[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 56590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23996]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Robust Spineflower 
(Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta) From Santa Cruz County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the robust 
spineflower (Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta) from Santa Cruz County, 
California. This federally endangered plant taxon is known from four 
coastal and near-coastal sites in Santa Cruz County, California. We 
solicit review and comment from local, State, and Federal agencies, and 
the public on this draft recovery plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before November 20, 2000, to receive our consideration.

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, 2493 Portola Road, 
Suite B, Ventura, California 93003 (phone: 805/644-1766). The draft 
recovery plan will also be available at the Santa Cruz Public Library. 
Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and written comments and 
materials regarding this plan should be addressed to Ms. Diane K. Noda, 
Field Supervisor, at the above Ventura address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Rutherford, Botanist, (805) 
644-1766, at the above Ventura address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure and self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. To help 
guide the recovery effort, we are working to prepare recovery plans for 
most of the federally listed species native to the United States. 
Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for recovery levels to 
downlist or delist them, 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 federally 
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. We 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 plans. Substantive comments regarding recovery 
plan implementation may not necessarily result in changes to the 
recovery plans, 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 robust spineflower is federally listed as endangered. The 
robust spineflower is restricted to sandy soils along the coast and 
near-coastal areas in Santa Cruz County, California from Santa Cruz 
south to Sunset State Beach. It is currently known from four sites. The 
first site, Pogonip Park, supports two small colonies; the Park is 
owned and managed by the City of Santa Cruz. The second site is Sunset 
Beach State Park; a large population is scattered along approximately 1 
kilometer (0.5 mile) of backdune habitat. The third site is on a 115-
hectare (285-acre) private parcel known as Buena Vista that has been 
considered for golf course development; small colonies are scattered 
over 4 hectares (10 acres). The fourth site, located near Rob Roy 
Junction, is on a 8-hectare (20-acre) private parcel that was recently 
proposed for a lot split; the population here is scattered over 1.2 
hectares (3 acres).
    The objective of this draft recovery plan is to provide a framework 
for delisting the robust spineflower so that protection by the Act is 
no longer necessary. Actions necessary to accomplish this objective 
include: Protect robust spineflower habitat through land acquisition, 
conservation easements, and Habitat Conservation Plans; managing robust 
spineflower habitat; conduct management-oriented research on the 
taxon's ecology and biology; review and revise management and recovery 
plan guidelines; locate additional populations; and establish new 
populations of the taxon within the historic range of this variety of 
Chorizanthe robusta.

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

    Dated: September 13, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23996 Filed 9-18-00; 8:45 am]
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