Service Announces 6 Month Extension for Endangered Species Listing Determination and Designation of Critical Habitat for Gunnison Sage-Grouse

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a six-month extension for a final decision on a proposed rule to provide Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection for the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus), and a proposed rule that would designate areas of southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah as critical habitat for the bird under the ESA. The Service is taking this action in response to additional scientific information recently received and to public comments before making a final determination on these rules. Publication of this announcement will reopen the public comment period on the proposed rules for 45 days.

Both proposed rules had initial public comment periods that ended April 2, 2013, with a date for making final determinations set for September 30, 2013. The Service is now extending the timeline for the decisions by six months, until March 31, 2014. The reopened public comment period will end on September 3, 2013.