[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1496]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AD39


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Sixteen 
Plants From the Northern Channel Islands of California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of reopening of comment period.

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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 
reopening of the comment period for 16 plant species that have been 
proposed as endangered--Arabis hoffmannii (Hoffmann's rock-cress), 
Arctostaphylos confertiflora (Santa Rosa Island manzanita), Berberis 
pinnata ssp. insularis (island barberry), Castilleja mollis (soft-
leaved paintbrush), Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. insularis (Santa Rosa 
Island dudleya), Dudleya sp. nov. ``East Point'' (munchkin dudleya), 
Dudleya nesiotica (Santa Cruz Island dudleya), Galium buxifolium 
(island bedstraw), Gilia tenuiflora ssp. hoffmannii (Hoffmann's 
slender-flowered gilia), Helianthemum greenei (island rush-rose), 
Heuchera maxima (island alumroot), Malacothamnus fasciculatus ssp. 
nesioticus (Santa Cruz Island bushmallow), Malacothrix indecora (Santa 
Cruz Island malacothrix), Malacothrix squalida (island malacothrix), 
Phacelia insularis ssp. insularis (island phacelia), and Thysanocarpus 
conchuliferus (Santa Cruz Island fringepod). The comment period has 
been reopened to receive public comments on new information on the 
conservation measures proposed by the National Park Service for those 
proposed endangered plant species on Santa Rosa Island since the close 
of the original comment period on October 9, 1995.

DATES: The public comment period, which originally closed on October 9, 
1995, now closes February 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal 
should be sent directly to the Field Supervisor, Ventura Field Office, 
2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California 93003. Comments and 
materials received will be available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Thomas, Botanist, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, at the address listed above; telephone 805-644-1766, 
facsimile 805-644-3958.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 25, 1995, the Service published in the Federal Register (60 
FR 37993) a proposal to list 16 plants as endangered species pursuant 
to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and requested 
public comment. The 16 plants are restricted primarily to the northern 
Channel Islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel) of 
California. The Service received comments until the close of the 
original comment period on October 9, 1995. Since that time, the 
National Park Service has prepared a Resource Management Plan and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement to address the conservation needs for 
the proposed endangered plants on Santa Rosa Island, which is within 
the boundaries of the Channel Islands National Park.
    Since the publication of the proposed rule, new information has 
been made available to the Service that may affect the status of one or 
more of the proposed species. In 1996, Arabis hoffmannii, last seen on 
the Island in the 1930's, was discovered on a small protected ledge in 
Lobo Canyon on Santa Rosa Island. A small population of Malacothrix 
indecora was discovered on Santa Rosa Island, previously only known 
from Santa Cruz and San Miguel Islands. A new population of the 
Heuchera maxima has been discovered in Lobo Canyon on Santa Rosa 
Island. The editor of Madrono (Journal of the California Botanical 
Society) has provisionally accepted the manuscript for the description 
of the ``new'' dudleya (munchkin dudleya) species from Santa Rosa 
Island to be published as Dudleya gnoma. The National Park Service has 
constructed exclosure fencing around the entire population of this 
dudleya and a portion of the largest population of Gilia tenuiflora 
ssp. hoffmannii. In compliance with the terms and conditions of a 
section 7 consultation for the western snowy plover, the park 
constructed an electric fence to keep cattle off of the beaches that 
include the entire population of Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. insularis. In 
spite of active surveys, there have been no observations of 
Thysanocarpus conchuliferus for 2 years.

Public Comments Solicited

    Due to the changes in resource management plans and the need to 
review the best scientific information available during the decision-
making process, the comment period is being reopened. The Service is 
requesting comments from the public on the measures presented by the 
National Park Service to protect the proposed endangered plant species 
on Santa Rosa Island and the new information on distribution and status 
of the proposed species. All comments received by the date specified 
above will be considered in the Service's final decision.

Authority

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

    Dated: January 13, 1997.
H. Dale Hall,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-1496 Filed 1-21-97; 8:45 am]
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