# Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on the Proposal To List the Northern Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia Erythrogaster Neglecta) as a Threatened Species > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-30772 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Uncategorized Document - **Published:** December 15, 1994 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AB75 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on the Proposal To List the Northern Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia Erythrogaster Neglecta) as a Threatened Species AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice that the comment period on the proposal is reopened. The northern copperbelly water snake now persists in isolated populations in southern Michigan and adjacent Indiana and Ohio, southern Indiana, southeastern Illinois, and adjacent Kentucky. It occupies lowland swamps and adjacent wooded and upland areas. The Service has recently received several reports dealing with northern copperbelly water snake biology, and these reports are being made available for public review and comment. The reopened comment period will allow interested parties to review these studies and submit additional comments on the proposed rule. DATES: The comment period on the proposal will close on January 13, 1995. ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be sent to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection during normal business hours, by appointment, at the above Regional Office address (612/725-3276; fax 612/725-3526). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or copies of the referenced reports contact either the above office or David Hudak, Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services Field Office, 620 S. Walker Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47403-2121 (812/334- 4261; fax 812/334-4273). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The northern copperbelly water snake has been proposed for listing as a threatened species due to evidence that its range and numbers have declined dramatically, primarily as a result of the destruction of its habitat, and that the threats to the habitat and to the snakes themselves are continuing. The Federal Register notice announcing the proposing of the northern copperbelly water snake for classification as a threatened species was published on August 18, 1993 (58 FR 43860). The original comment period ended on October 18, but was subsequently extended until November 16, 1993 (58 FR 52740). The comment period was reopened from March 22 through April 21, 1994 (59 FR 13472), to encompass a requested public hearing that was held in Indianapolis on April 5, 1994. On July 11, 1994 (59 FR 35307), the Service published a notice indicating that the final decision on listing the snake as a threatened species would not be made by August 18, 1994, and extended the decision deadline until February 18, 1995. That notice also reopened the comment period until November 1, 1994. The decision on listing the snake as a threatened species was delayed to allow additional time to complete a field study in southern Illinois. The study was designed to address a concern expressed by the Illinois Department of Conservation regarding interbreeding between the northern copperbelly water snake (N. e. neglecta) and the more common yellowbelly water snake (N. e. flavigaster). The Service believed that determining the extent and location of intergradation between the two subspecies was sufficiently important to delay the listing decision. The results of that study (Brandon and Blanford 1994) have now been submitted to the Service and will be utilized in the listing decision for the snake. The Service also has received a status survey of the northern copperbelly water snake in western Kentucky (Bryan 1994) and an update of an ongoing study on the snake's movement patterns based on radiotelemetry work (Kingsbury 1994). Information from these studies will also be considered during the Service's decision whether or not to list the snake as a threatened species. The Service is notifying the public of the existence of these studies, and will provide copies of them to all individuals and organizations that request them. The Service encourages all parties interested in the northern copperbelly water snake to review the studies and provide comments to the address shown above. References Cited Brandon, Ronald A. 1994. Research concerning the current distribution, habitat requirements, and hibernation sites of the copperbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) and intergradation with the yellowbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster)--Preliminary report: Current distribution and intergradation. Unpublished report, dated October 25, 1994, submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111. Bryan, Hal D. 1994. A status survey for the copperbelly water snake Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta in western Kentucky. Unpublished report, dated November 1994, submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, Ft. Snelling, MN 55111. Kingsbury, Bruce 1994. Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, dated November 20, 1994. Author The primary author of this notice is Ronald L. Refsnider, Division of Endangered Species, Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft. Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056. Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: December 6, 1994. Mollie H. Beattie, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 94-30772 Filed 12-14-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-30772. Public record. Not legal advice.