Endangered and threatened species: Critical habitat designation— West Coast steelhead,

[Federal Register: April 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 79)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 20248-20249]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr26ap99-44]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 223, 224, and 226

[I.D. 121198A and 033198A]

Endangered and Threatened Species; Extension of Comment Period and Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for West Coast Steelhead; Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed De-listing of Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; public hearings and extension of public comment period.

SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public comment period by 60 days and announcing public hearings in California, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho on the proposed designation of critical habitat for nine Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of west coast steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). NMFS is also announcing public hearings on a proposal to de-list the Umpqua River ESU of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki).

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates and times of public hearings. The date of written comments on the steelhead proposed critical habitat designation is extended from May 6, 1999 to July 5, 1999. Comments on both the listing and de-listing proposals are due by July 6, 1999.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for locations of public hearings. Written comments on the proposed rules and requests for reference materials should be sent to Chief, Protected Species Division, NMFS, 525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232- 2737.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, (503) 231-2005, Craig Wingert, (562) 980-4021, or Chris Mobley (301) 713-1401. Copies of the Federal Register documents cited herein and additional salmon-related materials are available via the Internet at www.nwr.noaa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On February 5, 1999 (64 FR 5740), NMFS issued a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for nine ESUs of west coast steelhead listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (62 FR 43937, August 18, 1997; 63 FR 13347, March 19, 1998; 64 FR 14517, March 25, 1999). Proposed critical habitat for all nine ESUs is the current freshwater and estuarine range (including all waterways, substrates, and adjacent riparian zones) below longstanding, naturally impassable barriers (i.e., natural waterfalls in existence for at least several hundred years) and several dams that block access to former anadromous habitats. Since the proposed designation, NMFS has received several requests for public hearings in affected communities within the range of the nine ESUs and is now announcing the dates and locations of these hearings. In addition, the agency is extending the May 6, 1999 comment period deadline by 60 days to allow additional time for public hearings and subsequent public responses to those hearings. Hence, July 5, 1999, is the new deadline for submitting written comments on the steelhead proposed critical habitat designation.

Also, on April 5, 1999, NMFS published a proposed rule to list one ESU of coastal cutthroat trout (Southwestern Washington/Columbia River) as a threatened species under the ESA and to de-list another ESU (Umpqua River) previously listed as an endangered species (64 FR 16397). The agency has received a request for a hearing on the latter proposal but none on the former. Therefore, NMFS is also announcing public hearings on the Umpqua River proposed de-listing; comments on both the listing and de-listing proposals are due by July 6, 1999.

Public Hearings

NMFS is soliciting specific information, comments, data, and/or recommendations on any aspect of these proposals from all concerned parties. Public hearings provide an additional opportunity for the public to give comments and to permit an exchange of information and opinion among interested parties. Department of Commerce ESA implementing regulations state that the Secretary of Commerce ``shall promptly hold at least one public hearing if any person so requests within 45 days of publication of a proposed regulation to list...species'' (50 CFR 424.16 (c)(3)). NMFS has received several requests for public hearings in the areas affected by the proposals and has made every effort to accommodate the specific requests. While the agency was unable to hold hearings at every site requested, the locations selected should be reasonably accessible to most interested parties. The public will have the opportunity to

[[Page 20249]]

provide oral and written testimony at the scheduled public hearings. Interested parties unable to attend the public hearings are encouraged to send comments to NMFS (see ADDRESSES). The agency will consider all information, comments, and recommendations received before reaching a final decision on these listing and critical habitat proposals. Public hearings will be held as follows:

Public Hearings Regarding Steelhead Critical Habitat

1. Tuesday, May 11, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel/ Redding, 1830 Hilltop Drive, Redding, California.

2. Wednesday, May 12, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., The Heritage Hotel and Convention Center (formerly The Beverly Garland Hotel), 1780 Tribute Road, Sacramento, California.

3. Thursday, May 13, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Modesto Irrigation District, 1231 11th Street, Modesto, California.

4. Tuesday, May 18, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel Sonoma County; One DoubleTree Drive, Rohnert Park, California.

5. Wednesday, May 19, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monterey Beach Hotel; 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, Monterey, California.

6. Thursday, May 20, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort; 633 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, California.

7. Tuesday, May 25, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Umpqua Discovery Center, 409 Riverfront Way, Reedsport, Oregon.

8. Wednesday, May 26, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Douglas County Courthouse, Room 216, 1036 SE Douglas Avenue, Roseburg, Oregon.

9. Thursday, May 27, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eugene City Hall, Council Chambers, 777 Pearl Street, Eugene, Oregon.

10. Tuesday, June 1, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Chelan Center, 317 East Johnson, Chelan, Washington.

11. Wednesday, June 2, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Yakima County Courthouse, Room 420, 128 North 2nd Street, Yakima, Washington.

12. Thursday, June 3, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main Street, Lewiston, Idaho.

13. Friday, June 4, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Natural Resource Center, Bureau of Land Management, 1387 South Binnell Way, Boise, Idaho.

14. Monday, June 7, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Metro Regional Center, Council Chamber, 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

15. Thursday, June 10, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wasco County Courthouse, 511 Washington Street, Courtroom 301, The Dalles, Oregon.

    Public Hearings Regarding Umpqua River Cutthroat Trout Proposal

1. Tuesday, May 25, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Umpqua Discovery Center, 409 Riverfront Way, Reedsport, Oregon.

2. Wednesday, May 26, 1999, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Douglas County Courthouse, Room 216, 1036 SE Douglas Avenue, Roseburg, Oregon.

   Special Accommodations

   These hearings are physically accessible to people with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other aids should be directed to Garth Griffin or Craig Wingert (see ADDRESSES) by 7 days prior to each meeting date.

   Dated: April 20, 1999. Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

   [FR Doc. 99-10392Filed4-21-99; 4:06 pm]

   BILLING CODE 3510-22-F