[Federal Register: November 21, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 225)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 70203-70204]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21no02-42]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI47

 
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of 
Critical Habitat for Nine Bexar County, TX, Invertebrate Species

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of availability of draft economic 
analysis; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed 
designation of critical habitat for nine endangered karst-dwelling 
invertebrate species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act). The proposed rule published in the Federal Register on 
August 17, 2002 (67 FR 55064) and the current comment period is open 
until November 25, 2002. We are extending the comment period for the 
proposal to designate critical habitat for these species to allow all 
interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule and 
the associated draft economic analysis. The draft economic analysis 
shows a range of likely costs from the designation of the proposed 
critical habitat, including those costs attributable coextensively to 
listing, of between $17.8 to $22.1 million over a 10-year period. 
Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be 
incorporated into the public record as part of this extended comment 
period, and will be fully considered in the final rule.

DATES: We will accept comments on both the draft economic analysis and 
the proposed critical habitat designation until December 23, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments and materials concerning the

[[Page 70204]]

proposal and draft economic analysis at the hearing or send them 
directly to Renne Lohoefener, Texas State Administrator, Austin 
Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. Written comments may also 
be sent by facsimile to 512/490-0974. You may also hand-deliver written 
comments to our U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Austin Ecological 
Services Field Office at the address given above.
    You may view comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in the preparation of this proposed rule, by 
appointment, during normal business hours in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's Austin Ecological Services Field Office at the above address. 
You may obtain copies of the proposed rule and draft economic analysis 
from the above address, by calling 512/490-0057, or from our Web site 
at http://ifw2es.fws.gov/Library/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Seawell, Acting Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field 
Office, at the above address (telephone: 512/490-0057; facsimile: 512/
490-0974).