Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public Hearing and Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Rough Popcornflower

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE30

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Public

Hearing and Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status

for Rough Popcornflower

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

hirtus (rough popcornflower). In addition, the Service has reopened and

extended the comment period to accommodate a public hearing that was

requested by Mr. Danny Lang of Roseburg, Oregon. All parties are

invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: The comment period now closes on February 23, 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 Tuesday, February

10, 1998, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Holiday Inn Express,

375 West Harvard Boulevard, Roseburg, Oregon. Comments and materials

concerning this proposal should be sent to the State Supervisor, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon State Office, 2600 S.E. 98th Avenue,

Suite 100, Portland, Oregon 97266. Comments and materials received will

be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal

business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Andrew F. Robinson Jr. of the Oregon State Office (see ADDRESSES

section) at (503) 231-6179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Plagiobothrys hirtus is an annual herb on drier sites, or perennial

herb on wetter sites, that is known from only the interior valley of

the Umpqua River in Douglas County, Oregon. The plant is threatened by

destruction and/or alteration of habitat by development and

hydrological change (e.g., wetland fills, draining, construction);

spring and summer grazing by domestic cattle, horses, and sheep;

roadside maintenance; and competition from native and non-native

species (i.e., succession and encroachment). 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 November 20, 1997, the Service published a rule proposing

endangered status for Plagiobothrys hirtus in the Federal Register (62

FR 61953). The original comment period was to close on January 20,

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.

Danny Lang of Roseburg, Oregon was received within the allotted time

period. The Service has scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, February

10, 1998, at the Holiday Inn Express in Roseburg, 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 February 23, 1998. Written comments should

be submitted to the Service Office listed in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

The primary author of this notice is Dr. Andrew F. Robinson Jr.

(see ADDRESSES section).

Authority

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

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

Dated: January 7, 1998.

Don Weathers,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon, Fish and Wildlife

Service.

[FR Doc. 98-857 Filed 1-21-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M