles concerning this proposal should be sent directly to the
Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento,
California 95821. Comments and materials received will be available for
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the
above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Chrisney, at the address listed
above (telephone 916/979-2725, facsimile 916/979-2723).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Cowhead Lake tui chub is a fish that is found only in Cowhead
Slough and connected ditches within the bed of Cowhead Lake in extreme
northeastern Modoc County, California. Prior to being drained for
agricultural purposes, Cowhead Lake is thought to have contained the
majority of the Cowhead Lake tui chub population. The entire population
appears to occur in a very confined area of 5.4 kilometers (3.4 miles)
of Cowhead Slough and connected drainage within the bed of Cowhead
Lake. There are no additional populations. Protection of the habitat
within this limited range is required to conserve the Cowhead Lake tui
chub. This subspecies is threatened throughout its range by a variety
of impacts, including loss of habitat from agricultural activities, the
risk of disease and contamination, loss of genetic variability and by
naturally occurring random events.
On March 30, 1998, the Service published in the Federal Register a
rule proposing endangered status for the Cowhead Lake tui chub (63 FR
15152). The original comment period closed May 29, 1998.
There have been requests from five parties, including private
organizations and private citizens, to reopen the comment period for
this listing proposal. The Service is seeking additional information
concerning:
(1) The size, number, or distribution of populations of this
subspecies; and
(2) Other biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any
threat (or lack thereof) to this subspecies.
Written comments may be submitted until August 3, 1998 to the
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Ann Chrisney (see ADDRESSES
section).
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: June 9, 1998.
Don Weathers,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 98-15929 Filed 6-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
