[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78763-78765]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32522]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 17

RIN 1018-AI24


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of the draft economic analysis for the proposed 
designations of critical habitat for plant species from the island of 
Oahu, Hawaii. The

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comment period for the proposed critical habitat designations 
originally closed on July 29, 2002. On August 26, 2002, we reopened the 
comment period and provided notice that the comment period would close 
on September 30, 2002. On October 10, 2002, we announced a public 
hearing and reopened the comment period to allow all interested parties 
to submit oral or written comments on the proposal until November 30, 
2002. We are now providing notice of an extension of the comment period 
to allow peer reviewers and all interested parties to comment 
simultaneously on the proposed rule and the associated draft economic 
analysis. Over a 10-year time period, the total section 7-related 
direct costs associated with the plants species listings and critical 
habitat are estimated at $1.1 million to $2.3 million. Indirect costs 
have the potential to be as much as $100 million, although the 
likelihood of this potential being reached is unclear. Comments 
previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they will be 
incorporated into the public record as part of this extended comment 
period and will be fully considered in preparation of the final rule.

DATES: We will accept public comments until January 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments and information to Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 
Ala Moana Blvd., PO Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001; or e-mail your 
comments to [email protected]. For further instructions 
on commenting, refer to Public Comments Solicited section of this 
notice.
    To obtain a copy of the draft economic analysis, send a written 
request to the address listed above, call 808/541-3441, or visit the 
following Internet site: http://pacificislands.fws.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Between 1991 and 1996, a total of 101 species historically found on 
Oahu were listed as endangered or threatened species under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (the Act)(16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). On May 28, 2002, we published in the Federal Register (67 FR 
37108) a proposed rule to propose critical habitat for 99 of the 101 
plant species historically found on Oahu. Some of these species may 
also occur on other Hawaiian islands.
    Previously, we proposed that designation of critical habitat was 
prudent for 45 (Adenophorus periens, Alectryon macrococcus, Bonamia 
menziesii, Cenchrus agrimonioides, Centaurium sebaeoides, Colubrina 
oppositifolia, Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. grimesiana, 
Cyperus trachysanthos, Diellia erecta, Diplazium molokaiense, Eugenia 
koolauensis, Euphorbia haeleeleana, Flueggea neowawraea, Gouania 
meyenii, Gouania vitifolia, Hedyotis coriacea, Hesperomannia 
arborescens, Hesperomannia arbuscula, Hibiscus brackenridgei, 
Isodendrion laurifolium, Isodendrion longifolium, Isodendrion 
pyrifolium, Lobelia niihauensis, Lysimachia filifolia, Mariscus 
pennatiformis, Marsilea villosa, Melicope pallida, Nototrichium humile, 
Peucedanum sandwicense, Phlegmariurus nutans, Phyllostegia mollis, 
Phyllostegia parviflora, Plantago princeps, Platanthera holochila, 
Pteris lidgatei, Sanicula purpurea, Schiedea hookeri, Schiedea 
nuttallii, Sesbania tomentosa, Silene lanceolata, Solanum sandwicense, 
Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. lepidotum, and 
Vigna o-wahuensis) of the 101 species reported from the island of Oahu. 
No change is made to the 45 proposed prudency determinations in the May 
28, 2002, proposed critical habitat rule for plants from Oahu. In 
addition, in the May 28, 2002, proposed rule, we proposed that 
designation of critical habitat was not prudent for Pritchardia kaalae 
because it would likely increase the threats from vandalism or 
collection of this species on Oahu. In the same rule, we proposed that 
designation of critical habitat was not prudent for Cyrtandra crenata 
because it had not been seen recently in the wild and no viable genetic 
material of this species is known to exist. We also proposed that 
designation of critical habitat is prudent for 54 species (Abutilon 
sandwicense, Alsinidendron obovatum, Alsinidendron trinerve, Chamaesyce 
celastroides var. kaenana, Chamaesyce deppeana, Chamaesyce herbstii, 
Chamaesyce kuwaleana, Chamaesyce rockii, Cyanea acuminata, Cyanea 
crispa, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. obatae, Cyanea humboltiana, Cyanea 
koolauensis, Cyanea longiflora, Cyanea pinnatifida, Cyanea st.-johnii, 
Cyanea superba, Cyanea truncata, Cyrtandra dentata, Cyrtandra 
polyantha, Cyrtandra subumbellata, Cyrtandra viridiflora, Delissea 
subcordata, Diellia falcata, Diellia unisora, Dubautia herbstobatae, 
Eragrostis fosbergii, Gardenia mannii, Hedyotis degeneri, Hedyotis 
parvula, Labordia cyrtandrae, Lepidium arbuscula, Lipochaeta lobata 
var. leptophylla, Lipochaeta tenuifolia, Lobelia gaudichaudii ssp. 
koolauensis, Lobelia monostachya, Lobelia oahuensis, Melicope lydgatei, 
Melicope saint-johnii, Myrsine juddii, Neraudia angulata, Phyllostegia 
hirsuta, Phyllostegia kaalaensis, Sanicula mariversa, Schiedea kaalae, 
Schiedea kealiae, Silene perlmanii, Stenogyne kanehoana, Tetramolopium 
filiforme, Tetraplasandra gymnocarpa, Trematalobelia singularis, Urera 
kaalae, Viola chamissoniana ssp. chamissoniana, and Viola oahuensis) 
for which prudency determinations have not been made previously.
    We further proposed designation of critical habitat for 99 plant 
species (Abutilon sandwicense, Adenophorus periens, Alectryon 
macrococcus, Alsinidendron obovatum, Alsinidendron trinerve, Bonamia 
menziesii, Cenchrus agrimonioides, Centaurium sebaeoides, Chamaesyce 
celastroides var. kaenana, Chamaesyce deppeana, Chamaesyce herbstii, 
Chamaesyce kuwaleana, Chamaesyce rockii, Colubrina oppositifolia, 
Ctenitis squamigera, Cyanea acuminata, Cyanea crispa, Cyanea grimesiana 
ssp. grimesiana, Cyanea grimesiana ssp. obatae, Cyanea humboltiana, 
Cyanea koolauensis, Cyanea longiflora, Cyanea pinnatifida, Cyanea st.-
johnii, Cyanea superba, Cyanea truncata, Cyperus trachysanthos, 
Cyrtandra dentata, Cyrtandra polyantha, Cyrtandra subumbellata, 
Cyrtandra viridiflora, Delissea subcordata, Diellia erecta, Diellia 
falcata, Diellia unisora, Diplazium molokaiense, Dubautia herbstobatae, 
Eragrostis fosbergii, Eugenia koolauensis, Euphorbia haeleeleana, 
Flueggea neowawraea, Gardenia mannii, Gouania meyenii, Gouania 
vitifolia, Hedyotis coriacea, Hedyotis degeneri, Hedyotis parvula, 
Hesperomannia arborescens, Hesperomannia arbuscula, Hibiscus 
brackenridgei, Isodendrion laurifolium, Isodendrion longifolium, 
Isodendrion pyrifolium, Labordia cyrtandrae, Lepidium arbuscula, 
Lipochaeta lobata var. leptophylla, Lipochaeta tenuifolia, Lobelia 
gaudichaudii ssp. koolauensis, Lobelia monostachya, Lobelia 
niihauensis, Lobelia oahuensis, Lysimachia filifolia, Mariscus 
pennatiformis, Marsilea villosa, Melicope pallida, Melicope saint-
johnii, Myrsine juddii, Neraudia angulata, Nototrichium humile, Pelea 
lydgatei, Peucedanum sandwicense, Phlegmariurus nutans, Phyllostegia 
hirsuta, Phyllostegia kaalaensis,

[[Page 78765]]

Phyllostegia mollis, Phyllostegia parviflora, Plantago princeps, 
Platanthera holochila, Pteris lidgatei, Sanicula mariversa, Sanicula 
purpurea, Schiedea hookeri, Schiedea kaalae, Schiedea kealiae, Schiedea 
nuttallii, Sesbania tomentosa, Silene lanceolata, Silene perlmanii, 
Solanum sandwicense, Spermolepis hawaiiensis, Stenogyne kanehoana, 
Tetramolopium filiforme, Tetramolopium lepidotum ssp. lepidotum, 
Tetraplasandra gymnocarpa, Trematalobelia singularis, Urera kaalae, 
Vigna o-wahuensis, Viola chamissoniana ssp. chamissoniana, and Viola 
oahuensis). We did not propose critical habitat for Pritchardia munroi 
and Cyrtandra crenata for the reasons given above.
    We proposed critical habitat designations for 99 species within 25 
critical habitat units totaling approximately 45,067 hectares (111,364 
acres) on the island of Oahu.
    Critical habitat receives protection from destruction or adverse 
modification through required consultation under section 7 of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) with regard to actions carried out, funded, or 
authorized by a Federal agency. Section 4(b)(2) of the Act requires 
that the Secretary 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. We have prepared a draft economic analysis of the 
proposed critical habitat designation. The draft economic analysis is 
available on the Internet and from the mailing address listed below in 
the Public Comments Solicited section.
    The public comment period for the May 28, 2002, proposal originally 
closed on July 29, 2002. On August 26, 2002, we published in the 
Federal Register (67 FR 54766) a notice reopening the comment period 
for the proposed designations and non-designations of critical habitat 
for plant species on the island of Oahu, as well as for the proposed 
designations and non-designations of critical habitat for plant species 
on the islands of Kauai, Niihau, Molokai, Maui, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii, 
and we announced that the comment period would close on September 30, 
2002. On October 10, 2002, we announced a public hearing and reopened 
the comment period to allow all interested parties to submit oral or 
written comments on the proposal until November 30, 2002 (67 FR 63066). 
We are now announcing the availability of the draft economic analysis 
and the extension of the comment period for the proposed designations 
and non-designations of critical habitat for plant species on the 
island of Oahu. We will accept public comments on the proposal and the 
associated draft economic analysis for plants species from the island 
of Oahu until the date specified above in DATES. The extension of the 
comment period gives all interested parties the opportunity to comment 
on the proposal and the associated draft economic analysis for plant 
species from the island of Oahu. Comments already submitted on the 
proposed designations and non-designations of critical habitat for 
plant species from the island of Oahu need not be resubmitted as they 
will be fully considered in the final determinations.

Public Comments Solicited

    We specifically request comments on the following matters addressed 
in the ``Indirect Costs'' section of the draft economic analysis:
    (1) The likelihood of adverse impacts on hunting resulting from 
changes in game management, and the likelihood of such changes in game 
management;
    (2) The likelihood of adverse impacts on military readiness and 
military communications;
    (3) The likelihood of mandated conservation management on private 
land by the State of Hawaii or the courts;
    (4) The likelihood of redistricting of land to Conservation 
District status;
    (5) The likelihood of reduced property values; and
    (6) The likelihood of increased costs, delays and denials in permit 
applications by Federal, State and county authorities, all as a result 
of the proposed critical habitat designations.
    We seek comments on the likelihood of these impacts, including the 
reasons they might or might not occur, and the likely direct and 
indirect costs or other effects if the impacts do occur, including the 
basis for the costs or other effects. To the extent that those 
submitting comments have specific information related to their 
comments, we encourage its inclusion.
    If you wish to provide written comments, you may submit your 
comments and materials concerning this proposal by any of several 
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., PO Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850-0001.
    (2) You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. If you submit comments by e-mail, please 
submit them as an ASCII file and avoid the use of special characters 
and any form of encryption. Please also include ``Attn: RIN 1018-AI24'' 
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 Honolulu Fish and 
Wildlife Office at telephone number 808/541-3441.
    (3) You may hand-deliver comments to our Honolulu Fish and Wildlife 
Office at the address given above under (1).
    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 economic analysis are available on the Internet 
at http://pacificislands.fws.gov or by request from the Field 
Supervisor at the address and phone number listed in ADDRESSES.

Author(s)

    The primary author of this document is Michelle Mansker (See 
ADDRESSES section).

Authority

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

    Dated: December 16, 2002.
Craig Manson,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 02-32522 Filed 12-24-02; 8:45 am]
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