[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 166 (Monday, August 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43777-43778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21700]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Wetland 
and Aquatic Species of the Owens Basin, Inyo and Mono Counties, 
California, for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for endangered, 
proposed, and species of concern found in the wetland and aquatic 
habitats of the Owens Basin in Inyo and Mono Counties, California. The 
recovery plan targets recovery of 11 species found throughout the Owens 
River drainage on State, Federal and Private lands. The Service 
solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before October 25, 1996 to ensure consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: The draft recovery plan is available for public inspection, 
by appointment, during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Monday through Friday) at the Service's Ventura Field Office, 2493 
Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California, 93003, phone 805-644-1766. 
A copy of the draft recovery plan can be obtained from the Service's 
Regional Office at 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, 97232-4181, 
phone 503-231-6131. Written comments and materials regarding the plan 
should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the Ventura Field 
Office. Comments and materials received are available on request for 
public inspection by appointment at the Ventura Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Cat Brown in the Ventura Field Office (see ADDRESSES section).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the Service's endangered species program. To help 
guide recovery efforts, the Service prepares recovery plans for most of 
the listed species native to the United States. Recovery plans describe 
actions considered necessary for conservation of listed species, 
establish criteria for the recovery levels for reclassification from 
endangered to threatened or removal from the list, and estimate the 
time and cost for implementing the needed recovery measures.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) 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 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 a public comment period prior to approval of each new 
or revised recovery plan. The Service and other Federal agencies will 
take these comments into account in the course of implementing approved 
recovery plans.
    The draft recovery plan for the Owens Basin wetland and aquatic 
species addresses conservation of the following species: Owens tui 
chub, Owens pupfish, Fish Slough milk-vetch, Owens speckled dace, Long 
Vally speckled dace, Inyo County mariposa lily, Owens Valley 
checkerbloom, Fish Slough springsnail, Owens Valley springsnail, 
Aardhal's springsnail, and Owens Valley vole. Owens tui chub and Owens 
pupfish are federally listed as endangered, and the Fish Slough milk-
vetch has been proposed for listing as endangered. All of these species 
are threatened by loss and degradation of wetland and aquatic habitats.
    The draft recovery plan was developed in accordance with the 
Service's recent policy emphasizing an ecosystem approach to 
conservation of endangered species. The goal of the recovery plan is to 
restore the target species to secure status within their natural 
habitats. Protecting the ecosystem of endangered species in the Owens 
Basin will also protect other locally rare species, and, it is hoped,

[[Page 43778]]

avert future declines in plant and wildlife populations that could lead 
to future listings.
    The draft recovery plan was developed with the participation of 
State and Federal land management agencies, local agencies and property 
owners, including the California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. 
Bureau of Land Management, Inyo National Forest, and the Los Angeles 
Department of Water and Power. The plan calls for restoration of 
wetland and aquatic habitats throughout the Owens River drainage. The 
plan describes tasks that, when accomplished, should ensure the 
survival of target species, and thereby justify their removal from the 
endangered and threatened species list.

Public Comments Solicited

    The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan 
described herein. All comments received by the date specified above 
will be considered prior to approval of the plan.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: June 12, 1996.
Thomas Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 96-21700 Filed 8-23-96; 8:45 am]
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