[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-94]
[[Page 325]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 226
[I.D. 110904F]
Endangered and Threatened Species: Notice of Public Hearings on
Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for Seven Evolutionarily
Significant Units of Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and
Steelhead (O. mykiss) in California
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public hearings.
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SUMMARY: On December 10, 2004, NMFS proposed critical habitat
designations for two Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of chinook
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and five ESUs of O. mykiss (inclusive
of anadromous steelhead and resident rainbow trout) in California that
are listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The public comment
period for this proposal presently closes on February 8, 2005. In this
document, NMFS is announcing that public hearings have been scheduled
at four locations in California in January and early February 2005 to
provide additional opportunities for the public and other interested
parties to comment on the subject proposals.
DATES: Written comments on the proposed critical habitat designations
must be received by February 8, 2005. In order to provide the public
additional opportunity to comment on these critical habitat designation
proposals, NMFS will be holding four public hearings in California at
the specific dates and locations listed below:
January 13, 2005; 6:30-9:30pm at the North Coast Inn, 4975 Valley
West Blvd., Arcata, CA 95521; January 19, 2005; 6:30-9:30pm at the
DoubleTree Hotel Sonoma Wine Country, One DoubleTree Drive, Rohnert
Park, CA 94928;
January 20, 2005; 6:30-9:30pm at the Radisson Hotel Sacramento, 500
Leisure Lane, Sacramento, CA 95815;
February 1, 2005; 6:30-9:30pm at Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort,
633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93103.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed critical habitat
designations, identified by docket number [041123329-4329-01] and RIN
number [0648-AO04], by any of the following methods:
E-mail: [email protected]. Include docket
number and RIN number in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Submit written comments and information to Assistant
Regional Administrator, NMFS, Protected Resources Division, 501 W.
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. You may hand-
deliver written comments to our office during normal business hours at
the address given above.
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov
Fax: 562-980-4027.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Wingert, NMFS, Southwest Region,
562/ 980-4021; or Marta Nammack at 301/713-1401. The proposed rule,
maps and other materials related to the proposal can be found on the
Southwest Region's website at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 10, 2004, NMFS proposed critical habitat designations
for two Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs) of chinook salmon
(Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and five ESUs of O. mykiss (inclusive of
anadromous steelhead and resident rainbow trout) in California that are
listed as threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (69 FR 71880). The seven ESU of salmon and O. mykiss
include: (1) California Coastal chinook salmon, (2) Northern California
O. mykiss, (3) Central California Coast O. mykiss, (4) South-Central
California Coast O. mykiss, (5) Southern California O. mykiss, (6)
Central Valley spring-run chinook salmon, and (7) Central Valley O.
mykiss. The public comment period for these proposals opened on
December 10, 2004 and closes on February 8, 2005.
Public Hearings
Joint Commerce-Interior ESA implementing regulations state that the
Secretary shall promptly hold at least one public hearing if any person
requests one within 45 days of publication of a proposed regulation to
list a species or to designate critical habitat (see 50 CFR
424.16(c)(3)). NMFS has already scheduled hearings to allow affected
stakeholders and members of the public the opportunity to provide
comments directly to agency staff during the comment period (see DATES,
above). However, these public meetings are not the only opportunity for
the public to provide input on these proposals. The public and
stakeholders are encouraged to continue to comment and provide input to
NMFS on the proposals (via correspondence, e-mail, and the Internet;
see ADDRESSES, above) up until the scheduled close of the comment
period on February 8, 2005.
References
Copies of the Federal Register notices and related materials cited
herein are available on the Southwest Region's website at http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov or upon request (see ADDRESSES section above).
Dated: December 29, 2004.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-94 Filed 1-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S