[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3369]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI52


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed 
Designation of Critical Habitat for the Klamath River and Columbia 
River Distinct Population Segments of Bull Trout

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
reopening of the public comment period for the proposal to designate 
critical habitat for the Klamath River and Columbia River distinct 
population segments of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) to allow all 
interested parties additional time to comment on the proposed rule. 
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 preparation of the final rule.

DATES: We will accept comments on the proposed critical habitat 
designation until the close of business (5 p.m. Pacific standard time) 
on May 12, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be submitted to John 
Young, Bull Trout Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch 
of Endangered Species, 911 NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232. Written 
comments may also be sent by fax to 503/231-6243 or hand-delivered to 
our office at the above address. You may also send comments by 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected].
    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 Office at the above address. You may obtain copies of the 
proposed rule from the above address, by calling 503/231-6131, or from 
our Web site at: http://species.fws.gov/bulltrout.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Young, at the address above 
(telephone 503/231-6131; facsimile 503/231-6243).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    We published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the 
Klamath River and Columbia River distinct population segments of bull 
trout (Salvelinus confluentus) on November 29, 2002 (67 FR 71235). The 
proposed critical habitat designation includes approximately 29,720 
kilometers (18,471 miles) of streams and 215,585 hectares (532,721 
acres) of lakes, reservoirs, and marshes in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, 
and Montana. Designation would apply only to the waterways, not the 
adjacent lands. Under the terms of a court-approved settlement 
agreement, we are required to submit the final rule designating 
critical habitat to the Federal Register no later than October 1, 2003.
    The 90-day comment period on the proposed designation of critical 
habitat originally closed on January 28, 2003. During that comment 
period, we received several letters requesting extension of the date 
for submitting comments. These requests cited the length and scope of 
the proposal as a key reason for needing additional time to gather 
information, conduct analyses, and prepare comments. We are re-opening 
the comment period in response to these requests.
    Copies of the proposed designation of critical habitat are 
available on the Internet at http://www.r1.fws.gov or by contacting the 
Bull Trout Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Public Comments Solicited

    We are reopening 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 designation for the Klamath 
River and Columbia River distinct population segments of bull trout. 
Previously submitted comments on the proposed designation need not be 
resubmitted. 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:
    You may mail or hand-deliver written comments and information to 
the Bull Trout Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office (see 
ADDRESSES section). Hand deliveries must be made during normal business 
hours.
    You may also send comments by 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 a 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 office at telephone 
number 503/872-2766, during normal business hours.
    As described in the preamble of the proposed rule, we are 
conducting an analysis of the economic impacts of designating the 
proposed critical habitat. We will publish a notice of availability in 
the Federal Register when the draft economic analysis becomes available 
and provide for a 30 day comment period, during which we will accept 
comments on the proposal as well as the draft economic analysis. We 
anticipate publication of the notice of availability within this 
current 90 day extension. The notice of availability will provide for 
the comment period to remain open until the end of this current 90 day 
extension or 30 days after publication of the notice, whichever is 
later.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Barbara Behan, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

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

    Dated: January 30, 2003.
Craig Manson,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 03-3369 Filed 2-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P