Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Extension of the Public Comment Period on Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow

Samenvatting

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), provide notice of an extension of the public comment period for the proposal to designate critical habitat for the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) (silvery minnow), a species federally listed as endangered under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Comments are also solicited on the associated draft economic analysis and draft environmental impact statement (draft EIS). Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule. The proposed rule designating critical habitat for the silvery minnow and the draft EIS were issued pursuant to a November 21, 2000, court order by the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, in Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District v. Babbitt, Civ. Nos. 99-870, 99-872, 99-1445M/RLP (Consolidated), that set aside the July 9, 1999, critical habitat designation for the silvery minnow.