Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status for Howell's Spectacular Thelypody

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE52

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public

Hearing and Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Threatened Status

for Howell's Spectacular Thelypody

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and reopening 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 on the proposed threatened status for Thelypodium

howellii ssp. spectabilis (Howell's spectacular thelypody). In

addition, the Service has reopened the comment period to accommodate a

public hearing that was requested by the Oregon Cattlemen's

Association. All parties are invited to submit comments on this

proposal.

DATES: The comment period now closes on April 20, 1998. Any comments

received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision

on this proposal. The public hearing will be held on April 9, 1998,

from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Geiser Grand Hotel,

1996 Main Street, Baker City, Oregon. Comments and materials concerning

this proposal should be sent to the Supervisor, U. S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Snake River Basin Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Room 368,

Boise, Idaho 83709. Comments and materials received will be available

for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at

the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Ruesink, Supervisor, at the

above address (see ADDRESSES section) or (208) 378-5243.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 10818]]

Background

Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis is known from 11 sites in

Baker and Union counties, Oregon. This taxon is threatened by a variety

of factors including habitat destruction and fragmentation from

agricultural and urban development, grazing by domestic livestock,

competition from non-native vegetation, and alterations of wetland

hydrology.

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.

On January 13, 1998, the Service published a rule proposing

threatened status for Thelypodium howellii ssp. spectabilis in the

Federal Register (63 FR 1948). The original comment period was to close

on March 16, 1998. 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. A public hearing

request from Mr. Rod Dowse of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association in

Portland, Oregon, was received within the allotted time period. The

Service has scheduled a public hearing to be held on April 9, 1998, at

the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Oregon.

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

comment period now closes on April 20, 1998. Written comments should be

submitted to the Service office listed in the ADDRESSES section.

Author: The primary author of this notice is Edna Rey-Vizgirdas

(see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

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

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

Dated: February 26, 1998.

David J. Wesley,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.

[FR Doc. 98-5666 Filed 3-4-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-P