[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54761-54763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21628]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI61


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing the Sonoma 
County Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger Salamander 
as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

[[Page 54762]]


ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period and notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), provide notice 
that we are holding a public hearing for the proposed rule to list the 
Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger 
salamander (Ambystoma californiense) as endangered under the authority 
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We are also giving 
notice that the comment period for the proposed rule for this species 
is being extended to hold the public hearing and to allow all 
interested parties to submit written comments on the proposal. Comments 
previously submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted as 
they will be fully considered in the final determination.

DATES: We will hold a public hearing from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 6 to 8 
p.m. in Santa Rosa, CA, on October 1, 2002. The comment period, which 
originally closed on September 20, 2002, will now close on October 21, 
2002, at 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Courtyard by 
Marriott, 175 Railroad Street, Santa Rosa, CA. Comments and materials 
concerning this proposal should be sent to Wayne S. White, Field 
Supervisor, ATTN: CTS, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way Room W-2605, Sacramento, CA 
95825. Written comments may also be sent by facsimile to 916/414-6713 
or through the internet to [email protected]. You may 
also hand-deliver written comments to our Sacramento Fish and Wildlife 
Office, at the above address. Comments and materials received, as well 
as supporting documentation used in the preparation of this proposed 
rule, will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours, at the above address. You may obtain copies of 
the proposed rule from the above address, by calling 916/414-6600, or 
from our Web site at http://sacramento.fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wooten, Amy LaVoie, or Chris 
Nagano, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way Room W-
2605, Sacramento, CA 95825 (telephone 916/414-6600, facsimile 916/414-
6713 or visit our Web site at http://sacramento.fws.gov/). Information 
regarding this proposal is available in alternative formats upon 
request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger salamander 
is restricted to a portion of the Santa Rosa Plain in Sonoma County, 
CA, extending from approximately Santa Rosa south to the Cotati area. 
The factors imperiling this animal in Sonoma County include habitat 
destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, collection, invasive 
exotic species, and inadequate regulatory mechanisms. This Distinct 
Population Segment also is vulnerable to chance environmental or 
demographic events, to which small populations are particularly 
vulnerable.
    Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act), we published an emergency rule to list the 
Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger 
salamander as endangered on July 22, 2002 (67 FR 47726). The emergency 
rule provides immediate Federal protection to this Distinct Population 
Segment for a period of 240 days. This immediate Federal protection 
expires on March 19, 2003. We also published a proposed rule on July 
22, 2002, to list the Sonoma County Distinct Population Segment of the 
California tiger salamander as endangered under our normal listing 
procedures (67 FR 47758).
    For further information regarding background biological 
information, previous Federal actions, factors affecting the 
subspecies, and conservation measures available to the Sonoma County 
Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger salamander, please 
refer to our emergency and proposed rules published in the Federal 
Register on July 22, 2002.
    The original comment period was due to close on September 20, 2002. 
In order to accommodate the hearing, we are extending the comment 
period. Written comments may now be submitted until October 21, 2002, 
at 5 p.m.
    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement and present it 
to us at the hearing. In the event there is a large attendance, the 
time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Oral and written 
statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits to the 
length of written comments presented at the hearing or mailed to us. 
Legal notices announcing the date, time, and location of the public 
hearing will be published in newspapers concurrently with this Federal 
Register notice.
    Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and 
participate in the public hearing should contact Patti Carroll at 503/
231-2080 as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time to 
process requests, please call no later than one week before the hearing 
date.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit additional information and comments that may assist us 
in making a final decision on the proposed rule to list the Sonoma 
County Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger salamander 
as endangered. We intend that any final listing action resulting from 
our proposal will be as accurate and effective as possible. Therefore, 
we request comments and additional information from the general public, 
other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, 
industry, or any other interested party concerning this proposed rule. 
Comments are particularly sought concerning:
    (1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning 
any threat (or lack thereof) to the Sonoma County Distinct Population 
Segment of the California tiger salamander;
    (2) The location of any additional breeding sites of this Distinct 
Population Segment, and the reasons why any habitat should or should 
not be determined to be critical habitat pursuant to section 4 of the 
Act;
    (3) Additional information concerning the range, biology, ecology, 
or population size of this Distinct Population Segment, and
    (4) Current or planned activities or land use practices in the 
subject area and their possible impacts on this species in Sonoma 
County.
    Previously submitted written comments on this proposal need not be 
resubmitted. If you submit comments by e-mail, please submit them in 
ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters and 
encryption. Please include ``Attn: CTS'' and your name and return 
address in your e-mail message. If you do not receive a confirmation 
from our system that we have received your e-mail message, contact us 
directly by calling our Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at 
telephone number 916/414-6600. Comments and materials received will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Chris Nagano, Sacramento Fish 
and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).

[[Page 54763]]

Authority

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

    Dated: August 13, 2002.
Steve Williams,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 02-21628 Filed 8-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P