Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Blackburn's Sphinx Moth

Résumé

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed designations of critical habitat for the Blackburn's sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni) on the islands of Maui, Hawaii, Molokai, and Kahoolawe, Hawaii. The comment period to allow peer reviewers and all interested parties to comment simultaneously on the proposed rule (67 FR 54763) and the associated draft economic analysis currently ends on December 30, 2002. Over a 10-year period, the draft economic analysis shows a range of direct costs from $1.2 to 1.9 million, and the possibility of indirect costs approaching $500 million. However, many of the indirect costs shown in the analysis result from uncertain and possibly unlikely future private and governmental actions, and we expressly request comments as to the likelihood of these actions occurring and of the indicated costs from these possible actions being incurred. 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 preparation of the final rule.