RENO - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced it is postponing public hearings on proposals to protect the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of greater sage-grouse along the California-Nevada border under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The hearings that were scheduled for April 29, 2014, in Minden, Nev., and April 30, 2014, in Bishop, Calif., will be rescheduled for those same locations.
On April 8, 2014, the Service announced a 60-day extension of the comment period on the proposals, which include listing the bird as a threatened species, designating approximately 1.86 million acres of critical habitat for the species, and a special rule that would provide increased flexibility for land management practices that are intended to benefit the sage-grouse. The extended comment period closes on June 9, 2014.
"Given the high level of interest in this matter, and our recent decision to extend the comment periods associated with these actions, we believe that moving the hearings to later dates will provide the public a more reasonable amount of time to review, prepare and submit comments on the proposals," said Ted Koch, State Supervisor for the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office.
Additionally, the Service is extending, by six months, the final determination of whether or not to list the Bi-State DPS as a threatened species. The final listing determination will be published on or before April 28, 2015.
The locations, dates and times for the public hearings will be announced as soon as they are rescheduled.
Scientific information regarding these proposals will be accepted until at 11:59 p.m., on June 9, 2014, and may be submitted at the public hearings and by hard copy or electronically. A copy of proposed rules and instruction for reply are available on the Internet at www.fws.gov/nevada/, www.regulations.gov, or through the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office at (775) 861-6300.[[In-content Ad]]
