Gunnison sage grouse comment period extended through April 2

Time to make “a reasoned response”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) granted a three-week extension of the comment period for its proposed listing of the Gunnison sage grouse as an endangered species. The announcement also applies to the proposed establishment of more than 1.7 million acres of critical habitat, and buys the county some time to compile its comments on the listing.
The Fish and Wildlife Service wrote to Senator Michael Bennet, who had requested a 60-day extension, to say that it could not extend the deadline further because of a Multi-District Litigation settlement that required a final listing decision by September 30, 2013.
“We cannot grant an extension of the comment for the requested 60 days, but we intend to grant a three-week extension of the comment period, until April 2, 2013,” the letter said.
The agency also indicated that it would hold public hearings during a second comment period dedicated to economic analysis of the proposed critical habitat. Those meetings have not been set but are expected to occur in May, during which time the public may comment on all aspects of both rules.
According to county attorney David Baumgarten, the extension will allow the county to develop a more thorough response. Baumgarten said, “A substantial impetus for that extension was made by both senators of Colorado and senators of Utah as well as U.S. representatives that showed bipartisan support for the community’s opportunity to digest the record and make a reasoned response on the data.”
Comments will be accepted in two ways: at http://www.regulations.gov and by mail. Online, search for the appropriate docket number to make comments: FWS-R6-ES-2012-0108 for the proposed listing and docket number FWS-R6-ES-2011-0111 for the proposed designation of critical habitat.
By mail, submit comments on the proposed endangered status to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R6-ES-2012-0108; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
Comments on the proposed critical habitat can be sent to: FWS-R6-ES-2011-0111; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203.
According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency will publish all comments online, including any personal information shared with comments, so comment according. Comments will be accepted until Tuesday, April 2.