Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of Comment Period for Proposed Rule to List the Contiguous United States Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AF03

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of

Comment Period for Proposed Rule to List the Contiguous United States

Distinct Population Segment of the Canada Lynx

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of extension of comment period.

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

the comment period on the proposal to list the contiguous United States

distinct population segment of the Canada Lynx is being extended. All

interested parties are invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until October 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal

should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Montana Field Office, 100 N. Park Avenue, Suite 320, Helena, Montana

59601.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kemper McMaster, Field Supervisor,

Montana Field Office, (see ADDRESSES section) (telephone 406/449-5225;

facsimile 406/449-5339).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On July 8, 1998 (63 FR 36994), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) published a proposed rule to list the contiguous United

States distinct population of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) as

threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. This

population segment includes the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho,

Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan,

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and

Massachusetts. The contiguous United States population segment of the

Canada lynx is threatened by human alteration of forests, low numbers

as a result of past overexploitation, expansion of the range of

competitors (bobcats (Felis rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans)), and

elevated levels of human access into lynx habitat. This rule also lists

the captive population of Canada lynx within the coterminous United

States (lower 48 States) as threatened due to similarity of appearance

and permits the continued export of captive-bred Canada lynx.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service intends that any final action resulting from this

proposal will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore,

comments, or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental

agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested

party concerning this proposed rule are solicited.

The previous comment period on this proposal is scheduled to close

on September 30, 1998. To accommodate the Great Lakes Indian Fish and

Wildlife Commission council meeting schedule, the Service extends the

comment period. Written comments may now be submitted until October 14,

1998, to the Service's Montana Field Office (see 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 Lori Nordstrom, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Montana Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of

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

Dated: September 25, 1998.

Terry Terrell,

Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.

[FR Doc. 98-26397 Filed 9-29-98; 2:39 pm]

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