[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76950-76951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29979]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

[Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2014-0041; 4500030113]
RIN 1018-BA05


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species 
Status for West Coast Distinct Population Segment of Fisher

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are extending the 
comment period for our October 7, 2014, proposed rule to list the West 
Coast distinct population segment (DPS) of fisher (Pekania pennanti) as 
a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended. This action ensures the public has an additional opportunity 
to comment on the proposal.

DATES: Submit your comments on the proposal on or before February 4, 
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.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: You may obtain a copy of the proposed 
rule on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-
R8-ES-2014-0041, or by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Yreka 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-2014-0041, 
which is the docket number for the rulemaking. 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: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public 
Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R8-ES-2014-0041, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 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://

[[Page 76951]]

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: Erin Williams, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office, 1829 South 
Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097; telephone 530-842-5763; or facsimile 
530-842-4517. 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 7, 2014, we published a proposed rule (79 FR 60419) to 
list the West Coast DPS of fisher as a threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.).
    At the November 17, 2014, public hearing in Redding, California, we 
received multiple requests to extend the 90-day public comment period 
on the proposed rule beyond the January 5, 2015, closing date. In order 
to provide all interested parties an additional opportunity to review 
and comment on our proposed rule, we are extending the comment period 
on the proposed rule for an additional 30 days, until February 4, 2015.

Information Requested

    We intend that any final action resulting from the 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 proposed listing rule (79 FR 60419, October 7, 
2014) for a list of the comments and information that we particularly 
seek.
    For more background on our proposed listing rule, see the October 
7, 2014, Federal Register (79 FR 60419). The ADDRESSES section, above, 
provides information about how to obtain a copy of the proposed rule.
    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 the 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, may not meet the standard of 
information required by section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Act, which directs 
that determinations as to whether any species is an endangered or 
threatened species 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 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 submission (such as 
scientific journal articles or other publications) 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 rule, 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, Yreka 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 and the Yreka Fish and Wildlife 
Office.

Authority

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

    Dated: December 15, 2014.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-29979 Filed 12-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P