[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4159-4160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1799]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI25


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determinations of 
Prudency for Two Mammal and Four Bird Species in Guam and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Designations of 
Critical Habitat for One Mammal and Two Bird Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening 
of the public comment period for the proposed rule to designate 
critical habitat for the Mariana fruit bat and the Guam Micronesian 
kingfisher on Guam, and the Mariana crow on Guam and Rota and 
associated draft economic analysis. The proposed designations of 
critical habitat were published in the Federal Register on October 15, 
2002. The extension of the comment period and notice of availability of 
the draft economic analysis were published in the Federal Register on 
December 5, 2002. On December 8, 2002, Guam and Rota sustained 
extensive damage from Super Typhoon Pongsona and were federally 
declared disaster areas. The extended comment period ended on January 
6, 2003; therefore, we are reopening the comment period to allow 
additional time for all interested parties to consider the information 
and submit written comments on the proposal and associated draft 
economic analysis. Comments previously submitted need not be 
resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the public record and 
will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

DATES: We will accept public comments until February 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be submitted to 
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands 
Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., PO Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001. 
Copies of the draft economic analysis are available on the Internet at 
http://pacificislands.fws.gov or by request from the Field Supervisor 
at the above address and telephone 808/541-3441. Copies of the draft 
economic analysis also are available on Guam at the Belt Collins Guam 
Office, GCIC Building, 414 West Soledad Avenue, Hagatna, Guam, phone 
671/477-6148, and on Rota at the Northern Marianas College, Tatachog 
Campus, Rota, telephone 670/532-9477. For further instructions on 
commenting, refer to Public Comments Solicited section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Henson, Field Supervisor, Pacific 
Islands Office, at the above address (telephone: 808/541-3441; 
facsimile: 808/541-3470).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 15, 2002 (67 FR 63738), we proposed designating 
approximately 10,053 hectares (ha) (24,840 acres (ac)) in two units on 
the island of Guam for the Mariana fruit bat (Pteropus mariannus 
mariannus) and the Guam Micronesian kingfisher (Halcyon cinnamomina 
cinnamomina) (67 FR 63738). For the Mariana crow (Corvus kubaryi), we 
proposed designating approximately 9,325 ha (23,042 ac) in two units on 
the island of Guam and approximately 2,462 ha (6,084 ac) in one unit on 
the island of Rota in the CNMI. On Guam, the boundaries of the proposed 
critical habitat units for the Mariana fruit bat and Guam Micronesian 
kingfisher are identical and the boundaries of the proposed critical 
habitat for the Mariana crow are contained within these identical 
boundaries. On Rota, critical habitat is proposed only for the Mariana 
crow.
    Critical habitat receives protection from destruction or adverse 
modification through required consultation under section 7 of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) with regard to actions carried out, funded, or 
authorized by a Federal agency. Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires 
that the Secretary shall designate or revise critical habitat based 
upon the best scientific and commercial data available, and after 
taking into consideration the economic impact of specifying any 
particular area as critical habitat. A draft economic analysis of the 
proposed critical habitat designation was prepared and a notice of 
availability was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2002 
(67 FR 72407); with a request for public comment on both the proposed 
rule and economic analysis by January 6, 2003. The draft economic 
analysis shows that over a 10-year period, the estimated total direct 
cost on Guam would be approximately $1.4 million and the estimated 
total direct cost on Rota would be approximately $149,000. The draft 
economic analysis is available on the

[[Page 4160]]

Internet and from the mailing address in the Public Comments Solicited 
section below.

Public Comments Solicited

    We are now announcing the reopening of the comment period for the 
proposed designation of critical habitat for the Mariana fruit bat and 
the Guam Micronesian kingfisher on Guam, and the Mariana crow on Guam 
and Rota and associated draft economic analysis. On December 8, 2002, 
Guam and Rota sustained extensive damage from Super Typhoon Pongsona 
and were declared Federal disaster areas. We are reopening the comment 
period until the date specified in DATES. The reopening of the comment 
period gives additional time for all interested parties to consider the 
information and submit written comments on the proposal and the 
associated draft economic analysis.
    We will accept written comments and information during this 
reopened comment period. If you wish to comment, you may submit your 
comments and materials concerning this proposal by any of several 
methods:
    (1) You may submit written comments and information to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., PO Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-
0001.
    (2) You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. If you submit comments by e-mail, please submit 
them as an ASCII file and avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption. Please also include ``Attn: RIN 1018-AI25'' and 
your name and return address in your e-mail message.
    (3) You may hand-deliver comments to our Honolulu Fish and Wildlife 
Office at the address given above.
    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 the address under (1) above. Copies of the 
draft economic analysis are available on the Internet at http://pacificislands.fws.gov or by request from the Field Supervisor at the 
address under ADDRESSES and phone number under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT above.

Author(s)

    The primary author of this notice is Fred Amidon (see ADDRESSES).

Authority

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

    Dated: January 15, 2003.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 03-1799 Filed 1-27-03; 8:45 am]
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