[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 243 (Thursday, December 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70526-70527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31164]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Recovery Plan for Deinandra conjugens (Otay Tarplant)

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability for review and comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``we''), announces the 
availability of the Draft Recovery Plan for Deinandra conjugens (Otay 
Tarplant) for public review. This draft recovery plan includes specific 
criteria and measures to be taken in order to effectively recover the 
species to the point where delisting is warranted. We solicit review 
and comment from the public and local, State, and Federal agencies on 
this draft recovery plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before March 2, 2004 to receive our consideration.

ADDRESSES: Hard copies of the draft recovery plan will be available in 
2 to 4 weeks. An electronic copy of this draft plan is now available at 
http://www.pacific.fws.gov/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/default. 
Written request for copies of the draft recovery plan and submission of 
written comments regarding the plan should be addressed to the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife 
Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Carlsbad, California 92009. Supporting 
documents are available for inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Goocher, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Carlsbad address (telephone: 760-431-9440).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Recovery of endangered or threatened animals and plants is a 
primary goal of our endangered species program and the Endangered 
Species Act (Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Recovery means improvement 
of the status of listed species to the point at which listing is no 
longer appropriate under the criteria set out in section 4(a)(1) of the 
Act. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for the 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or 
delisting listed species, and estimate time and cost for implementing 
the measures needed for recovery.

[[Page 70527]]

    The 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. We will consider all information presented 
during the public comment period prior to approval of each new or 
revised recovery plan. Substantive technical comments may result in 
changes to the recovery 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. Individual responses to 
comments will not be provided.
    Deinandra conjugens is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae. It 
was federally listed as a threatened species on October 13, 1998 (63 FR 
54938). The species occurs in southwest San Diego County, California, 
and in northern Baja California, Mexico. It occurs predominantly on 
clay soils, subsoils, or lenses (isolated areas of clay soil), which 
typically support grasslands, but may support some woody vegetation.
    Agriculture and urban development, invasion of nonnative species, 
and habitat fragmentation and degradation have resulted in the loss of 
suitable habitat across the species' range. The species' self-
incompatible breeding system (an individual plant cannot pollinate 
itself, so successful reproduction requires pollination between 
genetically unrelated plants), its annual habit, and the extensive 
fragmentation of remaining populations potentially create additional 
threats from random population fluctuations, reduced populations of 
pollinators, a subsequent reduction in cross pollination and gene flow 
between populations, and a decline in genetic variation. Maintenance of 
the genetic variability within the species, through cross-pollination, 
may be critical to long-term survival.
    Within San Diego County, the species occurs entirely within the 
Multiple Species Conservation Planning (MSCP) area, primarily within 
three associated subarea plans: the City of San Diego Subarea Plan, the 
County of San Diego Subarea Plan, and the City of Chula Vista Subarea 
Plan. These subarea plans provide for the conservation of Deinandra 
conjugens and many other listed and non-listed species by developing a 
reserve system with a monitoring and management framework, and 
protecting key populations. Additional measures outlined in the draft 
recovery plan will enhance the species' ability to achieve recovery.
    This draft recovery plan recognizes efforts by the local 
jurisdictions to conserve Deinandra conjugens under the MSCP, and 
includes additional conservation measures designed to ensure D. 
conjugens will continue to exist, distributed throughout its extant and 
historic range. Recovery is dependent upon the conservation of 
sufficient habitat to sustain populations of D. conjugens, as well as 
populations of its primary pollinators; maintaining genetic variability 
within the species; and connect conserved populations to ensure gene 
flow (through cross pollination).
    The ultimate goal of this recovery plan is to delist Deinandra 
conjugens through implementation of a variety of recovery actions 
including: (1) stabilizing and protecting habitat supporting known 
populations within the conserved areas under the MSCP; (2) surveying 
for new populations; (3) assessing status of known populations; (4) 
adaptively managing and monitoring conserved areas; (5) identifying 
research needs and conducting studies on biology and ecology of the 
species; and (6) developing and implementing a community outreach plan.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the draft recovery plan described. 
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered in 
developing a final recovery plan.

Authority

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

    Dated: November 28, 2003.
D. Kenneth McDermond,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, Fish and 
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 03-31164 Filed 12-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P