Endangered and Threatened Species; Extension of Public Comment Period on the Proposed Rule to List West Coast Steelhead and Notice of Public Hearing

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 424

[I.D. 050294D]

Endangered and Threatened Species; Extension of Public Comment

Period on the Proposed Rule to List West Coast Steelhead and Notice of

Public Hearing

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of public comment period and notice of

public hearing.

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SUMMARY: NMFS is extending the public comment period on the proposed

rule to list several Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of

steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). NMFS is also announcing details of an

additional public hearing in Idaho. This will allow additional time for

all interested parties to submit written comments on the proposal and

to provide information and testimony at a public hearing.

DATES: The comment period, which would otherwise close on November 7,

1996, has been extended and now closes on January 6, 1997. A public

hearing will be held on December 3, 1996, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.,

Pocatello, ID.

[[Page 55782]]

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials regarding the proposed rule

should be directed to Garth Griffin, National Marine Fisheries Service,

525 NE Oregon Street, Suite 500, Portland, OR 97232. The hearing will

be held at Pocatello-Pocatello City Hall - Council Chambers, 911 N.

7th, Pocatello, ID 83205.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garth Griffin, 503-231-2005; Craig

Wingert, 310-980-4021; or Marta Nammack, 301-713-1401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 9, 1996, NMFS published a proposed

rule to list 10 ESUs of west coast steelhead as threatened or

endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (61 FR 41541). Public

comments were solicited, public hearings were announced (61 FR 51398,

October 2, 1996), and the comment period was set to expire on November

7, 1996. NMFS has recently received several requests for further

opportunity for public input, including a request for an additional

public hearing in Idaho. NMFS is keenly aware of the public interest in

the status of west coast steelhead. Interested parties will have

opportunity to provide oral and written testimony at the public

hearing. This hearing will be physically accessible to people with

disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other

auxiliary aids should be directed to Matthew Eagleton at (503) 230-

5433.

Dated: October 23, 1996.

Stephen M. Waste,

Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine

Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 96-27728 Filed 10-28-96; 8:45 am]

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