[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43009-43010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16345]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Recovery Plan for Phlox hirsuta (Yreka Phlox)

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 Phlox hirsuta (Yreka Phlox) 
for public review and comment.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before October 18, 2004.

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, Yreka Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 1829 South Oregon Street, Yreka, California (telephone 
(530) 842-5763). Requests for copies of the draft recovery plan and 
written comments and materials regarding this plan should be addressed 
to Phil Detrich, Field Supervisor, at the above Yreka address. An 
electronic copy of the draft revised recovery plan is also available 
at: http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nadine Kanim, Senior Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above Yreka address.

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.
    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.
    Phlox hirsuta is a narrow endemic plant known only from the 
vicinity of Yreka, California. Only four populations, separated by a 
minimum of 0.88 kilometers (0.55 miles), are currently known to occur. 
Distribution within these occurrences ranges from scattered plants to 
numerous discrete sub-occurrences. Phlox hirsuta occurs on lands owned 
and managed by the City of Yreka, the U. S. Forest Service, the 
California Department of Transportation, industrial timber companies, 
and private landowners.
    The goal of this recovery plan is to establish criteria necessary 
to accomplish downlisting and eventually delisting of the species. The 
criteria for downlisting to threatened status are that: (1) four 
occurrences (two of which must be the China Hill and Soap Creek Ridge 
occurrences) have secure permanent protection (legally-binding 
arrangements that ensure management for the benefit of Phlox hirsuta in 
perpetuity); and (2) a Phlox hirsuta seed bank and effective 
propagation techniques have been established. The criteria for 
delisting are that: (1) the reclassification criteria for downlisting 
have been met; and (2) two additional occurrences have been located and 
permanently protected, or 10 years of demographic research and/or 
quantitative monitoring at four protected occurrences has indicated 
that plant population size has not declined more than 10 percent at any 
occurrence (total change between year 0 and year 10).

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on this 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).


[[Page 43010]]


    Dated: April 21, 2004.
Paul Henson,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Region 1, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16345 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
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