12 flies reopen comment period public hearing final nr 030608

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service News Release Pacific Islands External Affairs Office 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5-311 Box 50187, Honolulu, HI 96850 Phone: 808 792-9530 Fax: 808 792-9583 For Release: March 6, 2008 PIEA-08-10 Contact: Ken Foote, 808 792 9535 or 282 9442 RO-08-19 Public Comment Period for Hawaiian Picture-wing Flies Revised Critical Habitat Proposal Reopens Public Hearings Planned for O‘ahu and the Big Island The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing an additional opportunity for the public to submit comments regarding the proposal to designate 9,238 acres of critical habitat for 12 endangered Hawaiian picture-wing flies on the islands of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i. and Kaua‘i. The new comment period – the second since the proposal was published on November 28, 2007 – will end on April 25. “During the previous public comment period, we received requests to hold public hearings,” said Patrick Leonard, field supervisor for the Fish and Wildlife Office in the Pacific Islands. “This additional comment period will allow us to conduct those public hearings and provide interested individuals or groups more time to learn about the proposal and comment.” Interested parties are invited to attend the public hearings, which will be held on the Big Island and O‘ahu. The Big ...