[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35116-35117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16987]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AC99


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants, Notice of Third 
Reopening of Public Comment Period on Proposed Rule to List 10 Plants 
From the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as Threatened or 
Endangered

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule, notice of third 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 
third reopening of the comment period on the proposed endangered status 
for Brodiaea pallida (Chinese Camp brodiaea), Calyptridium pulchellum 
(Mariposa pussypaws), Lupinus citrinus var. deflexus (Mariposa lupine) 
and Mimulus shevockii (Kelso Creek monkeyflower) and proposed 
threatened status for Allium tuolumnense (Rawhide Hill onion), 
Carpenteria californica (carpenteria), Clarkia springvillensis 
(Springville clarkia), Fritillaria striata (striped adobe lily), 
Navarretia setiloba (Piute Mountains navarretia), and Verbena 
californica (California vervain). On December 29, 1994, the comment 
period was reopened and extended until February 13, 1995 (59 FR 67268) 
to accommodate the public hearing that was requested. Due to requests 
for additional time, the comment period was extended until June 4, 1995 
(60 FR 8342). To acquire new and updated information that may have 
become available in the last 2 years, the Service reopened the comment 
period for a

[[Page 35117]]

second time on February 4, 1997 (62 FR 5199). Because of the need to 
acquire additional information from interested parties and complete 
final action on these proposed listing actions, the comment period is 
reopened again for 60 days. All parties are invited to submit comments 
on this proposal.

DATES: The public comment period closes August 29, 1997 to ensure 
consideration by the Service.

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: Ken Fuller at ADDRESSES section listed 
above (telephone 916/979-2710, facsimile 916/979-2723).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 4, 1994, the Service published a rule proposing 
endangered status for Brodiaea pallida, Calyptridium pulchellum, 
Lupinus citrinus var. deflexus and Mimulus shevockii and threatened 
status for Allium tuolumnense, Carpenteria californica, Clarkia 
springvillensis, Fritillaria striata, Navarretia setiloba, and Verbena 
californica. The ten plants are variously known from annual grasslands; 
chaparral; and Joshua tree, pinyon-juniper, blue oak, and digger pine 
woodlands in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada of California. These 
plants may be threatened by one or more of the following: agricultural 
land conversion, urbanization, logging, highway construction and road 
maintenance activities, excessive grazing, off-highway vehicle use, 
mining, insect predation, random natural events, and inappropriate fire 
management activities.
    The original comment period on this proposal closed on December 5, 
1994. On December 29, 1994, the comment period was reopened and 
extended until February 13, 1995 (59 FR 67268) to accommodate the 
public hearing that was requested. Due to requests for additional time, 
the comment period was extended until June 4, 1995 (60 FR 8342). The 
Service was unable to make a final listing determination on these 
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 (Public Law 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. With the restoration of funding, the Service proceeded 
with final determinations for these species. In this regard and to 
acquire new and updated information that may have become available in 
the last 2 years, the Service reopened the comment period for a second 
time on February 4, 1997 (62 FR 5199). Because of the need to acquire 
additional information from interested parties and complete final 
action on these proposed listing actions, the comment period is 
reopened again for 60 days. The Service seeks information concerning:
    (1) Biological, commercial, or other relevant data on any threat 
(or lack thereof) to any of these ten species, particularly 
Calyptridium pulchellum, Fritillaria striata, Lupinus citrinus var. 
deflexus and Navarretia setiloba; and
    (2) Additional information on the size, number, location, or 
distribution of populations.
    Written comments may now be submitted until August 29, 1997 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: June 17, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1.
[FR Doc. 97-16987 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]
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