[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 50398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25422]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Pacific 
Pocket Mouse for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of the draft recovery plan for the endangered Pacific 
pocket mouse (Perognathus longimembris pacificus) for public review and 
comment. The Pacific pocket mouse occurs on 3 small parcels on private 
or federal lands in coastal Orange and San Diego Counties, California. 
The Service solicits review and comments from the public on this draft 
plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by November 24, 
1997 will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain 
a copy by contacting the Field Supervisor at the following address: 
Carlsbad Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker 
Avenue West, Carlsbad, California, 92008. Telephone requests may be 
made by calling (760) 431-9440. Comments and material received will be 
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business 
hours, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loren R. Hays at the above address or 
telephone (760) 431-9440.

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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered 
species program. To help guide this effort, the Service is working to 
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the 
United States. Recovery plans describe actions necessary for 
conservation of the species. The plans additionally establish criteria 
for downlisting or delisting the species and provide estimates of the 
time and cost of implementing the necessary recovery measures.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) (Act) 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, as amended in 1988, 
requires that public notice be given during plan development to provide 
an opportunity for public review and comment. The Service will consider 
all significant information presented during the public comment period 
prior to the approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service 
and other federal agencies also will consider these comments in the 
course of implementing approved recovery plans.
    The Pacific pocket mouse has an extremely limited distribution in 
coastal southern California. Less than 150 animals were detected in the 
3 known populations from 1993-1995. Pacific pocket mice occur on fine-
grain, sandy substrates and inhabit (or inhabited) coastal strand, 
coastal dunes, river alluvium, and coastal sage scrub habitats growing 
on marine terraces within approximately 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) of the 
ocean. The threats to the species include habitat destruction and 
fragmentation and documented depredation by cats. The conservation, 
protection, and management of existing populations and occupied and 
potential habitat are the primary goals of the recovery effort.

Public Comments Solicited

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

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)).

    Dated: August 19, 1997.
Thomas J. Dwyer,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 97-25422 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
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