[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8417-8418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4549]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AD35


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of 
Reopening of Public Comment Period on the Proposed Rule to List the 
Pallid Manzanita as Threatened

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed Rule; notice of reopening of the 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 on the proposed threatened status for 
Arctostaphylos pallida (pallid manzanita). The comment period has been 
reopened to acquire additional information from interested parties, and 
to resume the proposed listing actions.

DATES: The public comment period closes March 27, 1997. Any comments 
received by the closing date will be considered in the final decision 
on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and materials concerning this proposal 
should be sent directly to the Field Supervisor, Sacramento Field 
Office, 3310 El Camino Avenue, Suite 130, Sacramento, California 95821-
6340. Comments and materials received will be available for inspection, 
by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betty Warne (see ADDRESSES section) at 
(916) 979-2120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 2, 1995, the Service published a rule proposing 
threatened status for Arctostaphylos pallida (60 FR 39309-39314). The 
original comment period closed on September 25, 1995. No public hearing 
was requested.
    Pallid manzanita is found only in the northern Diablo Range of 
California. It occupies 13 sites in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. 
The two largest populations are located at Huckleberry Ridge and 
Sobrante Ridge. The plants are found in manzanita chaparral habitat 
that is frequently surrounded by oak woodlands and coastal scrub. The 
plants are threatened by shading and competition from native and non-
native plants, fire suppression, habitat fragmentation, hybridization, 
disease, herbicide spraying, unauthorized tree cutting and inadequate 
regulatory mechanisms.
    The Service was unable to make a final listing determination on 
this species because of a limited budget, other endangered species 
assignments driven by court orders, and higher listing priorities. In 
addition, a moratorium on listing actions (Pub. L. 104-6), which took 
effect on April 10, 1995, stipulated that no funds could be used to 
make final listing determinations or critical habitat determinations. 
Now that the funding has been restored, the Service is proceeding with 
a final determination for this species.
    Due to the length of time that has elapsed since the close of the 
last comment period, changing procedural and biological circumstances, 
and the need to review the best scientific information available during 
the decision-making process, the comment period is being reopened. For 
these reasons, the Service particularly seeks information concerning:
    (1) The known or potential effects of fire suppression and general 
fire management practices on the pallid manzanita and its habitat.
    (2) other updated biological, commercial, or other relevant data on 
any threats (or lack of thereof) to the species; and
    (3) the current size, number, or distribution of populations of the 
species.
    Written comments may be submitted until March 27, 1997 to the 
Service office in the ADDRESSES section.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Betty Warne (see 
ADDRESSES section).


[[Page 8418]]


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

    Dated: February 14, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-4549 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]
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