Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of a 90-day public comment period for the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and a concurrent 90-day comment period for the draft economic analysis for this proposed rule. A previous proposed rule to designate critical habitat was published on April 13, 2004 (69 FR 19620). We herein revise those critical habitat boundaries to better reflect lands containing essential features for the California red- legged frog, and we now propose to designate approximately 737,912 acres (ac) (298,622 hectares (ha)) of critical habitat in 23 California counties. Section 4 of the Act requires us to consider the economic and other relevant impacts of specifying any area as critical habitat. We hereby solicit data and comments from the public on all aspects of this proposal, including data on the economic and other impacts of the designation. We have conducted an analysis of the economic impacts of designating these areas as critical habitat and are announcing the availability of the draft economic analysis for public review. A special rule is also being proposed to exempt existing routine ranching activities from the prohibitions of the Act because these practices have neutral or beneficial effects on the California red- legged frog. We solicit additional data and information that may assist us in making a final decision on this proposed action.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 RIN-1018-AJ16 AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; revised proposed designation of critical habitat, special rule, reopening of comment period, and notice of availability of the draft economic analysis. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the reopening of a 90-day public comment period for the proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the California red-legged frog ( Rana aurora draytonii ), pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and a concurrent 90-day comment period for the draft economic analysis for this proposed rule. A previous proposed rule to designate critical habitat was published on April 13, 2004 ( 69 FR 19620 ). We herein revise those critical habitat boundaries to better reflect lands containing essential features for the California red-legged frog, and we now propose to designate approximately 737,912 acres (ac) (298,622 hectares (ha)) of critical habitat in 23 California counties. Section 4 of the Act requires us to consider the economic and other relevant impacts of specifying any area as critical habitat. We hereby solicit data and comments from the public on all aspects of this proposal, including data on the economic and other impacts of the designation. We have conducted an analysis of the economic impacts of designating these areas as critical habitat and are announcing the availability of the…
Citation: 70 FR 66906
