[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6827]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 22, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AB75

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period for Proposal To List the 
Northern Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia Erythrogaster Neglecta) as a 
Threatened Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
a public hearing will be held on the proposed determination of 
threatened status for the northern copperbelly water snake (Nerodia 
erythrogaster neglecta) and that the comment period on the proposal is 
reopened. This hearing and reopened comment period will allow comments 
on this proposal to be submitted from all interested parties.

DATES: The comment period on the proposal is reopened on March 22, 1994 
and will close on April 21, 1994. The public hearing will be held from 
7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 1994, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Indiana War Memorial 
Auditorium, 431 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. 
Written comments and materials should be sent to the Regional Director, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 
1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection during 
normal business hours, by appointment, at the above Regional Office 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public hearing 
contact David Hudak, Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Ecological Services Field Office, 620 S. Walker Street, Bloomington, 
Indiana 47403-2121 (812/334-4261; fax 812/334-4273).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The northern copperbelly water snake has been proposed for listing 
as a threatened species due to strong evidence that its range and 
numbers have declined dramatically, primarily as a result of the 
destruction of its habitat, and that the threats to the habitat and to 
the snakes themselves are continuing.
    The Federal Register notice proposing the northern copperbelly 
water snake for classification as a threatened species was published on 
August 18, 1993. The original comment period ended on October 18, and 
the deadline for receipt of public hearing requests was October 4. On 
October 12, 1993, a second notice was published reopening the comment 
period until November 16, and the hearing request deadline until 
November 4, 1993. The deadlines were extended because the Service 
believed a number of parties interested in the proposed listing may not 
have received notice of the proposal in sufficient time to submit 
comments or request a public hearing during the original comment 
period.
    On October 15, 1993, the Service received a request for a public 
hearing on this proposal from Mr. James E. Baker, representing the 
Western Kentucky Coal Association, Frankfort, Kentucky. A second 
request for a public hearing was received by the Service on November 1 
from Ms. Bertha Daubendiek, representing the Michigan Nature 
Association, Avoca, Michigan. The Service has scheduled a hearing from 
7 to 9 p.m. E.S.T., at the Indiana War Memorial Auditorium, 
Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 that 
evening necessitates some limitation. There are no limits to the length 
of written comments presented at this hearing or mailed to the Service.
    In order to accommodate the hearing, the Service also reopens the 
public comment period. Written comments may now be submitted between 
March 21 and April 21, 1994, to the Service office in the Addresses 
section or at the public hearing.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Ronald L. Refsnider, Division 
of Endangered Species, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal 
Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056 (phone 612-725-3276; fax 612-
725-3526).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1543; 16 U.S.C. 
4201-4245; Pub. L. 99-625, 100 Stat. 3500; unless otherwise noted.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17

    Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation.

    Dated: March 18, 1994.
Jay L. Gerst,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-6827 Filed 3-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P