C.O. spotted frog meetings, delayed by shutdown, reset

Two public informational meetings on the Oregon spotted frog proposed listing and critical habitat rules, which were canceled because of the government shutdown, have been rescheduled as follows:

December 3, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic and Recreation Center (SHARC) at 57250 Overlook Road in Sunriver, and

December 4, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Pine Senior Center at 16450 Victory Way in La Pine

On August 29, the Service proposed to list the Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and to designate critical habitat.

The public comment period on the proposed rules has been extended from October 29 until November 12, 2013. While the Regulations.gov website will only accept comments during the open comment period, due to the government shutdown written comments will be accepted at the public informational meetings on December 3 and 4, 2013. Comments previously submitted on these proposed actions do not need to be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final rules.

There are several ways to submit comments on these proposed rules. Comments can be submitted electronically prior to November 12, 2013, at http://www.regulations.gov using the following docket numbers FWS–R1-ES-2013-0013 (listing) or FWS-R1-ES-2013-0088 (critical habitat). Comments can also be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R1-ES-2013-0013 (listing) or FWS-R1-ES-2013-0088 (critical habitat); Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. Finally, you may submit written comments at either of the two public meetings mentioned above.

The complete proposed rules and additional information on the Oregon spotted frog can be found at http://www.fws.gov/wafwo/osf.html . Maps of proposed critical habitat can be found at http://www.fws.gov/wafwo/osf.html and additional information on critical habitat can be found at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/critical-habitats.html.

If you are unable to attend the scheduled public meetings or provide comment at this time, there will be another opportunity to provide comments. The Service will be conducting an economic analysis of the effects of the proposed designation of critical habitat. An additional public comment period will be provided when the economic analysis is published in the spring of 2014 prior to any decision to list the Oregon spotted frog or designate critical habitat.

All relevant comments received will be considered and addressed in the agency’s final listing determination for the species and the designation of critical habitat.

America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. The Service is working to actively engage conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species. To learn more about the Service’s Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.