[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 19, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20938-20939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9812]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF92; RIN 1018-AF95


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of 
Comment Periods on Proposed Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider 
and Steller's Eider

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that 
the comment periods on the proposed rules designating critical habitat 
for spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri) and Steller's eider 
(Polysticta stelleri) are extended. The spectacled eider and Steller's 
eider are found in marine waters and coastal wetlands in Alaska. All 
interested parties are invited to submit comments on these proposals.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule concerning spectacled 
eiders, which originally closed on May 8, 2000, now closes on June 30, 
2000. The comment period for the proposed rule concerning Steller's 
eiders, which originally closed on May 12, 2000, now closes on June 30, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Written data or comments on the spectacled eider should be 
submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, 
Anchorage, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 605 W. 4th Ave. Rm G-62, 
Anchorage, AK 99501; Fax: 907/271-2786. Written data or comments on the 
Steller's eider should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Northern 
Alaska Ecological Services, 101 12th Ave., Rm 110, Fairbanks, AK 99701. 
All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part 
of the official administrative record and may be made available to the 
public.
    The deadline for requesting public hearings for the spectacled 
eider critical habitat proposal was March 24, 2000. The deadline for 
requesting public hearings for the Steller's eider critical habitat 
proposal is April 27, 2000. In order to be considered valid, requests 
must have been, or must be, submitted in writing and received at the 
offices indicated above before the public hearing request deadline 
date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the proposed rule concerning 
spectacled eiders, contact Ann G. Rappoport, Field Supervisor, 
Ecological Services Field Office, Anchorage, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 605 W. 4th Ave. Rm G-62, Anchorage, AK 99501; phone: 907/271-
2787 or toll-free 800/272-4174; Fax: 907/271-2786. For the proposed 
rule concerning Steller's eiders, contact Ted Swem, Endangered Species 
Branch, at Northern Alaska Ecological Services, 101 12th Ave., Rm 110, 
Fairbanks, AK, 99701; phone: 907/456-0203; fax: 907/456-0208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The spectacled eider is a large seaduck found in marine waters and 
coastal areas from the Nushagak Peninsula of southwestern Alaska north 
to Barrow and east nearly to the Canadian Border. The species may be 
threatened by habitat degradation, lead poisoning, increased predation 
rates, and hunting and other human disturbance. The Steller's eider is 
a seaduck found in coastal and marine waters from the eastern Aleutian 
Islands around the western and northern coasts of Alaska to the Canada 
border. The Alaska-breeding population of this species is thought to 
have decreased significantly, but the causes of the suspected decline 
are unknown. On February 8, 2000, the Service published a proposed rule 
(65 FR 6114) to designate critical habitat for the spectacled eider, 
and on March 13, 2000, the Service published a proposed rule (65 FR 
13262) to designate critical habitat for the Steller's eider.
    The comment period for the proposed rule designating critical 
habitat for spectacled eiders originally closed on May 8, 2000. The 
comment period for the proposed rule designating critical habitat for 
Steller's eiders originally closed on May 12, 2000. Following 
publication of the proposed rules several parties expressed concern 
that the original comment periods did not allow sufficient time for 
review and comment by individuals and communities that may be affected 
by the proposed designation of critical habitat. The parties 
specifically indicated that the original comment periods may be 
inadequate for communities in remote areas and communities that are 
populated predominantly by Alaska Natives, for many of whom English is 
a second language. Additionally, we anticipate that the comment periods 
for the economic analyses associated with these proposed critical 
habitat designations will be open during June 2000. We wish to solicit 
comments on the proposed rules and their respective economic analyses 
simultaneously. In order to accommodate these

[[Page 20939]]

considerations, the Service is extending the comment period for both 
proposed rules until June 30, 2000. Written comments may be submitted 
to the appropriate Service office as specified in the ADDRESSES 
section.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Susan Detwiler, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species, 1011 E. Tudor Rd., 
Anchorage, AK 99503.

Authority

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

    Dated: April 12, 2000.
David B. Allen,
Regional Director, Region 7, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9812 Filed 4-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P