[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 185 (Monday, September 25, 1995)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 49358-49359] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-23556] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AD20 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Special Rule for the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl on Non-Federal Lands AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Reopening of the comment period for the proposed special rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On February 17, 1995, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) published a proposed special rule in the Federal Register (February 17, 1995, 60 FR 9484) pursuant to section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (Act), to replace the blanket prohibitions against incidental take of spotted owls with a narrower, more tailor-made set of standards that reduce prohibitions applicable to timber harvest and related activities on specified non-Federal forest lands in Washington and California. The comment period was scheduled to end on September 15, 1995. The intent of this document is to reopen the comment period to November 24, 1995. DATES: The comment period for written comments is reopened until November 24, 1995. ADDRESSES: Comments and materials concerning this proposed rule should be sent to Mr. Michael J. Spear, Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232- 4181. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Curt Smitch, Assistant Regional [[Page 49359]] Director, North Pacific Coast Ecoregion, 3704 Griffin Lane SE, Suite 102, Olympia, Washington 98501 (360/534-9330); or Mr. Ron Crete, Manager, Habitat Protection and Restoration, Office of Technical Support-Forest Resources, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97204-3623 (503/326-6700). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The implementing regulations for threatened wildlife generally incorporate the prohibitions of section 9 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for endangered wildlife, except when a ``special rule'' promulgated pursuant to section 4(d) of the Act has been issued with respect to a particular threatened species. At the time the northern spotted owl, Strix occidentalis caurina, was listed as a threatened species in 1990, the Service did not promulgate a special section 4(d) rule and therefore, all of the section 9 prohibitions, including the ``take'' prohibitions, became applicable to the species. To replace the blanket prohibitions against take of spotted owls, the Service published a proposed special rule, 50 CFR Part 17, on February 17, 1995, in the Federal Register, pursuant to section 4(d) of the Act, which proposes a narrower, more tailor-made set of standards that reduce prohibitions applicable to timber harvest and related activities on specified non-Federal forest lands in Washington and California. List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and Transportation. Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) Dated: September 11, 1995. Don Weathers, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 95-23556 Filed 9-22-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P