[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 69176-69177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29047]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018--AH10


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designations of 
Critical Habitat for Plant Species From the Island of Lanai, HI

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce the 
reopening of the public comment period for the proposed rule to 
designate critical habitat for 32 plants from the island of Lanai, 
Hawaii. We have received new information since the close of the comment 
period and the comment period is reopened to allow additional time for 
all interested parties to consider the information and submit written 
comments on the proposal. Comments already submitted on the proposed 
rule need not be resubmitted as they already have been incorporated 
into the public record and will be fully considered in the final 
determination.

DATES: The comment period for this proposal now closes on November 25, 
2002. Any comments received by the closing date will be considered in 
the final decision on this proposal.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and information should be submitted to the 
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands 
Office, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, 
HI 96850. Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Henson, at the above address 
(telephone 808/541-3441; facsimile 808/541-3470).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 4, 2002, we published a revised proposed critical habitat 
rule for 32 of the 37 plant species listed under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), known 
historically from the island of Lanai (67 FR 9806). The original 
comment period closed on May 3, 2002. The comment period was reopened 
on July 15, 2002 and closed on August 30, 2002. The current comment 
period closes on November 25, 2002.
    A total of 37 species historically found on Lanai were listed as

[[Page 69177]]

endangered or threatened species under the Act between 1991 and 1999. 
Some of these species may also occur on other Hawaiian islands. 
Previously, we proposed that designation of critical habitat was 
prudent for 32 (Abutilon eremitopetalum, Adenophorus periens, Bidens 
micrantha ssp. kalealaha, Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, Cenchrus 
agrimonioides, Centaurium sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia ssp. 
mauiensis, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana, 
Cyanea lobata, Cyanea macrostegia ssp. gibsonii, Cyperus trachysanthos, 
Cyrtandra munroi, Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Gahnia 
lanaiensis, Hedyotis mannii, Hesperomannia arborescens, Hibiscus 
brackenridgei, Isodendrion pyrifolium, Mariscus fauriei, Neraudia 
sericea, Portulaca sclerocarpa, Sesbania tomentosa, Silene lanceolata, 
Solanum incompletum, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium remyi, 
Vigna o-wahuensis, Viola lanaiensis, and Zanthoxylum hawaiiense) of the 
37 species reported from the island of Lanai. No change is made to the 
32 proposed prudency determinations in the March 4, 2002, revised 
proposed critical habitat rule for plants from Lanai. We previously 
proposed that designation of critical habitat was not prudent for 
Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis because it had not been seen 
recently in the wild, and no viable genetic material of this species is 
known to exist (65 FR 82086). No change is made to this proposed 
prudency determination in the March 4, 2002, revised proposed critical 
habitat rule (67 FR 9806). In the March 4, 2002, revised proposed 
critical habitat rule, we proposed that designation of critical habitat 
is prudent for Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. lepidotum, a species for 
which a prudency determination has not been made previously. We 
determined that designation of critical habitat was prudent for 
Hedyotis schlechtendahliana var. remyi, Labordia tinifolia var. 
lanaiensis, and Melicope munroi at the time of their listing in 1999.
    We also proposed designation of critical habitat for 32 (Abutilon 
eremitopetalum, Adenophorus periens, Bidens micrantha ssp. kalealaha, 
Bonamia menziesii, Brighamia rockii, Cenchrus agrimonioides, Centaurium 
sebaeoides, Clermontia oblongifolia ssp. mauiensis, Ctenitis 
squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana, Cyanea lobata, Cyanea 
macrostegia ssp. gibsonii, Cyperus trachysanthos, Cyrtandra munroi, 
Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Gahnia lanaiensis, Hedyotis 
mannii, Hedyotis schlechtendahliana var. remyi, Hesperomannia 
arborescens, Hibiscus brackenridgei, Isodendrion pyrifolium, Labordia 
tinifolia var. lanaiensis, Melicope munroi, Neraudia sericea, Portulaca 
sclerocarpa, Sesbania tomentosa, Solanum incompletum, Spermolepis 
hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium remyi, Vigna o-wahuensis, and Viola 
lanaiensis) plant species. Critical habitat is not proposed for four 
(Mariscus fauriei, Silene lanceolata, Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. 
lepidotum, and Zanthoxylum hawaiiense) of the 37 species which no 
longer occur on the island of Lanai, and for which we are unable to 
identify any habitat that is essential to their conservation on the 
island of Lanai. Critical habitat is not proposed for Phyllostegia 
glabra var. lanaiensis for the reasons given above. Eight critical 
habitat units, totaling approximately 7,853 hectares (19,405 acres), 
are proposed for designation on the island of Lanai. For locations of 
these proposed units, please consult the proposed rule (67 FR 9806).

Public Comments Solicited

    Since the close of the comment period, we have received new 
information in the form of a draft conservation agreement (copy 
available upon request) from the owner of Unit D. The comment period is 
reopened to allow additional time for all interested parties to 
consider the information and submit written comments on the proposal. 
One possible outcome may be a decision to exclude this area from the 
final designation pursuant to section 4(b)(2) of the Act.
    We will accept written comments and information during this 
reopened comment period. If you wish to comment, you may submit your 
comments and materials concerning this proposal by any of the following 
methods:
    (1) You may submit written comments and information to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 
Ala Moana Blvd., P.O. Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001.
    (2) You may hand-deliver comments to our Honolulu Fish and Wildlife 
Office at the address given above.
    Comments and materials received, as well as supporting 
documentation used in preparation of the proposal to designate critical 
habitat, will be available for inspection, by appointment, during 
normal business hours at the address under (1) above. Copies of the 
draft document are available on the Internet at http://pacificislands.fws.gov or by request from the Field Supervisor at the 
address and phone number under (1 and 2) above.
    Information regarding this proposal is available in alternative 
formats upon request.

Author

    The primary author of this notice is Gina Shultz (see ADDRESSES 
section).

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

    Dated: November 5, 2002.
Paul Hoffman,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-29047 Filed 11-12-02; 3:04 pm]
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