[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 116 (Wednesday, June 17, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33033-33034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15929]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AE85


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Reopening of Public Comment Period on the Proposed Rule to List the 
Cowhead Lake Tui Chub as Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening 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 
the reopening of the comment period for the proposed endangered status 
for the Cowhead Lake tui chub (Gila bicolor vaccaceps). The comment 
period has been reopened to acquire additional information on the

[[Page 33034]]

biology, distribution, and status of the Cowhead Lake tui chub in 
northeastern California.

DATES: Comments from all interested parties must be received by August 
3, 1998. All comments received by the closing date will be considered 
in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, materials and data, and available reports 
and articles concerning this proposal should be sent directly to the 
Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, 
California 95821. Comments and materials received will be available for 
public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Chrisney, at the address listed 
above (telephone 916/979-2725, facsimile 916/979-2723).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Cowhead Lake tui chub is a fish that is found only in Cowhead 
Slough and connected ditches within the bed of Cowhead Lake in extreme 
northeastern Modoc County, California. Prior to being drained for 
agricultural purposes, Cowhead Lake is thought to have contained the 
majority of the Cowhead Lake tui chub population. The entire population 
appears to occur in a very confined area of 5.4 kilometers (3.4 miles) 
of Cowhead Slough and connected drainage within the bed of Cowhead 
Lake. There are no additional populations. Protection of the habitat 
within this limited range is required to conserve the Cowhead Lake tui 
chub. This subspecies is threatened throughout its range by a variety 
of impacts, including loss of habitat from agricultural activities, the 
risk of disease and contamination, loss of genetic variability and by 
naturally occurring random events.
    On March 30, 1998, the Service published in the Federal Register a 
rule proposing endangered status for the Cowhead Lake tui chub (63 FR 
15152). The original comment period closed May 29, 1998.
    There have been requests from five parties, including private 
organizations and private citizens, to reopen the comment period for 
this listing proposal. The Service is seeking additional information 
concerning:
    (1) The size, number, or distribution of populations of this 
subspecies; and
    (2) Other biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any 
threat (or lack thereof) to this subspecies.
    Written comments may be submitted until August 3, 1998 to the 
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Ann Chrisney (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Authority

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

    Dated: June 9, 1998.
Don Weathers,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 98-15929 Filed 6-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P