Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 16 / Tuesday, January 26, 1999 / Proposed Rules 3923 Dated: January 14, 1999 Sierra Vista, Arizona; and Leo Rich miles) of streams or rivers in Cochise Jamie Rappaport Clark, Theatre (Tucson Convention Center), and Santa Cruz counties, Arizona (63 FR Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. 260 South Church Avenue, Tucson, 71838; December 30, 1999). [FR Doc. 99±1700 Filed 1±25±99; 8:45 am] Arizona. Oral and written comments Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act, as BILLING CODE 4310±55±P will be accepted at the hearings. amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), Additionally, written comments can be requires that a public hearing be held if sent to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish it is requested within 45 days of the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR and Wildlife Service, 2321 W. Royal publication of a proposed rule. Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, Arizona However, due to the expeditious Fish and Wildlife Service 85021. Comments and materials treatment of these proposed critical received will be available for public 50 CFR Part 17 habitat determinations under Federal inspection, by appointment, during District Court order as described in the RIN 1018±AF36 normal business hours at the above proposed rules, the Service has arranged Service address. for three public hearings to be held in Endangered and Threatened Wildlife FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom proximity to the areas proposed for and Plants; Notice of Public Hearings Gatz, Endangered Species Coordinator, critical habitat designation. Each on Proposed Critical Habitat at the above address (telephone 602/ hearing will be held to accept Determinations for the Cactus 640±2720 ext. 240; facsimile 602/640± information for both the pygmy-owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and the Plant 2730). the water umbel critical habitat Lilaeopsis schaffneriana ssp. recurva, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: proposals on the dates and at the (Huachuca Water Umbel) addresses described above. Background AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Anyone wishing to make an oral Interior. The cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl is statement for the record is encouraged ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public one of four subspecies of the ferruginous to provide a written copy of their hearings. pygmy-owl. It occurs from lowland statement and present it to the Service central Arizona south through western at the start of the hearing. In the event SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Mexico to the States of Colima and there is a large attendance, the time Service (Service) gives notice that Michoacan, and from southern Texas allotted for oral statements may have to public hearings will be held on the south through the Mexican States of be limited. Oral and written statements proposed determination of critical Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon. Only the receive equal consideration. There are habitat for the plant Lilaeopsis Arizona population of Glaucidium no limits to the length of written schaffneriana ssp. recurva, (Huachuca brasilianum cactorum is listed as an comments presented at the hearings or water umbel), and the cactus endangered species. The Service mailed to the Service. ferruginous pygmy-owl (Glaucidium proposed designation of approximately Legal notices announcing the dates, brasilianum cactorum). The hearings 730,565 acres of riverine riparian habitat times, and locations of the hearings will will allow all interested parties to and upland habitat as critical habitat for be published in newspapers submit oral comments on the proposals. the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl concurrently with this Federal Register DATES: Each public hearing will be for pursuant to the Endangered Species Act notice. The current comment period on the purpose accepting public comment of 1973, as amended (Act). Proposed this proposal closes on March 1, 1999. on either or both proposals. These critical habitat is in Pima, Cochise, Written comments may be submitted to hearings will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 Pinal, and Maricopa counties, Arizona the Service office in the ADDRESSES p.m. on February 10, 1999 in Coolidge, as described in the Federal Register (63 section. Arizona; on February 11, 1999 in Sierra FR 71820; December 30, 1999). Author: The primary author of this Vista, Arizona; and on February 12, The Huachuca water umbel is a plant notice is Jeffrey A. Humphrey (see 1999 in Tucson, Arizona. The comment found in cienegas (desert marshes), ADDRESSES). period for these proposals will remain streams and springs in southern Arizona open until March 1, 1999. Comments and northern Sonora, Mexico, typically Authority must be received by the closing date. in mid-elevation wetland communities The authority for this action is the Any comments that are received after often surrounded by relatively arid Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 the closing date may not be considered environments. These communities are U.S.C. 1531±1544). in the final decision on these proposals. usually associated with perennial ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be springs and stream headwaters, have Dated: January 20, 1999. held at the Coolidge Unified School permanently or seasonally saturated Geoffrey L. Haskett, District Auditorium, 800 West Northern highly organic soils, and have a low Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Avenue, Coolidge, Arizona; Buena probability of flooding or scouring. The Wildlife Service. Performing Arts Center (Buena High Service proposed critical habitat [FR Doc. 99±1692 Filed 1±25±99; 8:45 am] School), 5225 Buena School Boulevard, including a total of 83.9 kilometers (52.1 BILLING CODE 4310±55±U.