[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36346-36347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17523]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Rescheduled Public Hearing on Proposed Threatened and Endangered Status 
for Five Plants and a Lizard From Monterey County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule, notice of rescheduled public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), provides notice of 
rescheduling of a public hearing on the proposed endangered status for 
coastal dunes milkvetch (Astragalus tener var. titi), Yadon's piperia 
(Piperia yadonii), Hickman's potentilla (Potentilla hickmanii), 
Monterey clover (Trifolium trichocalyx) and the black legless lizard 
(Anniella pulchra nigra); and threatened status for Gowen cypress 
(Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana). All parties are invited to submit 
comments on this proposal.

DATES: A public hearing was originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 
17, 1996, in Monterey, California. The hearing has been rescheduled to 
be held on Tuesday, August 20, 1996, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in 
Monterey, California. Any comments received by August 30, 1996, will be 
considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 
One Golf Course Road, Monterey, California. Written comments and 
materials concerning this proposal may be submitted at the hearing or 
sent directly to the Field Supervisor, Ventura Field Office, 2493 
Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. Comments and 
materials will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Rutherford (see ADDRESSES 
section) or at 805/644-1766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Most of the habitat for the plants and lizard is found in coastal 
habitats in northern Monterey County. Coastal dunes milk-vetch and 
Monterey clover are restricted to private lands on the Monterey 
Peninsula. Hickman's potentilla is restricted to two populations: one 
on the Monterey Peninsula, and one recently discovered near Devil's 
Slide in San Mateo County. Gowen cypress stands occur on the Monterey 
Peninsula, and at Point Lobos State Reserve five miles to the south. 
Yadon's piperia occurs primarily on private lands on the Monterey 
Peninsula, with other populations extending as far south as Palo 
Colorado Canyon, and as far north as Blohm

[[Page 36347]]

Ranch north of Prunedale. The black legless lizard occurs on private 
and State Park lands between the Salinas and Carmel Rivers, on the 
Monterey Peninsula, and along Monterey Bay. A few populations of 
Yadon's piperia and the black legless lizard occur on Federal lands at 
Fort Ord.
    The five plant taxa and the lizard are threatened by one or more of 
the following: alteration, destruction, and fragmentation of habitat 
resulting from urban and golf course development; recreational 
activities; highway widening; military activities; competition with 
non-native species; and alteration of natural fire cycles. All taxa are 
also threatened with stochastic extinction due to the small numbers of 
populations or individuals.
    On August 2, 1995, the Service published a proposed rule on 
proposed endangered status for Astragalus tener var. titi, Piperia 
yadonii, Potentilla hickmanii, Trifolium trichocalyx, and the black 
legless lizard (Anniella pulchra nigra); and threatened status for 
Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana (60 FR 39326). 
Section 4(b)(5)(E) of the Act requires that a public hearing be held if 
one is requested within 45 days of the publication of the proposed rule 
in the Federal Register. A public hearing request was received within 
the allotted time period from Robert D. Thornton of Nossaman, Guthner, 
Knox & Elliott in Irvine, California. On June 26, 1996, the Service 
announced that a public hearing was scheduled to be held on July 17, 
1996 (61 FR 33082). The hearing has been rescheduled to be held on 
August 20, 1996, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, One Golf Course Road, 
Monterey, California.
    Anyone wishing to make statements for the record should bring a 
written copy of their statements to the hearing. Oral statements may be 
limited in length if the number of parties present at the hearing 
necessitates such a limitation. Oral and written comments receive equal 
consideration. The Service places no limits to the length of written 
comments or materials presented at the hearing or mailed to the 
Service. Legal notices announcing the date, time, and location of the 
hearing are being published in local newspapers. Written comments may 
be submitted until August 30, 1996, to the Service office in the 
ADDRESSES section.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)

    Dated: July 3, 1996.
Don Weathers,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 96-17523 Filed 7-9-96; 8:45 am]
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