[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 155 (Thursday, August 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49005-49006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20228]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice To Extend the Public Comment Period for the Draft Recovery 
Plan for the California Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora draytonii)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives notice that the 
comment period announced in the May 12, 2000, notice of availability of 
the Draft Recovery Plan for the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora 
draytonii) will be extended an additional 90 days until November 8, 
2000. This recovery plan includes the threatened California red-legged 
frog (Rana aurora draytonii). The draft plan contains recovery criteria 
and actions for the California red-legged frog. Additional species of 
concern that will benefit from recovery actions taken for the 
California red-legged frog are also discussed in the draft plan. The 
Service extends the current 90 day comment period and solicits review 
and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATE: Comments on the draft recovery plan received by November 8, 2000, 
will be considered by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available for 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the 
following location: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 
(telephone (916) 414-6600). Requests for copies of the draft recovery 
plan and written comments and materials regarding this plan should be 
addressed to Wayne S. White, Field Supervisor, Ecological Services, at 
the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Elam, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of the Service's endangered species 
program. To help guide recovery efforts, the Service is working to 
prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native to the 
United States. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for 
the conservation of the species, establish

[[Page 49006]]

criteria for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimate time 
and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.
    The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 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 requires that public notice 
and an opportunity for public review and comment be provided during 
recovery plan development. The Service will consider all information 
presented during the public comment period prior to approval of each 
new or revised recovery plan. Substantive technical comments will 
result in changes to the plan. Substantive comments regarding recovery 
plan implementation may not necessarily result in changes to the 
recovery plan, but will be forwarded to appropriate Federal or other 
entities so that they can take these comments into account during the 
course of implementing recovery actions. Individualized responses to 
comments will not be provided.
    The California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii) occurs from 
sea level to elevations of about 1,500 meters (5,000 feet). It has been 
extirpated from 70 percent of its former range and now is found in 
coastal drainages of central California, from Marin County, California, 
south to northern Baja California, Mexico. The California red-legged 
frog requires a variety of habitat elements with aquatic breeding areas 
embedded within a matrix of riparian and upland dispersal habitats. 
Breeding sites of the California red-legged frog are in aquatic 
habitats including pools and backwaters within streams and creeks, 
ponds, marshes, sag ponds, dune ponds and lagoons. California red-
legged frogs frequently breed in artificial impoundments such as stock 
ponds. Potential threats to the species include elimination or 
degradation of habitat from land development and land use activities 
and habitat invasions by non-native aquatic species.
    The objective of this draft recovery plan is to delist the 
California red-legged frog through implementation of a variety of 
recovery measures including (1) protection of known populations and 
reestablishment of populations; (2) protection of suitable habitat, 
corridors, and core areas ; (3) habitat management; (4) development of 
land use guidelines; (5) research; (6) surveying and monitoring; and 
(7) public participation, outreach, and education.

Public Comments Solicited

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

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

    Dated: August 4, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20228 Filed 8-9-00; 8:45 am]
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