[Federal Register: January 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 8)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 2167]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ja99-22]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period on the 90-Day Finding for a Petition To List the 
Bonneville Cutthroat Trout as Threatened

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period on 90-day finding.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service provides notice of the reopening 
of the comment period on the 90-day finding for a petition to list the 
Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki utah) as a threatened 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The 
initial comment period, as identified in the Federal Register notice of 
the finding (63 FR 67640) published December 8, 1998, closed on January 
7, 1999. To accommodate several requests for extensions, the Service is 
reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days.

DATES: To be considered in the 12-month finding for this petition, 
written comments and materials should be submitted to the Service by 
February 12, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Information, data, or comments concerning this petition 
should be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, Utah 
Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South, 
Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. The petition, finding, support 
data, and comments are available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Janet A. Mizzi, Utah Field Office, at the above address, or telephone 
801/524-5001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Bonneville cutthroat trout is native to the Bonneville Basin in 
Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming. Its habitat is widely distributed and 
variable and includes both river and lake ecosystems. The subspecies 
occurs in streams with coniferous and deciduous riparian trees at 3,500 
meters (m) (11,483 feet (ft)) above mean sea level, to streams in sage-
steppe grasslands with herbaceous riparian zones at 1000 m (3281 ft) 
above mean sea level, to lake environments.
    On February 26, 1998, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
received a petition to list the Bonneville cutthroat trout as a 
threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). On December 8, 1998, the 
Service published a 90-day notice on this petition, finding that it 
presented substantial information indicating that listing this species 
may be warranted, and initiating a status review of the species.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service is soliciting information primarily on (1) genetic 
variability and purity of the various subpopulations, (2) population 
status and trends, (3) management policies and conservation plans 
affecting Bonneville cutthroat trout, and (4) threats to the species, 
including those identified in the petition. The original comment period 
for this action expired January 7, 1999. With this notice, the comment 
period is reopened for an additional 30 days, until February 12, 1999. 
Comments, information and data should be submitted to the Service's 
Utah Field Office (see ADDRESSES above.)

Author

    The author of this notice is Janet A. Mizzi, Utah Field Office (see 
ADDRESSES above), telephone 801/524-5001.

Authority

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

    Dated: January 7, 1999.
Elliott Sutta,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-720 Filed 1-12-99; 8:45 am]
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