[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 6, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 18035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7707]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AT61


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Special 
Regulations for the Western Distinct Population Segment of the Gray 
Wolf

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.

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    We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are conducting 
public hearings on a proposed special rule for nonessential 
experimental populations of the western distinct population segment of 
the gray wolf (Canis lupis) in Idaho and Montana. Comments previously 
submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the 
public record as part of this comment period, and will be fully 
considered in the final rule.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 10, 2004, to receive 
consideration. (See ``Public Hearings'' section for time and location 
of the public hearing).

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposed rule may be sent to Western Gray 
Wolf Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 100 N. Park, 
320, Helena, Montana 59601, or by email to 
[email protected]. You also may hand-deliver written comments to 
our Montana Ecological Services Field Office at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Bangs, Gray Wolf Recovery 
Coordinator, at the above address or telephone (406) 449-5225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 1, 2003, we published in the Federal Register (68 FR 
15879) an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that announced our 
intention to propose rulemaking on nonessential experimental 
populations for the western distinct population segment of the gray 
wolf. On March 9, 2004, we published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register (69 FR 10956) for these nonessential experimental populations 
and solicited public comments. Please refer to the proposed rule for 
background information, a summary of previous Federal actions, and 
provisions of the special regulations. We are now announcing public 
hearings to be held on this proposed rule.

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposal be as 
accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we solicit comments 
from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific 
community, industry, or any other interested party concerning the 
proposed rule. Our practice is to make comments, including names and 
home addresses of respondents, available for public review during 
regular business hours. In some circumstances, we will withhold a 
respondent's identity from the rulemaking record, as allowable by law. 
If you wish us to withhold your name or address, you must state this 
request prominently at the beginning of your comments. However, we will 
not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses available for public inspection in their 
entirety (see ADDRESSES section).

Public Hearings

    In our March 9, 2004, proposed rule, we stated our intention to 
hold public hearings. Therefore, we will hold the following hearings:

Public Hearings

    1. Helena, Montana--April 19, 2004, at the Colonial Hotel, 2301 
Colonial Drive from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
    2. Boise, Idaho--April 20, 2004, at The Grove Hotel, Evergreen 
Room, 245 South Capitol Blvd., from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 
8 p.m.
    Anyone wishing to make an oral comment or statement for the record 
at the public hearing listed above is encouraged (but not required) to 
also provide a written copy of the statement and present it to us at 
the hearing. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. 
In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral 
statements may be limited.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Sharon Rose, External Affairs 
Officer, Denver Regional Office, telephone 303-236-4580.

Authority

    Authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: March 30, 2004.
Mary G. Henry,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 04-7707 Filed 4-2-04; 11:22 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P