# Endangered and Threatened Species: Extension of Public Comment Period on Proposed Listing Determination for the Southern Distinct Population Segment of North American Green Sturgeon
**AGENCY:**
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Proposed rule; extension of public comment period.
**SUMMARY:**
In April 2005, NMFS proposed to list the Southern Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the North American green sturgeon ( *Acipenser medirostris* ; hereafter “green sturgeon”) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS is extending the public comment period on the proposed listing determination until July 27, 2005.
**DATES:**
The due date for written comments is extended to July 27, 2005.
**ADDRESSES:**
You may submit comments on the proposed rule by any of the following methods:
• E-mail: *[email protected]* .
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov* . Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Submit written comments to Chief, Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA, 90802-4213.
• Fax: 562-980-4027.
The updated green sturgeon status review and other reference materials related to the proposed rule can be obtained via the Internet at: *http://www.swr.noaa.gov* . The updated status review and list of references are also available by submitting a request to the Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213, or the Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, Northwest Region, NMFS, 1201 NE Lloyd Avenue, Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Melissa Neuman, NMFS, Southwest Region (562) 980-4115; Scott Rumsey, NMFS, Northwest Region (503) 872-2791; or Lisa Manning, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 713-1401.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
On April 6, 2005, NMFS published a proposed ESA listing determination for the Southern DPS of green sturgeon (70 FR 17386). The proposed rule was based on: information showing that spawning adults are concentrated into one spawning river (i.e., Sacramento River), thus, increasing the risk of extirpation due to catastrophic events; threats that remain severe and have not been adequately addressed by conservation measures currently in place; fishery-independent data exhibiting a negative trend in juvenile green sturgeon abundance; and information showing evidence of lost spawning habitat in the upper Sacramento and Feather Rivers. With the publication of the proposed listing determination, NMFS announced a 90-day public comment period ending on July 5, 2005. On June 20, NMFS announced that it would hold a public hearing (70 FR 35391) on July 6 in Sacramento, CA, and extended the public comment period to July 6 to coincide with the public hearing.
**Extension of Public Comment Period**
NMFS has received a request from a U.S. Department of the Interior to extend the public comment period by 2 weeks. In this notice NMFS is extending the public comment period by three weeks, and now comments will be accepted until July 27, 2005.
**References**
Copies of the *Federal Register* notices and related materials cited in this document are available on the Internet at http://swr.noaa.gov, or upon request (see *ADDRESSES* ).
**Authority:**
16 U.S.C. 1531 *et seq.*
Dated: June 30, 2005.
Wanda L. Cain,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.