# Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Rule and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Bitterroot Ecosystem

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-28481

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Proposed Rule
- **Published:** October 28, 1997
- **Citation:** 62 FR 55774

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE00

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of
Comment Period on Proposed Rule and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Bitterroot Ecosystem

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service provides notice that the comment
period is being extended on the proposed rule to establish a
nonessential experimental population of grizzly bears in the Bitterroot
Ecosystem. All interested parties that have not done so are invited to
submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials should be addressed to Dr.
Christopher Servheen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Project Leader,
Bitterroot Grizzly Bear EIS, P.O. Box 5127, Missoula, Montana 59806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Christopher Servheen, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator (see
ADDRESSES above), at telephone (406) 243-4903.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to
reintroduce the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), a threatened
species, into east-central Idaho and a portion of western Montana. On
July 2, 1997, the Service published a proposed rule (62 FR 35762) to
establish a nonessential experimental population pursuant to section
10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Grizzly bear
populations have been extirpated from most of the lower 48 United
States. They presently occur in populations in the Cabinet/Yaak
ecosystem in northwestern Montana and north Idaho, the Selkirk
ecosystem in north Idaho and northeastern Washington, the North
Cascades ecosystem in northwestern Washington, the Northern Continental
Divide ecosystem in Montana, and the Yellowstone ecosystem in Montana,
Wyoming, and Idaho. The purpose of this reintroduction is to
reestablish a viable grizzly bear population in the Bitterroot
ecosystem in east-central Idaho and adjacent areas of Montana, one of
six grizzly recovery areas identified in the Grizzly Bear Recovery
Plan. Potential effects of this proposed rule are evaluated in a draft
Environmental Impact Statement released concurrently with the
publication of the proposed rule. This grizzly bear reintroduction does
not conflict with existing or anticipated Federal agency actions or
traditional public uses of wilderness areas or surrounding lands.

Public Comments Solicited

The comment period on this proposal is scheduled to close on
November 1, 1997. To accommodate verbal requests and because of the
extensive interest in the proposal, the Service extends the comment
period. Written comments may now be submitted until December 1, 1997,
to the Service office identified in the ADDRESSES section above. All
comments must be received before the close of the comment period to be
considered.

Author

The author of this notice is Olin Bray, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225-0486; telephone (303)
236-7400, extension 249.

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: October 22, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-28481 Filed 10-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-28481. Public record. Not legal advice.