[Federal Register: February 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 34)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7852-7853]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21fe07-13]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AT37
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Rule to
Remove the Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus
fuscus) From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are
extending the public comment period on the proposed rule to remove the
Virginia northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus), more
commonly known as the West Virginia northern flying squirrel, from the
Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, due to recovery.
Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they have been
incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the
final determination.
DATES: The public comment period for the proposed rule published at 71
FR 75924, December 19, 2006, is extended from February 20, 2007, to
April 23, 2007. Any comments received after the closing date may not be
considered in the final decision on the proposal.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed delisting by any one
of several methods:
1. You may submit written comments and information to the Assistant
Chief, Division of Endangered and Threatened Species, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office, 300 Westgate Center Drive,
Hadley, MA 01035.
2. You may hand-deliver written comments to our Northeast Regional
Office, at the above address.
3. You may fax your comments to 413-253-8482.
4. You may use the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at our
Northeast Regional Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Lynch at our Northeast Regional
Office (telephone: 413-253-8628) or the Field Office Supervisor, West
Virginia Field Office, 694 Beverly Pike, Elkins, WV 26241 (telephone:
304-636-6586).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 19, 2006, the Service published a proposed rule (71 FR
75924), under the authority of the Act, to remove the WVNFS from the
Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, due to recovery.
The proposed rule opened a 60-day comment period, which was to end on
February 20, 2007, on that action. We have received requests to extend
the comment period in order to allow additional time for the public to
review the data and provide comments. To ensure that the public has
sufficient opportunity to review the available scientific and
commercial data, we are extending the comment period for an additional
60 days. Comments on the proposed delisting rule will be accepted
through April 23, 2007.
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Public Comments Solicited
We intend for any final action resulting from the proposal to be as
accurate as possible. Therefore, we solicit data, comments, or
suggestions from the public, other concerned government agencies, the
scientific community, industry, Tribes, or any other interested party
concerning the proposed rule. We particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) Biological, commercial, trade, or other relevant data concerning
any threat (or lack thereof) to the WVNFS; (2) additional information
on the range, distribution, and population size of the WVNFS and its
habitat; (3) the location of any additional populations of the WVNFS;
and (4) data on population trends. Please note that comments merely
stating support or opposition to the actions under consideration
without providing supporting information, although noted, will not be
considered in making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), directs that determinations as to whether any species is a
threatened or endangered species shall be made ``solely on the basis of
the best scientific and commercial data available.''
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 name and/or home address, etc., but if you wish us to consider
withholding this information, you must state this prominently at the
[[Page 7853]]
beginning of your comments. In addition, you must present rationale for
withholding this information. This rationale must demonstrate that
disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.
Unsupported assertions will not meet this burden. In the absence of
exceptional, documentable circumstances, this information will be
released. We will always make 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. Comments and other information
received, as well as supporting documentation used to write this rule,
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal
business hours at our Northeast Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). In
making a final decision on the proposal, we will take into
consideration the comments and any additional information we receive.
Such communications may lead to a final rule that differs from the
proposal.
Dated: February 15, 2007.
Kenneth Stansell,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 07-787 Filed 2-16-07; 11:48 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M