[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28481]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE00


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of 
Comment Period 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; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service provides notice that the comment 
period is being extended on the proposed rule to establish a 
nonessential experimental population of grizzly bears in the Bitterroot 
Ecosystem. All interested parties that have not done so are invited to 
submit comments on this proposal.

DATES: Comments will be accepted until December 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: 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 
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 comment period on this proposal is scheduled to close on 
November 1, 1997. To accommodate verbal requests and because of the 
extensive interest in the proposal, the Service extends the comment 
period. Written comments may now be submitted until December 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 Olin Bray, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Denver, CO 80225-0486; telephone (303) 
236-7400, extension 249.

Authority

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

    Dated: October 22, 1997.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-28481 Filed 10-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M