Fish and Wildlife Service April 3, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the reopening of the public comment period on our April 24, 2003, proposed rule (68 FR 20228) to designate critical habitat for the coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) and our April 22, 2003, proposed rule (68 FR 19888) to designate critical habitat for the San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis). The comment period will provide the public and Federal, State, and local agencies and Tribes with an opportunity to submit in writing updated comments and information on these species and associated habitat, the proposed critical habitat designations, and respective draft economic analyses. Comments relevant to issues identified for consideration in the April 22 and April 24, 2003, proposed critical habitat rules and the April 8, 2004, notice of availability of the draft economic analyses for these species that were previously submitted during one of the prior public comment periods need not be resubmitted as they have already been incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in any final decision. Comments relevant to issues identified in the April 8, 2004, Federal Register notice (69 FR 18515) reopening the comment period on the proposed determination of a Distinct Vertebrate Population Segment for the California gnatcatcher also need not be resubmitted as that determination will be made separately from the critical habitat designations for the coastal California gnatcatcher and San Diego fairy shrimp.