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Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designating the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

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[Federal Register: February 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 32)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 8251-8252]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe06-16]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AT38
 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designating the 
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct 
Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population 
Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and 
Threatened Wildlife

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce an 
extension of the comment period for the proposed rule to establish a 
distinct population segment (DPS) of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos 
horribilis) for the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and surrounding area 
and remove the Yellowstone DPS from the List of Threatened and 
Endangered Wildlife. Comments previously submitted need not be 
resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public 
record and will be fully considered in the final decision and rule.

DATES: The public comment period is extended until March 20, 2006. Any 
comments that are received after the closing date may not be considered 
in the final decision on the proposal.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the proposal, you may submit your 
comments and materials concerning the proposal by any one of several 
methods--
    1. You may submit written comments to the Grizzly Bear Recovery 
Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Hall 309, 
University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812.
    2. You may hand deliver written comments to our Missoula office at 
the address given above.
    3. You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
FW6_grizzly_yellowstone@fws.gov. See the Public Comments Solicited section 
below for file format and other information about electronic filing.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the proposed action, will be 
available for inspection after the close of the public comment period, 
by appointment, during normal business hours, at our Missoula office 
(See address above).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Christopher Servheen, Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at our Missoula 
office (see address above) or telephone (406) 243-4903. Persons who use 
a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf may call the Federal Information 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On November 17, 2005, the Service published a proposal to establish 
a DPS of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) for the greater 
Yellowstone Ecosystem and surrounding area and to remove the 
Yellowstone DPS from the List of Threatened and Endangered Wildlife (70 
FR 69854). Robust population growth, coupled with State and Federal 
cooperation to manage mortality and habitat, widespread public support 
for grizzly bear recovery, and the development of adequate regulatory 
mechanisms, has brought the Yellowstone grizzly bear population to the 
point where making a change to its status is appropriate. The proposed 
delisting of the Yellowstone DPS would not change the threatened status 
of the remaining grizzly bears in the lower 48 States, which would 
remain protected by the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). The comment period on this proposal opened for 60 days on 
November 17, 2005. Due to the complexity of this proposed action, we 
are extending the comment period for an additional 30 days to allow all 
interested members of the public ample opportunity to comment.

Public Comments Solicited

    We intend that any final action resulting from the proposed rule 
will be as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we solicit 
comments or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental 
agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested 
party concerning the proposed rule. Generally, we seek information, 
data, and comments concerning the status of grizzly bears in the 
Yellowstone ecosystem. Specifically, we seek documented, biological 
data on the status of the Yellowstone ecosystem grizzly bears and their 
habitat, and the management of these bears and their habitat.
    Submit comments as indicated under ADDRESSES. If you wish to submit 
comments by e-mail, please avoid the use of special characters and any 
form of encryption. Please also include your name and return address in 
your e-mail message.
    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 from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to 
the extent allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which 
we would withhold from the rulemaking record a respondent's identity, 
as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name or address, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. 
However, we will not consider anonymous comments. 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. 
Comments and other information received, as well as supporting 
information used to write the proposal, will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business

[[Page 8252]]

hours at our Missoula Office (see ADDRESSES). In making a final 
decision on the proposed rule, 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.

Authority

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

    Dated: February 9, 2006.
Marshall P. Jones, Jr.,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2205 Filed 2-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

 
 

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