[Federal Register: March 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 57)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 14414-14415] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25mr98-36] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AE38 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public Hearings and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Rule to List the Flatwoods Salamander as Threatened AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings and reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, gives notice that two public hearings will be held on its proposal to list the flatwoods salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) as a threatened species. The Service also announces the reopening of the comment period for this action. The public hearings and the reopening of the comment period will allow additional comments on this proposal to be submitted from all interested parties. DATES: The first public hearing will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on April 14, 1998, in Savannah, Georgia. The second public hearing will be held on the evening of April 15, 1998, from 7 to 10 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida. The comment period on the proposal, which originally closed on February 17, 1998, is now reopened until June 1, 1998. Any comments received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision on this proposal. ADDRESSES: The April 14 public hearing will be held in the Auditorium at the Savannah Technical Institute, 5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, Georgia. The April 15 public hearing will be at the Hermitage Centre, Hermitage Room, 1801 Hermitage Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida. Written comments and materials concerning the proposal may be submitted at the hearing or sent directly to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View Parkway, Jackson, Mississippi 39213. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cary Norquist at the above address (601/965-4900, ext. 28; facsimile 601/965-4340). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The flatwoods salamander occurs in isolated populations in open, moist, longleaf/slash pine flatwoods across the lower southeastern Coastal Plain in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Habitat loss and degradation from agriculture, urbanization, and certain silvicultural practices are the primary threats to the species. On December 16, 1997, the Service published a rule proposing threatened status for the flatwoods salamander in the Federal Register (62 FR 65787-65794). Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that a public hearing be held if it is requested within 45 days of the publication of the proposed rule. Public hearing requests were received within the allotted time period from Rayonier (Southeast Forest Resources) and the Florida Forestry Association in Florida; Georgia-Pacific and Gilman Paper Company in Georgia; and the American Forest & Paper Association in Washington, DC. The Service has scheduled these hearings for 7 to 10 p.m. on April 14, 1998, in Savannah, Georgia, and 7 to 10 p.m. on April 15, 1998, in Tallahassee, Florida. Anyone expecting to make an oral presentation at these hearings is encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement to the hearing officer prior to the start of the hearing. In the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may have to be limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. [[Page 14415]] There are no limits to the length of written comments presented at these hearings or mailed to the Service. Legal notices announcing the date, time, and location of the hearings are being published in newspapers concurrently with this Federal Register notice. The comment period on the proposal initially closed on February 17, 1998. To accommodate the hearing, the public comment period is now reopened. Written comments may be submitted until June 1, 1998, to the Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES section). Author: The primary author of this document is Cary Norquist (see ADDRESSES section). Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: March 18, 1998. Judy L. Jones, Acting Regional Director, Region 4, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 98-7695 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-U