[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47755-47756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22917]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC48


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public 
Hearings on Proposed Rule To Remove the Bald Eagle From the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Species in the Lower 48 States.

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Service gives notice of the agency's intent to hold public 
hearings on the proposed rule to remove the bald eagle from the List of 
Endangered and Threatened Species in the lower 48 States. The public 
hearings are being held in response to written requests received within 
the 45-day hearing request period. The comment period remains open 
through October 5, 1999. Public hearings will be held within the 
comment period and will allow appropriate time for the public to 
provide further comments.

DATES and ADDRESSES: The first public hearing will be held on Monday, 
September 13, 1999, in Nashville, Tennessee, at the McGavock High

[[Page 47756]]

School Auditorium, 3150 McGavock Pike, Nashville, Tennessee, from 6:30 
pm-8:30 pm. The second public hearing will be held on Tuesday, 
September 21, 1999, in Yorktown, Virginia, at the York High School 
Auditorium, 9300 George Washington Highway (U.S. Route 17), Yorktown, 
Virginia, from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. The final public hearing will be held 
on Thursday, September 23, 1999, in Phoenix, Arizona, in the 4th Floor 
Music Room of the Phoenix Public Library, 1221 North Central Avenue, 
Phoenix, Arizona, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
    The comment period remains open until October 5, 1999, as 
originally published in the July 6, 1999, Federal Register Notice. 
Comments and materials concerning this proposal should be sent to Jody 
Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 4469-48th Avenue Court, Rock Island, Illinois 61201, 
or may be sent through our website at www.fws.gov/r3pao/eagle. Comments 
and materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Gustitus Millar, Bald Eagle 
Recovery Coordinator, at 309/793-5800 x 524.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is 
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
throughout the lower 48 States. The bald eagle also occurs in Alaska, 
Canada, and in small numbers in northern Mexico, where it is not 
protected under the Act. The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to 
remove the bald eagle from the List of Endangered and Threatened 
Species in the lower 48 States. This action would not alter those 
conservation measures already in force to protect the species and its 
habitats.
    The Federal Register notice announcing the proposed rule was 
published on July 6, 1999 (64 FR 36454). The comment period ends on 
October 5, 1999, and the deadline for receipt of public hearing 
requests was August 20, 1999. Six requests for public hearings have 
been received within the deadline, including one from New York, one 
from Virginia, two from Kentucky, one from Arkansas, and one from 
Arizona. Those parties wishing to make statements for the record should 
have available a copy of their statements to be presented to the 
Service at the start of the hearing. Oral statements may be limited to 
5 or 10 minutes if the number of parties present necessitates some 
limitation. There are no limits to the length of written comments 
presented at this hearing or mailed to the Service.

    Dated: August 27, 1999.
Charles M. Wooley,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. 99-22917 Filed 8-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P