[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 45445-45446] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-21120] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AF03 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Additional Public Hearing on the Proposal To List the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx as a Threatened Species; and the Captive Population of Canada Lynx Within the Coterminous United States (lower 48 States) as Threatened Due to Similarity of Appearance, With a Special Rule
Agency
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
Action
Proposed rule; notice of additional public hearing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of one additional public hearing on the proposed threatened status of the contiguous United States population of the Canada lynx.
Dates
The comment period closes on September 30, 1998. There will be eleven public hearings, including one additional public hearing in Idaho on September 17, 1998 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Addresses
Written comments and materials concerning this proposal may be submitted at the hearings or sent directly to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Field Office, 100 N. Park Ave., Suite 320, Helena, Montana 59601. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. The additional hearing will be held at the Rodeway Inn, 1115 North Custis Rd., Boise, ID.
For Further Information Contact
Kemper McMaster at 406/449-5225; or by fax at 406/449-5339 (see ADDRESSES section).
Supplementary Information
Public hearings on this proposal will be held in the following locations:
Western States
Colorado
Wednesday, July 22, 1998 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 124 W. 6th St., Glenwood Springs, Colorado. This public hearing will be preceded by an informational open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, 1998, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Sheraton Denver West, 360 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado. This public hearing will be preceded by an informational open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Idaho
Thursday, September 10, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Coeur d'Alene Inn and Conference Center, 414 West Appleway Avenue, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Thursday, September 17, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Rodeway Inn, 1115 North Curtis Road, Boise, Idaho.
Montana
Tuesday, July 21, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Colonial Inn Best Western, 2301 Colonial Drive, Helena, Montana. Wednesday, July 22, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Cavanaugh's at Kalispell Center, 20 North Main, Kalispell, Montana.
Oregon
Tuesday September 15, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Eastern Oregon University, Hoke University Center, 1410 L Avenue, Rooms 201-203, LaGrande, Oregon.
Washington
Tuesday, September 8, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Cedars Inn, 1 Appleway, Okanogan, Washington.
Wyoming
Wednesday, August 12, 1998, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m until 8 p.m. at the Cody Auditorium, Cody Club Room, 1234 Beck Avenue, Cody, Wyoming.
Eastern States
Maine
Tuesday, September 15, 1998 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Old Town High School, 240 Stillwater Avenue, Old Town, Maine.
Great Lakes States
Wisconsin
Tuesday, September 15, 1998 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Northern Great Lakes Center on County Road G near Hwy 2, west of Ashland, Wisconsin. This public hearing will be preceded by an informational open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Background
On July 8, 1998, the Service proposed to list the contiguous United States population segment of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) as threatened, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (63 FR 36994). This population segment includes the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The contiguous United States population segment of the Canada lynx is threatened by human alteration of forests, low numbers as a result of past overexploitation, expansion of the range of competitors (bobcats (Felix rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans)), and elevated levels of human access into lynx habitat. The proposal lists the captive population of Canada lynx within the coterminous United States (lower 48 States) as threatened due to similarity of appearance with a special rule. Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that a public hearing be held if it is requested within 45 days of the publication of the proposed rule. An additional public hearing was requested by the Governor of Idaho within the allotted time period. The Service has scheduled an additional public hearing in Boise, Idaho (See above Supplemental Information).
Oral and written comments will be accepted and treated equally. Parties wishing to make statements for the record should bring a copy of their statements to the hearings. Oral statements may be limited in length, if the number of parties present at the hearings necessitates such a limitation. There are no limits to the length of written comments or materials presented at the hearings or mailed to the Service. Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments. Legal notices announcing the date, time, and location of the hearings are being published in newspapers concurrently with this Federal Register notice. Comments from all interested parties must be received by September 30, 1998.
Author
The primary author of this notice is Jeri Wood, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, #368, Boise, Idaho 83704.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: August 3, 1998. Thomas J. Dwyer, Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 98-21120 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P