# Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Guajon > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-25476 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Proposed Rule - **Published:** October 4, 1996 - **Citation:** 61 FR 51878 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AD52 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for the Guajon AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior ACTION: Proposed rule, reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Service provides notice that the comment period is reopening on a proposal to list the guajon (Eleutherodactylus cooki) as threatened, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended. The Service is reopening the comment period to allow members of the public to submit comments on this proposal. DATES: The comment period on this proposal is extended until November 4, 1996. ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal should be sent to the Field Supervisor, Boqueron Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 491, Boqueron, Puerto Rico 00622. Comments and materials received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at this office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan Silander at the Boqueron Field Office address (809/851-7297). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On October 2, 1995, the Service proposed to add the guajon (Eleutherodactylus cooki) to the list of endangered and threatened species. At that time the guajon, a relatively large frog, was reported from its historical localities in the municipalities of Yabucoa and San Lorenzo. It is endemic to Puerto Rico and restricted in range to the southeastern part of the island. Since the closing of the comment period, the guajon has been reported from additional municipalities, including Humacao and Las Piedras. In addition, information on the reproductive biology and population genetics of the species has been published and additional research is ongoing. A moratorium on listing actions (Public Law 104-6) took effect April 10, 1995, and prevented the Service from making a final decision on this proposal [[Page 51879]] by the October 1996 administrative deadline. The moratorium was lifted on April 26, 1996, when the appropriation for the Department of the Interior for the remainder of fiscal year 1996 was enacted into law. In a Federal Register document published on May 16, 1996 (61 FR 24722), the Service outlined in detail the history of the moratorium and indicated the priorities it would follow in eliminating the listing program backlog resulting from the moratorium. Preparation of the final rule for this proposed species is considered a Tier 2 priority-- processing final decisions on proposed listings. For more information on the moratorium and the priority for backlogged listing actions, refer to the May 16, 1996, Federal Register notice. The Service does not believe that the new distributional information has changed the status of the species. However, we are reopening the comment period on the proposed rule to solicit comments on this new information and request any additional information on scientific studies conducted since the comment period last closed on December 1, 1995. The Service hereby announces reopening of the comment period until November 4, 1996. Author The primary author of this notice is Susan R. Silander, Boqueron Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Box 491, Boqueron, Puerto Rico, 00622 (787/851-7297). Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: September 27, 1996 Noreen K. Clough, Regional Director, Southeast Region, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 96-25476 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A96-25476. Public record. Not legal advice.