[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12754-12755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4844]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AG34


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of 
Comment Period and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analysis 
for Proposed Critical Habitat Determination for the Riverside Fairy 
Shrimp

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period and notice of 
availability of draft economic analysis.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed 
designation of critical habitat for the Riverside fairy shrimp 
(Streptocephalus woottoni). We also provide notice of the reopening of 
the comment period for the proposal to designate critical habitat for 
the Riverside fairy shrimp to allow all interested parties to submit 
written comments on the proposal and on the draft economic analysis. 
Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be 
incorporated into the public record as a part of this reopened comment 
period and will be fully considered in the final rule.

DATES: The original comment period on the critical habitat proposal 
closed on November 6, 2000. The comment period is reopened and we will 
accept comments until March 30, 2001. Comments must be received by the 
closing date. Any comments that are received after the closing date may 
not be considered in the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft economic analysis are available on the 
Internet at http://carlsbad.fws.gov or by writing to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife 
Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Written 
comments should be sent to the Field Supervisor. You may also send 
comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected]. Please submit 
comments in ASCII file format and avoid the use of special characters 
and encryption. Please include ``Attn: Riverside fairy shrimp'' and 
your name and return address in your e-mail message. If you do not 
receive a confirmation from the system that we have received your e-
mail message, contact us directly by calling our Carlsbad Fish and 
Wildlife Office at phone number 760-431-9440. Comments and materials 
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above Service address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Krofta, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, at the above address 
(telephone 760-431-9440; facsimile 760-431-9624).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Riverside fairy shrimp is a small aquatic crustacean that 
occurs in vernal pools, ephemeral ponds, and human-modified 
depressions. Basins, ponds, and depressions that support Riverside 
fairy shrimp are located on coastal terraces and plateaus ranging from 
coastal southern California to northwestern Baja California, Mexico. 
Typically, this species is found in vernal pools that are deeper and 
cooler than those basins which support the related species, the 
endangered San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis).
    Basins that support Riverside fairy shrimp are typically dry a 
portion of the year, but usually are filled by late fall, winter, or 
spring rains, and may persist into April or May. Critical to the 
formation of vernal pool basins is the presence of nearly impermeable 
surface or subsurface soil layers and flat or gently sloping 
topography. Historically, vernal pool soils and habitats covered 
extensive areas on the coastal plains and mesas of Los Angeles, Orange, 
Riverside, San Diego, and Ventura Counties. Significant losses of 
vernal

[[Page 12755]]

pools supporting the Riverside fairy shrimp have occurred throughout 
these areas due to urban and water development, flood control, highway 
and utility projects, as well as the conversion of wildlands to 
agricultural and other human uses.
    The species was Federally listed as endangered throughout its range 
on August 3, 1993 (58 FR 41384), and its continued survival is reduced 
by habitat loss and degradation. On September 21, 2000, the Fish and 
Wildlife Service published a rule proposing critical habitat for the 
Riverside fairy shrimp in the Federal Register (65 FR 57136). We 
proposed designation of approximately 4,880 hectares (12,060 acres) as 
critical habitat for the Riverside fairy shrimp pursuant to the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Proposed critical 
habitat is in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Ventura 
Counties, California, as described in the proposed rule.
    Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires that the Secretary shall 
designate or revise critical habitat based upon the best scientific and 
commercial data available and after taking into consideration the 
economic impact of specifying any particular area as critical habitat. 
Based upon the previously published proposal to designate critical 
habitat for the Riverside fairy shrimp and comments received during 
previous comment period, we have prepared a draft economic analysis of 
the proposed critical habitat designation, which is available at the 
above Internet and mailing address.

Public Comment Solicited

    We have reopened the comment period at this time in order to accept 
the best and most current scientific and commercial data available 
regarding the proposed critical habitat and the draft economic 
analysis. Previously submitted written comments on this critical 
habitat proposal need not be resubmitted. The current comment period on 
this proposal closes on March 30, 2001. Written comments may be 
submitted to the Service office in the ADDRESSES section.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Douglas Krofta (see ADDRESSES 
section).

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: February 20, 2001.
David Patte,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations.
[FR Doc. 01-4844 Filed 2-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P