[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-24194]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC48

 

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearings on Proposed Rule and Notice of Extension of Comment Period on 
Proposed Rule To Reclassify the Bald Eagle From Endangered to 
Threatened in Most of the Lower 48 States

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: The Service gives notice of the agency's intent to hold public 
hearings and extend the comment period on the proposed rule to 
reclassify the bald eagle. The public hearings are being held in 
response to written requests. The comment period will be extended to 
accommodate the public hearings and to allow appropriate time for the 
public to provide further comments.

DATES: The comment period on the proposed rule, which was originally 
scheduled to close on October 11, 1994, will be extended to November 9, 
1994.
    The first public hearing will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on 
Tuesday, October 18, 1994. The second public hearing will be held from 
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 1994.

ADDRESSES: The first public hearing will be held at the Somerset County 
Park Commission Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road, 
Basking Ridge, New Jersey 07920. The second public hearing will be held 
at St. Michael's Chapter House, Window Rock, Arizona 86515. Comments 
and materials concerning this proposal should be sent to Chief, 
Division of Endangered Species, Fish and Wildlife Service, Whipple 
Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056. 
Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours, at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle Recovery Coordinator, 309-793-5800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is 
listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), in the lower 48 states, except 
Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where it is 
listed as threatened. The bald eagle also occurs in Alaska and Canada, 
where it is not at risk and is not protected under the Act; and in 
small numbers in northern Mexico. The Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) proposed to reclassify the bald eagle from endangered to 
threatened in the lower 48 states except in certain portions of the 
American Southwest and to classify those eagles in adjacent Mexico as 
endangered. The bald eagle would remain threatened in the five states 
where it is currently listed as threatened. The special rule for 
threatened bald eagles would be revised. This action would not alter 
those conservation measures already in force to protect the species and 
its habitats.
    The Federal Register notice announcing the proposed rule was 
published on July 12, 1994 (59 FR 35584). The original comment period 
ended on October 11, 1994, and the deadline for receipt of public 
hearing requests was August 26, 1994. Eight requests for public 
hearings have been received within the deadline--three from within 
Rhode Island, three from Delaware, and two from within Arizona, 
including the Navajo Nation.
    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 necessitates some limitation. 
There are no limits to the length of written comments presented at this 
hearing or mailed to the Service.

    Dated: September 26, 1994.
Sam Marler,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-24194 Filed 9-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M