Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Document Availability, Notice of Public Hearings, and Reopening of Public Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AD02

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Document

Availability, Notice of Public Hearings, and Reopening of Public

Comment Period

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability, reopening of public comment

period, notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces

availability of a draft economic analysis of its proposal to designate

critical habitat for the Mexican spotted owl. A comment period is

opened and public hearings [[Page 12731]] will be held on the analysis

and the proposal.

DATES: Comment: The original comment period on the proposed rule to

designate critical habitat extended from December 7, 1994, to March 7,

1995. The comment period is now reopened until May 8, 1995.

Hearings: The Service will hold four public hearings at the times

noted below. Public hearings will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the

following dates: March 22, 1995, in Santa Fe, New Mexico; March 23,

1995, in Socorro, New Mexico; March 29, 1995, in Tucson, Arizona; and

March 30, 1995, in Flagstaff, Arizona.

ADDRESSES: Hearings: The public hearings will be held at the following

places: Santa Fe--Morgan Hall, 310 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New

Mexico; Socorro--Galena Auditorium, New Mexico Institute of Mining and

Technology, 1 Olive Lane, Socorro, New Mexico; Tucson--Rincon Room,

Student Union, Second Floor, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona;

Flagstaff--Flagstaff High School Auditorium, 400 West Elm Street,

Flagstaff, Arizona.

Documents and comments: Requests for copies of the Service's

Economic Analysis and comments concerning that document and the

proposal to designate critical habitat for the Mexican spotted owl

should be sent to the State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. Comments and materials

received will be available for public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Fowler-Propst, New Mexico

State Supervisor, at the above address, telephone (505) 761-4525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Service listed the Mexican spotted owl as a threatened species

on March 16, 1993 (58 FR 14248). A proposal to designate critical

habitat was published on December 7, 1994 (59 FR 63162). A total of

4,770,223 acres was proposed for inclusion in critical habitat.

Section 4(b)(2) of the Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1533 (b)(2)) requires

the Service to consider economic and other impacts of designating a

particular area as critical habitat. In a final designation of critical

habitat, the Service is required to balance the benefits of excluding

areas against the benefits of including those areas within the

boundaries of critical habitat. In fulfillment of that requirement, the

Service has prepared a draft economic analysis of the effects that may

be caused by the designation of critical habitat. The Service will

provide a copy of the economic analysis to interested parties upon

request. The Service will consider the critical habitat designation in

light of all additional relevant information obtained during the

comment period before making a final decision with respect to the

proposed rule.

The comment period on the proposal is reopened until May 8, 1995,

to receive views and recommendations on both the proposed designation

and the draft economic analysis. Public hearings on the proposal and

the draft economic analysis will be held at the times and places listed

above. Oral statements at the hearings may be limited to several

minutes if there are many requests to speak. Oral comments presented at

the public hearings are given the same weight and consideration as

written comments. If the public hearings are of insufficient time to

provide for all who wish to speak, all who are not accommodated will be

asked to submit their comments in writing. There are, however, no

limits to the length of written comments or materials presented at the

hearing or mailed to the Service.

Author

The primary author of this notice is Jennifer Fowler-Propst, New

Mexico State Supervisor, at the above address.

Authority

Authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

Dated: March 3, 1995.

Edward H. Cynar, II,

Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 95-5810 Filed 3-7-95; 8:45 am]

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