[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42092-42093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20540]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE29


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice to Extend 
the Comment Period on the Proposal to List the Klamath River Population 
Segment of Bull Trout as an Endangered Species and Columbia River 
Population Segment of Bull Trout as a Threatened Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
the comment period announced in the June 13, 1997 proposed rule (62 FR 
32268) to list the Klamath River population segment of bull trout as an 
endangered species and Columbia River population segment of bull trout 
as a threatened species will be extended. The Service received a number 
of requests for additional time to complete the compilation of 
information and meaningfully participate in the process. The Service 
finds the requests to be reasonable and hereby extends the comment 
period for 65 days.

DATES: The comment period is extended until October 17, 1997. Any 
comments and materials received by the closing date will be considered 
in the final determination.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material concerning this proposal should be 
sent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Snake River Basin Field 
Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, Idaho 83709. All public 
comments and material received will be available for public inspection, 
by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Ruesink, Supervisor, Snake 
River Basin Field Office (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 208/378-
5243; facsimile 208/378-5262).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 13, 1997, the Service published a proposed rule pursuant to 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) to list the 
Klamath River population segment of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) 
from south-central Oregon as endangered; and the Columbia River 
population segment of bull trout from the northwestern United States 
and British Columbia, Canada, as threatened. A special rule allowing 
take of bull trout within the Columbia River population segment in 
accordance with applicable State fish and wildlife conservation laws 
was included. A 60-day comment period ending August 12, 1997, was 
provided in the proposed rule. Five public hearings to gather 
additional input were held between July 1 and July 17, 1997 in 
Portland, Oregon; Spokane, Washington; Missoula, Montana; Klamath 
Falls, Oregon; and Boise, Idaho. Requests for a public comment period 
time extension were received from the Idaho Congressional 
representatives, Governor of Idaho, Governor of Oregon, and the 
Intermountain Forest Industry Association. Reasons given for these 
requests included complexity of issues, additional time to meaningfully 
participate and data collection is incomplete.
    The Klamath River population segment, comprised of seven bull trout 
populations from south-central Oregon, is threatened by habitat 
degradation, irrigation diversions, and the presence of non-native 
brook trout. The Columbia River population segment, comprised of 386 
bull trout populations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington with 
additional populations in British Columbia, is threatened by habitat 
degradation, passage restrictions at dams, and competition from non-
native lake and brook trout. Included in the proposal to list these 
population segments is a special rule allowing for take of bull trout 
within the Columbia River population segment in accordance with 
applicable State fish and wildlife conservation laws and regulations.

[[Page 42093]]

Pursuant to a court order, the proposed rule is based only on the 1994 
administrative record. All available information, including current 
data, will be considered prior to taking final action on the listing 
proposal. If, after consideration of all available data, this proposal 
is made final, it would extend protection of the Act to these two bull 
trout population segments.
    Written comments may now be submitted until October 17, 1997, to 
the Service Office in the ADDRESSES section.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Steve Duke (see 
ADDRESSES section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
    Dated: July 28, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 97-20540 Filed 8-4-97; 8:45 am]
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