[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 14414-14415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7695]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE38


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearings and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Rule to List the 
Flatwoods Salamander as Threatened

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), pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, gives notice that two 
public hearings will be held on its proposal to list the flatwoods 
salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) as a threatened species. The Service 
also announces the reopening of the comment period for this action. The 
public hearings and the reopening of the comment period will allow 
additional comments on this proposal to be submitted from all 
interested parties.

DATES: The first public hearing will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on April 
14, 1998, in Savannah, Georgia. The second public hearing will be held 
on the evening of April 15, 1998, from 7 to 10 p.m. in Tallahassee, 
Florida. The comment period on the proposal, which originally closed on 
February 17, 1998, is now reopened until June 1, 1998. Any comments 
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision 
on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: The April 14 public hearing will be held in the Auditorium 
at the Savannah Technical Institute, 5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 
Georgia. The April 15 public hearing will be at the Hermitage Centre, 
Hermitage Room, 1801 Hermitage Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida. Written 
comments and materials concerning the proposal may be submitted at the 
hearing or sent directly to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Jackson, Mississippi 
39213. Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cary Norquist at the above address 
(601/965-4900, ext. 28; facsimile 601/965-4340).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The flatwoods salamander occurs in isolated populations in open, 
moist, longleaf/slash pine flatwoods across the lower southeastern 
Coastal Plain in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Habitat loss and 
degradation from agriculture, urbanization, and certain silvicultural 
practices are the primary threats to the species. On December 16, 1997, 
the Service published a rule proposing threatened status for the 
flatwoods salamander in the Federal Register (62 FR 65787-65794). 
Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that a public hearing be held if 
it is requested within 45 days of the publication of the proposed rule. 
Public hearing requests were received within the allotted time period 
from Rayonier (Southeast Forest Resources) and the Florida Forestry 
Association in Florida; Georgia-Pacific and Gilman Paper Company in 
Georgia; and the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, DC.
    The Service has scheduled these hearings for 7 to 10 p.m. on April 
14, 1998, in Savannah, Georgia, and 7 to 10 p.m. on April 15, 1998, in 
Tallahassee, Florida. 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.

[[Page 14415]]

There are no limits to the length of written comments presented at 
these hearings or mailed to the Service. Legal notices announcing the 
date, time, and location of the hearings are being published in 
newspapers concurrently with this Federal Register notice.
    The comment period on the proposal initially closed on February 17, 
1998. To accommodate the hearing, the public comment period is now 
reopened. Written comments may be submitted until June 1, 1998, to the 
Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section).
    Author: The primary author of this document is Cary Norquist (see 
ADDRESSES section).

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: March 18, 1998.
Judy L. Jones,
Acting Regional Director, Region 4, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 98-7695 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]
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