Endangered and threatened species: Findings on petitions, etc.— Mountain plover,

[Federal Register: April 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 74)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 19108]

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

[DOCID:fr19ap99-21]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF35

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period and Announcement of Public Hearings on Proposal To List the Mountain Plover as a Threatened Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

SUMMARY: On February 16, 1999, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the mountain plover as a threatened species, without critical habitat, under authority of the Endangered Species Act (64 FR 7587). The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that five public hearings will be held on the proposal, and that the comment period will be extended 60 days. During the breeding season, the mountain plover is widely distributed in shortgrass prairie, shrub steppe, and cultivated landscapes from Montana south to Texas. Most breeding birds occur in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming; fewer breeding birds occur in Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Wintering plovers are most numerous in California; some winter in Arizona, Texas, and Mexico.

DATES: The comment period on the proposal is extended to June 21, 1999. The public hearings will be held at the following cities, dates, and times.

Malta, Montana: Tuesday, May 25, 1999; 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Billings, Montana: Wednesday, May 26, 1999; 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Casper, Wyoming: Wednesday, June 2, 1999; 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Greeley, Colorado: Tuesday, May 25, 1999; 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Lamar, Colorado: Wednesday, May 26, 1999: 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The following lists the locations of the meetings cited above:

Malta, Montana: Malta High School, #1 High School Lane. Billings, Montana: MSU-Billings, 1500 N. 30th Street, Ballroom. Casper, Wyoming: Holiday Inn, I-25 and Center Street. Greeley, Colorado: Weld County Centennial Center, 915 10th Street. Lamar, Colorado: Lamar Community College, 2401 South Main Street, Bowman 138 Lecture Hall.

Written comments and materials should be sent to the Assistant Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506-3946. We will make comments and materials we receive available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Leachman at the above address, telephone 970-243-2778; facsimile 970-245-6933.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Endangered Species Act requires that public hearings regarding proposals for listing be held promptly when requested by the public within 45 days of the proposal's publication in the Federal Register. Public hearing requests were received during the allotted time period from Ken Blunt, Phillips County Prairie Ecosystem Action Council (Montana); Francis V. Jacobs, Board of County Commissioners, Phillips County, Montana; John Sidle, USDA Forest Service, Nebraska; and Park County Wyoming County Commissioners. While we received no formal requests for hearings in Colorado, we have had numerous discussions with interested parties in Colorado who have asked that meetings occur. Therefore we have scheduled the five hearings listed above in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.

Anyone expecting to make an oral presentation at these hearings is encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement to the hearing officer prior to the start of the hearing. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may have to be limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits to the length of written comments presented at these hearings or mailed to us.

Author: The primary author of this notice is Robert Leachman (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).

Dated: April 13, 1999. Ralph O. Morgenwech, Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 99-9664Filed4-16-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M