[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 67324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33537]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period and Public Hearings on the Proposed Rule To List the 
Topeka Shiner as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that four 
public hearings will be held on its proposal to list the Topeka shiner 
(Notropis topeka) as an endangered species. The Service proposed 
endangered status pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, 
as amended, for the Topeka shiner on October 24, 1997 (62 FR 55381). 
These hearings will allow additional comments on this proposal to be 
submitted from all interested parties.

DATES: The comment period on the proposal is reopened from January 12, 
1998 through February 9, 1998. The public hearings will be held from 7 
to 9:30 p.m. on each of the following evenings: January 26, 1998, in 
Manhattan, Kansas; January 27, 1998, in Bethany, Missouri; January 28, 
1998, in Ft. Dodge, Iowa; and January 29, 1998, in Sioux Falls, South 
Dakota. An informal open forum will precede each hearing from 5 to 6:30 
p.m. each evening.

ADDRESSES: The January 26 hearing will be held at the Kansas State 
University Student Union, Main Ballroom, 17th Street and Anderson 
Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas; the January 27 hearing will be held at the 
Bethany Community Center, 103 N. 25th Street, Bethany, Missouri; the 
January 28 hearing will be held at Iowa Central Community College, Vo-
Tech Building, Conference Rooms 1 and 2, 330 Avenue M, Fort Dodge, 
Iowa; and the January 29 hearing will be at the University of Sioux 
Falls, Chapel Auditorium-Jeschke Fine Arts Center, 1101 West 22nd 
Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Written comments and materials 
should be sent to: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
315 Houston St., Suite E, Manhattan, Kansas 66502. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vernon Tabor at the above address 
(785/539-3474).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that a public hearing be 
held on the proposal to list the Topeka shiner as an endangered 
species, if requested within 45 days of the proposal's publication in 
the Federal Register. Public requests were received in the allotted 
time period from parties in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota.
    Anyone expecting to make an oral presentation at these hearings is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement to the hearing 
officer prior to the start of the hearing. In the event there is a 
large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may have to be 
limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There 
are no limits to the length of written comments presented at these 
hearings or mailed to the Service.
    In order to accommodate the scheduled public hearings, the Service 
extends the public comment period. Written comments may be submitted 
from January 12, 1998 through February 9, 1998, to: Field Supervisor 
(see ADDRESSES section).

Author

    The primary author of this document is Vernon Tabor (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531).

    Dated: December 18, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-33537 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]
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