The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is reopening the public comment period for 60 days for the proposal to designate 546,335 acres of critical habitat for the western distinct population segment of the yellow-billed cuckoo.

The proposal would cover 80 separate units in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

On August 14, 2014, the Service announced an initial 60-day comment period on the proposal that closed October 14, 2014. The Service is reopening the public comment period for an additional 60 days to ensure the public has adequate opportunity to submit comments and to ensure that any final decision reflects all of the best science and information available. The Service is also planning to hold a public hearing on the proposal and will announce the date and location when it is finalized.

The Service is seeking information concerning the western yellow-billed cuckoo’s biology and habitat, principal habitat elements and biological features of critical habitat, selection criteria for critical habitat units, and justification for exclusions from critical habitat. The Service also seeks information on the incremental economic effects of the proposed critical habitat designation.

Comments on the proposed critical habitat rule will be accepted through January 12, 2015.

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