[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 92 (Friday, May 13, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11660]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 13, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC09

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period for Proposal to List the Lake 
Erie Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum) as a Threatened Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and reopening of 
comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
two public hearings will be held on the proposed determination of 
threatened status for the Lake Erie water snake (Nerodia sipedon 
insularum) and that the comment period on the proposal is reopened. The 
hearings and reopened comment period will allow comments on this 
proposal to be submitted from all interested parties.

DATES: The first public hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on 
Tuesday, May 31, 1994, in Put-in-Bay, on South Bass Island, Ohio. The 
second public hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 
1, 1994, in Port Clinton, Ohio. The comment period will close on June 
16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The May 31, 1994, public hearing will be held at the Village 
Hall, Catawba Avenue, Put-in-Bay, Ohio. The June 1, 1994, public 
hearing will be held at Port Clinton High School, 821 S. Jefferson 
Street, Port Clinton, Ohio. 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 Kent Kroonemeyer, Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Ecological Services Field Office, 6950-H Americana Parkway, 
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-4415 (614/469-6923; fax 614/469-6919).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Lake Erie water snake is found on the islands of western Lake 
Erie and the adjacent mainland of Ohio and Ontario, Canada. It has been 
proposed for listing as a threatened species due to strong evidence 
that its numbers have declined dramatically, primarily as a result of 
the destruction of its habitat and human persecution, and that the 
threats to the habitat and to the snakes themselves are continuing.
    The Federal Register notice announcing the proposing of the Lake 
Erie water snake for classification as a threatened species was 
published on August 18, 1993 (58 FR 43857). The original comment period 
ended on November 16, and the deadline for receipt of public hearing 
requests was October 4. On October 12, 1993 (58 FR 52740), a second 
notice was published extending the comment period until November 16, 
1993.
    On October 5, 1993, the Service received a request for a public 
hearing on this proposal from Donald J. McTigue, representing 
Baycliff's Corporation. A second request for a public hearing was 
received by the Service on October 13, 1993, from H. R. Clagg, 
President of the Johnson's Island Property Owners' Association. The 
Service has scheduled two hearings in the area potentially affected by 
the listing proposal. 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 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. Oral and written 
comments receive equal consideration.
    In order to accommodate the hearing, the Service also reopens the 
public comment period. Written comments may now be submitted until June 
16, 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: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.).

    Dated: May 9, 1994.
Richard N. Smith,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-11660 Filed 5-12-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P