[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 49954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25061]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE30


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Public Hearing and 
Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Keck's 
Checker-Mallow

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearing and extension 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 and extension of the comment period on the proposed 
endangered status for Sidalcea keckii (Keck's checker-mallow). The 
comment period is extended to accommodate a public hearing that was 
requested by California Assemblyman Roy Ashburn, Thirty-Second 
District.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 21, from 
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Visalia, California. The comment period 
closes November 10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Visalia Convention 
Center, 303 East Acequia Street, Visalia, California. Comments and 
materials concerning this proposal should be sent to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, 
California 95821-6340. Comments and materials received will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Fuller of the Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES section) at (916) 979-2120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 28, 1997, the Service published a rule proposing endangered 
status for Sidalcea keckii in the Federal Register (62 FR 40325). The 
original comment period was to close on September 26, 1997. 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. In response to a request for a public hearing from 
California Assemblyman Roy Ashburn, a public hearing will be held in 
Visalia, California on October 21, 1997, at the Visalia Convention 
Center. 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 
comments period now closes on November 10, 1997. Written comments 
should be submitted to the Service in the ADDRESSES section.
    Sidalcea keckii is an annual plant that is known from one 
population in the hilly annual grasslands of south-central Tulare 
County. The plant is threatened by agricultural land conversion, urban 
development, and naturally occurring events. 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.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Ken Fuller (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: September 16, 1997.
Cynthia Barry,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-25061 Filed 9-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P