[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 26, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1692]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF36


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearings on Proposed Critical Habitat Determinations for the Cactus 
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and the Plant Lilaeopsis schaffneriana ssp. 
recurva, (Huachuca Water Umbel)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
public hearings will be held on the proposed determination of critical 
habitat for the plant Lilaeopsis schaffneriana ssp. recurva, (Huachuca 
water umbel), and the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium 
brasilianum cactorum). The hearings will allow all interested parties 
to submit oral comments on the proposals.

DATES: Each public hearing will be for the purpose accepting public 
comment on either or both proposals. These hearings will be held from 7 
p.m. to 9 p.m. on February 10, 1999 in Coolidge, Arizona; on February 
11, 1999 in Sierra Vista, Arizona; and on February 12, 1999 in Tucson, 
Arizona. The comment period for these proposals will remain open until 
March 1, 1999. Comments must be received by the closing date. Any 
comments that are received after the closing date may not be considered 
in the final decision on these proposals.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the Coolidge Unified 
School District Auditorium, 800 West Northern Avenue, Coolidge, 
Arizona; Buena Performing Arts Center (Buena High School), 5225 Buena 
School Boulevard, Sierra Vista, Arizona; and Leo Rich Theatre (Tucson 
Convention Center), 260 South Church Avenue, Tucson, Arizona. Oral and 
written comments will be accepted at the hearings. Additionally, 
written comments can be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 2321 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, Arizona 
85021. Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
Service address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Gatz, Endangered Species 
Coordinator, at the above address (telephone 602/640-2720 ext. 240; 
facsimile 602/640-2730).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl is one of four subspecies of the 
ferruginous pygmy-owl. It occurs from lowland central Arizona south 
through western Mexico to the States of Colima and Michoacan, and from 
southern Texas south through the Mexican States of Tamaulipas and Nuevo 
Leon. Only the Arizona population of Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum is 
listed as an endangered species. The Service proposed designation of 
approximately 730,565 acres of riverine riparian habitat and upland 
habitat as critical habitat for the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). 
Proposed critical habitat is in Pima, Cochise, Pinal, and Maricopa 
counties, Arizona as described in the Federal Register (63 FR 71820; 
December 30, 1999).
    The Huachuca water umbel is a plant found in cienegas (desert 
marshes), streams and springs in southern Arizona and northern Sonora, 
Mexico, typically in mid-elevation wetland communities often surrounded 
by relatively arid environments. These communities are usually 
associated with perennial springs and stream headwaters, have 
permanently or seasonally saturated highly organic soils, and have a 
low probability of flooding or scouring. The Service proposed critical 
habitat including a total of 83.9 kilometers (52.1 miles) of streams or 
rivers in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona (63 FR 71838; 
December 30, 1999).
    Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
requires that a public hearing be held if it is requested within 45 
days of the publication of a proposed rule. However, due to the 
expeditious treatment of these proposed critical habitat determinations 
under Federal District Court order as described in the proposed rules, 
the Service has arranged for three public hearings to be held in 
proximity to the areas proposed for critical habitat designation. Each 
hearing will be held to accept information for both the pygmy-owl and 
the water umbel critical habitat proposals on the dates and at the 
addresses described above.
    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement and present it 
to the Service at 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 the 
hearings or mailed to the Service.
    Legal notices announcing the dates, times, and locations of the 
hearings will be published in newspapers concurrently with this Federal 
Register notice. The current comment period on this proposal closes on 
March 1, 1999. Written comments may be submitted to the Service office 
in the ADDRESSES section.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Jeffrey A. Humphrey 
(see ADDRESSES).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).

    Dated: January 20, 1999.
Geoffrey L. Haskett,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 99-1692 Filed 1-25-99; 8:45 am]
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