[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 184 (Friday, September 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55508-55509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8047]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Recovery Plan for Listed Species of the Rogue Valley Vernal 
Pool and Illinois Valley Wet Meadow Ecosystems

AGENCY: 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 Listed Species of the Rogue 
Valley Vernal Pool and Illinois Valley Wet Meadow Ecosystems for public 
review and comment.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or 
before November 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft recovery plan are available by request 
from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Roseburg Field Office, 2900 
NW., Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, Oregon 97470 (phone: 541-957-3474). 
Written comments and materials regarding this draft recovery plan 
should be addressed to the Field Supervisor at the above Roseburg 
address. An electronic copy of the draft recovery plan is also 
available athttp://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html#plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Friedman, Botanist, at the above 
Roseburg address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Restoring endangered or threatened animals and plants to the point 
where they are again secure, self-sustaining members of their 
ecosystems is a primary goal of our endangered species program. The 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA) requires the 
development of recovery plans for listed species unless such a plan 
would not promote the conservation of a particular species. Recovery 
plans help guide the recovery effort by describing actions considered 
necessary for the conservation of the species, establishing criteria 
for downlisting or delisting listed species, and estimating time and 
cost for implementing the measures needed for recovery.
    Section 4(f) of the ESA 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 comments on the recovery needs of the species or 
other aspects of recovery plan development 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.
    Two federally endangered plant species that are endemic to southern 
Oregon are the primary focus of this draft recovery plan: Limnanthes 
floccosa ssp. grandiflora (large-flowered woolly meadowfoam) and 
Lomatium cookii (Cook's lomatium). Site-specific information and 
recovery actions are also provided for one federally threatened animal, 
the vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi). In addition, site-
specific information and recommendations for long term conservation are 
provided for nine species of conservation concern.
    The species addressed in this draft recovery plan occur in vernal 
pool, swale, or seasonal wet meadow habitats within southern Oregon and 
are largely confined to limited areas by topographic

[[Page 55509]]

constraints, soil types, and climatic conditions. Surrounding (or 
associated) upland habitat is critical to the proper ecological 
function of these vernal pool habitats. Most of the vernal pool plants 
and animals addressed in the draft recovery plan have life histories 
adapted to the short period for growth and reproduction within 
inundated or drying pools and meadows interspersed with long dormant 
periods and extreme year-to-year variation in rainfall.
    The recovery actions described in this draft recovery plan include: 
(1) Protection, management, and restoration of vernal pool and wet 
meadow habitat; (2) population status surveys and monitoring; (3) 
research on biology and management of the species; and (4) enhancement 
of public awareness and participation in species recovery.
    The objective of this recovery plan is to recover the two 
endangered plants and the threatened animal species sufficiently to 
warrant delisting, and to ensure the long-term conservation of the nine 
taxa of concern. An interim goal is to downlist Lomatium cookii and 
Limnanthes floccosa ssp. grandiflora from endangered to threatened 
status.

Public Comments Solicited

    We solicit written comments on the draft recovery plan described. 
All comments received by the date specified above will be considered 
prior to approval of this plan.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold 
their home addresses from the record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would 
withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. 
If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your comment, and you must provide 
a rationale for withholding this information, but you should be aware 
that we may be required to disclose your name and address pursuant to 
the Freedom of Information Act. However, we will not consider anonymous 
comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety. Comments and materials 
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

Authority

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

    Dated: June 28, 2006.
David J. Wesley,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 06-8047 Filed 9-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P