[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 126 (Thursday, July 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39949-39950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14941]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of 
Comment Period for the Bull Trout (Salvelinus Confluentus) 5-Year 
Review

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of comment period for the bull trout 5-year review.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we'') announces an 
extension of the comment period for the bull trout 5-year review under 
section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) (Act). The initial request for information was to end on July 1, 
2004. We are extending the request for information to January 3, 2005. 
We are announcing this extension to allow the public additional time to 
provide information for this review. We are again requesting submission 
of any new information (best scientific and commercial data) on the 
bull trout that has become available since its original listing as a 
threatened species coterminously in the lower 48 States in 1999 (64 FR 
58932). If the present classification of the bull trout is not 
consistent with the best scientific and commercial information 
available, we may, at the conclusion of this review, initiate a 
separate action to propose changes to the List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife and Plants (List) accordingly.

DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct the review, we must receive 
your information no later than January 3, 2005. We want to emphasize 
that the timely submission of information is critical to ensure its use 
in the 5-year review.

ADDRESSES: Submit information to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Bull Trout Coordinator, Attention: Bull Trout 5-year Review, 911 NE 
11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232. Information received in response 
to this notice and the results of the review will be available for 
public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at the 
above address. New information regarding the bull trout may also be 
sent electronically to [email protected].

[[Page 39950]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rollie White at the above address, or 
at (503) 231-6158.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 13, 2004, we announced in a Federal 
Register notice (69 FR 19449) that we are commencing a 5-year review of 
the bull trout. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act requires that we conduct 
a review of listed species at least once every 5 years. The purpose of 
a 5-year review is to ensure that the classification of a species as 
threatened or endangered on the List is accurate. The 5-year review is 
an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at 
the time of the review that has become available since the species' 
original listing or its most recent status or 5-year review.
    If there is no new information concerning the bull trout, no 
changes will be made to its classification. However, if we find that 
there is new information concerning the bull trout indicating a change 
in classification is warranted, we may propose a new rule that could 
either: (a) Reclassify the species from threatened to endangered; or 
(b) remove the species from the List.

Public Solicitation of New Information

    We are publishing this extension of the comment period to allow for 
any new information relating to the current status of the bull trout 
that has become available since its original listing. In particular, we 
are seeking information such as:
    A. Species biology including, but not limited to, population 
trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics;
    B. Habitat conditions including, but not limited to, amount, 
distribution, and suitability;
    C. Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit 
the species;
    D. Threat status and trends; and
    E. Other new information, data, or corrections including, but not 
limited to, taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of 
erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical 
methods.
    Information submitted should be supported by documentation such as 
maps, bibliographic references, methods used to gather and analyze the 
data, and/or copies of any pertinent publications, reports, or letters 
by knowledgeable sources.

Authority

    This document is published under the authority of the Endangered 
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: June 17, 2004.
David J. Wesley,
Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-14941 Filed 6-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P