# Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Public Hearing and Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Keck's Checker-Mallow > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-25061 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Proposed Rule - **Published:** September 24, 1997 - **Citation:** 62 FR 49954 ## Text 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-25061. Public record. Not legal advice.