[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 225 (Thursday, November 21, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70203-70204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29620]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI47


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for Nine Bexar County, TX, Invertebrate Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of availability of draft economic 
analysis; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed 
designation of critical habitat for nine endangered karst-dwelling 
invertebrate species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act). The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on 
August 17, 2002 (67 FR 55064) and the current comment period is open 
until November 25, 2002. We are extending the comment period for the 
proposal to designate critical habitat for these species to allow all 
interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule and 
the associated draft economic analysis. The draft economic analysis 
shows a range of likely costs from the designation of the proposed 
critical habitat, including those costs attributable coextensively to 
listing, of between $17.8 to $22.1 million over a 10-year period. 
Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be 
incorporated into the public record as part of this extended comment 
period, and will be fully considered in the final rule.

DATES: We will accept comments on both the draft economic analysis and 
the proposed critical habitat designation until December 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments and materials concerning the

[[Page 70204]]

proposal and draft economic analysis at the hearing or send them 
directly to Renne Lohoefener, Texas State Administrator, Austin 
Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. Written comments may also 
be sent by facsimile to 512/490-0974. You may also hand-deliver written 
comments to our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Austin Ecological 
Services Field Office at the address given above.
    You may view comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in the preparation of this proposed rule, by 
appointment, during normal business hours in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's Austin Ecological Services Field Office at the above address. 
You may obtain copies of the proposed rule and draft economic analysis 
from the above address, by calling 512/490-0057, or from our Web site 
at http://ifw2es.fws.gov/Library/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Seawell, Acting Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field 
Office, at the above address (telephone: 512/490-0057; facsimile: 512/
490-0974).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following nine Bexar County, Texas, 
invertebrate species were listed as endangered on December 26, 2000 (65 
FR 81419): Rhadine exilis (ground beetle, no common name); Rhadine 
infernalis (ground beetle, no common name); Batrisodes venyivi (Helotes 
mold beetle); Texella cokendolpheri (Cokendolpher cave harvestman); 
Cicurina baronia (Robber Baron Cave meshweaver); Cicurina madla (Madla 
Cave meshweaver); Cicurina venii (Braken Bat Cave meshweaver); Cicurina 
vespera (Government Canyon Bat Cave meshweaver); and Neoleptoneta 
microps (Government Canyon Bat Cave spider). All of these species are 
karst dwelling species of local distribution in north and northwest 
Bexar County. They spend their entire lives underground.
    The proposed critical habitat consists of 25 units (a total of 
approximately 9,516 acres) in Bexar County, Texas, each encompassing 
one or more caves or other karst features known to contain one or more 
of the listed species. ``Karst'' is a type of terrain that is formed by 
the slow dissolution of calcium carbonate from limestone bedrock by 
mildly acidic groundwater. This process creates numerous cave openings, 
cracks, fissures, fractures, and sinkholes and the bedrock resembles a 
honeycomb (USFWS 1994). Critical habitat identifies areas that are 
essential to the conservation of a listed species and that may require 
special management considerations or protection.
    The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on August 17, 
2002 (67 FR 55064) and the current comment period is open until 
November 25, 2002. We are extending the comment period for the proposal 
to designate critical habitat for these species to allow all interested 
parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule and the 
associated draft economic analysis. We have prepared a draft economic 
analysis on the effects of the proposed critical habitat designation, 
and are now announcing its availability for review. The draft analysis 
estimates the foreseeable economic impacts of the critical habitat 
designation on government agencies and private businesses and 
individuals. The draft economic analysis shows a range of likely costs 
from the designation of the proposed critical habitat of between $17.8 
to $18 million over a 10-year period. Extending the comment period will 
provide the public an opportunity to evaluate and comment on both the 
proposed rule and the draft economic analysis. Comments already 
submitted on the proposed designation of critical habitat do not need 
to be resubmitted as they will be fully considered in the final 
determinations.

Public Comment Solicited

    The final economic analysis concerning the designation of critical 
habitat for these species will consider information and recommendations 
from all interested parties. We will accept written comments and 
information during this extended comment period.
    We solicit comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned 
governmental agencies, tribes, the scientific community, industry, or 
any other interested parties concerning the proposal or the draft 
economic analysis. We particularly seek comments concerning:
    (1) Plans or potential for development within the area proposed to 
be designated;
    (2) Plans or potential for agricultural land-uses within the area 
proposed to be designated, which might require a permit under section 
404 of the Clean Water Act, or other types of Federal permits; and
    (3) The likelihood of ``stigma effects'' and costs associated with 
the designation; and
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the proposal to designate critical 
habitat, will be available for inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours at our office listed in the ADDRESSES section.

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

    Dated: November 7, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-29620 Filed 11-19-02; 10:15 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P