Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on 90-Day Finding and Commencement of Status Review for a Petition To List the Westslope Cutthroat Trout as Threatened

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE00

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of

Comment Period on 90-Day Finding and Commencement of Status Review for

a Petition To List the Westslope Cutthroat Trout as Threatened

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that

the comment period on the westslope cutthroat trout 90-day finding is

being reopened. All interested parties are invited to submit comments

on this proposal.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until October 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Data, information, technical critiques, comments, or

questions relevant to this amended petition should be sent to the

Chief, Branch of Native Fishes Management, Montana Fish and Wildlife

Management Assistance Office, 4052 Bridger Canyon Road, Bozeman,

Montana 59715. The amended petition, its appendices, and bibliography

are available for public inspection, by appointment, at the above

address. Electronic copies of the amended petition and bibliography may

be requested and received via e-mail from [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lynn Kaeding, at the above address, or telephone (406) 582-0717.

[[Page 43902]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 10, 1998, the Service published in the Federal Register a

positive 90-day finding on a formal petition to list the westslope

cutthroat trout as threatened throughout its range and designate

critical habitat for this subspecies pursuant to the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended. Copetitioners were American Wildlands,

Clearwater Biodiversity Project, Idaho Watersheds Project, Inc.,

Montana Environmental Information Center, the Pacific Rivers Council,

Trout Unlimited's Madison-Gallatin Chapter, and Mr. Bud Lilly.

The Service has reviewed the amended petition, as well as other

available information, published and unpublished studies and reports,

and agency files. On the basis of the best scientific and commercial

information available, the Service finds that there is sufficient

information to indicate that listing of the westslope cutthroat trout

as threatened, throughout all or parts of its range, may be warranted.

The Service believes that the decline of westslope cutthroat trout is

due mainly to the destruction and adverse modification of habitat and

the negative effects of stocked, nonnative fish species, as described

above under the listing factors. However, the Service also believes

that the present status of westslope cutthroat trout throughout its

historic range is not well understood, particularly with regard to the

genetic characteristics of many known populations, the possible

occurrence of additional populations in areas that have not been

studied, and the measures now underway to protect remaining

populations. Within 1 year from the date the petition was received, a

finding as to whether the petitioned action is warranted is required by

section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act.

Public Comments Solicited

Oral and written statements concerning the proposed rule will

receive equal consideration by the Service. There are no limits to the

length of written comments presented at the hearing or mailed to the

Service. News released announcing the date, time, and location of the

hearings are being published in newspapers concurrently with this

Federal Register notice.

The previous comment period on this finding closed on August 10,

1998. At the request of the U.S. Forest Service and several State fish

and wildlife agencies, the Service reopens the comment period. Written

comments may not be submitted until October 13, 1998, 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 Chuck Davis, Regional

Environmental Coordinator. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6,

P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225-0486; telephone 303-236-7400

extension 235.

Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered

Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Dated: August 10, 1998.

Mary Lou Gessner,

Acting Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 98-21995 Filed 8-14-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M