[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51128-51129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25846]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Upland
Species of the San Joaquin Valley, CA, for Review and Comment
AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of document availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability
for public review of the Draft Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the
San Joaquin Valley, California. This recovery plan includes 34 species,
of which 11 species are federally listed as endangered or threatened.
The draft plan includes recovery criteria and measures for the plants--
California jewelflower (Caulanthus californicus), palmate-bracted
bird's-beak (Cordylanthus palmatus), Kern mallow (Eremalche kernensis),
Hoover's woolly-star (Eriastrum hooveri), San Joaquin woolly-threads
(Lembertia congdonii), Bakersfield cactus (Opuntia basilaris var.
treleasei); and the animals--giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens),
Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis), Tipton kangaroo rat
(Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides), blunt-nosed leopard lizard
(Gambelia sila), and San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica).
Long-term conservation of three candidate species, the Buena Vista Lake
shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus), the riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus
bachmani riparius), and riparian woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes riparia);
and an additional 20 species of plants and animals of concern to the
Service are addressed in the draft recovery plan.
DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by January 28, 1998
will be considered by the Service.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain
copies by contacting: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish
and Wildlife Office, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento,
California (telephone 916-979-2725).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Miller, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the above Sacramento address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their
ecosystems is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species
program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is working to
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for
the conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing
the recovery measures needed.
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) (Act), requires the development of recovery plans for listed
species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act as amended in 1988 requires
that public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment be
provided during recovery plan development. The Service will consider
all information presented during the public comment period prior to
approval of each new or revised recovery plan. Appropriate Federal or
other entities will take these comments into account during the course
of implementing recovery actions. Individualized responses to comments
will not be provided.
The 34 species of plants and animals covered in the draft recovery
plan are restricted primarily to the San Joaquin Valley of California.
The majority of the species occur in arid grasslands and scrublands of
the San Joaquin Valley and adjacent foothills and valleys. The riparian
woodrat and riparian brush rabbit inhabit forested river corridors of
the eastern San Joaquin Valley. Conversion of habitat to agricultural,
industrial, and urban uses has eliminated the listed, candidate, and
species of concern from the majority of their historic ranges. The
remaining natural communities are highly fragmented, and many are
marginal habitats in which these species may not persist during
catastrophic events, such as fire or drought.
The objectives of this recovery plan are two-fold: (1) to delist
the plants--California jewelflower, palmate-bracted bird's-beak, Kern
mallow, Hoover's woolly-star, San Joaquin woolly-threads, Bakersfield
cactus; and the animals--giant kangaroo rat, Fresno kangaroo rat,
Tipton kangaroo rat, blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and San Joaquin kit
fox by protecting, enhancing, restoring, and
[[Page 51129]]
appropriately managing their habitat; and (2) to ensure the long-term
conservation of the three candidates and additional 20 species of
concern by protecting, enhancing, restoring, and appropriately managing
their habitat.
Public Comments Solicited
The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan
described. All comments received by the date specified above will be
considered prior to approval of this plan.
Authority
The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: September 24, 1997.
Michael J. Spear,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 97-25846 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
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