[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 27, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44032-44033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21505]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 227 and 425

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17 and 425


Endangered and Threatened Species; Notice of Public Meetings, 
Public Hearings and Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened 
Status for a Distinct Population Segment of Anadromous Atlantic Salmon 
(Salmo Salar) in Seven Maine Rivers

AGENCIES: National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce; and Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of public comment period and announcement of public 
meetings and hearings.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and 
Wildlife Service, collectively the Services, give notice that the 
public comment period has been reopened in regards to the proposed 
threatened status designation for a distinct population segment of 
anadromous Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) in the Sheepscot, Ducktrap, 
Narraguagus, Pleasant, Machias, East Machias, and Dennys Rivers in 
Marine. There will be three public meetings to present information and 
answer questions, followed immediately by more formal public hearings 
to accept verbal and written comments about the designation of this 
population segment as threatened. The comment period is reopened for a 
period of 45 days.

DATES: The combined public meeting and hearings will be held from 7 to 
10 p.m. on September 17, Augusta, Maine; from 7 to 10 p.m. on September 
18, Ellsworth, Maine; and from 7 to 10 p.m. on September 19, Machias, 
Maine. All scientific data and comments must be submitted to the 
Services by October 11, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments: Please send any written comments to Paul 
Nickerson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, 
Hadley, Massachusetts 01035, or Mary Colligan, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, Massachusetts 
01930.

    Public Meetings and Hearings:

[[Page 44033]]

    1. Cushnoc Room, Augusta Civic Center, Community Drive, Augusta, 
Maine.
    2. Ellsworth Middle School, 20 Forrest Avenue, Ellsworth, Maine.
    3. Science 102, University of Maine--Machias, 9 O'Brien Avenue, 
Machias, Maine.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Nickerson at (413) 253-8615 or 
Mary Colligan at (508) 281-9116.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Endangered Species Act requires that a 
public hearing be held on proposed regulations if requested within 45 
days of the proposal's publication in the Federal Register. On 
September 29, 1995 (60 FR 50530), the Services published a proposed 
rule to list the DPS of Atlantic salmon as threatened. Public hearing 
requests were received during the allotted time period. The public 
comment period for this proposed action officially closed on December 
28, 1995. Due to federal furloughs and legislative and funding 
restrictions imposed, the Departments of Commerce and Interior were not 
able to hold the requested public hearings during the original comment 
period.
    On April 26, 1996, the President waived the moratorium on ESA 
listing actions, as authorized by the FY 96 Omnibus Appropriations Act 
for both the Departments of Commerce and Interior. The Services may now 
proceed with previously pending listing actions. Consequently we are 
now reopening the comment period on this proposed rule and announcing 
public hearings. The proposed rule published in September, included a 
special 4(d) provision that allowed the state of Maine the opportunity 
to develop a conservation plan for the species. Following publication 
of the proposed rule the Governor of Maine issued an Executive Order 
creating a task force to draft the conservation plan. That task force 
has been actively working on the plan since October, 1995. Separate 
hearings will be held by state officials on the conservation plan in 
early September.
    During this comment period the Services desire any scientific and 
commercial data that may have become available since closure of the 
previous comment period on December 28, 1995. The Services final 
determination whether to list the DPS of Atlantic salmon will consider 
all comments received during this and earlier comment periods and may 
result in final regulations that differ from the proposal of September 
29, 1995.
    In response to the request for public hearings, the Services have 
scheduled three combined public meetings and hearings. The meetings 
will run from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. and will be followed by a 15 
minute intermission. During the public meeting, the Services will make 
a brief presentation and will informally answer questions about the 
proposal; state officials will also make a brief presentation on the 
status of the conversation plan and informally answer questions about 
the plan. The meeting will not be recorded and will not be part of the 
formal record.
    The public hearings, which will begin at 8:30 p.m., will provide an 
opportunity for interested individuals to enter formal statements on 
the proposal, which will become part of the administrative record. 
Those parties wishing to make statements should present them to the 
Services at the start of the hearing. Oral statements must be limited 
to five minutes in length, however, there is no limit to the length of 
written comments or materials. Oral and written statements receive 
equal consideration during deliberations. Written comments may now be 
submitted through October 11, 1996 to either of the offices in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Author

    The primary authors of this notice are Mary Colligan and Paul 
Nicherson (addresses are above).

    Authority: The authority for this section is the ESA (16 U.S.C. 
1531-1544).

    Dated: August 14, 1996.
Ralph C. Pisapia,
Acting Regional Director, Region 5.
    Dated: August 22, 1996.
Rennie S. Holt,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources.
[FR Doc. 96-21505 Filed 8-26-96; 8:45 am]
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