[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48206-48207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24337]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AEOO


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of 
Comment Period and Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Rule and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the 
Bitterroot Ecosystem

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings and extension of 
comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice that 
public hearings will be held on the proposed rule to establish a 
nonessential experimental population of grizzly bears in the Bitterroot 
Ecosystem. Public meetings on the draft EIS for the proposed recovery 
action will be held concurrently. To accommodate the public hearings, 
the comment period on the proposal is being extended. All interested 
parties are invited to submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: Public hearings will be held at the following cities between the 
hours of 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 1997, at 
Challis, Idaho, and Hamilton, Montana; Thursday, October 2, 1997, at 
Missoula, Montana, and Lewiston, Idaho; Friday, October 3, 1997, at 
Helena, Montana, and Boise, Idaho; and Wednesday, October 8, 1997, at 
Salmon, Idaho. Registration will begin 1 hour prior to each hearing. 
Comments will be accepted until November 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the following locations: 
October 1, 1997--Challis Middle School, 700 Main Street, Challis, Idaho 
83226; and City Hall, 223 South 2nd Street, Hamilton, Montana 59840. 
October 2, 1997--Grant Creek Inn, 5280 Grant Creek Road, Missoula, 
Montana 59802; and Lewiston Community Center, 1424 Main Street, 
Lewiston, Idaho 83501. October 3, 1997--Colonial Park Hotel, 2301 
Colonial Drive, Helena, Montana 59601; and Boise State University, 
Student Union Building, 1700 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725. 
October 8, 1997--Pioneer Multipurpose Room, Pioneer School, 900 Sharkey 
street, Salmon, Idaho 83467. Written comments and materials should be 
addressed to Dr. Christopher Servheen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
Project Leader, Bitterroot Grizzly Bear EIS, P.O. Box 5127, Missoula, 
Montana 59806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Christopher Servheen, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator (see 
ADDRESSES above), at telephone (406) 243-4903.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to 
reintroduce the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), a threatened 
species, into east-central Idaho and a portion of western Montana. On 
July 2, 1997, the Service published a proposed rule (62 FR 35762) to 
establish a nonessential experimental population pursuant to section 
10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Grizzly bear 
populations have been extirpated from most of the lower 48 United 
States. They presently occur in populations in the Cabinet/Yaak 
ecosystem in northwestern Montana and north Idaho, the Selkirk 
ecosystem in north Idaho and northeastern Washington, the North 
Cascades ecosystem in northwestern Washington, the Northern Continental 
Divide ecosystem in Montana, and the Yellowstone ecosystem in Montana, 
Wyoming, and Idaho. The purpose of this reintroduction is to 
reestablish a viable grizzly bear population in the Bitterroot 
ecosystem in east-central Idaho and adjacent areas of Montana, one of 
six grizzly recovery areas identified in the Grizzly Bear Recovery 
Plan. Potential effects of this proposed rule are evaluated in a draft

[[Page 48207]]

Environmental Impact Statement released concurrently with the 
publication of the proposed rule. This grizzly bear reintroduction does 
not conflict with existing or anticipated Federal agency actions or 
traditional public uses of wilderness areas or surrounding lands.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service has scheduled hearings on October 1, 2, and 3, 1997, 
with registration beginning 1 hour prior to each hearing (see DATES and 
ADDRESSES above). Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the 
record is encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement to be 
presented to the Service at the start of the hearing. In the event that 
there is a large audience, the time allotted for oral statements may 
have to be limited.
    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 releases 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 proposal is scheduled to close 
on October 9, 1997. To accommodate these hearings, the Service extends 
the comment period. Written comments may now be submitted until 
November 1, 1997, 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: September 8, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-24337 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M