[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4097-4098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-741]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AT38


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designating the 
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct 
Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population 
Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
location and time of a public hearing to receive public comments on the 
proposal to establish a distinct population segment (DPS) of the 
grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) for the greater Yellowstone 
Ecosystem and surrounding area and to remove the Yellowstone DPS from 
the List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife.

[[Page 4098]]


DATES: We will consider comments on this proposed rule received until 
the close of business on February 15, 2006. A public hearing will be 
held February 9, 2006.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the proposal, you may submit your 
comments and materials concerning this proposal by any one of several 
methods--
    1. You may submit written comments to the Grizzly Bear Recovery 
Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Hall 309, 
University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812.
    2. You may hand deliver written comments to our office at the 
address given above.
    3. You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected]. See the ``Public Comments Solicited'' 
section below for file format and other information about electronic 
filing.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of this proposed action, will be 
available for inspection after the close of the public comment period, 
by appointment, during normal business hours, at the above address.
    We will hold an additional public hearing from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on 
February 9, 2006, at Hilton Garden Inn, 2023 Commerce Way, Bozeman, 
Montana 59715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher Servheen, Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES), 
telephone (406) 243-4903.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 17, 2005, the Service published a proposal to establish 
a DPS of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) for the greater 
Yellowstone Ecosystem and surrounding area and to remove the 
Yellowstone DPS from the List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife (70 
FR 69854). This proposal announced four open houses and one public 
hearing in early-to mid-January. We are scheduling an additional public 
hearing in Bozeman, Montana, before the close of the public comment 
period (see ADDRESSES).
    The purpose of the public hearing is to provide additional 
opportunity for the public to comment on this complex proposal. Public 
hearings are the only method for comments and data to be presented 
verbally for entry into the public record of this rulemaking and for 
our consideration during our final decision. Comments and data also can 
be submitted in writing or electronically, as described in our November 
17, 2005, proposal (70 FR 69854, November 17, 2005) and in the 
ADDRESSES section above.

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule 
will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we solicit 
comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental 
agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested 
party concerning this proposed rule. Generally, we seek information, 
data, and comments concerning the status of grizzly bears in the 
Yellowstone Ecosystem. Specifically, we seek documented, biological 
data on the status of the Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears and their 
habitat, and the management of these bears and their habitat.
    Submit comments as indicated under ADDRESSES. If you wish to submit 
comments by e-mail, please avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption. Please also include your name and return address in 
your e-mail message.
    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 from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to 
the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which 
we would withhold from the rulemaking record a respondent's identity, 
as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or address, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 
However, we will not consider anonymous comments. 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. 
Comments and other information received, as well as supporting 
information used to write this rule, will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address. In making a final decision on this proposed rule, we will take 
into consideration the comments and any additional information we 
receive. Such communications may lead to a final rule that differs from 
this proposal.

Authority

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

    Dated: January 19, 2006.
Thomas O. Melius,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 06-741 Filed 1-23-06; 12:26 pm]
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