[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71373-71375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28330]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2013-0011; 4500030114]
RIN 1018-AZ44


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On August 15, 2014, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announced a proposal to designate critical habitat for the 
western distinct population segment of the yellow-billed cuckoo 
(western yellow-billed cuckoo) under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act). On November 12, 2014, the public comment period

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was reopened for an additional 60 days until January 12, 2015. We now 
announce a public hearing in California. The public hearing will 
provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments and testimony 
on the proposed designation of critical habitat for the western yellow-
billed cuckoo. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, 
as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

DATES: We request that comments on this proposal be submitted by the 
close of business on January 12, 2015. Comments submitted 
electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES, 
below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
    Public Hearing: We will hold a public hearing on the proposed 
critical habitat rule on December 18, 2014; see ADDRESSES for location:
     Sacramento, CA: Public Hearing from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
Registration to present oral comments on the proposed designation at 
the public hearing will begin at 1:30 p.m. prior to the start of the 
hearing.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain a copy of the proposed 
rule, economics screening memo, and incremental effects memo on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2013-
0011, or contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish 
and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT), or by mail 
from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife 
Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    Public Hearing: The public hearing will be located in: Sacramento, 
California--Double Tree Inn, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, CA 95815.
    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-2013-0011, 
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-2013-0011; Division of Policy and 
Directives Management; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Headquarters, MS: BPHC, 
5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
    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 
designation, 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. Information is also available at the 
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office Web site at http://www.fws.gov/sacramento. 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 August 15, 2014, we published in the Federal Register a proposed 
rule to designate critical habitat for the western distinct population 
segment (DPS) of the yellow-billed cuckoo (western yellow-billed 
cuckoo) (Coccyzus americanus) under the Endangered Species Act (79 FR 
48548). In total, approximately 546,335 acres (221,094 hectares) are 
being proposed for designation as critical habitat in Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and 
Wyoming for the western yellow-billed cuckoo under the Act. During the 
public comment period, we received requests to hold a public hearing on 
the proposed designation. On November 12, 2014, we published in the 
Federal Register a notice reopening the comment period on the proposed 
critical habitat designation until January 12, 2015 (79 FR 67154).

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 critical habitat designation. Please see the 
Information Requested section of the August 15, 2014, proposed critical 
habitat rule for a list of the comments that we particularly seek (79 
FR 48548-48549).
    For more background on our proposed designation, see the August 15, 
2014, Federal Register (79 FR 48548). The proposed rule is available at 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov or the 
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at http://www.fws.gov/sacramento 
(see ADDRESSES).
    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 designation, 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).

[[Page 71375]]

Authority

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

    Dated: November 20, 2014.
Michael Bean,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2014-28330 Filed 12-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P