[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56251-56252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24857]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI68


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Listing of the 
Central California Distinct Population Segment of the California Tiger 
Salamander; Reclassification of the Sonoma County and Santa Barbara 
County Distinct Populations from Endangered to Threatened; Special Rule

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 comment period for the proposed rule that would: List the 
Central California distinct population segment (DPS) of the California 
tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) as a threatened species 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.); reclassify the Sonoma County and Santa Barbara County 
DPSs of the California tiger salamander from endangered to threatened; 
and exempt, under section 4(d) of the Act, existing routine ranching 
activities on private or Tribal lands from section 9 prohibitions for 
the Central California DPS of the California tiger salamander and, if 
reclassified to threatened, for the Santa Barbara and Sonoma County 
DPSs. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they 
will be incorporated into the public record as part of this reopened 
comment period and will be fully considered in the final rule.

DATES: Comments and information from all interested parties will be 
accepted until 5 p.m. on October 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: (1) You may submit written comments to the Field Supervisor 
(Attn: CTS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2605, Sacramento, CA 95825.
    (2) You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to: 
[email protected]. See the ``Public Comments Solicited'' section below 
for file format and other information on electronic filing.
    (3) You may hand-deliver comments to our Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office at the address above.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in the preparation of the 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: Adam Zerrenner or Arnold Roessler of 
the 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

    On May 23, 2003, we published a proposed rule to list the Central 
California DPS of the California tiger salamander as a threatened 
species (68 FR 28647). The rule also proposed to reclassify the Sonoma 
County and Santa Barbara County DPSs from endangered to threatened. In 
addition, the proposed rule included a special rule to exempt, under 
section 4(d) of the Act, existing routine ranching activities from 
?take? prohibitions under section 9 of the Act for the Central 
California DPS of the California tiger salamander and, if reclassified 
to threatened, for the Santa Barbara and Sonoma County DPSs. On July 3, 
2003, we published a document to extend the comment period for the 
proposed rule to September 22, 2003 (68 FR 39892). For further 
information regarding background biological information, previous 
Federal actions, factors affecting the species, and conservation 
measures available to these three DPSs of the California tiger 
salamander, please refer to the proposed rule (68 FR 28647; May 23, 
2003).

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposal will 
be as accurate and as effective as possible.

[[Page 56252]]

Therefore, we are soliciting comments from the public, other concerned 
governmental agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other 
interested party concerning this proposed rule. The Public Comments 
Solicited section of the proposed rule (68 FR 28647; May 23, 2003) 
includes a list of topics for which we are particularly seeking 
comments.
    Previously submitted comments need not be resubmitted. If you 
submit comments by electronic mail (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-AI68'' and your name 
and 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 the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office 
(see ADDRESSES).

Author

    The primary authors of this notice are Adam Zerrenner, Senior Fish 
and Wildlife Biologist and Arnold Roessler, Chief, Listing Branch (see 
ADDRESSES).

Authority

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

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
Steve Williams,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 03-24857 Filed 9-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P