The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that we will hold one additional public hearing on the proposed rule to remove the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife established under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In a notice made in the Federal Register on August 13, 2004 (69 FR 50147), we announced the locations for nine other public hearing previously scheduled.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that we will hold one additional public hearing on the proposed rule to remove the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife established under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In a notice made in the Federal Register on August 13, 2004 (69 FR 50147), we announced the locations for nine other public hearing previously scheduled.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AJ03

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Removing the Eastern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the Gray Wolf From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

AGENCY: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that we

will hold one additional public hearing on the proposed rule to remove

the Eastern Distinct Population Segment of the gray wolf (Canis lupus)

from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife established under

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. In a notice made in the

Federal Register on August 13, 2004 (69 FR 50147), we announced the

locations for nine other public hearing previously scheduled.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for hearing date.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for hearing addresses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct all questions or requests for

additional information to the Service using the Gray Wolf Phone Line:

612-713-7337, facsimile: 612-713-5292, the general gray wolf electronic

mail address: GRAYWOLFMAIL@FWS.GOV, or write to: Gray Wolf Questions,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Ft.

Snelling, Minnesota 55111-4056. Additional information is also

available on our World Wide Web site at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://midwest.fws.gov/wolf. In

the event that our internet connection is not functional, please

contact the Service by the alternative methods mentioned above.

Individuals who are hearing-impaired or speech-impaired may call the

Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8337 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background--On July 21, 2004, we published a

proposed rule (69 FR 43664) to remove the Eastern Distinct Population

Segment (DPS) of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) from the List of

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife established under the Endangered

Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We

proposed this action because available data indicate that this DPS no

longer meets the definition of threatened or endangered under the Act.

The gray wolf population is stable or increasing in Minnesota,

Wisconsin, and Michigan, and exceeds its numerical recovery criteria.

Completed State wolf management plans will provide adequate protection

and management to the species in these three States if the gray wolf is

delisted in the Eastern DPS. The proposed rule would remove this DPS

from the protections of the Act by ending its threatened

classification. This proposed rule would also remove the currently

designated critical habitat for the gray wolf in Minnesota and

Michigan, and remove the current special regulations for gray wolves in

Minnesota and other Midwestern States. This proposal would not change

the status or special regulations currently in place for the Western or

Southwestern DPS of the gray wolf or for the red wolf (C. rufus).

    In our July 21, 2004, proposed rule, we stated that we would hold

public hearings. Consistent with that document, we announced the dates

and locations of nine hearings (69 FR 50147). In response to several

requests, we are now announcing the date and location for one

additional public hearing.

    Hearing Information: We will hold only one public hearing on

October 20, 2004, at the Black Bear Inn and Conference Center, 4

Godfrey Drive, Orono, Maine.

    The hearing will consist of a 1-hour informational meeting from

6:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the official public hearing from 7:30 to 9:30

p.m.

    Dated: August 30, 2004.

Marvin E. Moriarty,

Regional Director, Region 5.

[FR Doc. 04-21810 Filed 9-28-04; 8:45 am]

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