Rules and Regulations. Proposed rule; reopening of comment period

Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior
Action: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period
Citation: FR Doc. 2024-07094 · RIN 1018-BH08 · Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2023-0092; FXES1111090FEDR-245-FF09E21000 · 50 CFR 17

Summary

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are reopening the public comment period on our October 3, 2023, proposed rule to list the northwestern pond turtle ( Actinemys marmorata ), a species from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and northern and central California, and the southwestern pond turtle ( Actinemys pallida ), a species from central and southern California and Baja California, Mexico, as threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are taking this action to allow all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment on the proposed listing of the two species and the proposed rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (“4(d) rule”) for the species. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in our final determinations.

Dates

The comment period on the proposed rule that published October 3, 2023 (88 FR 68370), is reopened. We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before May 6, 2024. Please note that comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES , below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on the closing date to ensure consideration.

Supplementary Information

Background On October 3, 2023, we published a proposed rule (88 FR 68370) to list the northwestern and southwestern pond turtles as threatened species with a 4(d) rule under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). The proposed rule opened a 60-day public comment period, ending December 4, 2023. We are reopening the comment period to allow the public an additional opportunity to provide comments on the October 3, 2023, proposed rule. For a description of previous Federal actions concerning listing of the northwestern and southwestern pond turtle and information on the types of comments that would be helpful to us in promulgating this rulemaking action, please refer to the October 3, 2023, proposed rule (88 FR 68370 at 68371-68372). Public Comments If you submit information via https://www.regulations.gov, your entire submission—including your personal identifying information—will be posted on the website. If your submission is made via a hardcopy that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will post all hardcopy submissions on https://www.regulations.gov . Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we used in preparing the October 3, 2023, proposed rule, will be available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2023-0092. Authors The primary authors of this document are the staff members of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Species Assessment Team and the Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office. Authority The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. ). Martha Williams, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2024-07094 Filed 4-3-24; 8:45 am]