[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 141 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 42520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14556]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on 
a Petition To List the Gentry Indigo Bush, Dalea tentaculoides, as an 
Endangered Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
reopening of the public comment period for the status review initiated 
by the 90-day finding on a petition to list Gentry indigo bush (Dalea 
tentaculoides). The original public comment period closed on April 4, 
2005. This action will allow all interested parties an opportunity to 
submit information on the status of the species under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

DATES: Comments must be submitted directly to the Service (see 
ADDRESSES section) on or before August 4, 2005. Any comments received 
after the closing date may not be considered in the 12-month finding 
for this petition.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments and 
materials by any one of several methods:
    1. You may submit written comments and information by mail or hand-
delivery to Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office, 2321 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85021.
    2. Written comments may be sent by facsimile to (602) 242-2513.
    3. You may send your comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
[email protected].
    All comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the 90-day finding, will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours at our Arizona Ecological Services Field Office at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mima Falk, Arizona Ecological 
Services, Tucson Suboffice, 201 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85745 
(520) 670-6150 ext. 225).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 7, 2002, we received a petition dated January 2, 2002, 
requesting that we list the Gentry indigo bush as an endangered species 
with critical habitat. On January 25, 2005, we made our 90-day 
administrative finding on the petition to list the Gentry indigo bush 
under the Act in which we found that the petition presented substantial 
information indicating that listing the Gentry indigo bush may be 
warranted (70 FR 5401; February 2, 2005). Therefore, we initiated a 
status review to determine if listing the species is warranted. The 
review comment period closed on April 4, 2005.
    Pursuant to 50 CFR 424.16(c)(2), we may extend or reopen a comment 
period upon finding that there is good cause to do so. The original 
comment period closed before the Gentry indigo bush flowering season. 
One of the primary characters for this species' identification can only 
be seen on the flower. We are reopening the comment period in order to 
accept additional status and survey information obtained after April 4, 
2005, that we believe is significant and may affect our determination 
of the status of the species, and to allow appropriate public comment 
on these materials. These survey materials include trip reports and an 
interim report on surveys in Mexico received after the comment period 
closed, as well as status survey reports for Sycamore Canyon and the 
Northern Altar Valley which we anticipate receiving in early July. We 
deem these considerations as sufficient cause to reopen the comment 
period.

Public Comments Solicited

    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their home address, which we will honor to the extent 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. To the extent consistent with 
applicable law, we will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

Authority

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

    Dated: July 15, 2005.
Marshall P. Jones Jr.,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-14556 Filed 7-22-05; 8:45 am]
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