[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64649-64650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25907]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AG09


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period on the Proposed Endangered Status for Three Plants From 
the Mariana Islands and Guam

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and notice of public 
hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) gives notice of a 
public hearing on the proposed endangered status for three plants, 
Nesogenes rotensis, Osmoxylon marianense, and Tabernaemontana rotensis 
from the Mariana Islands and Guam. In addition, the comment period 
which originally closed on July 17, 2000, will be reopened. The new 
comment period and hearing will allow all interested parties to submit 
oral or written comments on the proposal. We are seeking comments or 
suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the 
scientific community, industry, or any other interested parties 
concerning the proposed rule. Comments already submitted on the 
proposed rule need not be resubmitted as they will be fully considered 
in the final determination.

DATES: The comment period for this proposal now closes on November 29, 
2000. Any comments received by the closing date will be considered in 
the final decision on this proposal. The public hearing will be held 
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2000, on the island of 
Rota (Luta), Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Prior to the 
public hearing, the Service will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. to 
provide information and to answer questions.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Rota Resort and 
Country Club, Rota, CNMI. Comments and materials concerning this 
proposal should be sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Pacific Islands Ecoregion Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, 
room 3-122, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, Hawaii 96850. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Henson, at the above address, 
phone 808-541-3441, facsimile 808-541-3470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 1, 2000, the Service published a proposed rule to list 
three plants from the Mariana Islands and Guam as endangered species, 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) in the 
Federal Register (65 FR 35025). The original comment period closed on 
July 17, 2000. The comment period now closes on November 29, 2000. 
Written comments should be submitted to the Service (see ADDRESSES 
section).
    Nesogenes rotensis and Osmoxylon marianense are found only on the 
island of Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). 
Tabernaemontana rotensis occurs on both Rota and the United States 
Territory of Guam. The three plant species and their habitats have been 
affected or are now threatened by fire, development/road work, 
typhoons/storms, nonnative plants, and collecting/trampling by humans. 
This proposal, if made final, would implement the Federal protection 
and recovery provisions of the Act.
    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 a proposed rule. In response to a request from a 
government agency of the CNMI, the Service will hold a public hearing 
on the date and at the address described in the DATES and ADDRESSES 
sections above.
    Anyone wishing to make an oral statement for the record is 
encouraged to provide a written copy of their statement and present it 
to the Service at the hearing. In the event there is a large 
attendance, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Oral 
and written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits 
to the length of written comments presented at the hearing or mailed to 
the Service. Legal notices announcing the date, time, and location of 
the hearing will be published in newspapers concurrently with the 
Federal Register notice.
    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 these species;
    (2) The location of any additional populations of these species and 
reasons why any habitat should or should not be designated as critical 
habitat;
    (3) Additional information on the range, distribution, and 
population size of these species; and

[[Page 64650]]

    (4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their 
possible impacts on these species.
    Reopening of the comment period will enable the Service to respond 
to the request for a public hearing on the proposed action. The comment 
period on this proposal now closes on November 29, 2000. Written 
comments should be submitted to the Service office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Author:

    The primary authors of this notice Benton Pang and Christa Russell 
(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 22, 2000.
Rowan W. Gould,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-25907 Filed 10-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P