[Federal Register: November 5, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 214)] [Notices] [Page 60454] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr05no99-88] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Three Public Open Houses Prior to Proposing a Revision to the Special Rule for a Nonessential Experimental Population of Red Wolves in North Carolina AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public open houses. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce three public open houses in eastern North Carolina to present information to, and answer questions from the public prior to proposing a change to the special rule for the nonessential experimental population (NEP) of red wolves in eastern North Carolina under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). DATES AND ADDRESSES: We will hold the first open house on Tuesday, November 16, 1999, at the Mattamuskeet Lodge, Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Mattamuskeet Refuge Road, Swan Quarter, North Carolina 27885, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The second open house will be on Wednesday, November 17, 1999, at the Vernon James Research & Extension Conference Center, 207 Research Station Road, Plymouth, North Carolina 27962, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The third open house will be on Thursday, November 18, 1999, at Tyrrell Hall, 108 South Water Street, Columbia, North Carolina 27925, from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Brian T. Kelly, Wildlife Biologist/Field Projects Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1969, 708 North Highway 64/264, Manteo, North Carolina 27954 (telephone 252/473-1131, extension 27). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The red wolf is an endangered species that is currently found in the wild only as a NEP in northeastern North Carolina on the Alligator River, Pocosin Lakes, and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuges; the U.S. Air Force's Dare County Bombing Range; and adjacent private land in Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, North Carolina; and as an endangered species in three small island propagation projects located on Bulls Island in South Carolina and Cape St. George and St. Vincent Islands in Florida. These four carefully managed wild populations contained a minimum of 48 animals as of September 30, 1999. The remaining red wolves are located in 33 captive- breeding facilities in the United States. The captive population numbered 161 animals as of September 30, 1999. We published a proposed rule in the Federal Register of July 24, 1986 (51 FR 26564), to introduce red wolves into Alligator River, Dare County, North Carolina. We published a final rule on November 19, 1986 (51 FR 41790), making a determination to implement the proposed action with some modifications. We determined that the red wolf population in Dare County and adjacent Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties would be a NEP, according to Section 10(j) of the Act. We revised the rule in the Federal Register of November 4, 1991 (56 FR 56325), to add Beaufort County to the list of counties where the NEP designation would apply. We reevaluated the status of the population after 5 years and included input from public meetings in this reevaluation. We published a proposed rule in the Federal Register of November 24, 1993 (58 FR 62086), to revise the special rule for NEPs of red wolves in North Carolina and Tennessee. We published a final rule in the Federal Register of April 13, 1995 (60 FR 18940), making a determination to implement the proposed action with some modifications. We will hold three public open houses in eastern North Carolina. Through these open houses, we will provide the public with a forum to obtain information and ask questions of us before we request their formal comment through the rulemaking process. Author The primary author of this notice is Brian T. Kelly (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section). Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. Dated: October 29, 1999. H. Dale Hall, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 99-29000 Filed 11-4-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P