[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 81 (Thursday, April 26, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20962-20964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10379]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AH06


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of 
Public Comment Period and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic 
Analysis for Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Kootenai 
River Population of White Sturgeon

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period and notice of 
availability of draft economic analysis.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed 
designation of critical habitat for the Kootenai River white sturgeon 
(Acipenser transmontanus). We also provide notice that the public 
comment period for the proposal is reopened to allow all interested 
parties to submit written comments on the proposal and draft economic 
analysis. Comments previously submitted during the original comment 
period need not be resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the 
public record and will be fully considered in the final determination 
on the proposal.

DATES: The original comment period ended on February 20, 2001. The 
comment period is hereby reopened until May 29, 2001. We must receive 
comments from all interested parties by the closing date. Any comments 
that we receive after the closing date will not be

[[Page 20963]]

considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the economic analysis are available on the 
Internet at www.r1.fws.gov or by writing to or calling the Field 
Supervisor, Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Spokane, Washington 
99206; telephone 509-891-6839, facsimile 509-891-6748. Refer to the 
``Public Comments Solicited'' section of this notice for instructions 
about submitting any written comments, information, and electronic mail 
(e-mail).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Hallock, Upper Columbia Fish and 
Wildlife Office, at the above address; telephone 509-891-6839, 
facsimile 509-891-6748.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Kootenai River population of the white sturgeon is one of 18 
landlocked populations of white sturgeon known to occur in western 
North America. This population is restricted to approximately 270 river 
kilometers (km) (168 river miles (mi)) of the Kootenai River, which 
originates in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia, Canada. The 
river flows south into Montana, northwest into Idaho, then north 
through the Kootenai Valley into British Columbia, where it flows 
through Kootenay Lake and joins the Columbia River at Castlegar, 
British Columbia. The Kootenai River population of white sturgeon 
extends from Kootenai Falls, Montana, located 50 river km (31 river mi) 
below Libby Dam, Montana, downstream through Kootenay Lake to Corra 
Lynn Dam at the outflow from Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, Canada. A 
natural barrier, Bonnington Falls, downstream of Kootenay Lake, has 
isolated the Kootenai River white sturgeon since the last glacial 
advance roughly 10,000 years ago (Apperson and Anders 1991). Kootenai 
River white sturgeon occur in Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia. 
Approximately 45 percent of the species' range, based on river 
kilometers, is located within British Columbia. Apperson and Anders 
(1991) found that at least 36 percent of the sturgeon tracked during 
1998 overwintered in Kootenay Lake, British, Columbia. They further 
believe that sturgeon do not commonly occur upstream of Bonners Ferry, 
Idaho.
    The Kootenai River white sturgeon population is threatened by 
factors including hydropower operations, flood control operations, poor 
recruitment, loss of habitat, and possible contaminants (water quality 
impacts). For a more detailed discussion of the ecology of the Kootenai 
River population white sturgeon see the September 6, 1994, Federal 
Register notice (59 FR 45989) listing this population as endangered, 
and the September 30, 1999, Recovery Plan for the White Sturgeon 
(Acipenser transmontanus): Kootenai River Population (U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1999). The final rule and the recovery plan 
incorporate the best available biological information on Kootenai River 
white sturgeon.
    In the September 6, 1994, final rule listing the Kootenai River 
population of white sturgeon as endangered (59 FR 45989), we deferred 
designation of critical habitat as not then determinable. We believed 
there was insufficient biological information to accurately delineate 
that habitat essential to the species, and, in the absence of this 
delineation, the required analysis of impacts could not be completed 
accurately.
    On December 21, 2000, we published in the Federal Register a 
proposal to designate critical habitat for this species (65 FR 80698). 
We are proposing an 18 river kilometer (11.2 miles) reach of the 
Kootenai River bed (below ordinary high water lines) near Bonners 
Ferry, Idaho, as critical habitat.
    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires that the Secretary shall 
designate or revise critical habitat based upon the best available 
scientific and commercial data available and after taking into 
consideration the economic impact of specifying any particular area as 
critical habitat. We have prepared a draft economic analysis of the 
proposed critical habitat designation, and it is available at the 
Internet and mailing addresses listed above in the ADDRESSES section.

Public Comments Solicited

    We have reopened the comment period at this time in order to accept 
the best and most current scientific and commercial data available 
regarding the proposed critical habitat and the draft economic 
analysis. We will accept comments during the reopened comment period. 
All previous comments and information submitted during the original 
comment period need not be resubmitted. If you wish to comment, you may 
submit your comments by any one of several methods:
    1. You may submit written comments and information by mail to the 
Field Supervisor, Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, Spokane, Washington 
99206. You may also submit written comments and information to us by 
facsimile at 509-891-6748.
    2. You may send comments and information by electronic mail (e-
mail) to: [email protected].
    Please submit e-mail comments as an ASCII file format and avoid the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also 
include ``Attn: RIN 1018-AH06'' and your name and return address in 
your e-mail message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the 
system that we have received your e-mail message, contact us directly 
by calling our Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office at 509-891-6839.
    3. You may hand-deliver written comments and information to our 
Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office, 11103 East Montgomery Drive, 
Spokane, Washington.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the proposed rule to designate 
critical habitat, will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

[[Page 20964]]

    Our practice is to make all comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their home address from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to 
the extent allowable by law. If you wish for us to withhold your name 
and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comments. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We 
will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

References Cited

    A complete list of all references cited in this document is 
available upon request from the Upper Columbia Fish and Wildlife Office 
(see ADDRESSES section).

Author

    The primary author of this document is Bob Hallock (see ADDRESSES 
section).

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

    Dated: March 14, 2001.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10379 Filed 4-25-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-U