[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 98 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31869-31870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12609]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF81


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of 
Comment Period on Proposed Rule To List the Santa Barbara County 
Distinct Population of the California Tiger Salamander as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[[Page 31870]]


ACTION: Proposed rule; second extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that 
the comment period on the proposed rule to list the Santa Barbara 
distinct population of the California tiger salamander will be reopened 
to allow for the inclusion of new information regarding the presence of 
the California tiger salamander in areas previously not identified as 
known salamander sites. The extension will allow all interested parties 
to submit oral or written comments on the proposal.

DATES: The reopened comment period closes June 5, 1999. Comments must 
be received by the closing date. Any comments received after the 
closing date may not be considered in the final decision on the 
proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Diane Noda, Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife 
Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. 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: Carl Benz, at the above Ventura, 
California address, phone 805/644-1766, facsimile 805/644-3958.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 19, 2000, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
proposed to list the Santa Barbara County Distinct Vertebrate 
Population Segment of the California tiger salamander, (Ambystoma 
californiense), as endangered pursuant to the Endangered Species Act 
(Act) of 1973, as amended (Act). An emergency rule listing the 
population was published concurrently in the same issue of the Federal 
Register. The Santa Barbara County population segment of the California 
tiger salamander is endemic to low elevation (typically below 300 
meters (1,000 feet)) vernal pools and seasonal ponds and the 
surrounding grasslands, oak woodlands, and coastal scrub of Santa 
Barbara County, California, and is imperiled primarily by habitat loss 
from conversion of natural habitat to intensive agriculture and urban 
development, habitat fragmentation, and agricultural contaminants. The 
original comment period closed March 20, 2000.
    On March 24, 2000, the Service reopened the comment period in 
response to citizen requests that a public hearing be held. The comment 
period was extended until May 4, 2000, during which a public hearing 
was held on April 20, 2000, in Santa Maria, California.
    This second extension of the comment period will enable the Service 
to consider in its final rule the results of surveys for California 
tiger salamanders conducted during this breeding season. Written 
comments may be submitted until June 5, 2000, to the Service office in 
the ADDRESSES section.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Carl Benz (see 
ADDRESSES).

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

    Dated: May 15, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations.
[FR Doc. 00-12609 Filed 5-18-00; 8:45 am]
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