Following a request from House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Doc Hastings (WA-04), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services announced today that it would extend the public comment period on its draft proposal to revise the critical habitat designation for bull trout until April 5, 2010.

“I appreciate Fish and Wildlife Service’s willingness to allow more time for public comment,” said Ranking Member Hastings. “This designation will have broad economic impacts and it’s only appropriate that the comment period be extended so that the citizens who will be directly affected have ample opportunity to have their opinions heard. The draft proposal would greatly expand the areas designated as critical habitat in five states – impacting private property, job creation and economic activity. With high unemployment across the region and country, no decision that could potentially cost jobs should be rushed into without careful and thorough consideration.”

# # #

Print version of this document