Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period for the Notice of Intent To Clarify the Role of Habitat in Endangered Species Conservation

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of

Comment Period for the Notice of Intent To Clarify the Role of Habitat

in Endangered Species Conservation

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice: reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) reopen the comment

period on our notice of intent to develop policy or guidance and/or to

revise regulations, if necessary, to clarify the role of habitat in

endangered species conservation. We received several requests to extend

or reopen the comment period. We solicit public

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comments, and we will analyze and incorporate additional comments

received during this comment period, as well as those we received

during the previous comment period, into new proposed guidance as

appropriate.

DATES: We will accept comments on this guidance until October 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments regarding this guidance to the Chief,

Division of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C

Street, NW, Mailstop ARLSQ-420, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Gloman, Chief, Division of

Endangered Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 703-358-2171 (see

ADDRESSES section).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 14, 1999 (64 FR 31871), we published a notice of our intent

to develop policy or guidance and/or to revise regulations, if

necessary, to clarify the role of habitat in endangered species

conservation. In that notice, we sought comments relative to the

benefits of the designation of critical habitat (beyond that of

listing) and what considerations should be included in our prudency

determinations. We also requested comments and suggestions relative to

how we can effectively streamline the process of determining and

designating critical habitat and specifically whether and how our

existing regulations might or should be changed to accomplish this.

Additionally, we requested comments and suggestions on possible

legislative actions that might improve the effectiveness and efficiency

of the critical habitat process.

Public Comments Solicited

We reopen the comment period on this notice in order to provide

additional time for interested parties to comment on this important

issue. We will take into consideration any comments and additional

information received and will announce proposed guidance after the

close of the public comment period and as promptly as possible after

all comments have been reviewed and analyzed. We will make available

for your review and comment any guidance, policy, or regulatory changes

that are developed.

Authority

The authority for this notice is the Endangered Species Act of

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

Dated: August 19, 1999.

Marshall P. Jones,

Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 99-22460 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am]

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