[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 48908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20059]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2014-0060; FF07CAMM00 FXES11130700000]


Draft Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the 
comment period on the draft Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan 
will be extended an additional 30 days. Since we announced the 
availability of the draft plan, we have seen significant public 
interest and have received a request from the State of Alaska for an 
extension of time to allow for public input.

DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments in our preparation of 
the final plan, we must receive your comments and information by 
September 19, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Document availability: The draft Polar Bear Plan is 
available for viewing at http://www.fws.gov/alaska/pbrt/ or at 
www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R7-ES-2014-0060.
    Comment submission: You may submit comments on the draft Polar Bear 
Plan by one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, 
ATTN: FWS-R7-ES-2014-0060, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, 
MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803; or
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments to Docket No. FWS-R7-
ES-2014-0060.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Colligan, Chief, Marine Mammals 
Management, by telephone at 907-786-3800; by U.S. mail at Marine 
Mammals Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor 
Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; or by email at [email protected]. 
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

    In a final rule published in the Federal Register on May 15, 2008 
(73 FR 28212), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, listed the polar 
bear (Ursus maritimus) as a threatened species under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). In the 
July 6, 2015, Federal Register (80 FR 38458), we announced the 
availability of a draft Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan, which 
is designed to meet the recovery requirements of the ESA as well as the 
conservation management goals of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). We are currently soliciting public comment on 
this draft plan.
    Since we announced the availability of the draft plan, we have seen 
significant public interest and have received a request from the State 
of Alaska for an extension of time to allow for public input. Providing 
additional time for full consideration of the objectives for conserving 
the polar bear is important to our overall management effort. 
Therefore, we extend the current 45-day comment period by an additional 
30 days. All comments received by the date specified in DATES will be 
considered prior to approval of this plan.
    For a description of the polar bear, taxonomy, distribution, 
status, breeding biology and habitat, and a summary of factors 
affecting the species, please see the final listing rule (73 FR 28212, 
May 15, 2008). For information regarding the draft plan, please see the 
July 6, 2015, notice of availability (80 FR 38458).

Authority

    We publish this notice under ESA section 4(f) (16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: July 31, 2015.
Karen P. Clark,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20059 Filed 8-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P