[Federal Register: July 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 141)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 42520]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy05-17]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on
a Petition To List the Gentry Indigo Bush, Dalea tentaculoides, as an
Endangered Species
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of reopening of public comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
reopening of the public comment period for the status review initiated
by the 90-day finding on a petition to list Gentry indigo bush (Dalea
tentaculoides). The original public comment period closed on April 4,
2005. This action will allow all interested parties an opportunity to
submit information on the status of the species under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).
DATES: Comments must be submitted directly to the Service (see
ADDRESSES section) on or before August 4, 2005. Any comments received
after the closing date may not be considered in the 12-month finding
for this petition.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments and
materials by any one of several methods:
1. You may submit written comments and information by mail or hand-
delivery to Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological
Services Field Office, 2321 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix,
Arizona 85021.
2. Written comments may be sent by facsimile to (602) 242-2513.
3. You may send your comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to
Gentrycomments@fws.gov.
All comments and materials received, as well as supporting
documentation used in preparation of the 90-day finding, will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at our Arizona Ecological Services Field Office at the above
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mima Falk, Arizona Ecological
Services, Tucson Suboffice, 201 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85745
(520) 670-6150 ext. 225).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 7, 2002, we received a petition dated January 2, 2002,
requesting that we list the Gentry indigo bush as an endangered species
with critical habitat. On January 25, 2005, we made our 90-day
administrative finding on the petition to list the Gentry indigo bush
under the Act in which we found that the petition presented substantial
information indicating that listing the Gentry indigo bush may be
warranted (70 FR 5401; February 2, 2005). Therefore, we initiated a
status review to determine if listing the species is warranted. The
review comment period closed on April 4, 2005.
Pursuant to 50 CFR 424.16(c)(2), we may extend or reopen a comment
period upon finding that there is good cause to do so. The original
comment period closed before the Gentry indigo bush flowering season.
One of the primary characters for this species' identification can only
be seen on the flower. We are reopening the comment period in order to
accept additional status and survey information obtained after April 4,
2005, that we believe is significant and may affect our determination
of the status of the species, and to allow appropriate public comment
on these materials. These survey materials include trip reports and an
interim report on surveys in Mexico received after the comment period
closed, as well as status survey reports for Sycamore Canyon and the
Northern Altar Valley which we anticipate receiving in early July. We
deem these considerations as sufficient cause to reopen the comment
period.
Public Comments Solicited
Our practice is to make comments, including names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold
their home address, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law.
If you wish us to withhold your name or address, you must state this
request prominently at the beginning of your comments. However, we will
not consider anonymous comments. To the extent consistent with
applicable law, we will make all submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
Authority
The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: July 15, 2005.
Marshall P. Jones Jr.,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 05-14556 Filed 7-22-05; 8:45 am]
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