[Federal Register: December 18, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 243)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 77466]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18de02-29]
[[Page 77466]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Status Review for
the Westslope Cutthroat Trout
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Reopening of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the reopening
of the public comment period for a new status review for the westslope
cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi) in the United States,
pursuant to a recent Court order and the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended. We request additional data, information, technical
critiques, and relevant comments that may be available for this
subspecies of fish, as previously described in the Federal Register (67
FR 56257; September 3, 2002).
DATES: The reopened comment period closes on February 15, 2003. Any
comments that are received after the closing date will not be
considered in the status review.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Westslope Cutthroat
Comments, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2900 4th Avenue North, Room
301, Billings, MT 59102. Comments also may be submitted electronically
to <fw6_westslope@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn R. Kaeding at e-mail kaeding@fws.gov or telephone (406) 582-0717.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
A September 3, 2002, Federal Register notice (67 FR 56257)
announced the opening of a 60-day public comment period for a new
status review for the westslope cutthroat trout in the United States,
pursuant to a recent Court order and the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended. During that comment period, we received written
requests for an extension of the comment period from the game and fish
departments of the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, as
well as the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and the Earthjustice Legal
Foundation. In their letters, those entities indicated that they were
assembling or awaiting important information relevant to the status of
westslope cutthroat trout and that those entities wanted to make such
information available to us for use in the status review. The present
action satisfies those requests.
Author
The primary author of this document is Lynn R. Kaeding, Chief,
Branch of Native Fishes Management, Montana Fish and Wildlife
Management Assistance Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4052
Bridger Canyon Road, Bozeman, MT 59715.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: December 4, 2002.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 02-31875 Filed 12-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P