[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 38861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13264]


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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: Extension of Public Comment 
Period on Proposed Listing Determination for the Southern Distinct 
Population Segment of North American Green Sturgeon

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: In April 2005, NMFS proposed to list the Southern Distinct 
Population Segment (DPS) of the North American green sturgeon 
(Acipenser medirostris; hereafter ``green sturgeon'') as threatened 
under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS is extending the public comment 
period on the proposed listing determination until July 27, 2005.

DATES: The due date for written comments is extended to July 27, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule by any of the 
following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to Chief, Protected 
Resources Division, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA, 90802-4213.
     Fax: 562-980-4027.
    The updated green sturgeon status review and other reference 
materials related to the proposed rule can be obtained via the Internet 
at: http://www.swr.noaa.gov. The updated status review and list of 
references are also available by submitting a request to the Assistant 
Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, 
NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213, or 
the Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, 
Northwest Region, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 
97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Neuman, NMFS, Southwest Region 
(562) 980-4115; Scott Rumsey, NMFS, Northwest Region (503) 872-2791; or 
Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 6, 2005, NMFS published a proposed ESA listing 
determination for the Southern DPS of green sturgeon (70 FR 17386). The 
proposed rule was based on: information showing that spawning adults 
are concentrated into one spawning river (i.e., Sacramento River), 
thus, increasing the risk of extirpation due to catastrophic events; 
threats that remain severe and have not been adequately addressed by 
conservation measures currently in place; fishery-independent data 
exhibiting a negative trend in juvenile green sturgeon abundance; and 
information showing evidence of lost spawning habitat in the upper 
Sacramento and Feather Rivers. With the publication of the proposed 
listing determination, NMFS announced a 90-day public comment period 
ending on July 5, 2005. On June 20, NMFS announced that it would hold a 
public hearing (70 FR 35391) on July 6 in Sacramento, CA, and extended 
the public comment period to July 6 to coincide with the public 
hearing.

Extension of Public Comment Period

    NMFS has received a request from a U.S. Department of the Interior 
to extend the public comment period by 2 weeks. In this notice NMFS is 
extending the public comment period by three weeks, and now comments 
will be accepted until July 27, 2005.

References

    Copies of the Federal Register notices and related materials cited 
in this document are available on the Internet at http://swr.noaa.gov, 
or upon request (see ADDRESSES).

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

    Dated: June 30, 2005.
Wanda L. Cain,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-13264 Filed 7-5-05; 8:45 am]
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