[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 31 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7381-7382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-723]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018-AV19
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Petition
Finding and Proposed Rule To List the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) as
Threatened Throughout Its Range
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public informational meetings and
public hearings.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
locations and times of combined public meetings that have been
scheduled to: (1) Provide information on the 12-month petition finding
and proposed rule to list the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) as
threatened throughout its range, and (2) Receive verbal public comments
on that proposal.
DATES: The meeting dates are:
1. March 1, 2007, 7 to 10 p.m., Anchorage, AK.
2. March 5, 2007, 6 to 9 p.m., Washington, DC.
3. March 7, 2007, 5 to 10 p.m., Barrow, AK.
We will accept written comments until April 9, 2007. If you wish to
submit written comments, follow the directions in our January 9, 2007,
proposed regulation (72 FR 1064).
ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
1. Anchorage--Wilda Marston Theatre, Z.J. Loussac Library, 3600
Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503.
2. Washington, DC--Department of the Interior (Sidney Yates
Auditorium), 1849 C St., NW., Washington, DC 20240.
3. Barrow--Inupiat Heritage Center (Multipurpose Room), Barrow, AK
99723.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Rezabeck, Regional Outreach
Coordinator, 1011 East Tudor Rd., MS-101, Anchorage, AK 99503
(telephone 907/786-3351). Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For
information concerning the Washington, D.C., meeting, please contact
Valerie Fellows, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240 (telephone 202/208-
5634).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We will hold a combined public informational
meeting and public hearing at the following locations: Anchorage,
Alaska; Barrow, Alaska; and Washington, DC. In each location, the
public informational meeting will precede the public hearing. All
meetings will include a 30-minute presentation on the Service's status
review of the polar bear followed by a 30-minute question and answer
period on the status review. We invite the public to provide oral
testimony during the public hearing.
Background
On January 9, 2007, we published a proposed rule (72 FR 1064) to
list the polar bear as threatened on the Federal List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife in 50 CFR 17.11(h). Because of the wide geographic
scope of the proposal and heightened public interest, we have scheduled
public informational meetings and public hearings at three locations.
Our purpose for holding these public informational meetings is to
provide additional opportunities for the public to gain information and
ask questions about our proposal. These informational sessions should
assist interested parties in preparing substantive comments, which we
will accept until close of business (5 p.m.) Alaska Local Time on April
9, 2007. The public hearings will be the only method for the public to
verbally present comments and data for entry into the public record of
this rulemaking and for our consideration during our final decision.
Anyone wishing to make an oral comment or statement for the record at a
public hearing listed above is encouraged (but not required) to also
provide a written copy of the statement and present it to us at the
hearing. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. In
the event there is a large attendance, the time allotted for oral
statements may be limited.
Comments and data can also be submitted in writing or
electronically, as described in the January 9, 2007, proposal, and at:
http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/issues.htm.
Public Comments Solicited
We intend that any final action resulting from the proposed rule
will be
[[Page 7382]]
as accurate and as effective as possible. Therefore, we request
comments or information from the public, other concerned governmental
agencies, the scientific community, industry, or any other interested
party concerning the proposed rule. We particularly seek comments
concerning:
(1) Information on taxonomy, distribution, habitat selection
(especially denning habitat), food habits, population density and
trends, habitat trends, and effects of management on polar bears;
(2) Information on the effects of sea ice change on the
distribution and abundance of polar bears and their principal prey over
the short and long term;
(3) Information on the effects of other potential listing factors,
including oil and gas development, contaminants, ecotourism, hunting,
and poaching, on the distribution and abundance of polar bears and
their principal prey over the short and long term;
(4) Information on regulatory mechanisms and management programs
for polar bear conservation, including mitigation measures related to
oil and gas exploration and development, hunting conservation programs,
anti-poaching programs, and any other private, tribal, or governmental
conservation programs that benefit polar bears;
(5) The specific physical and biological features to consider, and
specific areas that may meet the definition of critical habitat and
that should or should not be considered for a proposed critical habitat
designation as provided by section 4 of the Endangered Species Act;
(6) Information relevant to whether any populations of the species
may qualify as distinct population segments; and
(7) The data and studies referred to within the proposal.
Author
The author of this notice is Charles S. Hamilton, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska.
Authority
The authority for this notice is the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: February 2, 2007.
Mamie A. Parker,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 07-723 Filed 2-13-07; 11:21 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P