[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19860-19861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07986]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2013-0104; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-AY53


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed 
Threatened Status for the Western Distinct Population Segment of the 
Yellow-Billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On October 3, 2013, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announced a proposal to list the yellow-billed cuckoo in the 
western portion of the United States, Canada, and Mexico (western 
yellow-billed cuckoo) as a threatened distinct population segment (DPS) 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). On December 
26, 2013, we reopened the comment period for an additional 60 days to 
ensure the public had sufficient time to comment on the proposal for 
this species. We now announce another reopening of the comment period 
for our October 3, 2013, proposed rule to allow for us to accept and 
consider additional public comments on the proposed rule.

DATES: We request that comments on this proposal be submitted by the 
close of business on April 25, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain copies of the proposed 
rule on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-
R8-ES-2013-0104, or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Sacramento 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-2013-0104, 
which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the Search 
panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, 
click on the Proposed Rule link to locate the document. You may submit 
a comment by clicking on ``Comment Now!''
    (2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R8-ES-2013-0104; Division of Policy and 
Directives

[[Page 19861]]

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 information about the proposed 
listing, contact Jennifer Norris, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage 
Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825; by telephone 916-414-6600; 
or by facsimile 916-414-6712. 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 3, 2013, we published in the Federal Register a proposed 
rule to list the western yellow-billed cuckoo as a threatened species 
under the Act (78 FR 61621). During the public comment period, we 
received numerous requests from Federal and State agencies and the 
public to extend or reopen the public comment period on the proposed 
rule beyond the December 2, 2013, due date. On December 26, 2013, we 
reopened the comment period for an additional 60 days (78 FR 78321). In 
order to ensure that the public has ample opportunity to review and 
comment on our proposed rule, we are reopening the comment period for 
an additional 15 days.

Information Requested

    We intend that any final action resulting from this proposed rule 
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 rule. Please see the Information 
Requested section of the October 3, 2013, proposed listing for a list 
of the comments that we particularly seek (78 FR 61621).
    For more background on our proposed listing, see the October 3, 
2013, Federal Register (78 FR 61621). The proposed rule is 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 
rule, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the 
public record, and we will fully consider them in our final rulemaking. 
Our final determination concerning this proposed rulemaking 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 action 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 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 
rule 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, 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, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT). You may obtain copies of the proposed rule on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2013-
0104, or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish 
and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

Authority

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

    Dated: March 31, 2014.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-07986 Filed 4-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P