[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 117 (Monday, June 20, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35391-35392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12105]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 223

[Docket No. 050323081-5081-01; I.D. 031505C]
RIN 0648-AT02


Endangered and Threatened Species: Notification of Public Hearing 
on Proposed Listing Determination for the Southern Distinct Population 
Segment (DPS) of North American Green Sturgeon as Threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule: notification of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On April 6, 2005, NMFS proposed threatened status for the 
Southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of North American green 
sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris; hereafter ``green sturgeon'') under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973. In this notice, NMFS is 
announcing that a public hearing has been scheduled at one location in 
Sacramento, CA, in July 2005 to provide additional opportunities for 
the public and other interested parties to comment on the subject 
proposal.

DATES: The hearing will be held on July 6, 2005, from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 
p.m.
    Written comments on the proposed threatened listing for the 
Southern green sturgeon DPS must be received by July 6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will be held in the Stanford Room at 650 Capitol 
Mall, Suite 8-300 Sacramento, CA 95814. Please enter the building 
through the main entrance, which is located on the Capitol Mall side of 
the building.
    You may submit comments on the proposed threatened listing of the 
Southern green sturgeon DPS, identified by Docket Number 050323081-
5081-01 and RIN 0648-AT02, by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket 
number and RIN number in the subject line of the message.
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments and information to Assistant 
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 501 W. 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, California, 90802-4213. You may 
hand-deliver written comments to our office during normal business 
hours at the address given above.
     Fax: 562-980-4027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Neuman, NMFS, Southwest 
Region, (562) 980-4115; or Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of Protected 
Resources, (301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 6, 2005, NMFS proposed threatened status for the Southern 
DPS of green sturgeon under the ESA (70 FR 17386). The Southern DPS of 
green sturgeon includes coastal and Central Valley populations south of 
the Eel River, with the only known population in the Sacramento River. 
The public comment period for this proposal opened on April 6, 2005, 
and was originally scheduled to close on July 5, 2005. NMFS is 
extending the deadline for written comments to coincide with the date 
of the public hearing (July 6, 2005).

Public Hearing

    Joint U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of the 
Interior ESA implementing regulations state that the Secretary shall 
promptly hold at least one public hearing if any person requests one 
within 45 days of publication of a proposed regulation to list a 
species or to designate critical habitat (see 50 CFR 424.16(c)(3)). 
Although no requests were received, NMFS is holding a public hearing to 
provide an additional opportunity for the public and other interested 
parties to comment on the subject proposal. One public hearing will be 
held in California on the specific date and at the specific location 
listed here:
    Please be advised that weapons, cameras, and cell phones with 
cameras are prohibited in the building. Members of the public 
attempting to enter 650 Capitol Mall with any of these items will be 
denied access and will be asked to return said item(s) to their vehicle 
before entering the building.

[[Page 35392]]

    NMFS has scheduled this hearing to allow affected stakeholders and 
members of the public the opportunity to provide comments directly to 
agency staff. However, this public meeting is not the only opportunity 
for the public to provide input on this proposal. The public and 
stakeholders are encouraged to provide written input to NMFS on the 
proposal (via correspondence, e-mail, fax, and the Internet; see 
ADDRESSES, above) during the public comment period, which closes on 
July 6, 2005.

References

    Copies of the Federal Register notices and related materials cited 
herein are available on the Southwest Region's website at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov. or upon request (see ADDRESSES section above).

    Dated: June 13, 2005.
James H. Lecky,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12105 Filed 6-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S