Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Public Hearing and Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Keck's Checker-Mallow

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE30

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Public Hearing and

Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Keck's

Checker-Mallow

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and extension of

comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of a

public hearing and extension of the comment period on the proposed

endangered status for Sidalcea keckii (Keck's checker-mallow). The

comment period is extended to accommodate a public hearing that was

requested by California Assemblyman Roy Ashburn, Thirty-Second

District.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 21, from

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Visalia, California. The comment period

closes November 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Visalia Convention

Center, 303 East Acequia Street, Visalia, California. Comments and

materials concerning this proposal should be sent to the Field

Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and

Wildlife Office, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento,

California 95821-6340. Comments and materials received will be

available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business

hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Fuller of the Sacramento Fish and

Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section) at (916) 979-2120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 28, 1997, the Service published a rule proposing endangered

status for Sidalcea keckii in the Federal Register (62 FR 40325). The

original comment period was to close on September 26, 1997. Section

4(b)(5)(E) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that a public

hearing be held if it is requested within 45 days of the publication of

the proposed rule. In response to a request for a public hearing from

California Assemblyman Roy Ashburn, a public hearing will be held in

Visalia, California on October 21, 1997, at the Visalia Convention

Center. Parties wishing to make statements for the record should bring

a copy of their statements to the hearing. Oral statements may be

limited in length, if the number of parties present at the hearing

necessitates such a limitation. There are no limits to the length of

written comments or materials presented at the hearing or mailed to the

Service. Written comments carry the same weight as oral comments. The

comments period now closes on November 10, 1997. Written comments

should be submitted to the Service in the ADDRESSES section.

Sidalcea keckii is an annual plant that is known from one

population in the hilly annual grasslands of south-central Tulare

County. The plant is threatened by agricultural land conversion, urban

development, and naturally occurring events. Comments from the public

regarding the accuracy of this proposed rule are sought, especially

regarding:

(1) Biological, commercial trade, or other relevant data concerning

any threat (or lack thereof) to the species listed above;

(2) The location of any additional populations of the species and

the reasons why any habitat should or should not be determined to be

critical habitat as provided by section 4 of the Act;

(3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution, and

population sizes of the species; and

(4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their

possible impacts on the species.

Author

The primary author of this notice is Ken Fuller (see ADDRESSES

section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: September 16, 1997.

Cynthia Barry,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97-25061 Filed 9-23-97; 8:45 am]

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