Endangered and threatened species: Hearings,

[Federal Register: September 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 169)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 47755-47756]

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

[DOCID:fr01se99-49]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC48

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Rule To Remove the Bald Eagle From the List of Endangered and Threatened Species in the Lower 48 States.

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of public hearings.

SUMMARY: The Service gives notice of the agency's intent to hold public hearings on the proposed rule to remove the bald eagle from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species in the lower 48 States. The public hearings are being held in response to written requests received within the 45-day hearing request period. The comment period remains open through October 5, 1999. Public hearings will be held within the comment period and will allow appropriate time for the public to provide further comments.

DATES and ADDRESSES: The first public hearing will be held on Monday, September 13, 1999, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the McGavock High

[[Page 47756]]

School Auditorium, 3150 McGavock Pike, Nashville, Tennessee, from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. The second public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 21, 1999, in Yorktown, Virginia, at the York High School Auditorium, 9300 George Washington Highway (U.S. Route 17), Yorktown, Virginia, from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. The final public hearing will be held on Thursday, September 23, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona, in the 4th Floor Music Room of the Phoenix Public Library, 1221 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

The comment period remains open until October 5, 1999, as originally published in the July 6, 1999, Federal Register Notice. Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be sent to Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4469-48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201, or may be sent through our website at www.fws.gov/r3pao/eagle. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle Recovery Coordinator, at 309/793-5800 x 524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 throughout the lower 48 States. The bald eagle also occurs in Alaska, Canada, and in small numbers in northern Mexico, where it is not protected under the Act. The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to remove the bald eagle from the List of Endangered and Threatened Species in the lower 48 States. This action would not alter those conservation measures already in force to protect the species and its habitats.

The Federal Register notice announcing the proposed rule was published on July 6, 1999 (64 FR 36454). The comment period ends on October 5, 1999, and the deadline for receipt of public hearing requests was August 20, 1999. Six requests for public hearings have been received within the deadline, including one from New York, one from Virginia, two from Kentucky, one from Arkansas, and one from Arizona. Those parties wishing to make statements for the record should have available a copy of their statements to be presented to the Service at the start of the hearing. Oral statements may be limited to 5 or 10 minutes if the number of parties present necessitates some limitation. There are no limits to the length of written comments presented at this hearing or mailed to the Service.

Dated: August 27, 1999. Charles M. Wooley, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, Minnesota.

[FR Doc. 99-22917Filed8-31-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P