[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 15646-15647] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-7448] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 50 CFR Part 17 RIN 1018-AD09 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Notice of Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Rule To List Five Plants and a Lizard From Monterey County, California, as Endangered or Threatened AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Proposed rule; Notice of reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), pursuant ot the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), gives notice that the comment period is reopened on the proposed rule to list Astragalus tener var. titi (coastal dunes milk-vetch), Piperia yadonii (Yadon's piperia), Potentilla hickmanii (Hickman's potentilla), Trifolium trichocalyx (Monterey clover) and the black legless lizard (Anniella pulchra nigra) as endangered; and Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana (Gowen cypress) as threatened. The comment period has been reopened to allow all interested parties to submit new information on the proposal and to provide opportunity for comment on the [[Page 15647]] new information on distribution and abundance of Piperia yadonii that was submitted at the end of the previous comment period. DATES: The public comment period closes on May 2, 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, Ventura Field Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, California, 93003. Comments and materials received will be available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Steeck of the Ventura Field Office (see ADDRESSES section) at (805)644-1766 or facsimile (805)644- 3958). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On August 2, 1995, the Service published a rule proposing endangered status for Astragalus tener var. titi (coastal dunes milk- vetch), Piperia yadonii (Yadon's piperia), Potentilla hickmanii (Hickman's potentilla), Trifolium trichocalyx (Monterey clover) and the black legless lizard (Anniella pulchra nigra); and threatened status for Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana (Gowen cypress). These six taxa are currently found primarily along the coast of northern Monterey County, California. An extant population of Potentilla hickmanii is also known from San Mateo County. 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; military activities; competition with non-native species; and alteration of natural fire cycles. Due to their small number of individuals, several taxa are also threatened with extinction due to random natural events or unforseen human activities. The initial comment period closed on October 9, 1995. Although a public hearing was requested, a hearing could not be held during the initial comment period, due to a Federal moratorium on final listing actions (Pub. L. 104-6), which had taken effect on April 10, 1995 and stipulated that no funds could be used to make final listing or critical habitat determinations. Once the Federal moratorium was lifted, on April 26, 1996, and funding was restored, the Service scheduled the public hearing and reopened the comment period. The public hearing was held on August 20, 1996, and the comment period closed on August 30, 1996. At the public hearing, new information was presented on the distribution and abundance of Piperia yadonii. This information was included in a report received by the Service on August 30, 1996. The Service believes that the new information on the distribution and abundance of Piperia yadonii is significant and is providing the public an opportunity to comment on it. In addition to comments on Piperia yadonii, the Service requests any additional information on the species listed in the proposed rule, including: (1) Biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any threats (or lack thereof) to any of the species, and; (2) Additional information on the size, number or distribution of populations of any of the species. Comments may be submitted through May 2, 1997 to the Service office in the ADDRESSES section. Author The primary author of this notice is Diane Steeck (see ADDRESSES section). Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: March 17, 1997. Michael J. Spear, Regional Director, Region 1, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 97-7448 Filed 4-1-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P