Endangered and threatened species: Findings on petitions, etc. Bonneville cutthroat trout,
[Federal Register: January 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 8)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2167]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ja99-22]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on the 90-Day Finding for a Petition To List the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as Threatened
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period on 90-day finding.
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service provides notice of the reopening of the comment period on the 90-day finding for a petition to list the Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The initial comment period, as identified in the Federal Register notice of the finding (63 FR 67640) published December 8, 1998, closed on January 7, 1999. To accommodate several requests for extensions, the Service is reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days.
DATES: To be considered in the 12-month finding for this petition, written comments and materials should be submitted to the Service by February 12, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Information, data, or comments concerning this petition should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, Utah Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. The petition, finding, support data, and comments are available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet A. Mizzi, Utah Field Office, at the above address, or telephone 801/524-5001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Bonneville cutthroat trout is native to the Bonneville Basin in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming. Its habitat is widely distributed and variable and includes both river and lake ecosystems. The subspecies occurs in streams with coniferous and deciduous riparian trees at 3,500 meters (m) (11,483 feet (ft)) above mean sea level, to streams in sage- steppe grasslands with herbaceous riparian zones at 1000 m (3281 ft) above mean sea level, to lake environments.
On February 26, 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) received a petition to list the Bonneville cutthroat trout as a threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). On December 8, 1998, the Service published a 90-day notice on this petition, finding that it presented substantial information indicating that listing this species may be warranted, and initiating a status review of the species.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service is soliciting information primarily on (1) genetic variability and purity of the various subpopulations, (2) population status and trends, (3) management policies and conservation plans affecting Bonneville cutthroat trout, and (4) threats to the species, including those identified in the petition. The original comment period for this action expired January 7, 1999. With this notice, the comment period is reopened for an additional 30 days, until February 12, 1999. Comments, information and data should be submitted to the Service's Utah Field Office (see ADDRESSES above.)
Author
The author of this notice is Janet A. Mizzi, Utah Field Office (see ADDRESSES above), telephone 801/524-5001.
Authority
Authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: January 7, 1999. Elliott Sutta, Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-720Filed1-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M
