[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77087-77089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30433]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket Nos. FWS-R8-ES-2013-0072 and FWS-R8-ES-2013-0042; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-AY10 and RIN 1018-AZ70


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Status 
for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-Grouse 
With Special Rule and Designation of Critical Habitat

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rules; extension of comment periods.

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SUMMARY: On October 28, 2013, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announced a proposal to list the bi-State distinct 
population segment (DPS) of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus 
urophasianus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended, with a special rule, and to designate critical habitat. We 
announce the extension of the comment periods for our October 28, 2013, 
proposed rules to ensure the public has sufficient time to comment on 
these proposals, which involve many stakeholders. The Service seeks 
data and comments from the public on the October 28, 2013, proposed 
listing rule and proposed

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critical habitat rule for the bi-State DPS of greater sage-grouse.

DATES: We request that comments on the proposals published October 28, 
2013 (78 FR 64358 and 78 FR 64328) be submitted by the close of 
business on February 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain copies of the proposed 
rules on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-
R8-ES-2013-0072 (proposed listing with special rule) and Docket No. 
FWS-R8-ES-2013-0042 (proposed critical habitat), or contact the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office or Ventura 
Fish and Wildlife Service (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or by 
mail from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife 
Office or Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT).
    Comment Submission: You may submit comments by one of the following 
methods:
    (1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R8-ES-2013-0072 
(proposed listing) or FWS-R8-ES-2013-0042 (proposed critical habitat), 
which are the docket numbers for these rulemakings. Then, in the Search 
panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, 
click on the Proposed Rules link to locate the document. You may submit 
a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!''
    (2) By hard copy for the proposed listing: Submit by U.S. mail or 
hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R8-ES-2013-
0072; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 
22203. By hard copy for the proposed critical habitat: Submit by U.S. 
mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R8-ES-
2013-0042; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; Arlington, VA 
22203.
    We request that you send comments only by the methods described 
above. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This 
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide 
us (see the Information Requested section below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the 
proposed listing and proposed critical habitat designation, as well as 
information about the proposed listing and proposed critical habitat 
specific to Nevada (Carson City, Lyon, Douglas, Mineral, and Esmeralda 
Counties), contact Edward D. Koch, State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial 
Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502; telephone 775-861-6300; or 
facsimile 775-861-6301. For information about the proposed listing and 
proposed critical habitat specific to California (Alpine, Mono, and 
Inyo Counties), contact Stephen P. Henry, Deputy Field Supervisor, or 
Carl Benz, Assistant Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, 
Ventura, CA 93003; telephone 805-644-1766; facsimile 805-644-3958. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 28, 2013, we published a proposed rule to list the bi-
State DPS as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act) (78 FR 64358). We concurrently published a 
proposed rule to designate critical habitat (78 FR 64328).
    We received requests to extend the public comment periods on the 
proposed rules beyond the December 27, 2013, due date. In order to 
ensure that the public has an adequate opportunity to review and 
comment on our proposed rules, we are extending the comment periods for 
an additional 45 days.

Information Requested

    We intend that any final action resulting from these proposed rules 
will be based on the best scientific and commercial data available and 
be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request 
comments or information from other concerned Federal and State 
agencies, the scientific community, or any other interested party 
concerning the proposed listing and proposed critical habitat rules. 
Please see the Information Requested section of both the proposed 
listing and proposed critical habitat rules for a list of the comments 
that we particularly seek.
    For more background on our proposed listing (with special rule) and 
proposed critical habitat rules, see the October 28, 2013, Federal 
Register. Both proposed rules are available at the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (see ADDRESSES section above).
    If you previously submitted comments or information on the proposed 
rules, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the 
public record, and we will fully consider them in our final 
rulemakings. Our final determination concerning these proposed 
rulemakings will take into consideration all written comments and any 
additional information we receive.
    Please note that submissions merely stating support for or 
opposition to the actions under consideration without providing 
supporting information, although noted, will not be considered in 
making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act directs that 
determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or threatened 
species, and a determination of critical habitat, must be made ``solely 
on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available.''
    You may submit your comments and materials concerning the proposed 
listing and proposed critical habitat rules by one of the methods 
listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the 
methods described in ADDRESSES. If you submit information via http://www.regulations.gov, your entire submission--including any personal 
identifying information--will be posted on the Web site. If your 
submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying 
information, you may request at the top of your document that we 
withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy 
submissions on http://www.regulations.gov. Please include sufficient 
information with your comments to allow us to verify any scientific or 
commercial information you include.
    Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation we used in preparing the proposed listing and proposed 
critical habitat rules, will be available for public inspection on 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by appointment, during normal business 
hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife 
Office and Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authors

    The primary authors of this notice are the staff members of the 
Pacific Southwest Regional Office.

[[Page 77089]]

Authority

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

    Dated: December 11, 2013.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30433 Filed 12-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P