[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 67398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33538]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of 
Comment Period for Draft Conservation Agreement for the Wasatch Front 
and West Desert Populations (Utah) of Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces an extension of the 
public review and comment period for the Draft Conservation Agreement 
for the spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) in Utah. The Service announced 
the availability of the draft Conservation Agreement for the Wasatch 
Front and West Desert populations (Utah) of spotted frog for review and 
comment on November 28, 1997 (62 FR 63375). The original comment period 
requested comments be received on or before December 29, 1997. On 
December 16, 1997, the Service received an official request for an 
extension of the comment period to the week of January 13, 1998.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Conservation Agreement must now be 
received on or before January 16, 1998, to be considered by the Service 
during preparation of the final conservation agreement and prior to the 
Service's determination whether it will be a signatory party to the 
agreement.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the Draft Conservation Agreement 
may obtain a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 
84115. Written comments and materials regarding the Draft Conservation 
Agreement should also be directed to the same address. Comments and 
written materials will be available upon request for public inspection, 
by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Reed E. Harris, Field Supervisor 
(see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 801/524-5001).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The spotted frog (Rana luteiventris) is a 
candidate for Federal listing pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended. In 1989 the Service received a petition from the 
Board of Directors of the Utah Nature Study Society requesting that the 
Service add the spotted frog (then referred to as Rana pretiosa) to the 
List of Threatened and Endangered Species. The Service subsequently 
published a notice of a 90-day finding in the Federal Register (54 FR 
42529) on October 17, 1990, and a notice of a 12-month petition finding 
in the Federal Register (58 FR 27260) on May 7, 1993. In the 12-month 
petition finding the Service found that listing of the spotted frog as 
threatened in some portions of its range was warranted but precluded by 
other higher priority listing actions.
    Shortly after the 12-month petition finding the Utah Department of 
Natural Resources began development of a Conservation Agreement, 
working cooperatively with other agencies, in an effort to reduce the 
threats affecting the spotted frog.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service will use information received in its determination on 
whether it should be a signatory party to the agreement. Comments or 
suggestions from the public, other concerned government agencies, the 
scientific community, industry, or any other interested party 
concerning this draft document are hereby solicited. All comments and 
materials received will be considered prior to the approval of any 
final document.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Janet A. Mizzi, Utah Field 
Office (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 801/524-5001).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Fish and Wildlife Act of 
1956, the Fish and Wildlife Service Coordination Act of 1964, and the 
National Memorandum of Understanding (94(SMU-056)).

    Dated: December 18, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-33538 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]
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