[Federal Register: August 25, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 164)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51029-51030]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au03-53]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Draft Handbook for Candidate Conservation Agreements With 
Assurances and Enhancement of Survival Permit Processing

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are extending the 
comment period for the Draft Handbook for Candidate Conservation 
Agreements with Assurances and Enhancement of Survival Permit 
Processing. This draft document provides internal guidance for 
conducting the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances permit 
program under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act). Comments previously submitted need not be 
resubmitted as they will be incorporated into the public record as part 
of this extended comment period, and will be fully considered in the 
final rule.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Handbook for Candidate Conservation 
Agreements with Assurances and Enhancement of Survival Permit 
Processing must be received on or before September 22, 2003, to be 
considered during preparation of a final guidance document.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the Draft Handbook for Candidate 
Conservation Agreements with Assurances and Enhancement of Survival 
Permit Processing may obtain a copy by contacting the Division of 
Conservation and Classification, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 
North Fairfax Drive, Room 420, Arlington, Virginia 22203 (telephone 
703/358-2105), and may be viewed at: http://endangered.fws.gov/candidates/ccaahandbook.html.
 Written comments and materials regarding 
the draft guidance should be directed to the same address. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Nolin, Chief, Division of 
Conservation and Classification, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at the 
above address (703-358-2105)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 23, 2003, we published in the Federal Register a notice of 
availability for the draft Handbook for Candidate Conservation 
Agreements with Assurances and Enhancement of Survival Permit 
Processing (68 FR 37170). This draft handbook provides consistent 
procedures and policies for the Service's compliance with the 
enhancement of survival permit provisions of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 
Act. Consistency in the section 10(a)(1)(A) program will be achieved by 
(1) providing national procedural and policy guidance; (2) providing 
standardized guidance to our offices and personnel who participate in 
the Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances program and 
review and process enhancement of survival permit applications; (3) 
ensuring uniform Service compliance with section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act 
associated with a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances; (4) 
providing assistance to applicants in the non-Federal sector who wish 
to apply for enhancement of survival permits; and (5) providing for 
conservation of federally proposed, candidate, and other at-risk 
species. For further information, please refer to the June 23, 2003, 
Federal Register notice and the draft Handbook.

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend that a final decision on the Draft Handbook for Candidate 
Conservation Agreements with Assurances and Enhancement of Survival 
Permit Processing will take advantage of information and 
recommendations from all interested parties. Therefore, comments or 
suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the 
scientific community, industry, or any other interested party 
concerning this draft document are hereby solicited. All comments and 
materials received will be considered prior to the approval of a

[[Page 51030]]

final document. Previously submitted comments need not be resubmitted.

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

    Dated: August 4, 2003.
Steve Williams,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21623 Filed 8-22-03; 8:45 am]

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